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South. Level: The reopening of this level is to be continued when a scraper loader is available. Plant: In No. 1 North Level a compressed-air pump was replaced by an electrical unit. Sixty-eight men were employed on the surface and 204 men underground at this colliery. Blackball State Colliery, Blackball (P. T. Peattie (First Class), Mine-Manager).—Slant Dip Four pairs of miners on double shift continued to work in a seam 12 ft. to 15 ft. thick in good-quality coal. Dunn s Dip and No. 2 South Sections : Two levels to connect these sections were extended for 14 chains Eight chains of the driving was in coal 3 ft. to 6 ft. thick. When these two sections are connected, one of these levels will be used to transport coal from Dunn's Dip to No. 2 South endless haulage. Perrin s Dip : This dip was dewatered and extended for 3 chains. Owing to extensive floor heave and very wet conditions, this dip was abandoned. A panel is being developed to the north of the dip. Ihe seam is undulating, 12 ft. thick, and the coal is of good quality. : This dip has been extended for 10 chains, the coal at the face being hard and bright, ihree headings off the main dip were driven in a southerly direction for 5 chains. The grade of the seam was 1 in 4 and the coal was hard. Main Intake Airway : This airway is being enlarged and the timber supports replaced bv concrete legs and steel bars. Crow's Nest Section : Working places in this section are being connected with the abandoned 1 i°-i Section. It is proposed to continue one of the working-places to connect with the undercast, which passes under the main intake airway. Later this can be used as a return airwav for this side of the mine. Plant: Rotary coal-boring equipment was installed throughout the mine. Twenty-eight men were employed on the surface and 164 men underground at this colliery. Blackball Greek Colliery (Balderstone and Party), Blackball (W. Balderstone (Underviewer), Mine-manager).—-Pillar splitting and extraction was continued. One man was emploved on the surface and 8 men underground. . Briandale Collieries, Ltd., Ten-mile Creek (T. Howard (First Class), Mine-manager).—One pair of miners continued development work in a seam containing stone bands. Four men were employed on the surface and 2 men underground. Wallsend State Colliery, Brunnerton (J. Cunningham (First Class), Mine-manager).—No. 1 Section : Pillar-extraction was continued in this section, which was nearing completion near the end of the year. JSIo. 1a Section : This is an abandoned section which was reopened during the vear with a view to extracting pillars. Rise Workings Between Shaft and Tyneside : This abandoned section was reopened for the purpose of surveying to determine the exact position of Wallsend workings in relation to Tyneside workings. Old No. 2 Section : Dewatering was continued. No. 1 Slant Dip : Pillar-extraction was continued. This section is nearing completion. Slant Dip : Pillar-extraction was continued. Pillar extraction in Extension Section and action was completed, and extraction is now confined to haulage roadside pillars. Six Box Section : This section is being reopened with a view to pillar-extraction. A storage bin at the surface was repaired and new plant installed to deal with the output. Thirty-two men were employed on the surface and 133 men underground. Dobson State Colliery, Dobson (C. D. Buist (First Class), Mine-manager).—Fifth West Section : development work was continued in a seam 12 ft. thick. Extension of this section to the west is limited by a fault. Underground drilling has so far failed to prove the seam beyond this fault. No. 2 Dip Section : Development work was continued to the dip and the rise. The grade of the seam was uniform and the coal of good quality. No. 1 Dip Section: This section was developed by two crosscut dips in a very steep seam of irregular grade. The faces of two crosscuts are now at 1,700 ft. below sea-level and 80 chains away from bore No. 254, which has reported 13 ft. coal. Viaduct East Section: Three pairs of miners were developing a very disturbed seam with steep grades. Development work to the south-west is proving an excellent seam, whilst development to the south-east shows the seam to be more steeply inclined and irregular. A new deputies' change house and official's office was erected near the mine mouth. Renewals and renovations were carried out to the main bathhouse. Forty-two men were employed on the surface and 193 men underground. Paparoa State Colliery, Boa (D. Mackay (First Class), Mine-manager).—Aerial Section: Work throughout the year mainly consisted of reopening old roadways and pillar-extraction. A stone drive from the mouth of the Aerial Mine was extended towards Waterfall Creek Section. This is later to be used as a haulage road from Waterfall Creek Section. It is proposed to use a battery locomotive along this haulage road. The fan was removed to a new site, producing an increased volume of air in the mine. oil, ® ec^ on: Work throughout the year was mainly on reopening old roadways and pillar-extraction. Ihe high-tension line from Middle Flat to Soldier's was completed and the power connected to the West Section fan. Twenty-four men were employed on the surface and 60 men underground at this colliery.

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