C—2a

Serious Accidents. —On the 27th June, 1945, a miner suffered a compound fracture of the left leg while trying to dodge falling coal. On the 16th October, 1945, a miner sustained a dislocated right hip by falling coal. Stone-dusting. —This work was done regularly throughout the year. Underground Workings.—The output was obtained from pillars in No. 2 panel the Laybye Section, and also from a section east of Aylward's Dip. Coal was obtained from solid workings in a rise being driven for haulage purposes also from Cappie's Dip Section. Fire Stoppings.—All fire stoppings have been maintained in good order. Dangerous Occurrences. —No actual heatings occurred during the year. Two small areas in which heating was suspected were sealed off and one accumulation of coal in which heating had commenced was filled out. Plant. —An electric motor and starter was installed to drive the main fan. Bar 20 Opencast Mine Coal-winning. —The net output for the year was 35,492 tons 7 cwt. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : —• Ist April, 1945 Tons cwt. qr. Stocks in yard .. .. .. .. Nil Add net output for year .. .. .. 35,492 7 0 31st March, 1946 Less stock in yard .. .. ~ .. Nil Total disposed of .. .. .. 35,492 7 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. .. .. .. 32,904 19 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 2,568 7 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 19 1 0 — 35,492 7 0 The net output from the colliery since operated by the State totals 36,196 tons 14 cwt. Employees.—The average number of persons employed at the opencast was 15. Workings.—The output for the year was won from the area previously operated by underground mining methods in Mossbank No. 2 Mine, which was abandoned on account of flooding from an adjacent creek. Opencast operations consisted of clearing a preliminary strip of overburden and subsequently introducing a drag-line scoop with a capacity of lj cubic yards. A Diesel-operated shovel of cubic yard-capacity was employed to load the coal and produced up to a maximum daily output of 320 tons. The coal is of good quality, but is intersected by vertical stone intrusions and thin horizontal bands of hard stone. The average thickness of workable coal is 18 ft. I have, &c., J. McArthur, District Manager.

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