C—2a

The Superintendent, Waikato Controlled Mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. 15th April, 1948. Sir, — Enclosed please find summary of the operations at the Kemp's, Kimihia, and Glen Afton opencast mines for the year ended 31st March, 1948. Kemp's Opencast (Glen Massey) Coal-production has been maintained at this mine during the current year and shows a slight increase on the previous year, being 58,717 tons, making a total production from this mine of 158,935 tons. The work of recovering the coal from these thin areas of coal has been carried out very efficiently, despite the difficult circumstances prevailing. The total overburden removed at this mine now totals 1,988,090 cubic yards. This does not indicate the correct ratio of overburden to coal contents, as there is at present a large tonnage of coal cleared of overburden and awaiting mining. The new roadway to the Wilton No. 3 Extended Mine has also been completed by the opencast-mine operators. The workshops have been materially extended during the year, and additional boring carried out. The area of recoverable coal is now clearly defined. The latter stages of boring operations were somewhat disappointing. Kimihia Opencast Operations at this mine have proceeded in a satisfactory manner and very good progress has been made. In the No. 1 Section the northern area was worked out and a considerable quantity of overburden has been removed from the southern area, with the result that a large quantity of coal has been laid bare ready for mining. During the year the work of constructing a stop-bank across a portion of the lake was completed for all practical purposes, and I should mention that this work necessitated what was probably the largest assembly of earth-moving plant that has been applied at any one time in New Zealand. A total of 988,400 cubic yards of earth material has now been removed at this mine and the total output of coal up to March this year is 136,293 tons. Earth removed during the year was 325,850 cubic yards and coal won during the year was 69,695 tons. The most modern methods of earth removal (with procurable plant) have been applied at this mine, including the use of a 5-yard drag-line and shovel, Athey wagons, and tournapulls. The extended area of the lake which it is proposed to mine has been drained by means of a 12 in. Pulsometer pump, and it is hoped to have a considerable quantity of earth removed from the bed of this portion of the lake during the ensuing year. The construction of seven workmen's cottages has been proceeded with, and these are now nearing completion; other general living-conditions have been improved. It can be said that the difficult task of recovering the coal from the bed of this lake has been accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner and is proving that the project was a sound one, despite all its attendant difficulties. Glen Afton Opencast The coal remaining in this mine at the beginning of the year was mined, after which the spoil banks and batters were trimmed and planted with several thousand exotic trees to stabilize the ground. The output for the year was 5,685 tons 15 cwt. and the total coal removed from the mine during its lifetime was 54,088 tons 19 cwt. 2 qr. I have, &c., Job. Hughes, Superintendent Waikato Controlled Mines.

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