370 COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



Many of pur older collieries are equipped with old- 

 fashioned machinery, which was good enough when first in- 

 stalled, but which is now out of date. Such collieries being 

 nearly worked out, it would not pay to replace the existing 

 machinery with that of a more modern design, in spite of the 

 fact that the latter may do more effective work, and cost less for 

 upkeep. On the other hand, some proprietors have thought 

 to economise by removing old-fashioned machinery from a 

 defunct colliery to a younger one, forgetting that although the 

 wheels can turn round, they may consume more power in turn- 

 ing than modern practice permits. Keen competition at the 

 present day obliges one to look into small matters of economy 

 which, by accumulation, amount to a large figure by the 

 end of the year; thus the fact is forced on steam users that it 

 is cheaper to provide suitable feed water for boilers than to 

 execute repairs. Taking pur collieries on the whole, however, 

 they compare very "well with those in other parts of the world, 

 and some of our colliery managers who have travelled in Europe 

 and America in recent years are satisfied that, so far as 

 methods and equipments are concerned, Australian collieries 

 are not behind hand. Improvements are constantly being made, 

 for a colliery of any extent will generally stand the expense of 

 improvements so as to enable it the better to compete with 

 others in the trade. In cases, better sites might have been 

 selected for surface works, better grades for self-acting inclines 

 adopted, and other alternatives might have been made with 

 advantage; but such initial errors common to all mining dis- 

 tricts are gradually being rectified. 



There are dangers peculiar to all industries, and coal min- 

 ing is no exception. Inrushes from the sea have to be guarded 

 against in some of the coastal collieries, while measures have 

 to be taken to prevent spontaneous combustion and explosions 

 of fire damp and coal dust in others. 



Mechanical difficulties, such as sinking through quick- 

 sand, have been met with and overcome in certain instances. 



Our coal trade is still hampered at times for lack of suffi- 

 cient rolling stock and for want of better loading appliances at 

 wharves. 



We have heard a good deal lately about the necessity of hav- 

 ing breathing apparatus installed at collieries, so as to enable 

 men to penetrate poisonous gases. With the exception of one 

 or two outfits of an ancient type at Messrs. J. and A. Brown's 

 collieries, I have been unable to learn that any such apparatus 

 are kept on our coalfields, and if they were, they would be no 

 good without a corps of men trained in their use. Some differ- 

 ent types have been brought out to Australia by agents, and 

 have been officially tested, but did not give satisfaction. After 

 the Courrieres disaster in France, breathing apparatus were 



