C.-2A

Prospecting. —Development in the lowest East level (where the old Mangapehi Co. "experienced ■trouble) was continued after recovering the level, but the stone " roof-roll " contiuues to retard progress. Reconditioning and continuing the main dip in a 3 ft. seam beyond the crushed faulting was undertaken, and where the measures proved to be again normal a bore in the floor reached a 12 ft. seam of coal 13 ft. below the 3 ft. one. The number of miners at present is eighteen pairs, and a fairly high output per man-shift is obtained, the peak daily output reached being 388 tons. Throughout the year no dangerous occurrence or serious accident occurred. No major installations have been undertaken, but surveys for a surface rope-road and screening plant at the railway siding have been completed. A modern bathhouse near the mine entrance, and a bulk machinery store and a deputy's cabin, have been built. Township Extension. —A further ten five-roomed (prefabricated type) cottages and four doubleunit improved baches, a residence for the District Manager, and a modern mine office have been built during the year. In addition, a contractor is making good progress with the construction of a combined hall - library - billiard-room, and it should be completed in July. The septic tank and sewerage installations have been completed, and all cottages are now connected to water and sewer systems. The fencing of forty cottages is nearing completion. Improvements to hostel during the year have been made by the addition of a sitting-room, side entrance, porch to dining-room, bulk store, washhouse, and a coal-shed, and the grounds have been fenced and laid out in lawns, and shrubs planted. Tatu Colliery Output.—The gross output was 28,948 tons 10 cwt., a decrease of 671 tons 6 cwt. when compared with the figures of the previous year. After allowing for waste (1,616 tons 10 cwt.) there remained for disposal a net output of 27,332 tons. Taking into account the stocks in hand at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : — Ist April, 1943 — Tona cwt. qr. Stock in bin .. .. .. , .. .. .. 163 8 0 Net output for the year .. .. .. .. .. 27,332 0 0 27,495 8 0 31st- March, 1944— Less stock in bin.. .. .. .. .. .. 92 13 3 27,402 14 1 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railway .. .. .. .. .. 7,042 18 0 Depot .. .. .. .. .. 13,984 12 0 Local sales .. .. .. .. .. 1,408 3 1 Free issues .. .. .. .. .. 29 6 0 Workmen .. .. .. .. 457 15 0 Used on works .. .. .. .. 4,480 0 0 27,402 14 1 The gross output from the colliery since inception amounts to 76,228 tons 15 cwt. Days worked. —During the year the colliery worked on 258 days 2 hours, an increase of 2 days 6 hours as compared with the previous year. The possible working-days were 281, including 19 back Saturdays on which day shift only was worked. The difference between the days worked and the possible working days is accounted for as follows : 10 days, Christmas holidays ; 1 day, Good Friday ; 1 day, Easter Monday ; 1 day, Anzac Day; 1 day, aerial breakdown ; 1| days, boiler breakdown ; I day, fan breakdown ; \ day, engine-shed fire ; 3 days, slip at mine mouth ; 1 day, insufficient men ; 1| days, fatal accident; 2 hours, stop-work meeting. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of men employed in and about the mine was 87 men and 4 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Hewers, 24 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 34. Surface : 29 men and 4 boys. Expenditure. —The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of coal, was £50,474 Is. 3d. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings were (gross) £2 9s. 9d., and after deducting stores (explosives, 6s. 9d.) their net return was £2 35., an increase of 6d. per day when compared with previous year. Daily Output.- The. average daily mine output was 112 tons 1 cwt. and the average daily output per coal hewer was 7 tons 1 cwt., as compared with 115 tons 18 cwt. and 6 tons 4 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year,

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