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MINES STATEMENT.
CONTENTS. PAGE Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . • 1-6 Mineral-production .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Gold and Silver Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-2 Goal-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Persons employed in or about Mines and Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. 2 Mining and Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Social Amenities at Mining Townships .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Geological Survey .. .. .. .. .. .. .. •. 3 Mining Privileges .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Roads and Tracks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 School of Mines: Scholarships .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Miner's Phthisis Act .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-4 Investigations, Now Zealand coals .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Coal-minors' Relief Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 State Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-6 Housing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,5 Output and Sales .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Items from Balance-sheet .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5, 6 Tables to accompany Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-11 No. 1. Export of Minerals and Coal-output .. .. .. .. .. " 6 No. 2. Gold—Quantity and Value exported .. .. .. .. .. 7 No. 3. Coal—Output from different Fields .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 No. 4. Coal—Output of different Classes .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 No. 5. Coal and Oil-shale-—Annual Production; Coal imported .. .. .. 9 No. 6. Coal—lmports .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Exports : Bunkers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Exports : Cargo .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 No. 7. Number of Persons employed in Mining .. .. .. .. .. 11 Appendices to the Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 12-57 Appendix A.—Reports relating to Metalliferous Mines and Stone-quarries .. .. 12-32 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. .. .. .. .. 12-18 I. Minerals : Produced .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Exported .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 11. Persons employed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 IV. Gold-mining : Bullion-production; Dividends declared; Persons employed; Number of Mines and Dredges .. .. .. .. 13 • (1) Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. •. 14 (2) Dredge Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 (3) Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 V. Minerals other than Gold .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Iron , . .. .. .. .. .. .. . • 15 Sulphur .. .. .. .. . • .. •. 15 Petroleum .. .. .. .. . • .. • • 15 VI. Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15, 16 Quarrying Operations .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. • • 16
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Appendices to the Mines Statement— continued. Appendix A — continued. Report by Inspecting Engineer — continued. pagk VII. State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 16-18 (1) Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. 16,17 (2) Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. .. 18 (3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields .. ~ .. .. 18 (4) Government Water-races .. .. .. .. .. 18 (5) Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.8 Atmoxure A—Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 19-27 Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. .. 19-22 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19-21 Copper mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Quicksilver-n lining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Oil-wells .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Sulphur .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast District .. .. .. .. 22-25 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22-24 Dredging .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Iron .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Petroleum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Southern Inspection District .. .. .. .. ~ .. 25-27 Quartz and Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 25, 26 Dredging .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Scheelite, Platinum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Annexure B—Report on Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. 27 Annexure C —Mining Statistics .. .. .. .. .. 28 32 (1) Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained .. .. .. .. 28, 29 Northern District .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 West Coast District .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Southern District .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 (2) Statements of Affairs of Mining Companies .. .. .. .. 30-32 Appendix B —Reports relating to the Inspection of Coal-mines .. .. .. 33-55 Report by Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector .. .. .. .. 33-38 Section I. Coal Output and Imports .. .. .. .. 33, 34, 35 Section 11. Persons employed .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 Section 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .... 35,36 Section IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act .. .. .. .. 36-38 (a) Permitted Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 (b) List of Mines required by Law to use Permitted Explosives .. .. 37 (c) List of Mines required by Law to use Safety Lamps .. .. .. 37 (d) Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. . . 38 (c) Electricity at Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 (/) Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Section V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining .. .. .. .. 38 Annexure A —Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 39-50 Northern District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 39-42 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 West Coast District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42-45 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .-. .. .. .. 45 Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 Southern District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45-50 Output .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Annexure B —Colliery Statistics .. .. .. .. .. .. 51-55 Appendix C—Report of Boards of Examiners .. .. .. .. .. .. 56, 57
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1928. NEW ZEALAND.
MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES.
Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament my eighth annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended the 31st December, 1927. As will be seen from the tables accompanying the statement the quantity of coal produced in the Dominion during the year 1927 constitutes a record. This is most gratifying, and may to some extent be attributed to the Railways using a greater quantity of New Zealand coal instead of imported coal than has been the case during recent years. It is regretted that the quantity of gold produced during the year 1927 shows a slight decrease when compared with the production during the preceding year. It is evident, however, from the number of claims taken up during last year that great interest in metal mining still prevails, and it is to be hoped that as the result a much desired revival in mining will eventuate. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1927 and 1926 :—
The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in table No. 1 accompanying this statement, amounted to £3,307,939, as compared with £3,254,372 during 1926. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1927 amounted to £166,238,654. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. The following statement shows the quantity and value of bullion-production, the dividends paid by registered companies, and the number of productive claims and gold-dredges during 1927 and 1926 : —
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1927. 1926. Mineral. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Gold and silver* Platinum Tungsten-ore.. Sulphur Iron Quicksilver .. Stone Pumice Coal 506,420 oz. 33 „ 6,j 9 j;ton3 469" „ 3 j 383 j. £ 550,166 231 445 3,375 17.761 462 570,369 6,230 2,366,740 554,529 oz. 31 „ tons 594 3,997 £ 539,302 313 475 5,217 19,585 14 516,075 8,081 2,239,999 1,733 2,366,740 2,358 2,239,999 Totals £3,515,779 £3,329,047 * The gold-silver bull lion ia generally expi jrted unaeparai .ml.
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COAL-MINING. The output of several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows : —
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1927 and 1926 : —
MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at which 1,733 men were ordinarily employed, there was no fatal "accident and only one serious accident. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 2,341 men, one person was killed and five persons met with serious injuries.. There were 5,374 persons ordinarily employed about the coal-mines, and there were ten persons killed and twenty-seven persons seriously injured. SOCIAL AMENITIES AT MINING TOWNSHIPS. Further facilities for recreation of miners and others at mining townships have been provided during the past year. At Roa a tennis-court, financed by the residents of the district, has been constructed. The residents of Denniston, with the assistance of the Westport Coal Co., provided a bowling-green for the use of miners and the public. The facilities provided for athletic sports, &c, in mining towns continue to be extensively used and patronized by the miners and the general public.
Dividends paid by Registered Companiea. Number of Productive Claims and Dredgoa. Production of Bullion. Class of Gold-mining. 1927. 1926. 1927. I 1926. 1927. 1926. juartz .. lluvial ■redging Oz. .. 480,978 10,402 15,040 £ 449,281 40,154 60,731 Oz. £ 530,087 442,674 11,338 43,659 13,104 52,969 £ 49,591 2,155 6,766 £ 55,841 3,725 22 346 4 21 288 5 Totals 506,420 I 550,166 554,529 I 539,302 58,512 i 59,566 I 372 314
Class of Coal. Northern Distriot (North Island). Output of Coal during 1927. West Coast Southern Distriot Distriot (South Island). (South Islan ) Total. Total Output to the End of 1927. Tons. 172,348 Tons. 1,118,181 Tons. Tons. 1,290,529 Tons. 40,470,314 Bituminous and sub - bituminous Brown [ignite 575,182 37,792 218 341,462 121,557 954,436 121,775 21,761,713 4,094,055 Totals for 1.927 .. 747,530 1,156,191 463,019 2,366,740 66,326,082 Totals for 1926 .. 1,122,176 463,974 2,239,999 63,959,342 653,849
Classification. Inspection District. Northern West Coast (of i , S , ou f™,, (North Island). South Island). (re j s J^? Inspection District. Totals. Increase or 1927. 1926. Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore Ironstone Sulphur Coal Stone-quarries under the Stonequarries Act Oil sr, and tungsten o are 804 507 352 507 70 352 1,663 70 6 5,374 2,341 1,706 64 12 5,159 2,243 Dec. 43 Inc. 6 Dec. 6 Inc. 215 ,, 98 70 rries under the St i Ant, 6 1,478 2,935 961 tone- 1,671 274 396 2,935 274 961 396 : Act 29 3 3 32 23 ,. 9 Totals 3,988 3,789 1,709 9,486 9,207 Inc. 279
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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the 1927-28 field season the Geological Survey continued the detailed examination of the Taupo-Rotorua volcanic region ; the Wairoa district, north of Hawke's Bay ; and the Murchison district, in. central Nelson. The soil survey of parts of Central Otago, begun at the instance of the Public Works Department three years ago, was completed about Easter. Reports concerning all these areas are now being prepared. Much palseontological work was done, chiefly on shells collected from the oilbearing strata of the Cisborne - East Cape district. The report now in preparation should be of material help in solving some of the problems of the rather complex structure of this district. As in past years, the Survey has had the assistance of specialists in some paheontological determinations, and, as far as possible, has helped other workers in this branch of science. During the year ended 31st March last Bulletins No. 29 (Egmont Subdivision), No. 31 (Tongaporutu-Ohura Subdivision), and No. 32 (Minerals of New Zealand), as well as the twenty-first annual report of the Geological Survey, were published. In addition, several papers by members of the staff have appeared in the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute " and elsewhere. Bulletin No. 30 (Waiapu Subdivision) is in the press, and the preparation of several others is well forward. It is with regret that I have to record the death of Mr. P. G. Morgan, who had been Director of the Geological Survey since 1911. Mr. Morgan's devotion to duty and his high ideals of service are known to all with whom he came in contact, and his death in the full vigour of his mental prime was unfortunate. MINING PRIVILEGES. During the year ended 31st March, 1928, 6,52 licenses for mining privileges were granted under the provisions of the Mining Act, 1926. Out of this number 110 were licenses for claims authorizing the holders to mine for gold. Eor the same period 280 mining privileges, including 25 licenses for claims, were struck off the registers under the provisions of section 188 of the said Act. STATE AID TO MINING. As in previous years, considerable use was made of the Government prospectingdrills. They were hired by seven parties, and a total of 7,194 ft. was drilled. Eor the year a total of £13,860 Bs. 4d. was expended in subsidies for prospecting, and 146 persons were employed in connection therewith. £3,841 7s. sd. was expended by way of direct grants and subsidies for roads and tracks. The expenditure on schools of mines amounted to £3,516 17s. Id., aga'nst £3,885 16s. sd. during the previous year. SCHOOL OF MINES SCHOLARSHIPS. Eight scholarship candidates sat at the annual. Schools of Mines Examinations, held 'in November and December of last year, for the six scholarships which are offered annually for competition by students attending the schools of mines within the Dominion. Two candidates from the Thames School were successful in gaining scholarships, which are tenable for three years at the University of Otago. MINERS PHTHISIS ACT, 1915. (Now in Pensions Act, 1926.) The benefits under this Act are administered by the Pensions Department, and the following is a statement supplied, by the Commissioner of Pensions showing the amount and the number of pensions payable, in force, and granted to the 31st March, 1928 :— _ • Amounts paid since inception until 31st March, 1928 — Payments from Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, £ 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 301,178 Payments for year ended 31st March, 1928 . . 45,096 £346,274
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Number of new grants for year 1927-28 .. .. 104 Annual value of new grants .. .. .. £ 7,586 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1928 .. 721 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1928 . . £45,773 Average pension payable per annum . . .. £63-48 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1928 1,447 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1928, includes the following : — To unmarried miners .. .. .. 271 To married miners .. .. .. 578 To widows of miners .. .. .. 598 1,447
INVESTIGATIONS, NEW ZEALAND COALS. The research work on coal carried out at the Dominion Laboratory for the Department consisted chiefly of the examination of samples of carbonized residue, briquettes, and oil, resulting from the low-temperature carbonization of several tons of Waikato slack, by the Rolle process at Halle, Germany. The results confirmed those obtained at the Imperial Institute, London, by Sir Richard Redmayne, and published in his report on the carbonization tests. Members of the staff acted on the committee which discussed various problems arising out of the report. During the year a Coal Research Association was formed, on which the Mines Department is represented, and research on coal formerly undertaken at the suggestion of and in co-operation with the Department is now being carried out under the direction of the Association. The low-temperature carbonization of some brown coals at various temperatures has been investigated, using the Gray-King laboratory apparatus, and also a small aluminium Fischer retort. To enable larger-scale tests to be carried out, a Fischer rotary retort, to hold a pharge of from 20 lb. to 30 lb. of coal, has now been installed, with the necessary pumps, gas-holder, and other accessories. This will be in operation shortly. Special attention will be paid to the oil obtained by the process. COAL-MINERS' RELIEF FUND. As mentioned in my last statement, all accident-relief payments are now made from the Coal-miners' Relief Fund, which is administered by the Public Trustee, the Miners' Sick and Accident Funds having been abolished as from the Ist April, 1926, and incorporated in the Coal-miners' Relief Fund. Notwithstanding that the Public Trustee increased the rate of interest on the funds held by him by i per cent., the Relief Fund shows a diminution of £712 os. Id. as at 31st March, 1928, as against a diminution of £203 14s. Id. as at 31st March, 1927. This has been occasioned by the increased payments made during the year. The interest earned for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1928, was £1,365 Is., as against £1,140 19s. 3d. for the previous year, while for the same periods the income from the |d. per ton contribution was £5,072 18s. Id. and £4,213 14s. lid. respectively. In addition the sum of £2 12s. Id. was recredited to the Fund on account of vouchers recredited. The total expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1928, amounted to £7,152 lis. 3d., as against £5,584 12s. lOd. for the previous year. The amount standing to the credit of the Fund as at the 31st March last was £26,156 lis. 2d., as against £26,868 lis. 3d. at the 31st March, 1927. STATE COL LIER I E S. Housing. With the object of enabling reputable miners and other employees working at the State collieries to erect and own their own homes a housing scheme was introduced by the Government several years ago, but it was not until last year that the employees availed themselves of the opportunity thus offered.
