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Waronui Mine. —The former mine had been worked out, closed, and abandoned; loading-bank arrangements with ventilating-fan removed, and erected at the new mine. The seam ranged from 5 ft. to 10 ft. in thickness, being somewhat troubled, and carrying occasional boulders of hard stone. Working-places driven narrow with a view to future best extraction of pillars. Electrical power used for fan ventilation and pumping purposes. MeGilp's Mine. —Pillar-extraction had been well conducted, only a small portion of the block opened remaining for withdrawal. Ventilation good. Floor heaving, and roadways low in consequence. Trfa Bon Mine. —A new opening on the hill-face, where the seam had been found occurring more regularly and less disturbed by faulting than the previous mine, lost by fire at the beginning of the year. Crichlon Mine. —A comparatively amall output was being derived from this mine, which, in common with other small coal-pits in Bruce County, had been prohibited from carting on the public roads during winter months. Dunlop's Mine. —This mine had practically been idle throughout the year. Lakeside Mine. —A prospecting-drive had been put in, from which 315 tons of coal had been obtained, worked intermittently. Taratii Mine.— -The vontilating-fan had been duplicated, with beneficial results to the air in the dip workingplaces, which had benefited considerably. A new endless-rope haulage from shaft-bottom to head of dip, a distance of 10 chains, had been installed, and was working satisfactorily. Fan ventilation at return airway 21,015 cubic feet per minute. The place fallen to surface from waste, Barclay's Mine, where fire had broken out, was filled in with material from the walls of the plump, and water laid on successfully. Cages, coupling-chains, ropes, and winding-gear examined regularly and periodically tested. Electricity utilized for underground dip haulage and pumping and for fan ventilation. Tualdtoto Mine (formerly Port Arthur). —A new opening at a lower level, where the seam had been found downthrown 50 ft. Kaituna Mine. —The former workings had been finished and abandoned. The drive to dip had proved the scam continuing in that direction, especially on the western side, where the coal was more clean and free from faulting. Natural ventilation good ; powder-smoke from blasting quickly cleared away. Wam/aloa Mine. —Had driven through the fault met with near mme -entrance, and coal-seam was found continuing. Kaidale Mine. —Output was being maintained from the rise workings, water having accumulated in those to dip. Kaihrooh Mine. —Worked intermittently, partly owing to change of ownership and partly on account of the embargo placed on coal-carting over the Bruce County roads during winter months. Ro-seneath Mine. —Opencast working on the sea-beach discontinued, and two drives put in on the cliff-face had been connected underground. Kai Point Mine (Oaird Bron.).—K new mine had been driven, and connected with the original drive for second outlet and ventilation, which latter was good. Summerhill Mine. —Operations suspended, the seam having proved soft, and crushed apparently by ancient earth-movement at and near the surface. Kaitancjata No. 1 Mine. —The major part of the year's output had been derived from Mundy's dip and No. 6 dip sections, with a smaller proportion from the 18 ft. seam off Barclay's drive, where development work only had been proceeded with. On the 13th October an outbreak of fire was discovered on McGhio's level, among coal and timber on roof and sides, and, becoming unmanageable, stoppings were erected on the intake and return airways and the fire became damped down. Subsequently the stoppings were opened and air-circulation restored, when new stoppings were built at either end of and close to the fire region, permitting recovery of much plant, material, and tools, when the district was sealed off permanently, leaving the 18 ft. seam workings and airways to the upcast fan shaft as the only open parts of the mine. Coal-getting had also been suspended at the 18 f.t. seam, but ventilation was continued pending completion of the stone prospecting-drive to the main scam proved by boring underground some timo ago. Ventilation of reduced area, 22,880 cubic feet of air per minute. Kaitangnta No. 2 Mine. —Coal-output from Kaitangata Collieries was now being obtained exclusively from this mine, the districts at work being the 6' ft. seam, 18 ft. seam, and main seam workings. Timber supports to roof were plentifully used, and pillars extracted safely. Volume of air at mme -entrance, 33,915 cubic feet per minute. Ventilation good all round the working-faces. Samples of road-dust collected from the several working sections were examined by the Dominion Analyst, who reported as follows : — " No. 1, from roadways, Kaitangata No. 1 Mine ; No. 2, from roadways, Kaitangata No. 2 Mine ; No. 3, from dusty roadways, Castle Hill Mine. " Analyses. 1, 2. 3. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. "Ash .. •• •• •• •• •• •• 394)2 15-00 38-15 Moisture lost at 100° C. .. .. .. .. .. 13-08 14-50 13-08 " Nos. 1 and 3 : The sum of the moisture and the ash exceeds 50 per cent., and the samples would therefore comply with the regulations. No. 2: Does not comply." With respect to sample No. 2, the roadways were subsequently cleaned and gravelled, rendering the dust innocuous. Firedamp or fires underground had not been reported by the mine officials during the year. Samples of mine-air collected at the working-face in solid coal by the Chief Inspector yielded the following results at the Dominion Laboratory : — " Nos. 1 and 2, from main return at fan shaft, Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. No. 3, from main seam section, at Gribbon's end, off north level, being farthest-in place, Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. " Analyses. 1. 2. 3. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. " Carbon dioxide (CO a ) 0-23 0-21 0-26 Methane (CH 4 ) 0-33 0-30 0-23" Pit-ponies at Kaitangata Collieries, thirty in number, had been examined by the Inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who reported that he had found them in good condition. Castle Hill Mine. —Ventilation at entrance, 17,875 cubic feet per minute. At No. 7 dip section the north side was ventilated but not being worked ; only tho roadway pillars remained intact. The Carson seam had been opened up but coal-getting suspended ponding improvement of trade. Ventilation adequate, and air clean and sweet all over the mine. No firedamp or fires underground had been reported during tho year. A new inclined drive (1,300 ft.) for travelling and airway had been laid off to replace the upcast air and second outlet shaft, which will enable lengthy and expensive airways through old workings being dispensed with, and provide a practically new mine. Benhar Mine. —Owing to water dripping from tho roof in working-places two boreholes were drilled 28 ft. to the old workings above, when the small quantity of water lodged quickly drained off. Ventilation being unsatisfactory by reason of powder-smoke hanging in working-places after shot-firing, remedial measures were carried out, consisting of brick air-stoppings in lieu of brattice-cloth at road-ends on dip drive, an air-crossing over the dip from the eastern side, and enlargement of upcast shaft area, whereby an appreciable air-current was created and smoke cleared rapidly away. Glydevale Mine. —An opencast mine, worked intermittently for private and local use. Pukerau Mine (Miller Bros.). —A small fire in some dross had been extinguished, and no material damage was done. Ventilation, fair.

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