C.—2.

Defiance Mine (MeClatchie and, Co., Ltd., Christchurch), Murray Creek. —The output won during the year was obtained from development work north of the old mine workings and from pillar-extraction in the Waterfall section. The seam in the development area is at present 6 ft. in thickness, but the coal is of poor quality. It is, however, the intention of the manager to continue the development work. Clele Mine (Alborn and Party), Merrijigs.—The output won during the year was obtained from development work and pillar-extraction in No. 2 mine. Difficulties have continued in development work, due to the faulted nature of the country. White Rose Mine (PL. and S. Origgs, late W. Osbom), Merrijigs. —A little development work has been done at this mine, and 105 tons of coal were produced. Bttller District. Mitchell's Mine, Charleston.—Operations at this mine recommenced during the year. The mine is worked opencast, but owing to aooees not being obtainable from the lowest point the full thickness of the seam cannot bo worked unless expensive pumping operations arc resorted to. Arrangements are being made to allow access to this lease at a much lower level. Bowater and Bryan's Mine, Charleston. —This mine is worked by the opencast method, but here again only the top portion of a3O ft. seam is worked. Arrangements are in hand to construct a road which will give access to a much lower point and thus allow almost the maximum thickness of the seam to be worked. Warne's Mine, Charleston. —This mine is operated by the opencast method. The mine works very intermittently, and only 7 tons of coal were produced during the year. Powell's Mine, Charleston.—This mine is worked opencast, but only on a small scale. No definite method has been adopted to work the full thickness of the seam, although there is a tunnel tail-race between 30 ft. and 40 ft. down from the surface near the lease which may be used for drainage. No further production will take place until the tail-race referred to is put to use. Price's Freehold, Brighton.—This mine was closed during the whole of the year. Brighton Coal-mines, Ltd., Brighton.—During the year 443 tons of coal were' won and disposed of locally. Repairs have been effected to the flume from the mine to the bins on Seal Island, and although coal has been delivered to the bins no shipment of coal has taken place during the year. Roclclands Mine (J. P. Burley), Buller Gorge.—The total output of coal won from this mine was obtained from pillar-extraction. No further development work is possible in the present mine, but some prospecting has been done on another portion of the lease south-west of the present workings, but sufficient has not been done to enable a decision to be made regarding the opening of the area. Glencrag Mine (Forsyth and Bateson), Buller Gorge.—The output for the year was won from development work. No pillars have yet been extracted from this mine. The road from the main highway to the mine entrance has been completed, and new bins and hand screening plant erected near the mine entrance. Goal Creek Mine (McGuire and Party), Seddonville. —The output from this mine during the year was obtained from filling loose and fallen coal in the main level, which has not been used for a few years, and from development to the riso of the main level. Glasgow Mine (Steele and Party), Seddonville.—This mine remained closed, and the coal lease was surrendered during the year. Cardiff Coal Co., Ltd., Mokihinui. —This mine remained closed during the year. Hydro Coal-mines, Ltd., Seddonville. —The output won during the year was obtained from pillar-extraction in the inside area and development work in an area east of the main drive 20 chains inbye of the mine entrance. Two headings to the rise have been driven in this area ; from these headings places have been driven east and west, and at present have proved an area at least 8 chains in width. The cave area, which was tapped by a stone tunnel 3 chains in length and coursing westerly from the main drive, has been found to be of very little use. The whole area was affected with blackdamp, and the small pillars therein were so much crushed and roof-broken as to render operations unsafe. The workmen were withdrawn, and the manager instructed to seal off the area to prevent blackdamp entering the intake airway leading to the section now operating. Charming Creek (Westport Coal Co., Ltd.), Ngakawau.—'Practically all the output won during the year was obtained from development work. The main north headings were advanced a further 8 chains ; at this point the measures tilted to the east and west of the heading, making it impossible to win coal in these directions in the absence of power for haulage and pumping. Consequently, operations in the main headings were suspended for a time. Development work in No. 2 west panel also reached a point where similar conditions prevailed, and operations in this panel also ceased. Development work was then commenced in No. 2 panel east, which is 12 chains outbye of No. 2 west pane' ; the seam in this panel is 20 ft. in thickness and the coal of good quality. Westport Main Mine ( Westport-Granity Coal-mines, Ltd.), Granity.—This company has ceased operations and the coal lease held by them cancelled by re-entry. Westport-Cascade Mine, Cascade Creek.—At this mine four separate sections of the coal have been operated during the year, and the output won was obtained from both development work and pillar-extraction. O'Brien's Section : During the second half of the year this section was totally exhausted. Moynihan's Section : All development work in this section is completed, and operations are confined to pillarextraction. Top Mine: Operations are now confined to pillar-extraction. Durkin's South Section : Development work still continues in this section, and no pillars have yet been extracted. The section is adjacent to the Westport Coal Co.'s boundary, and by agreement between the companies the Cascade Company is allowed to operate a portion of the first-named company's lease. Westport Coal Co., Ltd., Denniston Mines.—lronbridge Mine : Ten pairs of miners are employed in this mine, where six small sections are operated. All coal won during the year was obtained from pillar-extraction. Coalbrookdale Mine : This mine consists of two main sections—namely, Whareatca and Whareatea Extended. Almost all coal won was obtained from pillar-extraction, very little development work having been done during the year. In the Waterloo section of the Whareatea portion of the mine preparations are being made to drive four main headings in coal to tap the new lease known as the Plateau area. Towards the end of 1938 a commencement was made to re-open Forsyth's section in the Whareatea Extended portion of the mine, but as yet no development work has been done, operations having been confined to pillar-extraction in No. 1 panel. However, boring operations are now in progress with a view to ascertaining the possibilities of the area beyond the main headings in Forsyth's section. Cascade Mine : Operations in this mine are confined to pillar-extraction. During the year a commencement was made to construct a now change and bath house near the power-house at Denniston for the convenience of persons employed at the Coalbrookdale Mine. This will be completed early in 1940. A large Babcock and Wilcox boiler is being installed. The boiler has a heating surface of 4,780 square feet, is capable of evaporating 20,0001b. of water per hour, while the steam pressure is 250 lb. per square inch, and is fitted with automatic feed, chain-grate stokers, Green's modern economizer, and superheaters. Westport Coal Co., Ltd., Millerton Mine.—Two areas have been operated during the year at this mine. Mine Creek Area: The output from this area was won from the partial extraction of pillars in the third and fifth west sections and the driving of places in bottom coal 12 ft. in thickness and of good quality left behind in the first workings and underlying an area of pillars about 3 acrcs in extent. Mangatina Area: Operations in this area are confined to working small areas of coal on the eastern side of the haulage road and the bottom coal left behind in the first workings. Old Dip Area : During the year a commencement was made to repair the main haulage road in this area, preparatory to the extraction of pillars in the Settlement section. Westport-Stockton Coal Co., Ltd., Ngakawau.—The major portion of the output was won from development work in the new east section, and the remainder from pillar-extraction in No. 2 west dip section, McCabe's dip section, and "J " dip. In the new east dip some places were driven to the outcrop and disclosed that a lower seam was being worked, separated from the main seam by 24 ft. of shale and sandstone, Arrangements were then made to operate

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