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APPENDIX C. • REPORT OP BOARDS OP EXAMINERS. Geological Survey Office. Wellington, 11th July, 1928. Sib,— On behalf of the Boards of Examiners under the Mining and Coal-mines Acts, I have the honour to submit the following brief report on the work of the Boards during 1927. The annual written examinations of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, were held at Dunedin, Reefton, and Huntly in October last. Seven candidates sat for first-class certificates and six for second-class certificates, as compared with nine for first-class certificates and eleven for second-class certificates the previous year. In addition an examination was also held at Dunedin at the same time for a candidate for a minesurveyor's certificate under the Coal-mines Act, and one at Reefton for a candidate for a battery superintendent's certificate under the Mining Act, 1.926. Those candidates for certificates under the Coal-mines Act who were successful in obtaining the necessary marks in their written examination came, before the Board for oral examination at its annua] meeting in December last, with the result that the following were successful in obtaining certificates : First-class mine-managers' certificates —Richard Hall, Brunnerton ; John R. Watson, Huntly. Second-class mine-managers' certificates —Robert McDonald, Milton ; Albert Woods, Millerton ; William Johnston, Pukemiro ; Robert L. Godden, Pukemiro ; Valentine Curran, Pukemiro ; Robert Fleming, Huntly. Mine-surveyor's certificate —B. E. Edginton, Dunedin. In addition the Board of Examiners under the Mining Act granted a battery superintendent's certificate to Frank Leonard Sanderson, of Waiuta. During the year four examinations were held for candidates for certificates as underviewers and firemen-deputies —one at Huntly, on the 24th and 25th February ; one at Dunedin, on the 25th October ; and one each at Westport and Greymouth, on the sth and 16th November respectively. Sixty-three candidates presented themselves for examination —seventeen for underviewers' certificates, and forty-six for firemen-deputies' certificates. The number was sixteen in excess of last year's total. Six were successful in gaining underviewers' certificates, and thirty-five were successful in gaining firemen-deputies' certificates. The number of candidates offering themselves for examination under the Coal-mines Act showed a slight increase over that of the previous year, but I am sorry to say that there was a further decrease in the number of candidates offering themselves for examination under the Mining Act. This is not surprising, as the metal side of mining has unfortunately shown a declining tendency. The following holders of British certificates of competency as coal-mine managers were granted equivalent New Zealand certificates under the Coal-mines Act: First class —Robert Murray, of Nightcaps, and Thomas Howard of Runanga ; second class—Alexander Tervit, of Frankton Junction, and Robert Wilson, of Ohai. Mine-surveyors' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, without examination, were also issued to the following, the Board considering they possessed the prescribed qualifications : Thomas Geddes, Ohai ;W. H. Turner, Petone ;E. W. Kennedy, Runanga ; A. A. W. Dromgool, Auckland. In addition the first-class mine-managers' certificates of forty-one persons were also endorsed by the Board as competent to act as mine-surveyors. Two service permits as oil-well managers under the Mining Act were also issued during tho year one to E. W. Bender, of New Plymouth, and the other to P. D. Thompson, of Tokomaru Bay, It is with regret that I have to record the death in November last of Mr. P. G. Morgan. The late Mr. Morgan was Chairman of the Boards of Examiners under the Coal-mines and Mining Acts for a number of years, being first appointed in April, 1911, and was an able and indefatigable one, and one who always had the interests of the Boards at heart. His loss will be very great indeed. Mr. J. A. C. Bayne, Chief Inspector of Coal-mines, acted as Chairman of both Boards until my appointment in March last. The certilicates issued or endorsed since the last report of the Board-, was published are as follows :— COAL-MINES ACT, 1925. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Issued after Examination. Hall, Richard, Petone. Watson, John Reginald, Hunt-v. Issued on Production of Certificate from a recognized, Authority outside the Dominion. Howard, Thomas, Runanga.