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To date twenty loans for financing the cost of the erection of twenty houses have been sanctioned, the lowest advance being for £250 and the highest £300. Repayments, are made at the rate of 3s. 4d. per week for each £100 loaned, and at the end of twenty years' time the loan is liquidated. Output and Sales. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended 31st March, 1928, are briefly reviewed hereunder. Liverpool Colliery. —The gross output for the year was 143,889 tons, as compared with 151,180 tons for last year, a decrease of 7,291 tons. Jam,es Colliery. —The gross output for the year was 41,345 tons, &,s compared with 34,505 tons for last year, an increase of 6,840 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown hereunder : —
The disposal, inclusive of stock on hand at the beginning of the year, was as follows : Supplied to —Depots, 54,831 tons ; railways, 20,873 tons ; other Government Departments, 9,222 tons ; shipping, 12,515 tons ; gasworks, 68,772 tons ; other consumers, 9,600 tons : total, 175,813 tons. The total sales of State coal from the Liverpool Mine for the year amounted to 136,978 tons, value £185,970,* as compared with 144,581 tons, value £197,175,* for last year —a decrease of 7,603 tons, with a decrease in value of £11,205. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £l 7s. l-Bd., a decrease of l-sd. on last year's average. The total sales of State coal from the James Mine for the year amounted to 38,835 tons, value £56,080,* as compared with 30,173 tons, value £43,457,* for last year —an increase of 8,662 tons, with an increase in value of £12,623. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £1 Bs. 10*6 d. per ton, an increase of o'94d. on last year's average. The sales of coal, &c , through the medium of the depots totalled 134,830 tons, value £253,579, as against 115,881 tons, value £228,347, for last year. The profits at the mines were £17,674, and at the depots, &c, £4,132, making a net profit of £21,806. £4,552 was applied to the Sinking Fund Account. From a financial point of view the year's business may be regarded as very satisfactory, due in a large measure to the collieries losing very little time on account of strikes. Items from Balance-sheet. The following items taken from the balance-sheet, which has been audited, will prove of interest as indicating the more important items of expenditure, and for reference in respect to the position of Capital Account, reserve funds, and other accounts shown therein : — £ The amount written off for depreciation for the year was .. .. 11,515 The payments for interest totalled .. .. .. .. 9,102 The payments for sea carriage of coal amounted to . . .. 59,083 The cost of railway haulage amounted to .. .. .. 50,731 The total wages paid for coal-winning were .. .. .. 105,148
* These values include sales made c. and f. and f.0.b., as well as f.o.r.
Output in Tons, 1927-28. Output in Tons, 1926-27. mine. 1TJ.U1U. . ■ Gross. Net. Liverpool .. .. 143,889 137,180 James .. .. 41,345 37,142 Gross. Net. 151,180 144,970 34,505 30,147 Note. —The difference between the gross and the net off consumption and waste. In addition to the above 3,318 tons r which 1 ,.'i66 tons were purchased from co-operative parties on t-h' ;put is the the allowance for mine if coal were purchased for resale, of West Coast.
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The amount paid for management and office salaries (Head Office £ and mines) totalled . . .. .. . . . . 3,947 The gross capital expenditure on the whole undertaking to the 31st March last was . . . . .. . . . . . . 628,769 The total depreciation written off to date (equal to 60 per cent, on the gross capital expenditure) amounts to . . .. 377,874 The debenture and loan capital stands at .. .. .. 227,601 The net profits of the State Coal-mines Account from inception to the 31st March, 1928, are .. .. .. .. .. 151,049 The net profit for the year ended 31st March, 1928, was . . .. 21,806 The sinking fund is in credit . . .. .. .. .. 62,338 General reserve stands at .. . . .. . . 81,972 The amount at credit of Profit and Loss is .. .. .. 17,254 The cash in hand and in the Public Account at the 31st March last was (last year £10,566) .. .. .. .. ..22,098 The present net book value of permanent or fixed assets is .. 250,895
TABLES TO ACCOMPANY MINKS STATEMENT.
No. 1. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold and other Minerals exported during the Years ended the 31st December, 1927 and 1926, and the Total Value since the 1st January, 1853. The Coaloutput is also included.
Name of Metal or Mineral. For Year ended the 31st December, 1927. Quantity. Value. For Year ended the 31st December, 1926. Total fr 1st January, 31st Docon •om the 1853, to the iber, 1927. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Precious metals— Gold* .. Silver Oz. 130,171 427,358 £ 534,639 42,589 Oz. 125,777 425,287 £ 516,207 51,236 Oz. 23,546,735 25,980,821 £ 92,938,038 3,059,249 Total gold and silver .. 557,529 577,228 551,064 567,443 49,527,556 95,997,287 Mineral produce, including kaurigum— Copper-ore Chrome-ore Antimony-ore Manganese-ore Hematite ore Tungsten-ore Quicksilver Sulphur (crude) Mixed minerals! Coal (New Zealand) exported Coke exported Coal, output of mines in Dominion (less exports) Oil-shale Kauri-gum Tons. 1O10 £ 821 Tons. ISA £ 998 Tons. 1,504 5,869 3,781 19,380 77 2,397 ¥ % 10 ST j 4,927 79,016 5,934,191 17,603 60,391,891 £ 19,390 38,002 55,045 61,994 469 305,944 8,336 13,241 331,623 6,427,308 27,583 40,810,813 143,440 19 2,223,300 6,636 221,253 69 2,223,300 2,'382iS 183,008 230 2,056,991 9,761 285,909 505 2,056,991 4,674 278,632 4,877 332,765 14,444 403,973 7,236 22,134,383 Total quantity and value of minerals Value of gold and silver, as above 2,373,205-frg-2,730,711 577,228 2,247,502J' T) - 2,686,929 66,879,069-1$ 70,241,367 567,443 95,997,287 Total value of minerals, including gold and silver * In respect of gold, c | Including pumico-ss ounces of the fini md, 1,733 tons; 3,307,939 3,254,372 166,238,654 mesa of 20 oarai also marblo of i and upwards, -eight unspecifii id by the Custi ims Department.
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No. 2. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold exported from New Zealand for the Years ended the 31st December, 1927 and 1926, and the Total Quantity and Value from 1857 to the 31st December, 1927.
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Year 31st Docer inded iber, 1927. Year ended 31st December, 1926. Total Quantit from Januar 31st Decern] ;y and Value ■y, .1857, to ber, 1927. District arrd County or Borough. Quantity. Quantity. Value. Value. Auckland — County of Ohinemuri Borough of Thames Borough of Waihi Oz. 332 339 80,091 £ Oz. 865 £ 3,200 Oz. 1,149 1,151 336,009 80,487 336,288 80,762 338,309 81,352 339,488 7,398,223 28,751,899 Wellington 188 706 _ Marlborough— County of Marlborough 2,520 107,013 416,595 305 1,183 660 Nelson — County of Collingwood County of Murchison County of Waimea 245 475 904 1,905 39 4 159 16 720 2,809 43 175 1,741,969 6,906,745 West Coast — County of Buller County of Inangahua County of Westland 135 22,012 18,079 537 85,542 73,360 380 23,772 12,935 1,523 93,165 52,650 40,226 159,439 37,087 147,338 6,523,745 25,895,735 Canterbury— County of Ashburton 157 620 Otago— County of Fiord County of Tuapeka County of Vincent County of Maniototo Borough of Cromwell County of Waitaki County of Lake County of Wallace County of Southland County of St. Bathan's 12 2,286 834 890 89 89 463 653 2,131 49 9,364 3,331 3,623 344 359 1,857 2,575 8,662 660 1,161 988 2,681 4,606 4,063 138 355 3,485 9,116 73 34 88 881 2,241 18 7,447 30,164 6,071 24,517 7,765,637 30,926,108 Unknown 2,160 9,803 39,630 711 2,735 562 Totals .. 130,171 534,639 125,777 516,207 23,546,735 92,938,038
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No. 3. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Coalfields, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1927 and 1.926, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.
No. 4. Table showing the Output of Different Classes of Coal.
Om iput. Approximate Total Output up to 31st Decembor, 1927. Name of Coalfield. Increase. Decrease. 1927. 1926. North Auckland iVaikato (including Taranaki) Nelson Buller Tons. 172,348 575,182 11,489 657,982 36,797 449,923 11,103 173,593 278,323 Tons. 111,918 541,931 9,136 667,464 36,600 408,976 12,504 209,253 242,217 Tons. 60,430 33,251 2,353 Tons. Tons. 4,802,245 • 9,666,345 438,048 20,693,567 608,333 12,516,223 945,274 11,651,148 5,004,899 9,482 [nangahua ]rrey Canterbury Dtago Southland 197 40,947 1,401 35,660 36,106 Totals .. 2,366,740* 2,239,999 66,,326,082 * Increasi i, 126,741 tons.
Clasa of Coal. Output. Increase. Decrease. Approximate Total Output to the 31st December, 1927. 1927. 1926. Bituminous and semi-bituminous.. Brown Lignite Tons. 1,290,529 954,436 121,775 Tona. 190,52 '54,43 21,77 Tona. 29 1,196,388 36 905,825 75 137,786 Tons. 94,141 48,611 Tona. Tons. 40,470,314 21,761,713 4,094,055 16,011 Totals 2,366,740* 2,239,999 66,326,082 * Increase, 126,741 tons.
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No. 5. Table showing the Increase or Decrease in the Annual Production of Coal and Oilshale in the Dominion, and the Quantity of Coal imported since 1878.
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Coal and Shale rai ised in the Dominion. Coal imported. Year. Tons. Increase over Preceding Year. Yearly Increase or Decrease. Tons. Decrease below Preceding Year. Prior to 1878 1878 1879 1880 1881 .. 1882 1883 .. 1884 1885 1886 .. 1887 .. 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 .. 1896 .. 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 .. 1905 .. 1906 1907 .. 1908 1909 .. 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 .. 1921 .. 1922 1923 1924 1925 .. 1926 1927 .. 709,931 162,218 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 480,831. 511,063 534,353 558,620 613,895 586,445 637,397 668,794 673,315 691,548 719,546 726,654 792,851 840,713 907,033 975,234 1,093,990 1,239,686 1,365,040 1,420,229 1,537,838 1,585,756 1,729,536 1,831,009 1,860,975 1,911,247 2,197,362 2,066,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614 2,208,624 2,257,135 2,068,419 2,034,250 1,847,848 1,843,705 1,809,095 1,857,819 1,969,834 2,083,207 2,114,995 2,239,999 2.366,740 Inc. 69,000 „ 68,705 „ 37,339 „ 41,010 „ 43,492 „ 59,069 „ 30,232 23,290 24,267 55,275 Dec. 27,450 Inc. 50,952 „ 31,397 4,521 18,233 „ 27,998 7,108 66,197 47,862 66,320 68,201 „ 118,756 „ 145,696 „ 125,354 „ 55,189 „ 117,609 „ 47,918 „ 143,780 „ 101,473 „ 29,966 „ 50,272 „ 286,115 Dec. 131,289 Inc. 111,542 Dec. 289,610 Inc. 387,609 Dec. 66,990 Inc. 48,511 Dec. 188,716 „ 34,169 „ 186,402 4,143 „ 34,610 Inc. 48,724 „ 112,015 „ 113,373 „ 31,788 „ 125,004 „ 126,741 174,148 158,076 123,298 129,962 129,582 123,540 148,444 130,202 119,873 107,230 101,341 128,063 110,939 125,318 125,453 117,444 112,961 108,198 101,756 110,907 115,427 99,655 124,033 149,764 127,853 163,923 147,196 169,046 207,567 220,749 287,808 258,185 232,378 188,068 364,359 468,940 518,070 353,471 293,956 291,597 255,332 391,434 476,343 822,459 501,478 445,792 674,483 572,573 483,918 378,090 6,664 24,904 26,722 14,379 135 9,151 4,520 24,378 25,731 36,070 16,072 34,778 380 6,042 18,242 10,329 12,643 5,889 17,124 8,009 4,483 4,763 6,442 15,772 21,911 16,727 21.850 38,521 13,182 67,059 29,623 25,807 14,310 176,291 104,581 49,130 164,599 59,515 2,359 36,265 136,102 84,909 346,116 55,686 228,691 101,910 88,655 105,828 i
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No. 6. Table showing the Total Quantity and Value of Coal imported into and exported from New Zealand from and to each Country during the Calendar Year 1927.
Imports.
The values shown are the current domestic values in country of export plus 10 per cent.
Exports: Bunkers.
Exports: Cargo.
Country whence imported. Tons. Value. £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 154 149 Australia .. .. .. .. 377,336 514,992 United States of America .. .. 600 i 660 I Totals .. .. .. 378,090 515,801
Country to which exported. Produce of I Tons. few Zealand. Value. Produce of ot) Tons. lor Countries. Value. United Kingdom Straits Settlements Canada, via West Coast Chile .. Australia Fiji Nauru Island Gilbert and Ellice Islands Dutch East Indies Peru New Caledonia United States of America, via East Coast Tuamotu Archipelago Whale-fisheries 65,018 1,760 6,139 247 34,418 1,747 3,028 7,872 2,782 100 70 6,068 9,962 935 £ 127,879 1,760 6,494 519 40,202 2,136 3,028 7,907 2,782 210 70 12,316 £ 5,504 8,200 9,962 2,009 Totals . . .. I 140,146 140,146 217,274 5,504 8,200
Country to which exported. Produce of New Zealand. Produce of otl ier Countries. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Fiji Western Samoa . . (lilbert and Ellice Islands. . £ 2,094 48 1,837 £ 1,551 19 1,724 Totals 3,294 3.979
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No. 7. Number of Persons ordinarily employed at or about Mines other than Coal-mines during the Year ended 31st December, 1927.
Summary of Persons ordinarily employed in or about New Zealand Mines during 1927 and 1926.
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Number of Persons ordinarily emj iloyed at Toi »1. County or Borough. Gold-quartz A^ old , GoldMines - MmTs? dred S es - Mines other! than Gold ! and Coal. 1927. 1926. Northern Inspection District. County of Thames ,, Ohinemuri „ Coromandel ,, Piako Borough of Thames Waihi County of Wairoa „ Taranaki ,, Waiapu Clifton .. ,, Tauranga ,, Whangamomona White Island 3 73 46 2 70 601 9 2 11 5 2 6 3 73 46 2 70 601 9 2 11 5 9 2 6 21 84 37 3 62 639 5 5 10 9 4 12 West Coast Inspection District. County of Marlborough ,, Takaka ,, Collingwood „ Murchison Buller .. ,, Inangahua ,, Grey ,, Westland 8 10 1 13 34 15 12 19 52 70 3 18 1 83 37 15 281 35 110 27 72 28 13 264 48 105 269 16 58 Southern Inspection District. County of Taieri .. ,, Tuapeka ,, Vincent ,, Maniototo „ Waihemo ,, Waitaki ,, Lake ,, Wallace ,, Southland ,, Ashburton 6 54 46 46 2 9 55 33 67 29 2 I 54 75 46 8 9 60 33 67 56 64 51 6 2 1 8 89 40 51 1 • • Totals 1,089 468 104 110* 1,771 1,805 * Includes 6 persons empl ryod in sulp" iur-mining, md 32 in oil [-boring opon itions.
