53

C—2.

so it was decided to commence extracting the pillars there. The pillar work has been completed in the middle slant section. The small longwall section now has a face 80 ft. in length. This section is now under a gully near the rise portion of the old Allandale Mine. From the old rise section workings in the present mine a large flow of water heavily charged with sulphuric acid entails a lot of repair work to the electrically-driven pump. Shag Point Mine. —The level to the south was stopped as it entered the very faulted ground met in the higher levels. From this level two dips were driven a pillar-length, and then connected by a cut-through which was continued across to the main dip. Preparations were then made to extend the main dip. A new return-air shaft 50 ft. deep has been sunk about 2 chains north-east of the coal-chute : this shaft connected with the top south level. The mine is now under the charge of a certificated underviewer. Rough Ridge Coal-pit. —A few tons for home consumption were produced from this small opencast pit. Idaburn Pit. —Stripping has been kept well in advance on the west side of the pit, but the lignite is of rather poor quality there. Oturehua Pit. —A small output was produced early in the year, but the pit was again allowed to fill with water. Recently the pit has been purchased by a Shag Point miner, who is now producing a small output from the pit. Cambrian Coal-pit. —Early in the year this pit was pumped out and 231 tons of lignite taken out. As trade again slackened, work ceased in June, but was again resumed towards the end of the year. McPherson's Pit, Goal Creek Flat. —Work has been continued throughout the year both in the seam above the level of the water-race and in the one to the dip. In the spring a heavy wind carried so much thistle down into the race that it became blocked, causing an overflow which undermined the fluming. The upper 4 ft. of the lower seam is of rather poor quality, but the remainder is almost equal to that of the upper seam. Shepherd's Creek Mine. —ln another three months the solid work will be completed on the south side, and the pillaring should last another two years. Work has been confined to the south, as the lignite on the north side is of very poor quality. When the bottom south level broke through into old workings in August a considerable quantity of black-damp was released. All the mine-water is now draining out through, the old workings. Places are still being driven about 9 ft. in width, and as there is 6 ft. of lignite left on the roof no timber supports are required. Nevis Crossing Pit. —The small output for local sale has been maintained throughout the year. Parfit's Goal-pit. —Work was continued to the north-west, where very heavy stripping by hydraulic nozzle was done. It will soon be too thick for the small amount of marketable fuel produced. The upper portion of the seam as well as a few feet of the bottom is very soft, and there is only about 7 ft. in the middle of the seam that is marketable, together with about 3 ft. of very light-coloured lignite, like shale, which finds a ready sale. Freeman's Mine. —Three miners are now employed at pillar-work on the east side of the main trucking-road, and they are coming back nicely with the goaf closing well behind them. The floor is inelined to heave, and a little brushing has to be done to keep the trucking-roads open. Good stoppings were built to seal off the heated area on the west side. Jubilee Mine. —The main dip in the No. 5 section (the only one now worked) has been extended 3 chains during the year, and the face is now 13 chains south of the traffic-road line. Tho floor is inclined to heave, and the main dip, driven 6 ft. high, is now only 4 ft. in height. The full dip of the seam now being about south-east, when the main dip is extended it will be diverted to that direction. On the west side some of the levels met a faulted area and the lignite is of rather poor quality, but the east levels are in good lignite, and one on that side is now in over 8 chains from the main dip. A panel system has been adopted, and barriers 50 ft. wide are being formed between the panels. A3O h.p. 400-volt induction motor is now in use at the surface for the haulage from the No. 5 section. Willowbank Mine. —From the area opened up during the past three years five miners have been working back pillars, and in a few months this section will be abandoned. A small 3 ft. ventilating-fan driven by a 3 h.p. motor was installed in July. About 10 chains west of the present mine-entranee a new dip to the south is being driven at a grade of lin 14. About 30 yards ahead of the commencement of the dip a bore put down from the surface met alO ft. seam of coal when down 24 ft. Another borehole, 2 chains farther to the west reached the seam at 20 ft., but it was only about 1 ft. thick there. Near the foot of the hill two boreholes were drilled : both were put down 130 ft., and both were unsuccessful in proving coal. Waronui Mine. —About the middle of the year a small section was opened up to the rise of the old No. 1 Mine workings. All working-places have been driven less than 8 ft. in width, and the seam is only 5-_- ft. thick. As there is a soft stratum of fireclay immediately over the coal-seam, all places have to be supported by sets. Many small hitches were met, and development has now ceased in that section, all the miners there being on pillar-work. In the No. 2 Mine, at the head of an old cuddy a few places are being worked. The seam is 9 ft. thick, and 2 ft. is being left on for roof-support. In the prospect drive on the west side of the railway-line no work was done for most of the year, but work was resumed in September. Unless a fault is soon met there is little hope of meeting a coal-seam, as the drive is running almost parallel with the measures. Viewbank Mine. —Work ceased in the upper seam east workings early in the year. When a new return airway to an outcrop on the west side was completed the main north level in the lower seam was extended. This level, and others east and west of it, and an incline to the west, are now being worked. Elliotvale Mine. —ln the hills eight miles south of Milton a seam of brown coal outcrops. It was worked in a small way several years ago by opencast and a few level drives. One of the levels, eommenoed in the middle of the seam, was extended to about 25 yards, but as the seam was dipping in that direction the level met the roof. A few wooden tubs and iron rails were purchased, and after 83 tons were produced work was again stopped. The connecting road between the mine and the main road is only a clay one and traverses very hilly country. Taratu Mine. —Another year's output from this mine consisted solely of pillar coal. The remainder of the coal under the surveyed road-line was not extracted, so a large quantity of good clean coal was lost. Pillar-extraction has been continued south of the road-line and also in the dip section, where five pairs of miners are employed. The mine is now a very small one, and, as the shaft seam was met in a hand borehole put down between the old shaft section and the present workings, a new dip should be driven to work the shaft seam. Lakeside (formerly Tuakitoto) Mine. —One of the levels going north in the upper seam met a downthrow fault. Development was continued for some months in places to the east and south, but the south level was in very faulted coal for 20 ft. Lately work has been confined to the lower seam, an incline being driven to the west. From the main level and near the main dip a stone drive was commenced, but when in about 100 ft. a large fall occurred, breaking the timber supports. No further work has been done. Kaituna Mine. —A few tons were produced early in the year from pillar-extraction from the rise portion of the 4 ft. seam. Production stopped in June, and nothing further has been done. Kaidale Mine. —During the year very little work was done at this mine. The crosscut was not extended, but a place to the west from near the bottom of the crosscut was extended about 10 yards and another place broken away. Higher up a couple of other places going to the west were extended about | chain. Owing to the poor demand the mine-owner had to obtain employment elsewhere. Wangaloa Mine. —From the outcrop a new- level was driven first to the north-east, then it veered to the north and north-west, and it is now going south-west and is 6J chains in from the surface. It is skirting a traffic road, and on account of a bend in the road the level can be driven another 30 yards only. The coal is clean and hard, and the places are being driven narrow and are well timbered. Three of the inclines have holed into old workings to the rise. Summerhill Mine. —Very little work was done at this mine for the year, only 12 tons being produced. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. —In the No. 2 section, No. 1 seam (formerly called Mundy's dip section), the main dip heading has been driven 13 chains to the east, and the back heading advanced 4 chains beyond the main heading. Thereabouts the coal is of excellent quality and from 18 ft. to 20 ft. in thickness. To the north, off the main dip, the upper levels met stony eoal when about 400 ft. in, but a lower level is now in over 14 chains and is still in good clean coal. On the north side a panel about 5J chains wide and 9 chains long has been formed. A barrier about