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Quarries The total production of stone, gravel, and sand for road and concrete work from this district, which comprises the Hauraki, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and part of Hawke's Bay areas, was 211,168 tons. The amount used for concrete aggregate in round figures, was 17,000 tons, valued at £B,OOO. In addition, 122 tons, worth £549, were produced at Colville and used for building and monumental masonry. The average number of men employed was 203. Accidents There was one fatility, but, that apart, there were no accidents worthy of being placed on record in either mines or quarries. The victim of the fatality was W. R. Carnachan, surveyor, employed by the Martha Gold Mining Co., who met his death by falling from No. 7 Level, No. 7 Shaft, for a distance -of 300 ft. in the company's mine on the 6th October. There were no witnesses of the occurrence though it was known he was on the Level. His body was discovered by the chamberman, who •descended the shaft in answer to a telephone call received previously from Carnachan in order to convey him to the surface. The coroner's verdict at the inquest held subsequent to the fatality was that deceased fell down the Martha Co.'s No. 7 Shaft, the cause of death being injury to the base of -the brain, no blame being attachable to any person. Prosecutions Nil. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (G. W. Lowes, Inspector of Mines) Quartz-mining Inangahua County Blackwater Mine, Waiuta.—This mine operated continuously throughout the year, except for short periods of stoppage due to holidays and shaft repairs. Employing an average of 134 men, 22,915 tons were won from stopes and development which, when treated, yielded 8,167 oz. 15 dwt. 11 gr. fine gold from all sources which realized £87,248 os. 5d., these figures being a slight increase on previous year's return both in tonnage and yield. The total footage advanced during the year was ft., of which 1,147 ft. were driving. These figures compare with 1,711 J ft. and 1,105J it. respectively for the year 1946. Of the 1,147 ft. of driving, 802 ft., equivalent to nearly 70 per cent., were on pay reef .averaging 13-43 dwt. over a width of 31 in. A footage of 164|- ft. of rising above Nos. 15 and 16 Levels was completed with 152| ft. on reef averaging 21-9 in. in width and 13-62 dwt. in value, only 12 ft. being off reef. Winze-sinking below Nos. 14 and 15 Levels accounted for a footage of 229 ft. of •development, 222 ft. being on payable reef of an average width of 28-5 in. and average value of 14-22 dwt. with 7 ft. off reef. In addition, 298 ft. of crosscutting were completed, chiefly on the two lower levels, in search of faulted portions of the lode and construction of sidings in No. 16 Level to utilize the locomotive haulage to its greatest possible extent. Results obtained from the main development points were as follows : No. 15 Level Drive South : This drive was advanced 147 ft., all of which was on reef averaging 17-4 dwt. over 43 in. No. 16 Level Drive North : This drive was advanced 316 ft., of which 129 ft. disclosed reef averaging 15-55 dwt. over a width of 19 in. The reef in this drive disclosed more than the usual amount •of faulting, which necessitated a good deal of driving in country rock. No. 16 Level Drive South : This drive was advanced 574 ft., of which no less than 497 ft. exposed reef averaging 11-34 dwt. over a width of 31 in. This result, coming from the bottom level of the mine, was highly satisfactory. North and South Shafts : No sinking was carried out in either of the two main shafts. A considerable amount of maintenance work was carried out in both shafts, and sinking of the former to No. 17 Level will have to be carried out in 1948 if ore reserves are to be maintained. No improvement in the situation regarding skilled labour was experienced, consequently development footage was much below that required to keep pace with the mill to its full working capacity, and production is frequently slowed down on account of having to take men from producing stopes to effect urgent and necessary repairs on main roads and air courses. Dredge Mining Inangaliua County Slab Hut Dredge, Mawheraiti.—Owing to an extremely low rainfall in this district during the early months of the year, this dredge was idle for a considerable time. A decreased yardage was dug and a proportionately lesser amount of gold recovered. Yardage treated was 539,050 cubic yards for a recovery of 862 oz. fine gold, which realized £8,686. Ground worked during the period varied in

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