C—2a

The opencast worked on 84 days out of a possible 229 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked on 11 Saturdays and 2 statutory holidays, making the total days worked 97. The difference between the days worked and the number of ordinary working-days is accounted for as follows : 26 days, preparing and assembling plant, &c. ; 20 days, alterations to screens and construction of road to the screening plant; 7 days, wet weather ; 1 day, fall of overburden ; 1 day, Easter Tuesday, 1948 ; "90 days, stripping only, no coal available. Workings.—Coal-production from the opencast was commenced on 22nd May, 1947, but continued for only three days, during which unscreened coal was produced. Owing to the necessity for screening, production was stopped until the necessary roading and screen alterations could be completed. On Ist July loading operations were resumed and continued until 25th September, when production again temporarily ceased due to the need for further stripping. A further small section of the seam was operated successfully from Bth December until 27th January. During February and March stripping was concentrated on, and at the end of the year approximately 50,000 tons had been made ready for coal-production during the forthcoming winter months. From the commencement of operations, 208,395 cubic yards of overburden have been stripped and removed to the spoil dump. The coal has been of good quality throughout with a high percentage of screening. Plant. —The mine trucks and rails withdrawn from the underground workings have been transferred to other collieries in the district. The main haulage winch was dismantled, overhauled, and re-erected at Wairaki No. 3 Mine. The screening plant has been electrified during the year. The following plant units were operated part-time in stripping and coal-winning operations at the opencast: two Diesel shovels of f cubic yard and § cubic yard capacity respectively; one R.B. 37 drag-line of 1J cubic yards bucket capacity; six tractors and bulldozers (models DB, two ; TDIB, two ; HDI4, one ; and TDI4, one ; two carryalls of 8 cubic yards and 12 cubic yards capacity respectively ; two tournapulls of 12 cubic yards capacity (these were operated during the final two months only); four 3-ton trucks. All plant was maintained in good order and condition throughout the year. Wairaki Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 63,817 tons 1 cwt. 1 qr., a decrease of 4,982 tons 17 cwt. when compared with the previous year. After allowing for waste (225 tons 1 cwt. 1 qr.) and the quantity used on works (2,643 tons 7 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 60,948 tons 13 cwt. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1947 Tons cwt. qr. Stocks in yard Add net output for year .. .. .. 60,948 13 0 31st March, 1948 Less stock in yard Total disposed of .. .. .. 60,948 13 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. .. .. .. 58,703 10 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 1,729 0 0 Workmen and free issues .. .. 516 3 0 : 60,948 13 0

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