1927. 1926. Increase or Decreaao. Gold, silver, and tungsten mines Other metalliferous mines Coal-mines 1,663 108* 5,374 1,706 99 5,159 Dec. 43 Inc. 9 Inc. 215 Totals 7,1.45 6,964 Inc. 181 * Includes 8 persons employed in sulphur-mi ining, and 32 in oil-boring iperations.
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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT.
APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mtnes to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, Ist June, 1928. I. have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries, together with statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1927. .In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &,c, arc for the period covered by the financial year—viz., from the Ist April, 1.927, to the 31st March, 1928. The reports, &c, are divided into the following sections : — I. Minerals produced and exported. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (1) Quartz-mining. (2) Dredge Mining. (3) Alluvial Mining. V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarry Inspection and Statistics. VII. State Aid to Mining. (1) Subsidized Prospecting. (2) Government Prospecting-drills. (3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. (4) Government Water-races. (fi) Schools of Mines. Annexures : — (A) Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines. (B) Summary of Report by Inspector of Quarries. (0) Mining Statistics.
I. MINERALS PRODUCED AND EXPORTED. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metal-mines and of stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act during 1927 and 1926 : —
The following statement shows the value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1927 : —
Mineral. 1927. ■ Quantity. Value. 192G Quantity. Value. Gold and silver (eatimatod) Platinum Tungsten-ore Iron Stone Pumice Sulphur Quiekailver Oz. £ 506,420 550,166 33 231 Tons. cwt. 6 9 445 3,383 0 17,761 570,369 1,733 0 6,230 469 0 3,375 0 14 462 Oz. 554,529 31 £ 539,302 313 Tona. cwt. 9 1 3,997 0 475 19,585 516,075 8,081 5,21.7 2,358 0 594 0 Totals .. 1,149,039 1,089,048
Total from the 1927. 1926. ! Increase or Decrease. f £ n^y^!6 lv the 31st Dcccmbt'i 1927. £ £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 534,639 516,207 Inc. 18,432 92,938,038 Silver .. .. .. .. 42,589 51,236 Dec. 8,647 3,059,249 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 821 998 ,, 177 305,944 Kauri-gum .. .. .. 278,632 332,765 „ 54,133 22,134,383 Sand, lime, and building-stone .. 6,421 8,294 „ 1,873) roo Other minerals .. .. .. 215 1,467 , „ 1,252) o28,100 Totals .. .. 863,317 910,967 ; Dee. 47,650 118,965,714
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11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines* of the Dominion during the year : —
111. ACCIDENTS. During 1927 there were no fatal accidents and only one serious accident. In this respect the year under review is the best in the history of metal-mining in New Zealand.
A full account of the serious accident, which occurred in the Waihi Mine, is contained in Inspector Paul's report in the annexure hereto.
IV. GOLD-MINING. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and the number of gold-mines and dredges : —
The value of bullion produced during 1927 was greater by £10,864 than during 1926. Bullion from quartz-mining increased by £6,607, from alluvial mining the decreased value was £3,505, but the increased value of gold from dredging was £7,762.
Classification. Northern. Inspection District. | West Coast. Southern. Total, 1927. Jold, silver, and tungsten ironstone 804 804 507 70 507 70 352 1,663 70 Totals for 1927 804 804 577 577 352 1,733 Totals for 1926 .. 850 850 554 554 366 1,770 * In addition, 0 persons wore employed in sulphur-mir lining, and 32 persons in oil-boring operations. Mill ng, and 32 p persons in oil-boring
Cause. Fatal i Number of Separate Accidents. Fatal Ai rcidents. N Z b tn r ,° f Mo' Deaths. Accidents. Serious Non-fi Sal Accidents. Number of Persons injured. 'alls of ground.. Jxplosives liscellaneous liscellaneous, underground i 1 Totals 1 1
Production of Bullion, 1927.» (All Mines.) L Dividends paid, 1927, J (By Registered Companies only.)f Quantity. Value. Number of Persons Lj*H*S,SL ordinarily employed ' ™S ..h, ■? at Productive and m1 "™' 0 A " l ' v . iaI Unproductive Mines. jjggfifa. l Quartz-mining Drodgo mining Alluvial miningj Oz. 480,978 15,040 10,402 £ 449,281 60,731 40,154 £ 49,591 6,766 2,155 1,089 22 104 4 468 346 Totals, 1927 506,420 550,166 58,512 1,661 372 1,661 Totals, 1926 554,529 539,302 59,566 1,704 314 * In addition to the gc preference to "gold." t The profits of privatcl; X The bullion-produetioi of registered companies. ild produced from tho gold-mines, silver was i obtained from hence the word " b mllion " is used in y owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, w rr is from 34(1 alluvial claims, but the divideni diicli renders this statement incomplete. Is are only ascertainable from those few thai t are the property
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(1) Quartz-mining.
The average value per ton of ore treated during 1927 amounted to £1 15s. 3d., as compared with £1 17s. 2d. during 1926. From the Waihi Mine 179,643 long tons of quartz was obtained and crushed for a return of 420,571 oz. of bullion, valued at £320,993, a decrease compared with the previous year of 6,144 tons of quartz, 77,530 oz. of bullion, and in value of £16.003. A very large amount of development workwas done, but without disclosing any important body of ore; the total footage for the year amounted to 9,315 ft., and in addition a total of 3,402 ft. was bored by diamond drill. The results obtained at the bottom level, No. 15, are particularly disappointing, and further development work at this level has been stopped. Work in the Waihi Grand Junction area has been carried out by the Waihi Gold-mining Co. in pursuance of an agreement made between the two companies in 1926. During the past year 28,334 long tons were mined for a return of 38,098 oz. of bullion, valued at £43,425. The total footage for the year in the Grand Junction area was 2,012 ft. At Muir's Gold-reef Mine during the year a new electric shaft-pump was installed capable of lifting 1,200 gallons per minute from a depth of 500 ft. The pump started operating in November, and, after some preliminary troubles were overcome, the mine was unwatered early in the present year. The Blackwater Mine produced and crushed 41,362 tons of quartz for a return of 17,557 oz. of gold, valued at £68,645, compared with 40,044 tons of quartz and 18,032 oz. of bullion, valued at £70,232, for the previous year. The company owning this mine acquired during the year the property previously owned by the North Blackwater Mines, Ltd. Most of the development work has been with a view to extending the levels in the Blackwater Mine into the North Blackwater area. The total footage for the year amounted to 1,757 ft. The New Big River Mine ceased to produce at the middle of the year. For the period under review 1,024 tons of quartz were crushed and yielded 1,039 oz. of bullion, valued at £3,253. (2) Dredge Mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket gold-dredges during 1927. (Note. —The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)
The Rimu Flat dredge turned over 1,761,461 cubic yards for a return of 13,070 oz. of gold, valued at £53,128, an increase in quantity of 1,270 oz. and £5,228 in value, compared with the preceding year. The company owning this dredge has continued to prospect for and drill other likely dredgingareas in the district and elsewhere. The New River dredge turned over 180,000 cubic yards of gravel for a return of 1,305 oz. of gold, valued at £5,038. A very considerable amount of dredging-time was lost through breakdowns of the dredge. Alterations to the dredge are contemplated, the principal being the provision of a stronger ladder and a new bucket-line.
Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value o Bullion. Dividends par tered Compi id (by Reglsanies only). Inspection District. 1927. 1926. 208,372 190,638 46,168 47,.395 28 135 254,568 238,168 1927. 1927. 1926. 1920. j Northern West Coast Southern £ 386,021 83,243 17 £ 349,196 93,062 416 £ 49,591 £ 49,591 6,250 Totals .. 49,591 55,841 449,281 442,674
Name of Dredge. Locality. 3SA » & ma 1 gg -8 if g.g WS W H °J8" offo IS .t,3<J oSs So |i3S gft — jq to s -Si's lift d?i-i as a* So H ro So a, g SS gig II II gO li ■Jl •a °.S • c3 IVhSO! SrQOl ■30-H Dividend! declared. During 1927. Total. Otago and Southland. Molynoux Electric Nevis Crosaing Molynoux River Nevis River [ 5 II i 115 3J 10 12 Ft. E 40 S 10 £ 1,152 1,413 £ £ 200 200 West Ooast. Rimu Flat Dunganville 10 19 325 7 18 155 E 55 E 35 53,128 5,038 6,566 19,698 Rimu Now Hiver Totals, 1927 Totala, 1926 60,731 52,969 6,766 Unknown. I Unknown.
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(3) Alluvial Mining. The following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends declared from alluvial gold-mines during 1927 : — .
V. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. Iron. The local demand for pig iron was not sufficient to keep the blast furnace at Onakaka in operation throughout the year. 6,886 tons of iron-ore were smelted and produced 3,383 tons of pig iron, valued at £17,761. Through minor alterations to the plant further reductions in the cost of production have been obtained. The company is now endeavouring to raise capital to increase the capacity of the blast furnace and install a pipe-founding plant, by means of which it is expected to keep the furnace at full production throughout the whole of the year. Sulphur, From White Island 900 tons of 33-per-cent. sulphur, valued at £3 10s, per ton, were shipped and sold during the year. The principal work on the island consisted of the putting-down of twenty-seven boreholes to an average depth of 180 ft. for the purpose of testing the sulphur deposits below the floor of the crater, and the relaying of the tram-line from Crater Bay at a lower level in order to gain better facilities for working the higher-grade sulphur found on the floor and sides of the crater. Petroleum. The Taranaki Oilfields, Ltd., has so far met with no success in its search for oil. During the year drilling was confined to areas in the Gisborne and Waiapu districts. The Waiapu No. 2 well reached a depth of 2,908 ft. without striking oil. The Gisborne No. 1 well was put down to a depth of 2,140 ft. on a favourable structure near Morere ; it still has some distance to go before it reaches the Cretaceous rocks, which, on the geological evidence, are expected to be oil-bearing. Towards the end of the year the site was prepared and the erection of the derrick begun for another well, known as the Gisborne No. 2 well, on a favourable structure found in the Manganone Valley, about seven miles from the No. 1 well. An effort was made by tho Blenheim Oil Well Reclamation Co., Ltd., to recondition and bring into production the Blenheim well. An oil-sand was known to exist at about 2,180 ft. The intention of the company was to clear the well to that depth, plug it there, and then " shoot " the well. From that horizon 30,000 gallons of oil had been got in January, 1914. The well was cleared to the depth required, but a string of 7 in. casing fell down the well, and by the end of the year only part of the casing had been recovered. Drilling at the Mangles River by the Murchison Oil Co. was continued throughout the year, and the depth reached was 3,461 ft. Some gas and a show of oil were got at about 2,300 ft. VI. STQNE-QUARRY INSPECTION AND STATISTICS. By section 2 of the Stone-quarries Amendment Act, 1920, the application of the Act was extended to include every place, not being a mine, in which persons work in quarrying stone and any part of which has a face more than 15 ft. deep, and also in any tunnel in the construction of which explosives are used. The Act, however, does not apply to any Government operations, or any road or railway cutting, or excavations for buildings.
Dividend declared. Name of Company. Estimated Value of Gold produced. During 1927. Total to End of 1927. Lawronco Sluicing Co. .. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Co. Golden Crescent Sluicing Co. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Co. Round Hill Mining Co. .. Morgan Bros. Ilohonu Gold Sluicing Co. Strrbbs and Stoel Rimu United All other claims £ 2,781 3,399 1,204 2,059 1,512 1,158 1,493 1,062 475 25,011 i £ 750 600 175 630 £ 3,750 19,215 14,175 9,200 Totals 40,154 2,155 Unknown.
