C—2a

Underground Workings. —For the year, coal-winning operations at this colliery consisted of the development of the main dips on the west side, no work being carried out east of the No. 2 East Dip. The main dips are now running level, and provision has been made to extend and terminate the main endless-rope road at the point where the grade changes from dip to level. On the west side a succession of steep faults has been met with, one of which has been gradually increasing as it tends southwards and has now approximately 20 ft. downthrow where it crosses the Main No. 2 Dip. Work has been continued behind this fault in the No. 5 West, where a good section of coal is being developed. East of the Main Dips the grade is very steep, approximately 1 in 1, and it is necessary to change the direction of the dips to ease the grade. One such dip has been started, and there appears to be no reason to doubt that a good section of coal will be developed in this area. Development of this steep section has been held up while an improvement in the ventilation system is being carried out. Improvements to the ventilation system during the year included the widening of the main intake to the fan, with the provision of concrete steps over the whole distance. The installation of a 200 h.p. motor has increased the capacity of the fan by some 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The main airways are being cleared of all falls, and concrete stoppings repaired and others built. This will increase the supply of air to the bottom of the dips to allow further development. Extra air-driven rotary drills are being supplied to the miners and all coal is now being drilled by these power drills. Every working-face has been provided with a water spray to keep down the dust. A new electrically driven water-pump has been installed at the first station down the dip, and the electrical installation will be further advanced down the dip as machinery comes to hand. Paparoa Colliery Coal-winning.—This colliery was taken over by the State Coal-mines on 25th April, 1947, and the gross output from that date to 31st March, 1948, was 24,887 tons 4 cwt. After allowing for waste (510 tons 5 cwt.) and the quantity used on works (223 tons), there remained for disposal a net output of 24,153 tons 19 cwt. Taking into account the stocks at the date of taking over and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the period : 25th April, 1947 Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 651 9 0 Stock on wharf 651 9 0 Add net output for period .. 24,153 19 0 Add surplus stocks .. .. 613 0 24,160 12 0 24,812 1 0 31st March, 1948 — Less stock in bin and yard .. 687 3 0 Less stock on wharf 687 3 0 Total disposed of .. .. 24,124 18 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 8,050 18 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. 8,026 1 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 4,839 8 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 3,010 10 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 198 1 0 24,124 18 0

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