C.— 2.

Dangerous Occurrences in Coal Mines (Regulation 81, Coal-mines Regulations 1939). Pyramid Mine, Reeflon. —A heating occurred in some buried coal while extraction of pillars was proceeding on the 21st April. The heated coal was located by driving into the fall, and was loaded into trucks and removed from the mine. Wallsend Colliery, Brunnerton. —On the 21st May an accumulation of firedamp (approximately 15,000 cubic feet) was discovered in the north-west corner of "A " panel. The workmen were withdrawn from the section and the gas cleared before the end of the day. Liverpool State Mine, Rewanui.— On the 11th September heating of coal was found in the west side of the Anderson dip section. The heating was located in a large heap of fallen coal which could not be removed, and after unsuccessful attempts to cool it with water the area was sealed with permanent stoppings and subsequently flooded with water. Liverpool State Mine, Rewanui.—On the 17th October a " heating " was reported in the Morgan East Section. An area had been previously sealed of! with permanent stoppings, but damage to two stoppings had been caused by excessive crush, which resulted in the products of the fire escaping through the stoppings. A new lino was erected on tho outbye side of the affected area. Prosecutions under the Coal-mines Act, 1925. Four informations wore laid during the year, and a conviction obtained in all cases. On 4th June two minors were prosecuted for having in their working-place 4 lb. of explosives, not being in a secure case or canister as required by Regulation 221 (1) of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. Both men were convicted and fined £3 each with Court costs 10s. A shot-firer was charged with failing to examine all contigous accessible places with a, locked safety-lamp within a radius of 20 yards from a shot which had been charged and coupled to the shot-firing cable preparatory to firing it. He was convicted and fined £5, and Court costs 10s. A mine-manager was charged with a breach of section 131 (2) of tho Coal-mines Act, 1925, in that he failed to withdraw the workmen from a working-place rendered dangerous by the presence of inflammable gas. He was convicted and fined £5 and Court costs 10s. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. (J. Hughes, Inspector oe Coal-mines.) In accordance with the Coal-mines Act, 1925, I have the honour to submit the following report on tho mining activities for tho year ended 31st December, 1941. Canterbury District. Bonanza Mine. —Pillar-oxtraetion was eontinuod at this mine until November. The mine was then abandoned and all plant withdrawn. Clearview Mine. —Pillar-extraction was continued throughout the year. As a result of heavy rain the mine was flooded in September, and was later dewatered and mining operations recommenced. Lucknow Clay-pit. —Another seam of fireclay was developed during the year by means of two levels driven northeast for a distance of 200 ft. Klondyke Mine. —Very little development work was carried out during the year, the bulk of the output being obtained from pillar-extraction along the No. 3 north-west level. Malvern Awe.—During the year the lower south level collapsed and a small amount of head coal extraction took place along the lower north level; tho mine was abandoned in October. Sandman Mine. —Following upon efforts to further develop this mine, it was abandoned towards the end of the year. Steventon Mine.- —Development has been continued in the lower levels to the north. A fault was intercepted, and further development work increased the influx of water. Sunnydale Clay Mine.—Work was carried out very intermittently at this mine. Blackburn Mine. —Development work is continuing on the north-west side of the fault. The coal in this area is of good quality and a reasonable amount of coal is now in sight. During the year the railway leading to the mine was was replaced by a roadway, and the results have proven this to be beneficial. Mount Somers Mine. —Pillar-extraction has eontinuod in the old mine and very little coal remains to be won. The new stone drive was successfully completed and development work is proceeding in a northerly direction. BrocMey Anthracite-mine. —Development work is continuing to the south-west, and the scam is maintaining its thickness. Acheron Mine (Anthracite). —All development work carried out at this mine appears to indicate a deposit of reasonable extent. Woodbank Mine (Albury).—Following tho abandonment of tho old mine, all operations have been confined to opencast mining. North Otaqo District. Airedale Mine.—Pillar-extraction was continued to the north of the inbye dip haulage road, and trouble was experienced from spontaneous combustion. As a result, the whole of this area was permanently sealed off. Development work is now proceeding on tho south side of the old area, but the extent of available coal is fast diminishing. , , „ St. Andrew's Mine. —Practically all pillar coal in the dip area has now been won, and a small area to the rise remains for further development. Ngapara Mine. —All production from this mine continues to be from pillar-extraction. siiaq Point Mine (McLaren's). —A small amount of development work was continued to the east and to the south, but the bulk of the output was obtained from pillar-extraction. An effort is being made to prove the seam to the north of the fault which runs parallel to and on tho north side of the main dip haulage heading. Willetts Mine. A limited amount of development work was carried out to the north, but the bulk of the output was obtained from pillar-extraction. . Kockvale Mine. —Development of the field to the east has been continued during the year, and a few years coal is in sight. Central Otago District. Shepherd's Creek Mine. —The whole of the mino output has been obtained from pillar-extraction, and the quantity of coal remaining to be won from present operations is very limited. Cairnmuir Mine. All previous development or exploratory work has been abandoned and a small amount of coal has been won from an area adjacent to Wilson's old mine. Oturehua and Idaburn Pits.—Opencast operations have been continued at these pits.

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