The Premier, in acknowledging five vote, .gave- a humorous sketch of his nioveinemts 0:1 tin; Coast since his arrival from Milford, and in concluding was cheered. The. Pre mier goas to Kumara, to-morrow, then on to Oreymouth mid Reefton.
THE FIRE IN THE BLACKBALL MINE.
..Tiers TO BE TAKEN TO COPE WITH

{spec:Ah to "Tin- _-rk..s.")

(._... VMOUTH. December 5. Smoke is still i..iiing from both end-, of the* initio ;it Blackball. The- miners cannot approach tho entrance, neither can they get near where tiie body of Green was i-_ ---.uver.d. It is believed (he fire is increasing, and it ha* been decided to Hood the mine. This can lie done by blocking the entrance on thi- RJiM.-kl>.ill side- and turning the Coal ■Greek into the mine on the other side of the mine. Tiiero is an incline of 100 ft, and when the creek is turned it will he necessary to cut. a race about 100 yd.-*. There is a good supply of w;tter in the creek.
Tho work t-ommciiceM to-day of blocking the main entrance and cutting the water-rat*-*.. It i. expected that tho mine will only need half-filling before the fire is extinguished. It is tlxuight that the work will be easily

accomtdished, aud that no very serious ■delay will be caused by the stoppage, though "Mr Scott, the mine manager, states that work cannot be resumed much under three months.
CANTERBURY EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.