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The following is a table showing the number of quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, also the number of persons ordinarily employed thereat, and the annual output and value of crude stone, during 1927 : —
There were 98 more men employed than during the previous year, and the value of the stone produced was greater by £54,291. Quabey Accidents. The following is a summary of serious accidents during 1927 at quarries under the Stone-quarries Act:—
There was one fatal accident in stone-quarries, which is the lowest number recorded for some years. The fatal accident occurred in the Mount Albert sewerage tunnel, on the 18th October, to G. H. McMahon. On the previous day, when a round of holes was being charged, with explosives, it was found that one of the holes, 3 ft. 6 in. deep, crossed a crevice in the rock, and probably one or more cartridges dropped down that crevice. This round was fired, and the face of the tunnel was advanced a distance of 4- ft. 6 in. Next day McMahon was boring the face with a rock-drill, when an explosion occurred, evidently the result of the drill striking some of the explosive previously lost in the crevice. For this to have taken place the lost cartridge or cartridges must have rolled down the crevice away from the face, so that they were not discovered when the material got from the round of holes which had been fired was being filled out. McMahon received severe injuries to his head, and died the following day. His mate, who was working with him at the time lost an eye. VII. STATE AID TO MINING. (1) Subsidized Prospecting. Upon subsidized prospecting operations 146 persons were intermittently employed during the year. The following is a statement showing the results of prospecting operations as reported by the Inspectors of Mines:—
Provincial District. ||l §1 I ll H If ! ■ r~*3 fl Name and Address of | 5 £ '§ (Jovornment Inspector of *3 *%& ■ M-& Stone-quarries. <3 2 a §9 1st; If : §5-= K j . g § o i a it Output i i. ■ i g<» Oh5 M>"3 ml H+3 mo 2 o hS) g a Si M rA Output of Stone. ilk I o o - a -- hh g ss ell ® S . * 'fi d 5 b o5 .So 3 xH oo O 1 I 3 a a> 3 Auckland .. James Newton, Mines Dept., Auckland M. Paul, Mines Dept., Waihi (Hauraki Mining District only) James Newton, Mines Dept., Auckland Ditto 152 1,132 Tons. 615,624 Tons. Tons. 175,026 6,100 Tons. 6,100 Tons. 23,007 Tons. 286,760 Tons. Tons. 157,016 £ 301,033 18 154 105,606 117 351 351 32,452 Hawke's Hay 13,178 8,561 10,416 6,694 11 75 Taranaki Wellington Canterbury J. F. Downey, Mines Dept., Reefton 15 43 12 64 246 119 29,415 138,281 102,339 16,370 8,930 3,149 4,175 8,072 1,789 784 2,000 10,653 56,899 36,798 Nelson \ Westland Marlborough I Otago \ Southland J Ditto A. Whitley, Mines Dept., Dunedin 12 37 155 396 6,613 134,918 30,537 327 86,248 16,337 2,676 93,938 38,942 43,989 9,004 19,185 106,655 Totals 1927 Totals 1926 300 313 2,341 2,243 '1,145,974! 1,071,393 1325,789 162,399 |26,264 72,918 144,073 il22,181 372,475 357,018 166,020 10,584 570,369 516,075
Cause. Number of Accidents. Number of Sufferers. Fatal. I Serious. Killed Seriously Jt1llM - injured. lachinery Explosives 'alls of ground 1 1 1 3 1 1 I 3 Totals 1 5 1 5
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Name of Prospecting Party. Number Amount- nf specters. Localit y° f0 P eration3 - SubsTy granted. Amount of Distance Subsidy driven Nature of Claimexpended, or sunk. Character of Operations. I Remarks. Northern Inspection District. Sylvia Gold-mining Co. Caledonia - Kuranui - Moanataiari Goldmining Co. Majestic Gold-mining Co. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines Alburnia Gold-mining Co. Campbell Bros. A. Geraty F. McCurdy Mount Welcome Gold-mining Co. Prescott and mate H. and J. McKenzie Sweeney and McNeil .. .. McNaughton and Roberts Imperial Gold-mining Co. W. D. F. McWilliams Four-in-hand Gold-mining Co. Muir's Gold Beefs 2 13 13 18 12 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 9 £ s. d. £ s. d. Feet. Thames .. 200 0 0 185 18 0 429 Quartz 312 0 0 260 5 0 347 Maratoto .. 1,750 0 0 1,750 0 0 1,310 - .. 216 13 4 178 2 0 411 Thames .. 216 13 4 216 13 4 500 : .. 101 8 0 63 14 0 65 0 0 65 0 0 150 .. 50 14 0 Coromandel .. 130 0 0 86 13 4 200 Mahakirau .. 50 14 0 50 14 0 .: 32 10 0 21 2 6 65 Kennedy Bay .. 31 4 0 7 16 0 Waihi .. .. 48 15 0 40 6 0 97 Karangahake .. 269 10 8 161. 4 0 372 108 6 8 69 6 8 160 „ Waikoromiko ..' 86 13 4 .. TePuke .. 9,922 0 0 9,868 13 8 Rising .. .. Work suspended. Driving .. .. Prospects encouraging. .. ' ,, .. .. Results disappointing. .. ,, .. .. Large reef; values encouraging. ,, .. .. Gold seen in ore broken out, but not payable. Prospecting .. .. Assay resulta encouraging. Driving .. .. Nothing payable discovered. Prospecting .. .. j No work done. Driving .. .. A little gold seen in ore broken out. Prospecting .. 28 cwt. produced gold valued at £36 18s. 4d. Driving .. .. Work in progress. Prospecting .. .. Nothing payable discovered. Driving and sinking .. ,, Driving .. .. Work in progress. .. I .. .. I No work done. .. \ Unwatering and driving Shaft unwatered ; sinking winze and driving at low level. West Coast Inspection District. Blackwater Miners' Association H. F. Chaffey Dominion Consolidated Developing Co. .. W. Donnelly Hart and Ahern New Keep-it-dark Tribute Party J. McQuilkin New Big River Gold-mining Co. 2 1 8 2 2 8 2 15 Waiuta .. .. 66 14 8 66 14 8 .. Takaka .. ... 35 2 0 29 5 0 Wakamarina .. 86 13 4 86 13 4 200 Quartz Shellback .. 23 8 0 23 8 0 .. :. Wakamarina .. 81 18 0 35 2 0 Reefton .. 37 11 9 37 11 9 .. Quartz Kanieri .. .. 1117 8 49 6 3 261 Alluvial Big River .. 113 17 9 37 12 5 74 Quartz Taipo Creek .. 46 16 0 31 4 0 .. Shearers Creek, 31 4 0 .. ... : Mikonui Back Creek - .. 150 0 0 150 0 0 .. Alluvial Camelback .. 50 14 0 ] 42 18 0 .. .. Alexander .. 31 4 0 7 16 0 Nobles .. .. 200 0 0 Skippers .. 258 16 8 168 1 9 345 . Quartz Lawrence ... 75 0 0 69 6 8 160 Alluvial Oturehua .. 150 0 0 .. .. Quartz 15,142 10 2 13,860 8 4 ■'•••' I - : Prospecting .. ' . .. Small gold-bearing reef found. ,, .. .. Nothing of value discovered. .. i Driving .. .. No development of value. ;■ Prospecting .. .. Nothing of value discovered. .. j .. Several gold-bearing shoots located. ' .. Prospecting drive .. Nothing of value found. .. | Driving .. .. Work in progress. Several gold-bearing blocks of stone located. Prospecting .. .. Nothing of value located. No work reported. Race-cutting .. .. Work not yet completed. A little gold found. Prospecting .. .. Nothing of value discovered. No work reported. Driving .. .. Developing reef ; good prospects. ,, .. .. Nothing of value found. .. i Sinking .. .. No work done. J. O'Kane and C. Cox F. F. Orr and A. King 2 Rimu United Sluicing Co. J. T. Timpaon and J. Lyes D. J. Willis and D. Moore A. E. Morel (Noble's Sluicing Co.) 5 2 2 • Southern Inspection District. Reid and Lynch R. Christie Progress Quartz-mining Co. 2 2 146 | \J \J 15,142 10 2 13,860 8 4
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(2) GOVERNMENT PROSPECTING DRILLS. The following table gives details of the drilling done and the results obtained for twelve months ended 31st December, 1927 :—
Drill Superintendents: W. H. Warburton, E. A. Wilson, E. W. Browne, and H. Butland. Drills used: Schram-Harker diamond, Keystone, and placer drills.
(3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £3,841, as compared with £3,612 during the previous year. (4) Government Water-races. The Waimea-Kumara water-races, constructed and maintained by the Government for the purpose of assisting alluvial gold-mining in the district of Kumara (Westland), were sold to the Westland Electric-power Board, which took possession on the Ist August, 1927. The following is a statement showing the cash received by the Government for water sold, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races, to 31st July, 1927 : —
(5) Schools of Mines. The total expenditure on schools of mines during the year ended the 31st March, 1928, amounted to £3,516 17s. Id., against £3,885 16s. sd. during the previous year. This includes a grant of £750 to the University of Otago for the Otago School of Mines. Some of the schools did excellent work, in particular the Thames School of Mines. I. desire to acknowledge the efficient help and co-operation which I have received from the Inspectors during the past year. I have, &c, J. A. C. Bayne, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.
5 U B«uI iSfrl Diameter Mineral Character of ltocks drilled mFeet. of Hole - 80U 8 ht - drilled tliro.rgli. To whom lent. Cost per Cost per Foot of Foot of Drilling. Transport. Cost per Foot of Carbon's Wear. Results. Ft. 443 In. 3 s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Not completed. 1 38 1,825 6 Coal Gold Sandstones, shales, and clays Fine gravels Hunter and party Clutha Development, Ltd. Clutha J unction Consolidated Prospecting & Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. F. G. Twiss Rimu Gold-dredg-ing Co., Ltd. J. Stevenson and party Clutha Development, Ltd. 7 3 2 5 2 5 Fair. 36 2,720 6 »» Clay and gravels 6 0 0 74 0 74 Poor, with exceptior of one hole. 10 6 339 424 6 6 Sand, gravels, &c. Gravels Fair. Area proved valueless, 19 8 o"i 3 417 6 Clay and gravola Operations in progress. 26 1,026 H Clay, gravel, and aand 8 2 2 5 Fair. 120 7,194
(Satoofwat.er.) Expenditure. Debit Balance. Waimea-Kumara Water-races £ s. d. 447 1 10* £ s. d. 844 12 6 £ s. d. 397 10 8 * Including royalty on timber, &c.
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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OE REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (Mr. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines). Qtjaktz-mining. Waihi Gold-mining 00., Lid. (J. L. Gilmour, Manager).—The following is a summary of the principal operations carried out in this mine during the year:— No. 15 Level (I,BBos ft.) —Kdward lode : During tho year a distance of 363$ ft. was driven south on tho course of this lode, making a total of 391 ft. The lode was also crosscut at intervals. Tho assay results obtained wore generally disappointing, and further work on tho lode at this level has been stopped. North section of Martha lode : After driving 103 ft. east of No. 4 shaft north crosscut through layered country, the lodo was intersected at the 235 ft. point; the full width is 6$ ft., and assay valuo £1 15s. 3d. per ton. From the point of intersection 213 ft. was driven eastward and 42 ft. westward, a total of 255 ft. Of this length, 195 ft. is payable oro of an average width of 11J ft. In both ends the reef bocame small and low in value. This work has opened up about 13,000 tons of ore, and stoping is now in progress. No. 14 Level —Edward lodo: A stoping-block known as "Cod" has been oponed up, commencing at 209 ft. south of Dunlop south-east crosscut and extending to the 321 ft. mark, a length of 112 ft. No. 13 Level—Edward lodo : Preparations are being made for the stoping of a block of ore estimated to contain 43,903 tona. Empire lode : Close to the east boundary, and at 58 ft. south of tho Martha lode, a total of 102 ft. was driven west on the Empire lode where it connected to the Martha lode. Tho assay value over this length is f 1 ss. sd. per ton, and width of quartz about 5 ft. No. 12 Level—Empire lode : Commencing from the east boundary a total of 109 ft. was driven west on tho course of tho lodo, a connection being effected there to the level on the Empire soction of Martha lodo. The width of quartz over this length is about 5 ft. of good grade. Some prospecting-work was done on the Empire lode west, near its junction with the Edward lode, but the width was small and value low. No. 11 Level—Edward lode : At 57 ft. below No. 10 level an intermediate level was driven a total of 101 ft. on tho west section of lode without encountering any payable ore. Empire lode : East of Pistol north crosscut the drive was extended 82 ft., making a total of 136 ft. From this point a crosscut will be extended north with a view of locating the run of oro mot at No. 12 level. No. 10 Level—Edward cross-lode : A further extension of 61$ ft. was driven on this during the year, making the total distance from No. 2 shaft 1,979 ft. Assay results obtained were of little or no value. Some prospoctingw«rk was done on two branch leaders but without result. The Piper east crosscut was commenced from the Edward lode at a point 570 ft. south from the junction with the Royal lode, and extended a total of 206 ft. Soveral small loaders of low value were Intersected. For the first 150 ft. the country is favourable in appearance, but tho last 56 ft. is much fractured. On the west lodo south-west of Shark north-west crosscut the drive was extended a further 31$ ft., making a total of 125$ ft., and tho face is now close to the western boundary. Tho formation is a vory low grade mixture of quartz and country. 51$ ft. south-west and 18$ ft. north-oast was driven on a leader situated at 273 ft. on Shark crosscut. The width of quartz variod from 1 in. to 9 in., and assay valuo was low. North section of Empire lode : East of Cow south-east crosscut was continued to 275 ft. the drive from 176 ft. point being in the Grand Junction area. Royal lode : Some good-grado ore was obtained from this lode in tho Junction area close to tho Waihi Co.'s eastern boundary. No. 9 Level—Royal lode : Exploration work on both sides of the eastern boundary produced a substantial quantity of good-grade ore. North branch of Martha : Prospecting-work was carried out on this lode close to the East boundary. The drive was carried on in to tho Grand Junction area, where sections of the Martha and Mary lodes were investigated. Work is now susponded. No. 8 Level —North leader : The north drive was continued from 383 ft. to 400 ft., tho width of quartz being about 12 in. From tho end of this drive a prospccting-crosscut known as " Hopkins was driven to the north 72$ ft. It is intended to further prospect the country to tho north from this crosscut by diamond drilling. No. 7 Level—Martha lodo west (west of No. 2 shaft north-west crosscut) : This drive was resumod and carried to 336$ ft. in a low-grado mixture of quartz and country. North branch of Martha lode (situated at 327 ft. in No. 2 shaft north-west crosscut) : This was driven on to the west 92$ ft., where the lode split up into stringers. No payable oro was met. No. 5 Level—North branch of Martha lode : In a sub-level at 56 ft. down a good deal of prospocting-work was done east and west on this lodo. Although tho width was small, tho assay value was good, and further work will be done here. Surface workings : From adit levels on the western sido of the Martha Hill a good quantity of ore was obtained from the Martha and Welcome lodes and their branches. Tho supply of ore from this area is now almost oxhausted. Diamond Drilling : Two diamond drilling-machines were in commission continuously during tho year. No. 1 hole (large machine; diameter of core, lJt in.) : This hole was commenced from No. 14 level at 290 ft. in Dunlop south-east crosscut. Direction 290 degrees, and inclination 63$ degrees from horizontal, its object being to test the Edward lode. At the close of tho year 1926 the hole had been drillod to 130 ft. During tho year under review drilling was continued,'and at 316$ ft. the Edward lode was intersected. The point of intersection represents a vertical depth of only 155 ft. below No. 15 level, thus showing that the dip of the lode has considerably flattened. Drilling was continued in quartz to 407 ft., where boring was suspended owing to tho extreme hardness of the quartz. The avorage assay value of twenty-nine samples of the reef from this borehole was 2s. lOd. per ton. No. 2 hole was commenced from the same chamber, the direction being north-west and inclination 15 degrees from horizontal. A total of 1,009 ft. was drilled. At 650 ft. the Edward lode was intersected, and the width (measured along the borehole) was 34 ft., the assay valuo being very low. The vertical depth of this hole below No. 15 lovel is over 800 ft. No. 3 hole was drilled horizontally from the same station as No. 2 hole on a bearing of 155 degrees, its object being to test the foot-wall country of the Royal lodo. Beyond occasional stringers of quartz no quartz of any material width was intersocted. With the small drilling-machine six horizontal holes were drilled in various parts of the mine, the lengths ranging from 197 ft. to 412 ft., but no new ore of any appreciable value was discovered. Output: A total of 207,977 tons (of 2,240 lb.) dry weight, was obtained and crushed from the undermentioned reefs: From Waihi Co.'s area —Martha, 64,613-392 long tons; Edward, 40,763-392; Martha, north branch, 21,307-142; North. 8,485-714; Empire, 7,508-928; Royal, 7,096-428; Surprise, 6,280-357 ; Jollicoc, 5,976-785 ; Alexandra, 5,189-285; No. 2 reef, 3,046-428; Martha, south branch, 2,524-107: Welcome, south branch, 2,069-642; Empire, north section, 1,283-928 ; Dreadnought, south branch, 1,054-464; Bell, 739-348 ; Welcome, north branch, 514-285; Welcome, 371-428: II reef, 285-714; Dreadnought, 219-642; North leader, 174-107; Mary, 123-214; Victoria, 15-178 : Total, 179,642-908. From Grand Junction area, 28,333-928. Grand total, 207,976-836—say, 207,977 long tons. The total footage for tho year amountod to 11,327. This includos 2,012 ft. driven in Grand Junction Company's area. In addition to this, a total of 3,402 ft. was bored by the two diamond drilling-machines. The quantity of water pumped to the surface from No 15 lovel was 469,539,900 gallons, or an average of 893 gallons per minuto. Waihi Grand Junction Gold. Co., Ltd. (J. L. Gilmour, Manager).—The agreement with tho Waihi Gold-mining Co. entered into in the latter part of 1926 has continued in forco, and the Junction Co.'s claims have been worked by the Waihi Co.
