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On 13th May a heating occurred in the pillar workings on the. east side of main haulage; the area was isolated by the erection of three stoppings. An outbreak of fire occurred in the New Panel Section, South Mine, Pukemiro, on the 7th June whilst the remaining portion of a stump adjacent to goaf was being extracted. A stopping was erected to seal off heated area, and everything is under control. On 26th June smoke was found in the No. 3 Jig Section, Alison No. 1 Mine ; examination revealed that the smoke was issuing from the goaf in King's pillar place. One stopping was required to seal off the affected part. On 9th July a fire occurred in .the No. 2 East Panel, State Mine, Benneydale; the fire was got under control with water and then sealed off. A heating occurred in Brown's Section, No. 3 Mine, Rotowaro, on the 15th July. The affected area was sealed off by the erection of two stoppings. In the Rope End Section, Alison No. 1 Mine, on the 15th July, due to fire-stink in Wilson's place, it was found necessary to erect two stoppings to seal off the area. On the 16th, smoke was discovered in the place adjacent to the one sealed off on previous day. This required another two stoppings. To erect these the services of a rescue team wearing the Proto apparatus was used. It is worthy of note that a 3 per cent, cap of inflammable gas was got in a safety-lamp up on a bench where one of the stoppings was being erected. As CH 4 had never been found in this mine previously, it is conjectured that the gas found was produced by distillation behind one of the stoppings erected on previous day. On 6th August in E Section, Mac Donald Mine, a heating occurred which required four stoppings to seal off; eight places are temporarily put out of production. On 15th August in Alison No. 1 Mine, two fires occurred, one in No. 3 Jig Section and one in Spence's place. Four stoppings were erected to effectively seal the areas affected. In the No. 4 Jig Pillar Section, Alison No. 1 Mine, a fire was discovered. The fire had burnt around the side of a brick stopping. A new stopping was erected 2 ft. on outbye side and the space between the stoppings filled with pug clay. On 30th August an outbreak of fire occurred in the Nelson's Jig Section, Pukemiro South Mine. This was a small outbreak and the material was filled out and sent to the surface. On 6th October a fire occurred in the Straight Heading Section, North Mine, Pukemiro. The fire was brought under control by erecting fire stoppings. An outbreak of fire occurred in the New Panel Section, South Mine, Pukemiro, on 13th October. This was the result of a place not falling in completely after being drawn off, and the fire broke over the old fire stopping. Eire stoppings were erected and the situation is now under control. Prosecutions ' Arising out of an inspection carried out in connection with a fatal accident at Kamo Collieries on the 20th May, informations were laid which involved three officials, being a shotfirer, deputy, and underviewer. All of the cases were defended on the 24th July. The shotfirer was charged that he " did fire a shot in a working-place of the mine, such shot not being in a properly placed shot hole," contrary to Regulation 224 (2), Coal-mines Regulations 1939. Failure to secure a conviction was due to the fact that the acting-mine-manager gave evidence contrary to facts agreed upon during the inspection of the working-place. The information laid against the deputy was " that he, being an examining deputy, did fail to report that a source of danger existed in a working-place due to non-observance of timbering rules " : section 12& (2), Coal-mines Act, 1925. A conviction was secured'and a fine of £5 Is. imposed, such fine being to permit of an appeal being made against the decision. In the higher Court the decision was reserved, but ultimately a reversal of decision was given. The case against the underviewer was " that, being an underviewer, he did fail to see that the roof and sides of a working-place were properly secured by the person working in it," contrary to Regulation 89, Coal-mines Regulations 1939. Failed to secure a conviction. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. Adamsost and L. C. Cook, Inspectors of Coal-mines) Greymouth District Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui. —Anderson Dip Section : Five pairs of colliers were employed in this section, partly in pillar-extraction and partly in solid work. A dip road and level driven through a barrier to the east of Leach's Dip, which was previously sealed off, reached solid coal to the east of ■this old dip. Splitting and extraction of pillars was continued to the east off the bottom of James Dip. Kimbell West Dip Section : Splitting and extraction of pillars was continued throughout the year, six pairs of colliers being engaged on this work. Morgan East and West Rise Sections : Sixteen pairs of miners continued with the extraction of pillars in these sections. Prospecting work continued intermittently through faulted ground at the inbye end of the main Morgan West Level. At a distance of approximately 1J chains, coal was encountered, but it was found that the seam had split into three with 8 ft. of clean workable coal in one seam which was pitching very steeply. Stone driving is being continued.

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