C—2a

Mine Railway. —Reconditioning of the mine railway is being carried out by the permanent-way staff of the New Zealand Railways. Surveys for the extension of this railway to the mine are completed, but the earthwork and formation of the track cannot be started until mechanical equipment becomes available. Locomotive. —In July the colliery locomotive had to be taken off the road owing to serious mechanical defects. Pending the purchase of another, it has been replaced by a locomotive hired from the New Zealand Railways. Garvey Creek Colliery Coal-winning. —Production from this mine commenced on Ist April, 1947. The gross production for the year was 6,886 tons. After allowing for the quantity used on works (28 tons), there remained for disposal a net output of 6,858 tons. Taking into account stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year:— Ist April, 1947 — Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard Add net output for year .. .. .. 6,858 0 0 31st March, 1948 — Less stock in bin and yard .. .. .. 39 0 1 Total disposed of .. .. .. 6,818 19 3 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 1,003 8 2 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 5,348 11 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 6 14 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 420 6 1 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 40 0 0 6,818 19 3 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 6,886 tons. Days worked.—The colliery worked 239 days out of a possible 241 ordinary workingdays. In addition, the colliery worked 3 substituted statutory holidays, making the total days worked 242. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 239, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows: 1 day, funeral of J. Banks, Esq. ; 1 day, funeral late Hon. J. O'Brien. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 29 men, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 11 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 11. Surface : 7 men. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal has been won by contract since Ist July, 1947, and from that date the coal-hewers' average daily earnings have been £3 os. Id., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 17s. 6d. per day. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 28 tons 9 cwt. Since going on contract the coal-hewers' average daily output was 7 tons 12 cwt. The total number of hewer shifts for the period on contract was 1,312.

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