23 



I have now trespassed somewhat considerably 

 upon Mr. McGregor's valuable time and so thank-, 

 ing him for his kind escort I ascend once more to the 

 surface. 



THE SOUTHFIELD MINE. 



After taking in some of the remainder of the com- 

 pany's widespread undertakings in the suburbs, to 

 describe which fully would require a volume, I note 

 briefly that the No. 5 pit, already mentioned, is down 

 508 feet to a part of the Douglas seam, having the 

 characteristics of what is known on the market as 

 "Southfield coal" a first class steaming and coking 

 coal. The mine is worked on the same principle and 

 by machinery and appliances similar to those of the 

 No. i shaft, excepting- the electricity. The fuel is in 

 great demand it is said to burn to the last particle, 

 leaving no waste from dross or small coal. The rail- 

 way connects with the esplanade shipping wharves, 

 and is about six miles in length. The field of coal is 

 very extensive and is now under development by dia- 

 mond drilling machines. The company owns large 

 areas of coal lands to the dip and southwards of the 

 No. i and No. 5 shafts, which are now being thor- 

 oughly explored. Mr. Richard Gibson is overman. 



The Protection Island shaft and its workings are in 

 effect an expansion of the No. i Shaft mine. The 

 workings have been carried far by two main slopes to 

 northeast and eastward, each of them being upwards 

 of a mile in the direction of Gabriola Island, where 

 the company has a large field. The colliery plant on 

 Protection Island is, with its engines, bunkers and 

 wharves, etc., a model of successful mechanical ap- 

 plication. The coal is similar to that raised in No. i 

 shaft. The extent and limits of the field are in course 

 of exploration, and the possibilities are very great. 

 Mr. Thomas Morgan is overman. 



THE NORTHFIELD COLLIERY. 



The Northfield colliery is about four miles from 

 Departure Bay. Here the seam is called "New Wei- 



