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At Rotowaro, development continues in Callaghan's Dip Section, where recent bores have proved an extensive area. Consideration is to be given to a proposal involving the construction of a spur railway-line from the Rotowaro Railway-station to a point near the Callaghan's road terminus, where the erection of new screens would improve the preparation of coal for the market, would considerably reduce underground haulage and road maintenance, and would allow of a more balanced working of the mine. An electric coal-cutter with a rotary percussive action was installed in the Wilton Mine, and the trial revealed it to be a very suitable unit for the conditions. Six further machines of this type have been ordered. Some equipment is still awaited to complete the mechanization scheme at this colliery. There was a substantial increase in output from the Wilton Mine, and to some extent this was due to the use of machines for cutting and boring the coal. King-country The output from the Mangapehi Colliery, at Benneydale, showed a further decline, and operations were confined mainly to development in good-quality coal. Further development has been based on the adoption of a new scheme of coal-winning, and final proposals for complete mechanization and hydraulic stowage are at present receiving the consideration of the Government. At the Tatu Mine, near Ohura, output showed a slight decrease, mainly on account of the need for improving ventilation by driving a new return airway in stone. Buller District Output increased from both the Fly Creek and Webb Mines in the Stockton field. There is nothing of importance to record at the old Fly Creek Mine. Development continued with success at the Webb Mine, and some equipment ordered for the complete mechanization of this mine has arrived. Operations continued satisfactorily at the Millerton Mine, mainly on pillarextraction. Surveys of areas adjoining Millerton have been undertaken to provide new mining field?, and drilling will be carried out as soon as possible to establish the value of the new potential areap. At Denniston, coal-winning was confined to pillar-extraction in the Whareatea Mine. In order to expedite'and facilitate pillar-extraction, a new stone drive to the coal at the Whareatea Steps has been completed. Following intensive prospecting, survey, and drilling work on the Plateau area a very commendable system of developing and working the block by full mechanization methods has been submitted by the Mines Department for the consideration of the Government. Work on the stone drives to the coal-seam will commence at an early date. Reefton District Operations at the Burke's Creek Mine continued under conditions which proved more difficult than anticipated. Three drill-holes put down 10 chains ahead .of the dip workings did not disclose any workable coal-seams, and further drilling is being carried out to obtain additional information on the extent of the workable coal-seams. At the Garvey Creek Mine, mining conditions showed a general improvement with a resultant increase in output. Survey and prospecting work has established the existence of large quantities of good-quality coal in the field and much of it can be won by opencast methods. Road surveys to these areas are well advanced, and it is hoped that work on access will be commenced at an early date. The Central Mine, near the Township of Reefton, was purchased in March last, and development is being proceeded with to prove the extent of the field. An improved access for haulage will be carried out when the survey has been completed. It is expected that onlv a relatively short stone drive will be necessary.

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