§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information showing the result of experiments made in the Robinson mine, on the Rand, with a new drill working a 30-inch stope; and what effect this new drill is likely to have upon the supply of coloured labour required for the gold mines.
§ MR. CHURCHILLA report by the Acting Government Mining Engineer upon the drill referred to says that he is of opinion that it is too soon to make any definite statements as regards the economic value of the new drill, but it appears as if it would enable economies in native labour to be effected and would also reduce the cost of working narrow stopes by saving the breaking of worth less waste rock. Unofficial statements have been made of a still more satisfactory character.