0.—2

87

Archer's Freehold, Gapleston.— Two seams of coal, from 10 ft. to 12 ft. thick and separated by about 60 ft. of sandstone, are being worked. The seams have a dip of approximately lin 3, and are connected by a cross-measure drive. A pair of levels driven at right angles to this drive have both struck a downthrow fault, and are standing. In the meantime the solid coal is being split into pillars on the outside of the fault. The output for the year amounts to 1,435 tons. Ventilation is maintained by holing to the rise levels. The general safety of the mine is satisfactory. Ooghlan's Freehold, Gapleston. —The output (784 tons) has been won exclusively from No. 2 level, which is driven approximately 200 yards into the hill. The quality of the coal has proved to be patchy. Ventilation has been maintained by holing to the level above. The timber in the level is not altogether satisfactory, the sets being placed too far apart, while the laths are rather weak. Rochlands Coal-mine, Buller Road.— Only a small output (199 tons) has been won during the year, owing to the dredge on the Buller Paver having ceased operations. The ventilation of the workings is adequate, and the safety conditions satisfactory. The demand for this coal will be confined for some considerable time to local household purposes, and will not be large. Whitecliffs Coal-mine, Buller Road.—The drive to the west and on the rise of the old workings has been opened, and the coal has proved to be moderately hard and of good quality. The demand for the coal has, however, been very slack. An output of 116 tons has been won. General safety conditions are satisfactory. Seddonville State Colliery.—The output for the year 1912 amounted to 72,693 tons, an increase of 12,648 tons over the previous year, due to the increased demand for small or soft coal. The Big Dip and Cave sections, containing about 20 acres of coal, have been exhausted, and the haulage machinery and ventilating-appliances removed. The coal in the Big Dip section was very soft, and in parts intermingled with mud and sandstone. All available marketable coal was won, and the section isolated by stoppings to prevent the fumes caused by heating of the unwon interior coal from entering the Cave section. From a small area known as the Deviation section, lying to the west of the haulage-road and separated from the Big Dip area by a fault running north-east and south-west, coal of fair quality is being won from the pillars, but the output from this portion will not long continue. A small quantity has also been won from an area lying to the east of the haulage-road. To the north of the Big Dip and on the west side of the haulage-road an area known as the West section is still in solid workings. The coal therein is patchy. The ventilation and general safety conditions have been well maintained. A plentiful supply of mining-timber is kept and used. Denniston Colliery.—Tim output during 1912 from this colliery amounted to 298,636 tons, being a decline of 24,732 tons from that of the previous year. The development of both sections of this mine has been kept well in advance of requirements, and has proved a large area of virgin country. Coalbrookdale Mine : The development of the Dip area No. 8 continues to show excellent results, and the coal won maintains its excellent quality. The heading driven north-east and east is opening up well. Preparations are being made to install endless-rope haulage. A pair of 8 in. by 9 in. Tangye engines have been erected, which will be driven by compressed air. The length of haulage is about 50 chains. . . Wareatea section : Headings have been pushed on in a north-westerly direction, with winmngplaces opening out on either side. Endless-rope haulage, approximately 40 chains in length, has been installed. This conveys the coal to the Cascade Mine haulage-system. The quality of the coal is excellent. A considerable portion of the area opened up is overlaid with a very tender roof, and great caution is exercised to successfully support the same. The present Hayes fan used for ventilating purposes will soon be replaced by a double-inlet Sirocco fan, capable of producing 200,000 cubic feet per minute. . Iroiibridge Colliery : Development of the No. 2 seam has been expeditiously advanced during the year, with the result that a large area of excellent hard coal has been opened out. Pillar-extraction has produced a satisfactory output. Kruger's section : This section continues to open up coal of excellent quality. Deep Creek section : This section is developing westward, the output being obtained both by solid work and pillar-extraction. The winning-headings running west continue to open out in hard coal of considerable thickness. Ventilation : A great deal of improvement has been effected during the year in regard to the method of leading the air round the various sections. The general safety of the mine has been well maintained. . . . Millerton Colliery.— Operations at this colliery have resulted in a substantial increase in the output. The quantity of coal won for the year was 329,430 tons, an increase of 29,788 tons over that for 1911. Mine Creek section : Development has been considerably advanced during the year. The mam crosscut heading running south-west is at present driven a distance of about 61 chains from the Mine Creek lay-by, and levels running east and west ofi the heading are opening up a large area of excellent hard coal of good quality. On the extreme east of this section two sections of pillars are being extracted. Mangatini section : Pillar-extraction in the dip portion situated to the north of the mam west heading has been in operation during the whole of the present year. The coal is of good quality, and very thick. It is impossible to obtain anything like the whole of this coal owing to its thickness, which in places must reach 40 ft. The method adopted is to drive a place through the pillar approximately 10 ft. high. This opening is supported with props, and when holed the stumps of coal are then " robbed," the overhead coal is blown down, and as much as can be safely filled from the opening is won. This is continued, working homewards, and generally a fair proportion of the coal is won. Lower section : During the period under review development has been pushed in a south-westerly direction with varying success. In this portion of the mine faulting has been frequently met with, and the coal in places is very dirty. The whole of the output from this section has during the year