C.—2A

dispute re wet clothes in bathhouse ; 4 hours, union meeting with district secretary ; 1 day, dispute re wet time ; 4 hours, dispute re shortage of boxes ; 3 days, dispute re allocation of cottages ; 1 day,dispute re dismissal of trucker ; 2 days, shortage of railway wagons ; 1 day, dispute re " go-slow " policy of truckers ; 1 day, road blocked by logging-train smash. Employees. —The total number of men employed at the beginning of the year was 57, but this number was gradually increased, and at the 31st March there were employed in and about the mine 74 men and 3 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 25 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 33. On the surface : 16 men and 3 boys. Expenditure. —The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with the subsidy on bus fares and the cost of fuel used on the works, amounted to £29,717. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings were (gross) £2 6s. l'ld., and after deducting stores (explosives), ss. 3d., their net return was £2 Is. Bd., a reduction of 2s. 3d. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.—The average daily output at the beginning of the year was 150 tons, but this was gradually increased, and at 31st March the average daily output was approximately 200 tons. The average daily output per coal-hewer was 8 tons 5 cwt., as compared with 9 tons 4 cwt. for the previous year. Deficiencies. —During the year no payments were made under the minimum-wage clause. Accidents During the year there were a few minor accidents but none of a serious nature. Mine Buildings. —The following mine buildings have been erected during the year : Substation, haulage-engine room, petrol-store, bathhouse (with a recent extension to provide accommodation for the increased number of employees), and a small workshop and tub-repair cover. An ambulanceroom and change and shower accommodation for officials is now being built. Boreholes. — Four holes were drilled, all of which failed to prove coal, the No. 4 hole being drilled 680 ft. when it met greywacke. Preparations are now being made to form a road some 30 chains in length through the bush to transport the drilling plant to the site of No. 5 hole, which is 20chains north of the main dip drive. The access road to the mine has been improved and metalled, and an area of land adjacent to the mine levelled to provide suitable sites for workshops and storage. The railway siding has been lengthened some 8 chains, and an extra siding provided to enable north and south despatches to be assembled and to eliminate delay. The loading-ramp and weigh-cabin have been electrically floodlit. Housing Accommodation. —During the year the housing programme has been advanced considerably. The township, " Benneydale," now comprises thirty-one houses, with a further ten on which construction is fairly well advanced. A hostel for single men's accommodation with, in addition to custodian's quarters, ten roomy bedrooms, a large dining-room, and a well equipped kitchen to provide meals for the occupants of twelve double baches is almost completed. The purchase of and subdivision of land for further extension of the township has been made, while fencing and the planting of hedges and shrubs has been carried out throughout the township. Water and Sewerage.—The contractor for the former is now engaged on erecting the dam. The laying of the 6 in. pipe-line and the formation of a reservoir should soon be under way. The piping from reservoir to township should be a simple matter, conditions being ideal for good progress. Mangapehi Mine.- -Development has been east and west of the main dip headings and in rise panels off the upper east and west levels. The upper east level is now in 23 chains. A second rise panel is being developed, while the level face (which continues in good coal), after standing for some time, is being advanced and a larger endless rope haulage assembled. The upper west level, after advancing about 12 chains, and the rise panels, have been cut off by a fault running diagonally across. The lower west level, after being driven some 6 chains, encountered troubled ground (a split in the seam, with irregular stone layers), and driving ceased for some time, while the area to the rise was developed as a small panel. Prospecting is now being undertaken in the level face and so far prospects are encouraging, but this trouble may prove to be a continuation of that met with in the upper level. To the east the lower level has been driven approximately 8 chains in coal of excellent quality. When the larger haulage is installed, in the upper level, the small one now in use there will be converted for use in the lower level. The reconditioning of airways has been carried on continuously, and with this work completed the unwatering of the remaining portion of the dip and reconditioning these workings will be undertaken. Power for mine purposes is now obtained from the Waitomo Electric-power Board's supply, and the township is also connected up to this supply.

Tatu Collieby. Output. —Tho gross output for the year was 17,094 tons 9 cwt., and after deducting mine consumption and waste and making allowance for stock on hand there remained for disposal 14,864 tons 7 cwt., which is accounted for as follows : —

2—C. 2A.

5

Screened, House, Unscreened and Slack Total. Kitchen, &c. [ Through. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Sales to Railway Department 4,571 11 3 541 5 1 .. 5,112 17 0 Sales to depot and local sales .. 1,972 0 1 50 16 0 1,505 12 1 9,528 8 2 Sales to workmen, and free issues 223 1 2 .. • • 22.3 1 2 6,766 13 2 .592 1 1 7,505 12 1 14,864 7 0 Used on works ■ •• 1,602 4 0 .. 1,602 4 0 Waste .. "■ ■■ •• 567 18 0 .. 567 18 0 Stock in bin • • • • 60 0 0 .. 60 0 0 6,766 13 2 2,822 3 1 7,505 12 1 17,094 9 0