a—2.

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out the plant from No. 7 section north. No. 1 section headings continue to advance between the north and west barriers in a hard seam of coal. The crushing movement which commenced in 1922 and settled over Nos. 3, 4, and 5 sections; north side, and resulted in a fire which was sealed off during that year, continued during the past year to squeeze the stoppings and roadways, necessitating frequent repairs and reheightening of same. In this area on Sunday, 9th December, another serious unlocated fire broke out in the vicinity of No. 5 section, west side, and it was subsequently sealed off with brick stoppings below No. 4 section level, and the area below that level is now abandoned. A large W.T. boiler is being installed to supplant the boilers at No. 1 shaft, and tho machinery of a large modern air-compressor is being assembled to provide power underground. Rotowaro Colliery, Rolowaro. —There are two separate sections, known as No. 1 mine and No. 2 mine. The development of No. 1 during the past year consisted of two dips driven in a westerly direction and the advance of the main haulage-road south headings. In the jig section the pillars of the bords that have reached the specified distance are being worked off by a series of lifts and the roof coal dropped, also at No. 3 section the pillars are being extracted, beginning at the outcrop boundary of that section. At, No. 2 Mine the main, heading has been advanced to a fault and suspended pendirg the installation of electric power in this mine to operate pumps and winches. A Waddle fan has been erected on the surface, and means provided for the reversal of the air-current. An ondless-rope haulage has been installed from the screening plant to within a short distance of the working-faces. Additional accommodation, consisting of twenty approved cabinets and other suitable arrangements, has been added to the bathroom during the past year. Pukemiro Collieries (Limited). -A record output from the colliery was derived chiefly from the bords of the first working. In the north-east section the pillars near the outcrop are being withdrawn. The method of extraction has been modified from time to time in order to find a system that would allow for completeness of extraction, consistent with safety and production of coal in the best possible condition. Owing to the short jointy character of the fireclay roof presenting unfavourable conditions for winning the roof coal it has now been found desirable in this colliery to work the pillar off in successive order by strips 10 ft. wide and usually 12 ft. high, the coal roof being supported on timber until tho split is through ; the roof is then fallen within.the limits of the excavated space. The straight heading section in the north mine, where the first workings have been completed to a determined boundary, has been sealed up at the entrance of the section with brick stoppings. The north-east section working-places arc proceedings on easy grades to the rise boundary. In the east section the floor is undulating, necessitating dip haulage. In the east section of the south mine the seam is being followed to the rise in a thick coal area. On the west side the seam is being opened out through the fault. The ventilation of the working-faces was well maintained during the year. A feature of the haulage system in this colliery is the use made of subsidiary endless-rope haulage in the headings and dips leading to the faces. Waipa Colliery, Glen Massey. —The working-places in this mine are confined to the main extension section. Three sections —namely, Nos. I, 2, and 3—have been opened out in the coal-seam through the fault. The seam shows an average thickness of 10 ft., and 1 ft. of coal is left to support the roof, which is additionally supported by two and sometimes three rows of props systematically set. At the farthest inbye point an auxiliary fan was installed, causing the air-current to be more effectively circulated throughout the working-faces. This seam is moderately inclined, providing simple haulage to the main endless rope. A stone drive for free level outlet for water, ventilation purposes, and providing means of another escape for the men underground, has been commenced from the surface at a point 44 chains from the face of the main heading. This colliery shows a lower percentage of accidents, as compared with the output, than any other colliery in the Northern District, due to a great extent to the inclination of the seam. Waikato Extended Mine, Huntly. —During the past year this small mine, situated in close proximity to the west bank of the Waikato River, and two miles south from Huntly, continued to supply the river-boasts with coal cargo for Hamilton, Cambridge, and Mercer. Tho bords are taken to a height of 14 ft. The roof is carefully trimmed, and is sufficiently strong enough to remain up with the aid of a few props. Glen A /ton Collieries, Glen Afton. —In June of tho past year this colliery was connected to the railway by the completion of the Government railway from. Pukemiro Junction to Glen Afton. Sections A, B, and Cm the mine were developed, in view of the early railway connection, and supplied the commencing output. The main headings continue to advance northward in the coal-scam, which shows an increasing thickness at the face. An endless-rope haulage has been installed, and is in use in the main heading. A modern Sirocco ventilating-fan is installed, and connected with the return heading on the surface, and is capable of inducing 70,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 24 in. W.G. A bathhouse is in course of erection, and, according to specifications, it will contain twenty cabinets for shower-baths and nine hand-basins, also suitable lockers and pulley-chains for drying clothes. Fifty workmen's houses are completed on sites convenient to the colliery. Pukemiro Junction Colliery (Crown, Lease). —Tho seam has been followed eastward to the outcrop, and pillars are now being worked. In coming back the roof is strengthened by additional props in the bords and pillar spaces, and a high percentage of the remaining coal is being won. Stoppings are erected sealing the various openings immediately the pillars are finished, whether there has been trouble from cob fires or not. Preparations are being made to open out a section in the west portion of the lease where the coal outcrops, disclosing a 14 ft. seam of coal. Huntly Coal-mine, Huntly. —Shallow mining operations are continued on a lease granted by the Auckland University Council. The pillars have been extracted in the east section, and bords are being set away towards the west outcrop boundary. The output is conveyed by motor-lorry to Huntly Station, a distance of a mile and a half. Huntly Brick and, Fireclay Company (Limited), Huntly. —The opencast fireclay workings were inspected soveral times during the year, and I found Explosive and Mining Regulations properly observed by the workmen and management. Taupiri East Coal-mine, Kimihia, via Huntly. —During the year operations were confined to the extraction of the remaining pillars and boring. The latter proved the seam at the baso of the hill rising from the Kimihia Lake. Four miners working on a. co-operative basis have acquired an interest in this property and propose to vigorously develop same. Campbell Coal-mine, Whalawhata (Crown Lease). —Mr. Campbell Johnston secured a Crown lease of the coal on his leasehold property, and prospecting revealed a seam of brown coal of good quality. Upwards of 2,000 tons of coal was mined, and delivered to Hamilton by means of motor-lorries over the county roads. Later a registered company acquired the lease and laid down an iron-rail tramway to the road, and erected a loading-bank, also other facilities for increasing the output. The transport of this coal damaged the roads, and the Councils imposed a prohibitive road-tax, which was the means of causing a cessation of road cartage. The property is now being systematically prospected by boring. Graham Coal-mine, Glen Afton. —Operations conducted on O'Sullivan's freehold property adjacent to the Glen Afton Colliery. The outcrop was followed in the coal to a seam measuring 7 ft. in thickness. A tramway and jig connect tho mine with the county road, and the output is then carted to the Glen Afton railway-siding. Kimihia Coal-mine, Kimihia. —Two miners opened out a small mine on a portion of the Auckland University College endowment at Kimihia. They constructed about 2 chains of jig tramway, a loading-stage, and broke away several bords in the soam ; but, owing to the lease of the coal not being granted to them, operations were subsequently abandoned. A coal lease over this area had previously been granted to the Taupiri East Coal Company. Bombay Colliery, B mbay. —A party of miners working on. co-operative principles secured a lease of coal on freehold land at the foot of the Bombay Hill. Extensive prospecting operations by way of a number of small drives from the outcrop opened out a section of the coal, which, if the quality is good, should market easily in this closely settled district. The output is conveyed by road to Pukekohe. Opahelce Colliery, Opahelce. —A few tons were mined from an outcrop of coal in the Drury Hills. The venture proved unprofitable,' and was abandoned.