C—2a

Days Worked.—The colliery worked 2371 days out of a possible 242 ordinary workingdays. In addition, the colliery worked 2 substituted statutory holidays and 5 annual holidays, making the total days worked 2441 days. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 2371, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 2 days, no doctor available ; 2f days, stop-work meetings. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 259 men and 28 boys, made up as fpllows Underground Coal-hewers, 51 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 98 men and 5 boys. Surface, 110 men and 23 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 17s. Bd., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 13s. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 310 tons 18 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 7 tons 14 cwt. 2 qr. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 9,844. Accidents.—The accidents for the year totalled 194. There were no fatal accidents, although 3 were of a serious nature. Underground Operations.—Practically the entire output this year has been produced from pillar workings. In the Third and Fourth South and Nine Box Jig sections, pillars are being split and robbed, the stumps being left to support the beds of surface creeks. Early in the year an encroachment of the fire in the Extension section necessitated sealing off the heated area. This job was completed without loss of material, and as pillar-extraction was practically completed very little coal was lost. Outbye from this section the job of isolating a section of pillars by means of an artificial barrier is proceeding slowly. An intrusion of stone occurs in the seam between Forsyths, Birchalls, and Waterloo Dip Section which increases in thickness up to 20 ft. The "lower section of the seam has been prospected from the main rope road at Kitchen's Landing and inside Birchalls section. The quality of this coal is good and the average thickness is approximately 6 ft. Fair progress is being made with four headings. Unfortunately, however, these places are wet and progress is thereby retarded. This new section is being satisfactorily ventilated as a separate split with a new auxiliary fan. On the 15th February, 1949, the new stone haulage drive at the Whareatea Steps was commenced, and up to date a distance of approximately 120 ft. has been driven on a grade of lin 5. The completed drive will be 500 ft. long. Surveyors are working on the proposed road to the Extension opencast area adjacent k to Birchalls section, where a programme of boring and prospecting is practically completed. Results so far are satisfactory, as upwards of 20 ft. of good coal has been proved in country once thought to be barren of coal. I have, &c., T. H. McGhie, District Manager.

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