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The lower or dip area of the colliery has been proceeding steadily in a southerly direction, and eventually will connect with the areas mentioned above, the approximate distance apart being 14 chains. In (he Mangatina section the output has been won from small isolated coal areas. The main South Mangatina heading has been driven for 30 chains in barren ground and stopped, and a borehole recently drilled to the west of the heading, a, distance of .10 to 12 chains, has cut, the coal. The prospects of a long life for this colliery are good. Westport-S/ock/on Colliery. —Development is mostly confined lo the eastern portion of the mine (E section), where a large area, of medium hard coal of good quality has been proved by driving, and there yet remains a. large area known to contain workable coal not touched. Old mine, B, (', and I) tunnel sections: Development to the south of D tunnel has ceased owing to inferior and dirty coal, and the pillars, mostly soft coal, are being won homeward. (' tunnel is at present producing no output, A few pillars have been won from this area iluring the year. B tunnel: A few pillars are yet to be won on the boundary side (west) of the haulage-way. On the eastern side a section of good hard coal, the seam being about 5 ft. 6 in. thick, has been operated, and is still being won out. Should the present demand for steam-coal continue, there yet remains sufficient available coal in the old mine to last a considerable number of years at the present output. Puponga Colliery, Collingwood District. —This colliery ceased work during July. At the lime of stoppage it was impossible lo successfully drive lo the dip, the only direction apparently open to profitable operation, owing to (he inadequate plant available at the colliery. The winning-places eastwards were fast becoming unworkable, owing to the intrusion of stone bands splitting the seam and replacing the coal. North Cape Mine, Collingwood, District. —The outlook for this property is not bright, and most probably its productive life will be short, In every direction driven the seam has consistently thinned to an. unprofitable thickness. The main winning-dip, which has been driven approximately 10 chains, is standing in thin coal. The bottom west level after proceeding 12 chains has encountered a downthrow fault, and as the level has proceeded the seam has gradually thinned io about 18 in., an unprofitable thickness. The fault met with at the face of this level cuts the country cast to west, and will be met with almost immediately driving is commenced again in the dip. Sinking on the head of the fault is being carried out, and unless the throw is small ami the seam shows decided improvement in this direction development must cease. Mokvhinui Mine. Coal Creek. —No improvement in the quality of the coal has been met with during the year, although a considerable amount of diiving has been accomplished, The country driven through has been found to be somewhat faulted, and the seam of coal dirty and irregular in thickness. Co-operative Mine, Scddon ville. —Driving has been continued on the outside of the old No. I workings with varying results. At times the seam has been found hard and clean, and al others soft and dirty. Fatal Accidents. Three persons lost their lives underground, and all at (he Blackball Colliery. On the 28th July a miner named William Graham, whilst engaged jigging a truck in No. 2 dip, No. 6 bank, was struck by a fall of coal from the roof, with fatal results. On the 30th July John. Tipler, deputy, and Thomas Abbott, shiftman, met their death by drowning, the result of being overtaken by a sudden rush of water which had accumulated behind a fall in (he back heading of No. 17 section. An official inquiry was held, pursuant to the provisions of the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1914, in each of the foregoing occurrences. The Court found in each case that the charges against the officials of the mine could not, upon the evidence, be sustained. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Puponga Colliery. —lst June: John Waddell. mirier; received a severe injury to his right hand, caused by premature explosion of a detonator. ll' est port-Stockton. —2sth July: A. Kearns, trucker; received a severe fracture of the base of his skull through being struck with full tub of coal. Kearns was lowering a tub down a gentle gradient when it became derailed. He was in Ihe act, of spragging at the time, and the back portion of the tub as it lifted struck him, causing the injury. On the 14th September, 1917, George Higham, miner: lasccralod the muscles of his lower leg, caused by falling and striking buffer of truck, on incline. Point Elizabeth Colliery, No. I Section. —27th July: Peter Neilsou, miner; fractured his skull, caused by a falling prop. Dennislon Colliery, Iron Bridge Section. —Bth August: Edward Oldham, trucker; being struck by an empty tub while jigging, received injuries causing amputation of his leg. Coalbrookdale Section. —22nd November: William Brown, miner; by a fall of coal al, the face his thigh was broken. Blael-liall Colliery. —3rd November : William kiddle, miner; by a fall of coal bad both collarbones broken. Millerlon Colliery. —l2th December: S. McDonald, horse-driver: by being jammed between a full tub and limbers or shafts on which he was riding had a thigh bone broken. Dangerous Occurrences requiring Notification in accordance with Regulation 81. Dennislon Iron Bridge Colliery. —On the 23rd May an explosion occurred in the Deep Creek area, the result of a blow-through shot, the explosive used being blasting-powder. This has been specially reported on by me.