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Eastern section : During tho yoar 1927 a total of 22,169$ long dry tons —mostly broken ore from shrinkage stopes— was wound up Junction Co.'s main shaft and treated at Waihi Gold-mining Co.'s battory at Waikino. This supply of ore approaching exhaustion. 274 ft. was driven on the Royal lode, tho oro from this work being also sent up Junction shaft. The Waihi Gold-mining Co., operating from its Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 levels, also carried out a largo amount of prospecting-work within this eastern section in search of branches of tho main reefs and remnants of ore blocks. Tho total footage in drives and rises was 1,738 ft. A total of 6,164J tons of good-grade oro was won from this work. It was wound up Waihi Co.'s shafts and treated at Waikino. Western section : Junction Co.'s western section was not actually penetrated by Waihi Co., during the year, but tho drive westward on the west reef met with in Shark crosscut at Waihi Co.'s No. 10 level was continued to tho 125$ ft. from the crosscut. The reef consists in a broken mixture of quartz and country about 5 ft. wide and of low value. Work is being continued at this point. Output: The total output for tho year was—Fine gold, 9,662-20 oz. ; fine silver, 28,436-32 oz. Tho surface equipment has remained under the care of Junction Co., and has been maintained in good order. The electric-power plant was sold during the year to the Public Works Department, which is operating it as a standby plant. Rising Sun. Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Owharoa. —This mine has boon hold under protection during the yoar, but I am informod that a new company has been registered and sufficient capital subscribed, and as soon as tho shares are allotted work will be resumed. New Zealand Crown Mines, Karangahake. —The area held by this company was forfcitod by the Warden .early in July. Imperial Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Karangahake. —During the year further exploration work was done in Howard's evel, adjacent to tho Crown boundary, but as nothing encouraging was found tho directors decided to prospect in the portion of tho claim known as tho Ballroom area. Considerable work has been carriod out in this locality without disclosing anything of a payable character. Earl of Glasgow Claim, Karangahake (J. B. Morris, manager). —A five-head stamp mill, one berdan and wilfry table were orected during the year, and. 81 tons of ore treated yielded 97 oz. 4 dwt., valuod at £144 14s. 7d. The oro treated is of a refractory nature and the return by amalgamation process has not boon satisfactory. Tho values in the lode from which this ore was obtained occur in pockets, and a picked sample of 1 ton treated at the Thames School of Mines yiolded bullion valued at £19 4s. Id., included in the total. Macwall Claim, Karangahake (J. Smith, Manager).—This syndicate has been formed with tho object of endeavouring to locate tho continuation of a lode carrying high values discovered in a slip in the early days of the Karangahake Goldfiolds. It is ostimated that 250 ft. of driving should intercept this lodo. Work is now in progress. Maoriland Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Waitekauri (G. Waite, Manager).—Tho No. 4 level has boon repaired into the reef a distance of 1,280 ft. Two crosscuts were also driven off this levol—ono for 20 ft., and the other for 154 ft. A stope was carriod along for a longth of 50 ft. bolow No. 3 lovel, but so far tho results mot with have proved disappointing. Majestic Gold-mining Co., Maratolo (J. A. J. McLaren, Manager).—The drive south on tho United lode at the lowest levol was extondod 414 ft., making a total of 2,642 ft. from tho main crosscut. Tho object of this work was to provo whether secondary enrichment had takon place at a depth of 140 ft. below tho low-grade ore exposed in the United section. Operations disclosed that the sulphide zone had not been reached, and that probably from 200 ft. to 300 ft. of sinking would bo necessitated before secondary onrichment could be expected. Over £40,000 was spent in development work and plant during tho last fivo years. As tho funds were exhausted, the company decided to go into voluntary liquidation. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., Maratolo (A. McGruor, Managor).—During tho year work has been concentrated upon tho dovolopmont of the Camoola roof at No. 3 level, approximately 400 ft. from the surface and at a point 457 ft. abovo sea-level. Tho drive south was carried along 88 ft., making a total of 309 ft. from No. 6 crosscut or 2,224 ft. from the Silverstroam crosscut. Ore of payable grade was carried for the greater portion of the distanco on the reef, and crosscuts will bo put out to determine the full width and valuo. A triple-compartment rise was commenced at a point 80 ft. south of No. 6 crosscut, and connected with No. 2 levol at a height of 186 ft. Payable ore was carried for nearly the full distanco risen, and a stoping block 130 ft. in longth southward was made available, which provides adequate Ventilation. A drive north of No. 6 crosscut has boon commenced and carriod along 42 ft. through payable ore. A crosscut 96 ft. south of No. 6 crosscut exposed 38 ft. of oro. In tho north section the drive is 732 ft. from the main crosscut, 564 ft. having been driven during the period under review. At 572 ft. a vein of high-grade ore was encountered. This is showing in the present face, and a junction with the Queen reef should be reached in another 130 ft. of driving. Operations have been hampered by dependence on water-power, and after considerable delay the installation of a 11,000-volt transmission line by the Thames Valloy Power Board has been completed ; also a more powerful air-compressor plant has been purchasod and installed, capable of supplying power to work four rock-drills. Tho company owns a twonty-head stamp mill, and it is proposed to remodel the treatment plant during the ensuing year to make it capablo of an output of 100 tons daily. Ilauraki-Alaska Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (A. Bird, Manager).—This property is situated at Noavesville, about twelve miles from Puriri, and the doposit it is proposed to operate is estimated to contain 100,000,000 tons, consisting of pyroclastic matorial, all moro or less auriferous. In order to demonstrate that this deposit can bo profitably mined and troated, a ten-head stamper mill is now in tho course of erection. New W.aiotahi Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames. —During tho year mining operations have been directed towards endeavouring to locate the Waiotahi Cambria reef hillward of the break. Tho faco of the drive has now reached tho estimated position of the reef, which is expected to be struck at any time now. Tho country penetrated has been a hard grey andesite bar, which mado progress slow. Alburnia Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames (T. Gillon, Manager).—The principal work carried out.in this mine during tho year has been tho oxtension of tho drive on tho Orlando lodo and cross-cutting to intersect tho Sons of Freedom reef. At 424 ft. in the crosscut driven from tho Orlando lode, a reef 15 in. wide was intersected, which has since ptovod to be a dropper out of the Sons of Freedom reef. At 457 ft. the Sons of Freodom reef was intorsectod. Driving is now in progress on both these lodos, tho object boing to get under points where rich bonanzas woro obtained in the upper levels. Nonpareil Gold-mining Co., Thames. —The drive on the Shamrock reef was advanced 70 ft. north and 40 ft. south ; tho drive on the Liverpool Boy reef was also extended 35 ft. The results proved most disappointing, and tho claim is now under protection pending tho raising of further capital. Galedonia-Kuranui-Moanatairi Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (J. H. Benney, Manager).—Tho reef intersectod at 670 ft. in the south crosscut has boen driven on for a distance of 150 ft. from the tunnel levol, showing an average width of 4 ft., and gold has boen freely seen in tho quartz broken out. Two winzes havo also been sunk on this roef to a depth of 35 ft., and drives extended on the reef from the bottom of these winzes for a distance of 180 ft. Gold has beeii seen in the ore, and occasionally a few pounds of picked stono were got; 258 tons treated yielded gold valuod at £643 3s. 4d. Kuranui Gold-mining Co., Thames. —Work in this mine has been confined to driving on tho Ross and Barry's lodes from the battery levol, and although a considerable amount of work has been done the results met with havo proved most disappointing. Occidental-Una-United Gold-mining Co., Ltd. —No. 4 level has boen cleaned out and retimbered for a distance of 1,500 ft. A small pumping plant and electric winding-hoist havo been installed over what is known as Bruoe's winze, and this winze retimbered down to No. 5 level, a distance of 70 ft. Work has beon confined to driving and rising on the toot-wall dropper and opening up a stoping-block for a length of 150 ft. on No. 1 Occidental reef. Tho quartz won from both these lodes shows gold freely, and a few pounds of good specimen stone havo been got.
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Lucky Shot Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames. —A total distance of 135 ft. has been driven south-west on the main reef ; the quartz broken out showed gold freely. At a point 60 ft. from the break a dropper going into the foot-wall was met with ; width, 6 in. A distance of 65 ft. has been driven on this dropper; gold has boon freely seen in the quartz, and about 50 ib. of picked stone got. The drive west on the main reef, which averages 6 ft. in width, has been extended for a distance of 68 ft., and the quartz broken out showed gold for tho first 40 ft. driven. In the footwall of this reef two parallel lodes were met with and driven on for 60 ft., from which occasional parcels of picked stone were obtained. Two winzes have also been sunk—No. Ito a depth of 50 ft., with the object of testing the main reef at this depth ; No. 2 for 40 ft., on tho junction of tho main reef and the foot-wall dropper. Gold has been freely seen in tho oro broken out for the whole of this distance. A trial crushing of .14 tons yielded gold valued at £54 19s. lOd. Golden Age Gold-mining 00., Ltd., Thames. —A total distance of 180 ft. was driven on the Golden Age reef; a winze was sunk for 40 ft. and a rise put up 15 ft. The results met with, however, proved disappointing. The New Sylvia Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames. —Work carried out in this mine during the year consisted of continuing the cleaning-out and retimbering of the Missouri level, a total distance of 1,400 ft. A rise is also being repaired in order to connect with the surface for ventilation purposes. Monowai Mine, Thames. —This mine has been worked by a syndicate, which has cleaned and retimbered the low level with the object of sampling the Monawai reef; which is of large dimensions and said to contain high-grade refractory ore. I understand that a parcel of this ore has been sent to Germany for treatment, and if the results turn out as contemplated funds will be available to thoroughly develop this lode. Zeelian Consolidated Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Tham,es. — This mine has been held undor protection during the year. The Dominion Securities, Ltd., of Wellington, have, I am informed, bought this property, and expect to be in a position to resume operations shortly. Hauraki Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Coromandel (H. F. Shepherd, Manager).—The overhauling and additions to machinery for unwatering the mine were completed early in March, and a 13 in. plunger-pump, assisted by two bailing-tanks, each holding 2 tons of water, commenced operations ; but owing to the exceptionally wet weather and mishaps to the machinery, due to the chains crystallizing with the constant strain and vibrations, and other serious delays, the unwatering of the mine was not completed until the 3rd August. In the shaft and chambers ail the wrought iron and pump valves had to be renewed, the cisterns cleaned and roboltcd, a 4 in. pipe-line for compressed air for the sinking-pump and rock-drills and water-pipe line and electric light installed. On the 18th October a start was made to sink tho shaft below the 400 ft. level; a depth of 100 ft. has been sunk and the chamber is being cut out. No. 4 level has been cleaned up, tram-linos and air-pipes laid into tho different faces, and a start made to drive the seaward face. This was met with at 45 ft., and on breaking down the reef a small parcel of specimen stone was selected from the hanging-wall portion, and gold freely seen well distributed through the main portion of the reef. The face is now 60 ft. seaward of the junction, and gold continues to be seen in the main portion at each breaking-down. This drive is being extended for the purpose of reaching the junction of the Green Harp reef, a noted gold-producer in the upper level. A crosscut to the Hauraki north section is now in progress to test the Wolcome Find and other roofs at this depth. The battery is being overhauled ready for crushing the ore won from the seaward face at the 400 ft. level. Mount Welcome Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Tokotea (J. Vickerstaff, Manager).—The principal work carried out in this mine has been the extension of the drive on the Puketutu reef at the low level to get under the point whero a winze was sunk from the upper levol with encouraging rosults, but could not be continued on account of the large quantity of water to bo contonded with. Father's Hope Claim, Tokotea. —Four men have been employed fossicking about the old levels. The results mot with proved disappointing. Iris Claim, Matawai. —During the year 34$ tons treated produced gold valuod at £70 7s. Handsworth Mine, Kuaotunu (S. James, Owner). —Work is being continued in this mine prospecting the old levels, but without locating anything of a payable character. Peter Maxwell Claim, Te Aroha. —The low-level crosscut to intersect the Pick and Dish reef was continued and had reached a point estimated to be within 15 ft. of this lodo when the funds became exhausted and the company went into voluntary liquidation. Empire Reefs Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Whangamata. —Work in progress driving low level for the purpose of intersecting the Luck at Last reef. An air-compressing plant driven by an oil-engine has been installed, but as only two men are employed slow progress is being made. Muir's Gold Reefs, Ltd., Te Puke. —The delivery of the new pumping plant was completed in April, and since then work has been confined to tho erection and operation of the pump and making tho necessary alterations to the pumping-oompartment in which the pump operates. The pump was assembled and a successful trial run took placo on the 19th May. Difficulties arose in connection with the supply of power by the Tauranga Power Board, and it was not until November that these difficulties were overcome and a supply of electric-power made available. Pumping was resumed on the 7th November, and the water was lowered to 370 ft. below the surface on tho 31st December. Considerable loss of timo was occasioned by bearing troubles in tho pump and tho pump-motor. Theso difficulties have boen overcome. A sorious breakdown in the windings of the pump-motor occurred on the 23rd December. Repairs were effected, and tho pump is now operating efficiently, the output of water exceeding 1,000 gallons per minute. COPPBB-MINIHQ. No work has been done by tho Ruahino Copper Syndicate during the year. Quicksilver Mines. The Great British Cinnabar-mines, Puhipuhi. —4oo tons of ore treated produced 14 cwt. of mercury, valued at £462. Mount Mitchell Mercury-mine, Puhipuhi. —Two men have been employed prospecting, but nothing of importance has been discovered. Oil-wells. Blenheim Oil-well Reclamation 00., Ltd. —Satisfactory arrangements having been made with the Mines Department for the purchase of this well and plant, this company was formed with the object of endeavouring to reclaim the Blonheim well. As the plant at the well had not been in use for several years, extensive repairs had to be effected to the derrick and machinery, and 2,000 ft. of wire rope obtained from Australia. Operations were commenced on the 23rd June. The wire cable was rigged, and a string of tools attached necessary for the survey of the well. Tools were made for fishing the obstruction : this was hooked several times, but it was found impossible to pull it. On the last pull it gave way and dropped where it was desired to seal off. The soaling-off process was completed with ironsand and a largo hard wooden plug. The 7 in. easing, with lead packing, was then lowered into the well; it proved too heavy for the clamps to hold as they wore then mado, and this length of casing slipped down to tho soal-off. A further length was lowered to join up, but this did not prove a success. The object of putting down this casing was to shut off tho water; all but 80ft. was withdrawn. Mr. Bender, well-manager, who had tried every known method to pull this casing, intimated that he was making a special tool of his own design which he hoped would be successful; this also proved a failure, and work was suspended ponding tho decision of the shareholders at their annual meeting. Since this company commenced operations in May last the natural flow of oil amounted to 11,000 gallons.
