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The District Manager, State Coal-mines, Reefton, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. 27th May, 1949. Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report on the workings of the Burke's Creek Central, and Garvey Creek State Coal-mines, and Wangaloa Opencast for the year ended 31st March, 1949. Burke's Creek Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 20,461 tons 10 cwt., an increase of 540 tons 10 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for loss in measurement and waste (475 tons 10 cwt.) and the quantity used on works (374 tons) there remained for disposal a net output of 19,612 tons. Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year:— Ist April, 1948 —- Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 247 3 2 Stock on dump .. .. .. 40 0 0 287 3 2 Add net output for year .. 19,612 0 0 19,899 3 2 31st March, 1949 Less stock on hand .. .. 100 4 1 Less stock on dump .. .. 40 0 0 l4O 4 1 Total disposed of .. .. 19,758 19 1 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 16,77712 2 Local and mine sales .. .. 2,393 0 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 588 6 3 19,758 19 1 The gross output of the colliery since its acquisition by the State on 3rd June, 1946, totals 54,836 tons. Days Worked.—The colliery worked days out of a possible 242 ordinary workingdays. In addition, the colliery worked 2 substituted statutory holidays,' making the total days worked The difference between the ordinary days worked, 241|-, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : \ day (back shift only), internal union dispute. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 88 men and 5 boys, made up as follows —UndergrouncT: Coal-hewers, 24 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 45. Surface : 19 men and 5 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The, coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 os. 4d. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 17s. Id., a decrease of 2s. lOd. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 85 tons 10 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 5 tons 5 cwt. 2 qr., as compared with 81 tons 12 cwt. and 6 tons 13 cwt. respectively for the previous period. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 3,847.

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