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On the 11th October a heating occurred in No. 4 Section, Mac Donald Mine. Two stoppings were erected and the heating goaf sealed off. On the 29th November an area of goaf in the New Haulage Section. No. 1 Mine, Rotowaro, was sealed following an outbreak of fire. On the Bth December a heating occurred in the goaf in Brown's Pillar Section, No. 3 Rotowaro' Mine. The area was sealed off by a series of stoppings. Prosecutions On the 3rd August Christopher Cowman was charged that he did travel on the main haulage road, Mangaphei State Mine, while the haulage was in motion, thereby committing a breach of section 113, Coal-mines Act, 1925. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £2 with 12s. 6ck Court costs. On the 15th September John Green, Deputy, Rotowaro No. 1 Mine, was charged that he did fail to carry out the duties assigned to him by the manager, in contravention of Regulation 74, Coal-mines Regulations 1939/94. He was further charged that he did fail to make a full report of his inspection, contrary to the provisions of section 4 (2) of the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1936. Both charges were dismissed on a technicality by the Magistrate. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (L. C. Cook and J. Penman. Inspectors of Coal-mines) Gkeymoitth District Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui (L. F. O'Loughlin (First Class), Mine-manager).—Anderson Dip Section : Five pairs of miners were engaged on pillar-extraction. The level off Kennedy's Dip is stopped on a fault pending the retimbering and brushing of level. When this has been completed a start will be made to prove the fault and to develop coal which is known to be below Kimbell East Level. Kimbell West Dip and Rise Sections : Three pairs of men are employed pillaring. Morgan West Rise Sections : The Crosscut, Extended, and Dempster's Jig Sections were sealed off due to fire and can be considered as lost for all time. Prospecting work was continued in the Morgan West Level. Towards the end of the year it crossed a fault and advanced a distance of 25 ft. into the roof stone of the Morgan Seam. The strata is steep and the indications are that the Morgan Seam should be met with 60 ft. of driving. Morgan West Dip : The dip face is still stopped in dirty coal. A pair of levels was driven off to the South-west a distance of approximately 12 chains. Four pairs of miners were engaged on development in this section. Morgan East Level Section : This section was completely sealed off. Morgan East Dip : Three pairs of miners were employed pillaring. In No. 1 Panel to east of dip 5 pairs of miners were engaged pillaring. In No. 2 Panel the main headings were driven to the boundary. A pair of levels was advanced in an easterly direction about 4 chains and met a fault. Six chains on the dip side of this pair of levels another pair of levels was advanced in an easterly direction for 5 chains when a fault was met. Prospecting of the seam will be carried out. Six pairs of miners were engaged on development work in this panel. West Level off East Dip : Two pairs of miners were employed reopening the panel for pillarextraction. 4a Section : Four pairs of miners were employed on development. Seventy-one men were employed on the surface and 252 underground. Strongman State Colliery, Nine-mile (G. K. Keown (First Class), Mine-manager).—No. 2 North Section : Early in the year an unexpected fault was met. Information is being obtained by driving on both sides of the fault. In No. 3 Panel development work continues in the top'west corner, where the coal has thinned to 5 ft. in thickness. No. 4 Panel has been developed to within 2 chains of No. 1 Bore and the seam here is very dirty and only 3 ft. thick. A stone drive was advanced approximately 100 ft. to an upper seam. Ten pairs of miners were engaged in this section. No. 3 North Section : Development work was continued in this section with 6 pairs of miners. Main East Heading : Two places were continued through the fault and 3 pairs of miners were engaged on development in coal of good quality and thickness. New South Dip : Five pairs of miners were developing in this section until thin dirty coal was met. Pillar-extraction is expected to commence early in 1949. No. 1 South Dip : Three pairs of miners were engaged on pillar-extraction. No. 1 North Dip : Two pairs of miners were splitting pillars. Bottom Seam : Four pairs of miners were engaged on development in Rise Panel. In Slant Dip, 6 pairs of miners were engaged on development. Main Return Airway : This airway was repaired and the falls cleared and the roof supported with steel girders and concrete legs. Plant : Some compressed-air plants were replaced by electrical units. Sixty-five men-were employed on the surface and 187 underground.

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