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Taranaki Oilfields, Ltd.— -Waiapu No. 2 well, Tokomaru Bay, has been drilled to a depth of 2.908 ft., the ground penetrated consisting almost entirely of shale :8$ in. casing being run ; it has not yet boon set. Gisborne No. 1 well, Morere, has reached a depth of 2,140 ft. in alternating beds of sandstone and shale ; samples of sand between 2,000 ft. and 2,050 ft. on being treated with chloroform showed traces of oil, and there was a show of gas between 2,060 ft. and 2,065 ft.; 15$ in. casing was run to 360 ft., and 12$ in. to 650 ft. ; 10 in. casing was set in cement at 1,500 ft., and since the close of the year 8i in. casing has been set at a depth of 2,254 ft. Gisborne No. 2 well: Just before the close of the year under review preparations were put in hand for the drilling of a structure situated about seven miles due west and about one mile north from Gisborne No. 1 well, in the Manganone Valley, the site was levelled and tho collar dug ; a short length of road was also constructed from tho Manganone Road into the well-site. The following is the quantity of oil collected from the wells at Moturoa, New Plymouth: No. 2 well, 120 gallons ; No. 3 well, 200 gallons ; No. 5 well, 720 gallons : total, 1,040 gallons. Whangamomona.—A syndicate represented by Mr. Ewen McGregor, acting on the advice of Mr. J. A. Spencer, who reported favourably on this property, have with a well-drilling plant drilled a hole to a depth of 531 ft. m search of oil on Mr. J. Anderson's property, situated about a mile and a half north-west of Whangamotnona Township. SULTODK. While Islands Products, Ltd.—A comprehensive underground survey of the orator area known as tho Outer Flat was made by means of prospecting-bores averaging 180 ft. in depth. The deepest being sunk to 356 ft., a total of twentyseven bores were sunk from the 18th June to the end of the year. Other prospecting-works by means of pits were also carried out. The two tram-lines to tho Troup Head quarry have been lowered to bring the new lovel 6 ft. lower than the former quarry-floor, in order to gain access to high-grade sulphur-ore ; 5 chains of cutting was necessary. The quarry was also cleaned up of rocks, and approximately 300 yards of clay and rubble overburden stripped from above tho working-face. Approximately 60 tons of sulphur were taken from the pits and dumped ready for picking up for grading purposes ; 20 chains of tramway was laid across the Outer Flat to a dump of medium-grade sulphur at Shark Bay. Construction work included the completing of tho loading-buttress and slipway at Crater Bay ; also alterations and additions to camp buildings. Small shipments of guano from the camp, and of oxide-bearing material from the crater were made for experimental purposes. The following is a statoment showing the quantity and value of sulphur obtained at White Island during the year: Sold—9oo tons No. 1 product, containing 33 per cent, sulphur, valued at £3 10s. per ton ; total valuo, £3,150. Excavated and at dump—4oo tons crude oro, containing 33 per cent, sulphur ; 50 tons crude ore, containing 80 per cent, sulphur; estimated value, £225. Accidents. One serious accident occurred during the year. On tho 18th June a miner named Ernest Bright, employed in the Waihi Mine, had four fingers of his left hand blown off. Bright and another man, named George Bates, wore engaged driving a crosscut from tho main level to intersect the Hope reef, and had bored out the face, which took fifteen holos. Tho " cut," consisting of four holes, was fired first, but did not do its work. Tho men returned to the face and again charged throe of these holes. When they were ready to fire, Bright went towards No. 6 shaft to warn any one coming that way, and Bates wont in the other direction. Bates thought ho heard three reports, and had just reachod the face with, the oxplosives to charge the remaining holes when ho heard an explosion in tho direction in which Bright had gone, and shortly after heard him call out, " I have blown my hand off." He went to his assistance, and found him about 90 ft. down the main drive, but from the blood-stains it is evident that the detonator exploded 200 ft. from the crosscut. Bright states that when he was on his way to a placo of safety from the shots ho found a detonator on tho side of the level, and was carrying it in his left hand when it exploded. He positively asserted that the candle ho was carrying in his right hand never came in contact with the detonator, nor did the hand in which he was carrying the detonator touch the side of the drive, and his version is that tho explosion was due to the heat of his hand. In my opinion it was due to somo other cause ; the most likely being that Bright unconsciously allowod tho detonator to come in contact with the candle or struck it on the side of the drive. I might add that Bright is an old and experienced miner. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. P. Downey, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Marlborough District. Dominion Consolidated Mine.—Aitm- being idle for somo months, following tho death of Mr. T. Harrison, tho managor, who was accidentally killed in No. 1 lovel, Golden Bar soction, in December, 1926, work was resumed about the middle of tho year. A crosscut was run out east from the north end of No. 2 Golden Bar adit to a distanco of 39 ft., and at 33 ft. a roef 4 ft. wide was met with. This reef was driven on north and south. In the northerly direction tho roof narrowed to 1 ft. in width at 6 ft. in, and at 12 ft. disappeared altogether, leaving only a pug track, in which a little quartz was mixed. In a southerly direction the reef also petered out in about 16 ft. of driving. This reef soemed to bo identical with the hanging-wall reef in No. 1 level. The main No. 2 level was then driven north a further 27 ft., making a total of 752 ft. from tho entrance crosscut. At 745 ft. tho foot-wall reef, which had been lost sight of for the previous 30 ft., camo into the drive, but such quartz as there was occurred only in stringers or vomlets. A nso was then put up to connect with No. 1 adit, and in this the solid stone was mot with about 70 ft. up from No. 2 level. These workings show that the fairly long run of solid reef located on the north end of No. 1 lovol does not live down, and that tho reef passes in depth into merely silicitied country in the same way as it does on both ends of the property. Somo 800 tons of stone, taken partly from the rise referred to and partly from tho old stopes, was crushed during tho year for a return of 140 oz. 8 dwt. gold, equal to only a little over 3 dwt. per ton. Reefton District. Blackwater Mine.—During the year an avorage of 190 men was employed, but tho results, both in development footage and yield of gold, were somewhat short of the previous annual period. In all, 1,757$ ft. of development work was done, of which 1,324 ft. was on reef averaging 14-34 dwt. over 32 in. Of the total footago on reef, 1,181 ft. on payable stono avoraged 15-14 dwt. over 33-7 in., and 143 ft. on unpayablo reef averaged 3-63 dwt. ovor 20 m., the remaining 433$ ft. being off roef. The following are the details of the work : No. 6 level advanced 156 ft. north, 77 ft, averaging 12 dwt. over 25-7 in. ; No. 7 level advanced north 118 ft., of which 84$ ft. were on reef averaging 19-45 dwt. ovor 29-6 in.; No. 7 level north, south branch, driven 4$ ft. off reef ; No. 7 level intermediate from rise 1,580 ft., driven 6 ft. on stono averaging 19-5 dwt. over 24 in.; No. 7 level intermediate from rise 1,800 ft. north dnvon 5 ft. on stono avoraging 15-5 dwt. over 20 in.; No. 8 level advancod 394 ft., of which 225 ft. was on reef averaging 12-29 dwt. over 45-8 in. ; No, 8 lovel north, south branch, driven 38$ ft. on stono averaging 6-32 dwt. ovor 41 in. ; No. 9 lovel north advanced 329$ ft., of which 308 ft. on stone averaging 15-24 dwt. over 25-5 in. The following rising was dono : No. 7 level, rise 1,800 ft. north, extended 11$ ft. on stone averaging 18-12 dwt. over 3,4 in.; No. 7 level north, 2,000 ft. rise, extended 73A ft., of which 69 ft. was on stone averaging 17-4 dwt. over 32-5 in.; No. 8 level, rise 2,010 ft. north, extended 65 ft. on stone avoraging 14-0 dwt. over 46 in.; No. 9 level, riso 1,580 ft. north, oxtended 85 ft., of which 75 ft. on stone averaging 15-7 dwt. over 21 in.; No. 9 level, rise 1,780 ft. north, extended 67 ft. on stone averaging 13-'' dwt over 30 in.; No. 10 level, rise 1,080 ft. north, extended 81 ft. on stone averaging 3-22 dwt. over 20 in. Tho winzing carried out was : No. 6 level, winze 1,800 ft. north, sunk 9$ ft. on reef averaging 161 dwt. over 33 in. ; No. 6 level, winze 2,000 ft. north, sunk 75$ ft., of which 67$ ft. was on reef averaging 17 dwt. over 25 in.; No. 7 level, winze 2,010 ft. north, sunk 83-5 ft. on stone averaging 17-1 dwt. over 43 in.; No. 8 levol, winze 1,580 ft. north, sunk 56$ ft.
