C.—2.

Mount Burnett Mine.—Operations were resumed at this mine by a party of co-operative miners who commenced developing the No. 1 seam to the north of the creek. The seam, lying at an inclination of approximately 75°, is 10 ft. thick at the outcrop adjacent to the creek. Development of the main level disclosed a distinct tendency of the seam to thin proceeding north, and the party have commenced development to the south of the creek. A self-acting endless-rope haulage was installed to lower the coal to a point about 10 chains from the roadway where small bins were erected, the coal being conveyed to the bins by horse haulage. Difficulty will be experienced in arranging transport facilities owing to shallow water at any possible points of shipment. Total output to end of 1931 was 547 tons. Broxbourne Mine. —A stone-drive was constructed to intercept the seam lying at a gradient of 1 in 3 on the property of H. Ellis. Only a small amount of coal was won. Total output to the 31st December, 1931, was 251 tons. Motupipi Mine.—A small amount of coal continues to be mined from the beach; the demand isjivery limited. Total production to end of 1931 was 818 tons. Irvine's Mine. —The coal produced from this mine supplies the requirements of a small lime-kiln, and is got by robbing the outcrop at various convenient points. Seymour Mine. —A commencement has been made to develop this mine on the double-stall system of working. The seam, approximately 6 ft. in thickness, is split by a friable shaly band 2 ft. in thickness and about 3 ft. from the floor, making the former method of working unsuitable. During the year there was a sudden outburst of methane in the main level, at least 5,000 cubic feet being liberated and the pressure dislodged a piece of solid coal from the face 2 ft. in thickness. Fortunately, all the men hurriedly withdrew from the mine, which at that time was worked by means of naked lights. Safety-lamps only are now in use and a ventilating-fan driven by a Diesel engine was installed forthwith. Total output to the 31st December, 1931, was 3,692 tons. O'Rourke's Mine.—Operations at the old mine ceased during the year and a small mine on an adjoining freehold property was commenced. The seam worked is thin, and only a small output for local use is produced. Total output to end of 1931 was 1,493 tons. Dangerous Occurrences notified under Regulation 82 or the Coal-mines Act, 1925. On the 3rd January, 1931, the mine-manager of the Perfection Mine, Morrisvale Colliery, discovered that an old fire had burned through a stopping. A new stopping was erected and the fire checked. On the sth January, 1931, a heating was discovered in the sixth west section of the Millerton Mine. Water was laid on, and the heated debris sluiced away. On the 14th January, 1931, a fire broke through the stoppings into the third west dip workings of the Millerton Mine. Concrete stoppings that had been built in readiness controlled the fire. On the 14th January, 1931, a fire broke through a stopping in the Hygrade Mine, Morrisvale Colliery. Two fresh stoppings were erected and the fire again sealed off. The mine had been idle for four years. During February, the management of the Millerton Mine decided to abandon and flood the third west dip section of the mine in an endeavour to control the spread of the fire. During February, the workings of the Glasgow Mine were holed into the old fire area of the Seddonville State Mine. The fire again became active and during March the State Mine workings were again sealed off. On the 18th April, 1931, a serious fire broke out in the Middle section of the Millerton Mine. The fire spread over a total area of 25 acres, and five men were injured by distilled gas explosions before the fire was finally sealed off. On the 18th May, 1931, a sudden outburst of methane occurred at the Seymour Mine, Owen River. The quantity was not less than 5,000 cubic feet, and, as the mine was at that time woi-ked by naked lights, safety-lamps were forthwith placed in use and a ventilating-fan installed. During August the old fire burned through No. 25 stopping in the second west section of the Millerton Mine. Stoppings were erected in two staple pits and doors in a second line of prepared stoppings closed to retard the advance of the fire. In addition, the main fire crossed the barrier into No. 2 dip workings. Stoppings were erected and the fire sealed off. During November a surface fire penetrated underground into the workings of the St. Helen's Mine at Seddonville. A trench, 21 ft. deep and 99 ft. long, was cut and the lire isolated. On the 3rd November, 1931, a workman's coat, hanging on a prop in the Wallsend Mine, was found to be smouldering. Nothing definite as to the cause of the ignition of the coat could be discovered. Fatal Accidents. Only two fatal accidents occurred in the district during the year, and after allowing for the fact that the output was considerably reduced, the result, comparatively speaking, shows a decided improvement on last year. On the 12th January, 1931, John Dickson, miner, was killed in the Stockton Mine. He was filling loose coal when a block of coal rolled down the slope knocking out a prop, which struck Dickson on the head fracturing his skull. On the Bth July, 1931, William Wratham Stone, a trucker employed in the Dobson Mine, was killed by a fall of roof stone. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. On the 4th February, 1931, William Getley, miner, Millerton, sustained a fracture of the right leg and of a small bone in the left ankle, through being struck by a piece of coal rolling down a slope. On the 16th April, 1931, George Connors, coal-hewer, Morgan seam, Liverpool Colliery, sustained a fracture of the right tibia bone, through being struck by a fall of coal. On the 7th July, 1931, Louis Gibbons, horse-driver, Morgan seam, Liverpool Colliery, was caught between a rake of trucks and a ventilation-door receiving injuries to foot and back. On the 29th July, 1931, Hugh Ruane, miner at Dobson Mine, had his leg fractured by a rake of trucks. On the 6th August, 1931, John Smeaton, miner, Kimbell west section, Liverpool Mine, sustained head injuries from a fall of coal. On the 24th August, 1931, William Buchanan, underviewer, Wallsend Mine, sustained a fracture of the small bone of the right leg through being struck by a piece of stone. On the 15th September, 1931, Sydney Payne, miner, Westport-Stockton Mine, sustained a broken left leg and injuries to back by falling coal. On the 30th October, 1931, Charles Tanner, blacksmith, Hunter and Party's Mine, while repairing trucks close to the Rewanui Railway-line, was struck by a train, sustaining broken ribs and injuries to head and arms. Prosecutions. There were nineteen informations laid during the year. One was withdrawn, two were dismissed, and sixteen convictions were recorded. For acting as mine-manager without a permit, a miner was fined £1 with costs 12s. (Section 60 (e) of Coal-mines Act, 1925.) For failing to provide a plaoe to store surplus explosives a mine-manager was charged, and convicted with costs. (Regulation 223 (1).)

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