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gradually thins towards the dip until about 3 ft. The levels going west, which have been driven a distance of approximately 20 chains, have also gradually thinned until the seam has become unprofitable to work (20 in.). On the east side of dip the coal thins rapidly to unprofitable thickness, consequently, appearances point in the direction of the property having a short life. A Sirocco fan has been installed to provide ventilation, and compressing plant to provide pumping-powcr, besides which a direct-haulage equipment has been installed. i ■.... Fatalities. Fatalities to workmen during the year number six, five of which occurred underground. Falls were responsible in each case. One occurred above ground, the result of being run over by a railway-wagon. Reports dealing with the above fatalities have already been forwarded. Non-fatal (Serious) Accidents. Point Elizabeth State Colliery (4/4/16): W. Cleave, fracture of both bones in lower leg, caused by fall of coal at working-face. Paparoa Colliery (4/7/16): .1. Muir, fracture of ankle whilst employed jigging timber up an incline on the surface for the purpose of building manager's house. The jig-prop gave way, and the injured man in trying to get clear got his foot down through a hole in the gangway and fell, causing tlie injury. Westport-Stockton (1.3/9/16): J. W after son, broken leg and ribs, caused by being run over by loco, brake-car whilst training coal. Millerton Colliery (16/11/16) : Mr. Boswell, fractured thigh, caused by fall of coal from roof. Denniston Iron Bridge Colliery : T. Robinson, fractured skull, caused by being struck with prop, it being knocked out by a piece of coal falling from the face. Besides the above there have been quite a number of simple fractures, all of which have occurred at the working-face. Ventilation. The mines without exception have been found adequately ventilated. New fans have been installed at Liverpool and North Cape Collieries. * Southern Inspection District. (Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector.) Canterbury. Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited), Avoca. —A roadway has been constructed from Avoca Railway-station to the mine, a distance of three miles and a half. The haulage tram-line, two miles and a half, lias been surveyed and pegged off, and construction with, men available just begun. Materials, rails, rope, &c, are on tlie job and sleepers in transit. Hauling-eiigines, steam, boilers, and machinery arranged for. Manager's residence and workman's cottage are up, and two more cottages are being erected. Bush Gully Coal-mine, Coalgate. — Mine in good order. Ladders and platforms in position in steep seam travelling-way. Steam jet inadequate for induction of air to workmen in upperlevels. Steam-driven fan to be utilized, and mine-manager to write when installed and report result. Magazines (two) approved for storage of explosives used in the mine. (Since this visit the mine-manager reports fan installed and ventilation satisfactory.) St. Helens Golliery, Whitechffs. —The new dip will take some three months to complete. Tripp's Coal-mine, Mount Somers. —Work was commenced on the sth October. The minemouth required attention for safety; also new second outlet to be provided at earliest opportunity. Albury Coal-mine, Albury. —Dip extended and rise places driven therefrom in coal of good average quality. Roof good and ventilation adequate. Allanholme Goal-mine, Waihao. —New mine recently opened at Stony Creek on Mainholme Settlement. Shallow workings in good order. Second outlet provided and ventilation good. . Dalgety's Coal-mine, Hakataramea. —A privately owned mine with a very small output. W, J. and S. J. Carle/on, Methven. —Coal lease. No work done other than a little prospecting on an adjoining section at a cost of less than £5. Te Moana Coal-mine. —A small privately owned mine with a nominal output. George Bland, Mount Somers. —Prospecting on small grazing-run. Drive, 100 ft. Scam, 5 ft. in thickness; quality, brown coal, same as Mount Somers coal. North Otago. St. Andrew's Coal-mine. Papakaio. —Drawing pillars outward. Soine trouble caused by heating in waste had been overcome by building sand stoppings, which were cool at the time of visit. Ventilation good. Prince Alfred Goal-mine, Papakaio. — Air good, no gases. Workings in good order. Ngapara Coal-mine, Ngapara. —Ventilation good. Magazine approved for storage of 375 lb. of blasting-powder. Shag Point Coal-mine, Shag Point. —Seam, 2 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. Roof ripped makes for room on roadway, and convenient stone packing on low sides. Stentons driven for ventilation required to be closer up, as pointed out to the manager. Shag Point, Coal Proprietary Coal-mine. —Mine in good order. Timber systematically used. Seam, 5 ft. to 7 ft. in thickness. Rules posted; required to be renewed owing to weatherdefacement.