H.—44a

82

purposes ; but the housing is totally inadequate for the needs of the workers, and evidence was tendered to the Board showing that overcrowding exists. In one case a miner, with his wife and five children, are living in a two-roomed cottage, and in another case there are five persons (three children) living in two rooms. At least ten roomy houses are required for immediate needs. The huts provided by the Waipa Company at present have no fireplaces or water-tanks, and both these necessary conveniences should be immediately, provided. The company has bought sufficient land near the mine and is prepared to sell sections at from £35 to £40, which is the price it paid for them. The company is also prepared to carry housing-material over the railway free of cost. South Island. Avoca (21). The mine at Avoca belonging to the Mount Torlesse Collieries Company is situated in ihe Canterbury District, on the Midland line some seventy miles from Christchureh. No houses have been provided for the miners, but tents are placed in a valley subject to floods, and some in positions with a very meagre supply of sunshine, so that in winter for two months in the year it is impossible to dry any clothes in the open. There is a plateau about two miles from the mine with a gentle slope towards the east on which a properly designed garden village could be formed. Trees would have to be planted to give protection from the north-west and south-west winds. The soil is good, the climate fine and healthy, and excellent gardens could be made. The site is about two miles from the Avoca Station. The company has made application through the Board for monetary assistance from the Government for the erection of miners' dwellings. The sum of £5,000 has been applied for. As it was .necessary that some provision should be made for the workers during the coming winter, the Board made urgent representations to you to consider the request favourably, provided that reports from the mining experts as to the probable value and life of the mine are satisfactory. Kailanqata (1,681). —This town, four miles from Stirling on the main line between Dunedin and Tnvercargill, is undoubtedly one of the most favourably situated settlements inhabited by miners. It is in a good farming district, and it was pleasing to note that many of the miners had cultivated gardens and were able to grow their own vegetables. The township is very scattered, but the housing-conditions generally are extremely good. The sections are mostly one-quarter of an acre in extent. The land is all privately owned, but there is a very large number of sections on which more houses could be built. It would be possible to get a clear block of 'some acres and start a model suburb ; but Mr. Hurst Seager considers that, as the village is so well established and so many of tin , houses owned by the miners, it would be best to improve, as far as possible, the present site and to build houses on the land available as they are required. There is urgent necessity in the village for a good drainage-system and water-supply. (See photographs Nos. 2t05 in the Appendix to this report showing—(2) General view of Kaitangata; (3) some of the best homes privately owned ; (4) collection of homes on the rising ground ; (5) collection of homes on the rising ground towards the mine.) Nightcaps (607) is situated some forty miles from Invercargill by rail. Mr. Seager did not inspect this locality, but the Board found the conditions much the same as at other mining townships as to overcrowding, lack of sanitary conveniences, and drainage, though the majority of the houses are substantial and stand in ample spaces. Many of the miners have purchased their own homes through a building society. The locality offers every facility for the creation of a pleasant village settlement, with suitable soil for gardens. Runanga (1,411 ; eight miles from Greymouth). In this settlement reside the majority of the miners employed at the State mines. The town compares favourably with others visited, and there did not appear to be much evidence of overcrowding, nor is there a shortage of houses at present; but houses of a better type should be built to take the place of many of the inferior homes which exist. The Government owns seven houses of five rooms and scullery, which are let for Bs. per week. They cost £300 in 1910. These houses have three bedrooms (12 ft. by 12 ft., 12 ft. by 10 ft., and 12 ft. by 9 ft.), a living-room (16 ft. by 12 ft.), and a scullery (12 ft. by 9 ft,). The scullery is fitted with bath, copper, two wash-tubs, and sink. These are satisfactory homes. There is only tank-water available for domestic use, and the present drainage-system is unsatisfactory. A main open drain runs down the principal street, which, it is alleged, becomes offensive in the summer. With the provision of a better water-supply and drainage-system this township could be made one of the most desirable of mining villages. (See photographs Nos. 6toß in the Appendix to this report showing—(6) General view of Runanga, showing privately owned homes and Masonic Hall : (7) one of the Government houses beautifully kept; (8) Dunollie, looking towards the mine.) Blackball (863) is situated some twenty miles north of Greymouth, a few miles from the main line to Eeefton. Much requires to be done here to put housing-conditions on a satisfactory basis. Mr. Hurst Seager considers that the place should be resurveyed in order to convert it into an attractive village. Although there is at present a number of empty houses, there are few indeed fit for occupation. Houses of four rooms are let at from 7s. to 12s. per week. There is no drainage, only rain-water pans, but no system of emptying, and in some cases there arc cesspits. The miners consider that the houses generally are not fit for habitation. The housing is certainly extremely bad, and the huts which were put up by the Blackball Company, and for which they charge 2s. 6d. per week, are very unsatisfactory. The huts are placed in a row. The windows are fixed so that they canriot be opened, and the door has to be left ajar to admit air. (See photographs in the Appendix to this report showing (9) Miners' homes, 11 ft. Gin. by 9 ft. 6 in., owned by the company and Jet for 2s. 6d. per week; (10) one of the houses- the windows are fixed, and the occupant, to get air and protection from the weather when the door is open, has taken out a pane of glass and put