O.—2A

During the year the mine worked on 244 days out of a possible 248, excluding Saturdays and union holidays. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day, dispute re convenience at mine mouth ; 1 clay, road washed out; 1 day, road under water ; 1 day, breakdown of fan. Employees. —The total number of men employed at the beginning of the year was 32, but this was gradually increased, and at the 31st March there were employed in and about the mine 65 men, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 18 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 22. On the surface : 25 men. Daily Output. —At the beginning of the year practically no coal was being won from this colliery, but during the last month the average daily output was approximately 100 tons. The coal-hewers' average daily output during the last three months was 5 tons 19 cwt. Goal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—During the last three months the coal-hewers' average daily earnings were (gross) £2 2s. 6d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £1 17s. lOd. per day. Accidents. —During the year there were a few minor accidents but none of a serious nature. Tatu Mine. —Development here has been virtually the opening of a new mine, for, after driving and reconditioning the workings of the old mine, conditions were unfavourable and costs of production prohibitive. A pair of stone tunnels was set away approximately 5 chains to the north-west of the mine entrance. The steeper one, which is now the return, was driven in advance of the main tunnel. After striking the coal, headings were set away, one of which was driven back to meet the main tunnel which, when connected, was then used as the main haulage road. A larger fan, a " Robinson," was then installed at the return tunnel entrance. The return drive, when 160 ft. in, met the seam 6 ft. thick with a hard clay band on top, the floor being fireclay. The main tunnel, dipping lin 5, was commenced in March and reached the coal early in August, after being driven approximately 360 ft. After transferring the haulage to this drive, a large steam-winch was installed, the tunnels extended, and an area of coal lying between the fault encountered in the old mine and the " Cunningham " fault opened out. From this area an output rising to 70 tons daily was got, but with the main headings striking the 40 ft. upthrow fault and the area to the south-east limited, this output could not be maintained. To the north-west, to pierce the " Cunningham " fault, a steep rise, and a heading 1 in 15 to form a haulage road, were set away, both drives being driven narrow. The heading for the haulage was commenced in October and a full face of coal was had, beyond the fault, early in January. The seam here increased in thickness to 8 ft. 6 in. with a 3 in. to 6 in. hard clay band overlying it, the grade being 1 in 8. The driving of a pair of dip headings was continued to open out places to replace those lost to the east of the main haulage tunnel. Meanwhile, the necessary air connections and the widening of the rise stone tunnel to provide a reliable air course was undertaken. These operations have been completed, and levels, off the dip, set away and the forming of panels commenced. There remains to be done the widening of the haulage road through the fault to give a double track. Haulage, for the time being, is direct by double-drum air-winch placed overhead at the crown of the road, but with the stone drive widened a self-acting incline will be formed to provide suitable haulage from the crown to the main stone tunnel. Plant Installations.—A steam boiler has been installed, and a second is now at Tatu ready to be installed. A large steam-winch, a double drum for main haulage, and a modern Sullivan high-speed air-compressor belt driven by a high-speed Browett and Lindley vertical steam-engine have been installed. A steam-driven " Robinson " fan from the old mine was installed, and will provide adequate ventilation for some time. At the mine terminus of the aerial rope-way a storage bin has been erectcd and concrete foundations and retaining-wall put in ; later, the body structure will be heightened to give extra storage capacity. In addition to temporary workshops, bathhouse, and store-room at the mine, the following buildings have been erected : Deputies' cabin, mine-manager's office, ambulanceroom, and a good double bach, while twelve three-roomed Public Works Department cottages have been erected on land adjacent to the mine. Much repair work has been done to towers, particularly the wooden structures, of the aerial rope-way. At Mangaparo a three-roomed office has been erected, while repairs to screens, &c., have been attended to. At Ohura, two residences for officials have been erected on contract. I have, &c., Gr. Smith, District Manager.

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By Authority: E. Y. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 942.

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