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on stone avoraging 18-9 dwt. ovor 22 in. ; No. 8 lovel, winze 1,780 ft. north, sunk 34-5 ft., off roof. On Nos. 6, 7, and 8 levels 50 ft. of crosscutting was also done, all off roef. At the battery 41,362 tons of quartz was crushod for a yield of 17,557 oz. 9 dwt. gold, of which 13,423 oz. 16 dwt, was recovered by amalgamation, 2,859 oz. 17 dwt. by cyanidation, and 1,273 oz. 16 dwt. by treatment of concentrates, the value of the whole recovery being £68,645 3s. 6d. As the quantity crushed exceeded that of the previous year by 1,318 tons, and the total value of the gold showed a decrease of £1,587 7s. 2d. on the same period, it is evident that there was another slight fall in the general values of the quartz treated. During the year the Blackwater Mines Co. acquired tho property previously held on its northern boundary by tho North Blackwater Mines, Ltd., and most of the development effort has been in the direction of extending Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9 levels into tho North Blackwater ground, and developing the reef there. It is intended to make connection first to the North Blackwater shaft by means of the Blackwater No. 6 level, which is about 50 ft. above the No. 7 levol of the North Blackwater Mine. Practically all the stono crushed during the year has come from the extreme north end of the mine, on tho levels mentioned. No attempt has yet been made to open out on No. 11 level, although tho shaft has been sunk to it for several years. Murray Creek Mine. —The conduct of operations at this mine was taken over during the year by a new company, the Murray Creek Gold-mines, Ltd., a subsidiary of Southern Minos Corporation, Ltd., and a new intermediate level was started at a point 130 ft above the old No. 2 (battery level) from tho rise connecting that level with the old No. 4 Victoria adit. This intermediate was about 54 ft. below that put in by Krcmmer and party the previous year from the same rise. To the end of the year it had been extended in a southerly direction for 295 ft. For the first 100 ft. from the rise the intermediate was on reef-track, but solid stone then came in and continued for the rest of the distance driven, the stone varying in width from 1 ft. to 3 ft., and averaging probably about 20 in. At 145 ft. from the old rise, a new rise was put up from the intermediate to connect with Kremmer's intermediate. The stone is said to show gold freely in many places. A good deal of repair work was also done on some of tho old levels, the No. 3 Victoria adit being cleaned out and repaired for about 600 ft. in from the portal, and the No. 4 Victoria adit was also cleaned up and repaired for travelling and ventilation purposes for a longth of about 435 ft. below the old workings. A good deal of repairing was also done on No. 2 battery level. No stone was crushed. New Big River Mine. —Owing to all tho known blocks of ore having boon depleted and no satisfactory development having taken place on the bottom level, No. 12, mining operations were suspended at this mine about the middle of tho yoar ; but the company is making an effort to raise further capital for prospecting purposes, and proposes to make some further effort early in tho new yoar to locate payable stono. This work will probably be done in the upper levels of tho mine, and mainly from No. 2 level, and the first objective will be to try and pick up the continuation of what is known as Cosgrove's block, which on No. 1 level yielded somo rich stone, but was not traced downward. During the year 1,024 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 1,038 oz. 16 dw. 14 gr. gold, of which 713 oz. 9 dwt. was recovered by amalgamation, 293 oz. 5 dwt. by cyanidation, and 32 oz. 2 dwt. 14 gr. by treatment of concentrates. The total value of the yield was £3,253 3s. 2d. Fifteen men on an average were employed. Keep-it-Dark Mine. —During the year this property passed into the hands of the Hercules Mines, Ltd., a subsidiary of Southern Minos Corporation, which devoted its attention exclusively to developing the short shoots of stono located last year in the old Hercules (Smith's) line in the Golden Ledge No. 2 adit. The latter adit itself was extended a further 26 ft. without disclosing anything of value. The Keep-it-Dark battery lovel was then cleaned out and repaired for a distance of 280 ft. from tho portal, and at this point a crosscut was put out in north-north-westerly direction to intersect tho Hercules line, which was struck at a distance of 357 ft. from tho battery level. There was no stone showing on the line where it was intersected, and up to the end of the year the line had been driven on south for 25 ft. without revealing anything. A winze was sunk for 65 ft. from the No. 2 Golden Ledge adit on one of the shoots of stone, and a rise of 35 ft. from the end of the crosscut from tho battery lovel subsequently made connection with this. For 30 ft. down tho winze followed stone from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in width, but at this depth appeared to pass through the reef on its pitch. Somo 430 tons of stone taken from the winze and from a small stopo above No. 2 Golden Ledge adit was crushed for a return of 122 oz. gold, valued at £440 12s. Of this gold, 88 oz. 13 dwt. was recovered by amalgamation, and 33 oz. 7 dwt. by cyanidation. On an average eight men were employed. North Big River Mine.— At this mine a little crosscutting was done in the early part of the year, but no stone of any value was located, and operations were suspended. South Blackwater Mine. —The new main shaft being sunk at this mine was continued down in the early part of the year for a further 16$ ft., making a total depth of 332$ ft. from the brace. At 295 ft. a chamber was cut. At this juncture the company's funds gave out, when further operations wore suspended, and there was no resumption up to the end of the year. Wealth of Nations Mine. —This company was again unfortunate during the year, in having its main shaft collapse in September, this time the break occurring between Nos. 4 and 6 levels. Repairing-work had been started in this section, but only a few sets of timber had been replaced when some of tho framing higher up gave way. Fortunately no stoping was in progress at the time, and no men were in the shaft at the time, so no one was injured. For a full 100 ft. below No. 4 lovel the shaft was entirely stripped of timber, and there is no saying what damage was done below that and No. 6 lovel, but the falling timber and rock is certain to have seriously affected this part of the shaft. Prior to the collapse a certain amount of development in the way of rising and driving on No. 12 level had been done in the north ond of tho mino, and a shoot of ore carrying fair gold had boen proved for 60 ft. below No. 11. None of this oro had been stopod, and it was estimated that sufficient gold was in it to have givon a profit of from £2,000 to £3,000. The only other work done was confined to stoping on the big block of stone in No. 13 level south, about 400 ft. from the shaft. This block was practically workod out, only about 200 to 300 tons remaining to bo stoped immediately under No. 12 levol. Up to tho time whon the collapse of the shaft brought about a complete cessation of mining operations 1,924 tons of ore had boen won, which yielded 1,516 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, valued at £5,876 9s. 2d. Owing to the great cost of putting the shaft in working-order again, it is unlikely further operations will ever be resumed in the lower part of tho mine. Alexander River Reefs. —Work was carried on steadily at this mino, an average of seventeen men being employed. Unfortunately, tho developments have not been as satisfactory as could bo desired. No. 1 level was extended 51 ft. on stono of an average width of 20 in., when the drive passed through the reof, and the face now only shows reeftrack. This work showed the full length of the McVicar block on this level to be 152 ft. No. 2 level was driven on stone for a further 71 ft., the average width being 4 ft., and the total longth of the block 181 ft. No. 2 level winze, started tho previous year, was connected by rising with No. 3 level, and at 50 ft. down it an intermediate level (No. 2a) was driven north for 98 ft. No solid stone was got, however, the only quartz seen consisting of odd small boulders. This work mado it evident that the Mc Vicar block did not live down to this lovel. Two rises were put up from tho lovel, ono of which found tho stone at 12 ft. up, and the other at 18 ft. No. 3 level was driven south for 156 ft. from the crosscut adit, and two blocks of stone were cut averaging from 20in. to 24 in. in width, but of very poor grade. At Mulloeky Crcok, about 2,000 ft. north of the McV r icar block, and at somo 500 ft. to 600 ft. lower elevation, an adit was driven south on stone which at first was only a few inches wide, but shortly opened out to 18 in. and continued at this width for about 60 ft., when it out out in a fault-plane. Drag-stone was followed for a further 100 ft. without recovering the lode. A crosscut was then started from the ond of the drive with a view to intersecting the downward continuation of a reef, known as the Loftus, which outcropped on tho surface. This reef was intersected after crosscutting oast for 68 ft., and up to the end of the year had been driven on south for 18 ft. It averaged about 30 in. in width, and carried good values. During the year crushing was continued with the small five-head battery whenever sufficient water was available. Owing to tho high cost of driving the battery by means of it, the company decided to throw out the petrolengine and see what could be done in the way of driving the mill by water-power. Being situated at so high an elevation, however, it was not found possible to get enough water to permit of more than intermittent crushing. In all, 628 tons of stone was crushod during the period, for a yield of 1,176 oz. 13 dwt. gold, valued at £4,525 18s., equal to a return of 1 oz. 17 dwt. per ton. Of the gold, 929 oz. 14 dwt. was won by amalgamation, and 246 oz. 19 dwt, by cyanidation. The Progress, New Millerton, and South Big River mines were all idle during the year.
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Westport District. Britannia Mine. —A little further prospecting was carried out, and, I understand, an effort is now being made to form a small company to equip tho mine with a battery. Dredges. Rimu Flat Dredge. —This dredge continued to operate very successfully, and managed to get in 81 per cent, of actual digging-time. To increase the buoyancy of the main pontoon, two more small pontoons were bolted to it at the bows, one on each side. The main pontoon showed a slight tendency—common to wooden structures of the kind— to hog towards the ladder-well, but a truss and hog-rods have been provided, which will prevent any further movement in this direction. During the year 1,761,461 cubic yards of gravel was turned over for a recovery of 13,070 oz. gold, valued at £53,128, the year being thus the second-best in the company's history. This makes the total recoveries since tho drodgo started 55,563 oz. gold, valuod at £238,383. During the past year dividends amounting to £6,566 were paid, making the total disbursements £19,698. Continuous testing by means of Keystone drilling ahead of the dredge shows that there is a considerable area of equally good ground still available. On an average fifty-eight men were employed. New River Dredge. —This plant was not so successful during the year as might havo been oxpeoted, due mainly to the working-parts of the dredge not being quite strong enough to stand up to the heavy ground encountered. There were quite a number of breakages in tho bucket-line, with consequent serious delays. The values recovered from the ground turned ovor have, moreover, been rather low, only averaging 6-7 d. per yard ; but the dredge towards tho ond of the year was turned further down the flat, and in the direction of the prospecting-shafts, with tho result that somewhat better values wore got than in tho higher ground. During tho year 180,000 cubic yards of gravel was treated, for a return of 1,305 oz. gold, valued at £5,038 10s. 3d. It would appear that, if this dredge is to be a success, systematic boring of the area will bo necessary, as will also the provision of a heavior digging-ladder and bucket-line. On an average fifteen men were employed. Alluvial Mining. In this branch of mining a slight improvement showed itself, the recovery of gold being 2,712 oz. 0 dwt. 4gr., valued at £10,406 Os. 6d., as against 2,643 oz. 15 dwt. 13 gr., valued at £9,996 155., won last year. A few more men were regularly employod also during the period, tho figures being 156, as against 142 in 1926. There was also a considerable number of men employed part-time at the work. Mahakipawa. —The Mahakipawa Goldfields property work was practically at a standstill for tho year. As it was found that the heavy water could not be oopod with by means of the steam-driven pumps available, the directors of the company decided to procure up-to-date electrically-operated pumps for the work. These pumps had to be ordered from England, and they did not arrive at the mino until a few days before the end of tho yoar. In the meantime all the work carried out was by way of dismantling part of the former steam plant and making the necessary provision for tho installation of the electrical machinery as soon as it should arrive. The Marlborough Power Board is supplying the current required, and has practically completed the erection of the line in to the mine. It is now expectod that a resumption of sinking will bo made in tho shaft early in February of the current year. Howard Diggings. —The returns to hand show that ten men were employed, winning 157 oz. 15 dwt. 7 gr. gold, valued at £592 18s. 7d. Murchison (including Lyell, Matakitaki, Glenroy, Maruia, and Newton Flat). —Twenty-four men were employed, winning 342 oz. 16 dwt. 13 gr. gold, valued at £1,304 17s. lid. Grey Valley (including Ahaura, Nelson Creek, Blackball, Totara Flat, Brunner, Moonlight, Stillwater, Waipuna, and Maori Greek. —Thirteen men wore employed, winning 164 oz. 1 dwt. 7 gr. gold, valued at £660 Is. 7d. Barrytown and Seven-mile. —Two men wore employed, winning 32 oz. 17 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £1.28 19s. Greymouth (including Rutherglen, Cobden, and Dunganville). —Three men were employed, winning 75 oz. 9 dwt. 11 gr. gold, valued at £297 14s. 6d. Collinqwood (including Slate River, Rockville, and Parapara). —Fourteen men were employed, winning 204 oz. 1 dwt. 22 gr., valued at £757 13s. lOd. Kumara (including Stafford, Red Jacks, Greenstone, Cape Terrace, and Callaghans). —On these various Holds eighteen men wore employod, winning 872 oz. 18 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £3,428 14s. 4d. The principal producers wore Hohunu Sluicing Co. at Greenstone, with 380 oz. 11 dwt. 21 gr., valued at £1,493 16s. Sd., and Stubbs and Steel, at Maori Point, with 270 oz. 11 dwt. 3gr., valued at £1,062. Reefton (including Merrijigs, Blackwater, Capleston, Antonios, and Snowy Greek). —Twelve men were employed, winning 140 oz. 16 dwt. 8 gr., valued at £512 ss. Id. Hokitika (including Rimu, Seddon's Terrace, Arahura, Blue Spur, Kanieri Forks, Fox's, &c.). —Nineteen men were employed, winning 286 oz. 19 dwt. 1 gr. gold, valued at £1,127 19s. lOd. Ross (including Wailaha and Mihonui). —Eight men employed, winning 179 oz. 17 dwt. 10 gr. gold, valued at £711. 4s. Id. Okarito (including Matanui, Wataroa, Waiho, Gillespie's Beach, and Bruce Bay.) —Seven men were employed, winning 85 oz. 10 dwt. 5 gr. gold, valued at £303 6s. sd. Westport (including Charleston, Waimangaroa, Fairdown, and Burnett's Face). —Sixteen men were employed, winning 151 oz. 10 dwt. 16 gr. gold, valued at £583 13s. 4d. Minerals other than Gold. Petroleum. —The Murchison Oil Co. continued the sinking of its well at the Mangles River, but was delayed a good doal waiting for casing, &c. For the year the bore was carriod down a further 1,698 ft., making a total depth of 3,461 ft. At about 2,300 ft. gas came in freely, and from that depth down particles of white filtered oil were visible. On one occasion about 2 quarts of this was collected. There was no change of importance in the country passed through, the whole boring being in mudstone formation, of which some beds'worc harder than others. The 6 in. easing was stopped at 2,310 ft., the remainder of the boro being uncased. The necessary 5 in. casing has, howover, arrived on the ground, and will be run in shortly. Somo of the gas from the well was tested at Canterbury College, and is said to have shown helium. The white oil, analysed by Mr. A. J. Parker, F.C.S., of Auckland, gave 64-5 per cent, motor-spirit, 32 per cent, kerosene, and 3-5 per cent, heavy oil. A new ball-wheel, as well as a brake-wheel and brake-band have been constructed and fixed in placo for deeper drilling. Iron. —Owing to difficulty in finding a steady local market for its output, the Onakaka Iron and Steel Co. was not able to smelt continuously throughout the yoar, but some 6,886 tons of crude oro was smelted for a production of 3,383 tons of pig iron, valued at £17,760 155., about seventy men being employed. Further economies have been effected in the treatment costs, and this, combined with the promise of a more continuous market in the future, will, it is to be hoped, enable tho company to keep its furnaca in blast during the whole of the coming yoar. General Remarks. Mining. —Alluvial gold-mining showed a slight improvement on tho previous year, but in quartz-mining there was a further falling-off, only 21,551 oz. being recovered, as against 23,980 oz. in 1926. There was, however, a small increase in the number of men employed in this branch of the industry. The falling-off in output was attributable mainly to tho collapse of the main shaft at the Wealth of Nations Mine bringing about a cessation of operations on that property in September, and to the working-out of the known payable ore-bodies in the New Big River Company's
