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From the east headings a pair of development headings lias been driven west 12 chains, and from these a connection has been made to the main mine entrance by a stone drive 5 chains long. Ihe main drives have also been 'continued to the south for a distance of 18 chains from the mine entrance. The coal hero is of good quality and has increased in thickness to 9 ft. The endless-rope haulage has been extended into the main drive. n During the year a large bathhouse of good design was completed at No. 3 Mine and is now in use. Access to the mine by road was provided late in 1942, but some difficulty was experienced in obtaining a bus service. The company now runs a service from Glen Massey to the No. 3 Mine. Benown Colliery.--N,o. 1 Mine: The top-seam section near the mine mouth, which lias been standing since development was completed in May, 1929, was cleaned up _ and retimbered late in November. Pillar-extraction has now commenced. This seam averages about (i ft. in height. Pillar-extraction in the No. 2 north section continued throughout the year, a steady output being maintained from this section. , , ' . „,, The withdrawal of pillars at the rope end of No. 3 south haulage and m panels to the west of the haulage lias also continued steadily. In this locality the No. 4 east headings were connected to headings driven from the New Drive workings (No. 2 Mine) late in November. The handling of coal from the east workings to the surface will be greatly simplified when haulage through this new route is connected up. ... ~ ■ ■ i No 4 south headings have been extended to a distance of 21 chains from the mam drives and development of No. 2 panel has been completed. Owing to thinning of the seam, it is unlikely that further development in this direction can be expected. . . _ . No. 2 Mine: The main headings have now been driven 38 chains from the mine entrance, Good quality coal 14 ft. thick has so far been met with, and bores ahead_ of the drives show that the thickness of the seam is likely to continue for a considerable distance into the new field. An airshaft has been constructed to serve this mine and has been completely lined with concrete. A propellor fan has been installed and is in use. . . Pulcemiro Colliery.—North Mine: Pillar-extraction continued throughout the year, giving employment to an average of sixteen pairs of miners. The pillar section at the head of the stone drive was worked out early in the year, and a section to the west of this drive was worked m addition to two sections to the south of the main drives. The coal is of good quality, and though mining conditions are difficult owing to the he!|ht and width of the first workings many years ago, and the long narrow pillars then left, the management have been successful in obtaining a fair proportion of the pillar coal and m producing from this mine nearly halt the total output of the colliery. • m South Mine- In the Taupiri section the panel between the west dip headings and the main laupiri headings lias been completed, and from this three headings have been driven to the east to test the seam in this direction. By the end of the year they had reached a point lb chains east of the west dip headings. The coal has been of good quality, but at the faces which are now beyond the line of the Taupiri section main headings and are approaching the limit of workable coal as established to the east, the coal has become dirty, and horizontal stony intrusions are showing. Pillar-extraction has continued in the south of the Taupiri section and also m the mid section and Nelson's Jig section. The, Rope End pillaring has practically been completed, only two places still being woiked ** 4 tr . ]|t h J u j age the headings parallel to and south of the main road have been completed to the next development roads below Home's. A heating beyond this point will require to be dealt with bef °G?l Ur^« e A 0 10P j n - n iffiiSoii of E3 panel was completed in December, 1943 and development of the two panels on each side ,of the rope road, but in the State area, was proceeded with The mam headings were also advanced and have now reached a distance of 8 chains beyond the State boundary. Extraction of a small section of pillars north-east of the end of L haulage was completed The stone dip in L section was continued to a distance ol 11* chains irom L haulage. Ihe coal-seam is known to be only a few feet below the drive and should be reached very soon. Preparations were begun in August to extract pillars in 11 section, and a haulage was installed > m the old K rope road. Pillar-extraction was begun in December and is proceeding. An improvement to the mine ventilation lias been made by retimbermg and increasing the size of the main return particularly rear the fan. This work is being continue* „ , The stoppings at F section were improved and strengthened, and arching of the travelling-road with concrete has resulted in a general cooling of the stoppings. v_„_ Glen Afton No. 2 (McDonald Colliery).—Korfman Section: To the west of H section main heading , development of H3 left panel, against the boundary, has been almost completed while to the east H2 S pane" has been almost completed, and 113 right panel, against the boundary, * completed and pillarevtr'H'tion lias been started from the north-east corner. , . • ±1 From the main drives below H section headings, three companion drives are being extended m the seam across th™ State boundary into the Glen Afton lease. They have reached a point 11 chains from Uie Three'smalfpanels are being developed from the tail-rope headings at the boundary end of E section main headings, while in E4 right panel some pillars have been split beneath surface swamps at the 1,01 ''Mine :° f To ie the "west of the main haulage panel, development has been completed and pillarcars&'s zrzsjsr a » g!r .£• and top coal in a small Crown lease south-west of the main haulage. On completwn of tins, pillaiIB "*S3g JSO&ZgSS SWtftSi 1- worked' continuously f,.„ two 40 Mine, Kawhia—No work lias been done at this mine during 1943.

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