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mine in the early part of the yoar. The failure of the Alexander River Reefs to develop as well as had been hoped for, coupled with difficulties on that property in maintaining constant crushing, also helped to reduce the output, 11 is unlikely that the Wealth of Nations Mine will resume work again—in the lower levels, anyhow—but prospeoting-work to be carried on at the New Big River Mine may possibly yield good results in the coming year. No dividends were paid by any of the mines. Quarries. —In the various quarries in the Canterbury and West Coast Districts work was carried on steadily, some 274 men being employed, as against 263 last year.' The value of the output increased from £51,1.20 to £55,983. Prospecting. —A good deal of prospecting was carried out, but no great success was met with. Field prospecting gave no results of value. Keystone drilling was carried out at the Taramakau River and at Barrytown, but although good leads of gold wore located in each instance, the proved areas were not considered large enough in extent to warrant dredges being put on them. An area at Four River Plains, Murchison, also had a few drill-holes put down on it, which revealed very fair values. Accidents. —I am pleased to report that no serious accidents occurred for the year either in the mines or quarries. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (Mr. A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines). Quartz and Alluvial Mining. Wailaki County. Livingstone and Maereivhenua. —The returns from those localities show that nine mon were employed, producing 137 oz. gold, valued at £530. Owing to the small and irregular supply of water, sluicing could only bo intermittently carried on. Waihemo County. Golden Bar Mine, Stoneburn. —This mine was taken over from the Mount Moore Gold-mining Co. by C, G. Moore and party. A five-stamp battery, gas-producer, and 35 h.p. gas-engine, together with battery and office buildings, were moved from the Deep Dell Mine at Macrae's and erected at tho Golden Bar. Surface prospecting was carried out on tho middle reef, and 28 tons of quartz taken from an open cutting on this reef was crushed for a return of 4 oz. 10 dwt. gold. Maniototo County. St. Bathans Gold-mining Co., St. Bathans. —ln the early part of the year the inclined shaft on the Kildare lead had been sunk to a depth of 60 ft. from the bottom of the Scandinavian Co.'s elevator-paddock, when a heavy fall of ground from the side of the paddock completely wrecked the timbered approach to the shaft. As previous efforts to work the lead from vertical shafts had proved unsuccessful and it was considered unsafe to attempt to reopen the inclined shaft, the company ceased operations. Scandinavian Water-race Co., St. Bathan's. —This company, which was formed in 1907 to work Kildare and Surface Hill leads at St. Bathan's, has ceased operations. During the time it was operating gold to the value of £44,143 was produced, but no dividends wore paid. Cambrian. —Four claims, employing seven men, were working on this field during the yoar. The principal producers were Morgan Brothers, with 317 oz. gold, valued at £1,158, and N. Nicholson, 80 oz., valued at £318. Patearoa. —Five men wore employod on this field. The gold won amounted to 85 oz., valued at £320. Naseby and Kyeburn. —Nineteen men were employed in these localities. Tho yield of gold amounted to 542 oz., valuod at £2,039. Crowe and McGeorgo prospected areas of alluvial ground in Blocks 4 and 12, Kyeburn Survey District, with a hand-boring plant. Six holes, from 11 ft. to 16 ft. deep, were bored to the Maori bottom. Very poor results were obtained. i Tuapeka County. Blue Spur. —The combined operations ot the Gabriel's Gully Co. and Lawrence Sluicing Co. resulted in the production of 1,573 oz. gold, valuod at £6,180. Dividends amounting to £600 were paid by the Gabriel's Gully Co., and £750 by the Lawrence Co. Golden Crescent Sluicing Co., Weatherstones. —The block of shallow ground at Ballarat Hill was worked out, and the company resumed operations in the cement deposit at the head of Weatherstones Flat, where elevating is being carried on from a depth of 50 ft. The yield of gold amounted to 304 oz., valued at £1,204, and the sum of £175 was paid in dividends. Golden, Rise Claim, Weatherstones (W. Smyth, Owner). —A new claim, comprising part of the Lawrence to Waipori Road, was taken up, and arrangements have been made with the Tuapeka Council for the diversion of the road while mining operations are in progress. Evans Flat Gold-mining Co. —This company was formed to purchase and work the claim at Evans Flat formerly owned by Treacy Bros. Sluicing and elevating has been carriod on during the year for a return of 49 oz. 8 dwt. 8 gr. gold, valued at £189 18s. 9d. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Co., Waitahuna. —Ground, sluicing has been carried on throughout the year in the cement deposit on the south side of Waitahuna Gully. The gold recovered amounted to 560 oz. 13 dwt.. valued at £2,059 7s. (id. Dividends amounting to £630 were paid. Tuapeka Mouth Sluicing Co., Tuapeka Mouth. —This company is working an old river-channel near the junction of the Tuapeka and Molynoux Rivers. Water for sluicing is pumped from the Tuapeka River. The plant, which was formerly used by the Tamiti Gold-mining Co., consists of a four-stage centrifugal pump, driven by a turbine. Four heads of water is pumped to a height of 90 ft. for working the claim. 137 oz. gold, valued at £546, was recovered. Tallaburn Sluicing Co., Horseshoe Bend. —Hydraulic elevating from a depth of 45 ft. has been carried on during the year for a return of 206 oz. 19 dwt. gold, valued at £788 12s. sd. Pettigrew and Party, Roxburgh. —This party is engaged in cleaning out an old elevating-paddock, which was sunk by the Ladysmith Gold-mining Co. several years ago, to prospect for an auriferous lead. The incoming water, amounting to 2.V sluice-heads, is pumped by an 8 in. centrifugal pump, and a 6 in. Thompson's gravel-pump is used for lifting the silt and fine gravel. Electric power for pumping is supplied by the Teviot Power Board. Murchison Bros., Fourteen-mile Beach. —This party produced 132 oz. gold, valued at £513. The claim is situated in the gorge of the Molyneux River between Coal Creek Flat and Alexandra, and operations are hindered by any rise that takes place in the level of the river. Vincent County. Alexandra Deep Lead Gold-mining Co., Alexandra. —Tho company's efforts to open up an auriferous lead proved unsuccessful. A shaft 18 ft. by 11 ft. 6 in. was sunk to bed-rock and driving commenced, but the heavy flow of water which came from a seam of looso gravel 10 ft. above the main bottom made tho work of driving very difficult and costly. The company ceased operations in October. Clutha Development Co., Ltd., Lowburn. —The company was engaged from April to October in check-drilling the area previously drilled. Thirty-seven holes, averaging 50 ft. in depth, were bored in tho bed of the Clutha River. The prospects were considered to bo satisfactory. Clutha Junction Consolidated Prospecting and Gold-dredging Go., Ltd. —Thirty-six holes were bored to an average depth of 78 ft. in the area taken up by the company at the junction of the Clutha ami Lindis Rivers. The drilling done proved that the river-gravel in this locality did not contain sufficient gold to pay for dredging.
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Kawarau High Levels Gold-mining Co., Wailiri. —Tho tunnel from Doolan's Creek was completed, and 2,000 ft. of pipe ranging from 24 in. to 9 in. diameter laid down between the tunnel and the claim to deliver water for sluicing at a pressure of 130 ft. A tail-race 30 ft. deep was brought in from the bank of the Kawarau River to provide fall for tailings. The ground near the river-bank is very rough, and contains numerous large boulders, which have to be broken up with explosives. Lowburn and Bendigo Prospecting Co. —A tunnel was driven 400 ft. in tho terrace at Quartz Reef Point to prospect for an auriferous lead. Rough wash carrying a little gold was met with, but it did not pay for blocking out. Nevis. —Twenty men were employed at alluvial mining on this field. The yield of gold amounted to 343 oz., valued at £1,355. Graham and party, with 1.52 oz., valued at £607, and Adie and party, 105 oz., valued at £407, were the largest producers. A. J. Graham and ,J. Williams are opening up a claim on the high lead north of Schoolhouse Creek, where good prospects have been obtained. Lake County, Kawarau Gold-mining Go. —The gates of the company's dam at Lake Wakatipu were closed from the 15th June to the Isth August, but the water in the Kawarau River did not fall low enough to allow any work other than fossicking along the sides of the river to be carried out, consequently only a few of the claimholders attempted to work their claims. The gold recovered amounted to 78 oz. .11 dwt. 22 gr., valuod at £302 lis. sd. Of this amount the Vogel's Vision Co. obtained 47 oz. from Claims 40 and 41, and the Natural Bridge Co. 25 oz. from Claim 43. The Consolidated Kawarau Claims, Ltd., constructed a wing dam on Claim 94, two miles below the confluence of the Arrow River, and with the aid of an oil-driven gravel-pump sunk a paddock 16 ft. to bed-rock. An area of bottom 18 ft. by 15 ft. was cleaned up for 3 dwt. 14 gr. of gold. As a means of reducing the water in the river to allow its bed to be worked the dam is not a success, and it is doubtful if the expenditure of further capital to dam the Shotover and other subsidiary streams is warranted. Big Beach Gold-mining Co., Shotover River. —The company's water-races were cleaned out and repaired, a storage dam was constructed on the north side of the Shotover River, and an 18 in. diameter pipe-line one mile in length laid down between the dam and the claim at the Sugar Loaf. Sluicing commenced in September, and the yield of gold to the end of the year amounted to 192 oz., valued at £735. Sandhills Gold-mining Co., Upper Shotover. —The work of sluicing out a channel to divert the Shotover River has been carried on during the year. Moonlight Mining Syndicate, Moonlight Creek. —Returns from this syndicate show that 105 oz. gold, valued at £400, was produced for the year. The supply of water from Dead Horse Creek is inadequate for the efficient working of the claim. E. Oxenbridge and Party, Twelve-mile Creek. —This party ha 3 driven 2,000 ft. in the terrace on the west side of Twelve-mile Creek, and found an auriferous lead which was worked in the early " seventies " until the ground got too deep and wet for working with the appliances which were available in those days. Judging by the prospects obtained the lead should pay well for driving out. Year and Party, Five-mile Greek, Lake Wakatipu. —Efforts were made by this party to work auriferous gravel in Lake Wakatipu at the mouth of Five-mile Creek. An 8 in. Thompson's gravel-pump, driven by a 20 h.p. Fordson tractor, was used for lifting the gravel from a depth of 30 ft. below the surface of the lake, but owing to the rough nature of the gravel the pump could not deal with it in sufficient quantity to pay working-expenses. Shotover Gold Claims, Ltd., Shotover River. —A timber-and-gravel dam was erected in the gorge above Arthur Point, and the river diverted through a tunnel which was driven by E. Oxenbridge in 1911. A paddock was sunk 20 ft. on to hard rock bottom in the bed of the river below the dam. Very little gold was obtained, but the work will bo continued to prospect for gold in crevices which cross the river at this point. A 6 in. centrifugal pump driven by a 10 h.p. Fordson tractor, was installed for unwatering the paddock. Moke Lake Flat. —Six boreholes were put down in this flat by H. Sydney Smith to prove if the ground would pay for dredging. A depth of 75 ft. was drilled without reaching bed-rock. No payable wash was found. Reid and Lynch, Sawyer's Creek. —The Crystal reef was cut in tho low-level crosscut at 568 ft. from the surface, and a rise is being put through to the upper level to open up a block for stoping. Shore and Sainsbury, Bullendale. —This party has been prospecting the Phoenix line of reef to the west of the Phoenix Mine, which was abandoned in 1901. A large reef formation containing small blocks of gold-bearing quartz has been found on the surface about two miles west from the old mine. Further prospecting by driving will require to be done to determine the extent and value of the quartz. Southland County. Nokomai Sluicing Co., Nokomai. —A considerable amount of work has been carried out in connection with the opening-up of the company's new claim in Nokomai Creek. On No. 2 water-race 35 chains of 36 in. diameter 12-gauge pipes were laid across Victoria Gully, and 60 chains of new race constructed between Victoria Gully and tho penstock overlooking the claim. From the penstock to the claim 40 chains of steel pipes, ranging from 26 in. to 18 in. diameter, wore installed to deliver twenty-five heads of water on the claim at a pressure of 400 ft. On No. 1. water-race 3$ miles of open race was constructed from the Nokomai Saddle, and 24 chains of 20 in. and 18 in. diameter stool pipe laid down to deliver water from the Lion and Diggers Crocks on the claim, at a pressure of 560 ft. No. 1 elevator was sunk 82 ft, on to bod-rock on the west side of the claim, and a paddock 7 chains long by 2 chains is being taken out. No. 2 elevator is being sunk on the west side of the claim, where a large paddock will also be worked. The Rimu Gold-dredging Co. has acquired an option over the claims, water-races, and plant, and is testing the claim with a Keystone drill. Athol. —Six men were employed in this locality. The gold won amounted to 331 oz., valued at £1,313. King Solomon Gold-mines, Ltd., Waikaia. —The main shaft was sunk to a depth of SO ft. from the surface, where water was met with, and operations were suspended. King Solomon Consolidated Gold-mines, Waikaia. —Two prospecting-drives were driven from an old elevatingpaddock. One of these was driven 16 ft. and the other 50 ft. Good prospects are said to have been obtained in the short drive, but the other was driven in gravel which did not contain gold. Muddy Terrace. —The water-race from Dome Creek was repaired, and sluicing resumed in Usherwood and Nelson's claim in Maori Gully. 56 oz. gold, valuod at £220, was obtained. Wallace County. Round Hill. —Three claims, employing thirteen men, were in operation on this field. The gold won amounted to 617 oz., valuod at £2,436. The Round Hill Mining Co. was the largest producer, with 383 oz., valued at £1,512. Orepuki and Pahia. —A .number of small parties of miners continue to work tho alluvial deposits in these localities. The gold won amounted to 249 oz., valued at £974. Thirteen men were employed. New Zealand Platinum, Ltd., West Waiau. —A paddock was taken out to a depth of 20 ft. on the back beach near Hut Creek, with very poor results. The front beach was also tested, but it was found that the machinery installed was not suitable for the extraction of the gold and platinum. Wakapatu Mining Company, Ltd., Wakapata. —This company prospected an area on the foreshore at the mouth of the Onrawera Creek for gold and silver. A 6 in. Thompson's gravel-pump, driven by a 14 h.p. portable steam-engine, was used for lifting the sand and gravel. Favourable prospects are said to have been obtained.
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Dredging. Molynewx Electric Gold-dredging Co., Alexandra. —Dredging was carried on during the months of July and August when tho Molynoux River was low. The gold won during the short working-period amounted to 298 oz. 9 dwt., valued at £1,152 12s. 9d. Nevis Crossing Dredge, Nevis River. —The pontoons and machinery wore repaired, and dredging was resumed in October. The ground, which varies from 8 ft. to 12 ft. in depth, has been previously worked by hand. Tho gold won amounted to 367 oz., valued at £1,413. Dividends amounting to £200 were paid. Upper Nevis Gold-dredging Co., Nevis River. —The reconstruction of the Karnscleugh No. 3 dredge was completed at the end of the year. Some alterations were made to suit the different dredging-conditions. A sluice-box was installed instead of tho tailings-elevator, the bucket ladder was lengthened for dredging to a depth, of 60 ft., and tho pontoons were made larger. The pontoons are built of jarrah and ironbark ; they are 138 ft, long, 35 ft. wide at the bow, and 25 ft. at the stern. The ladder is 105 ft. between centres, and is equipped with fifty-seven buckets of 7 cubic feet oapaoity, which discharge at the rate of ten per minute into a sluice-box 96 ft. long by 6 ft. wide, lined with ripples and perforated plates for saving the gold. Electric power for working the dredge is generated by water from the company's race. A 100 h.p. motor is installed for driving the buckets ; one, of 30 h.p., for the winches ; and two, of 50 h.p. and 25 h.p., for the pumps. The dredge will commence work in an elevator-paddock whore good returns were obtained by S. C. Fache, tho former owner of the claim. Shotover Gold-dredging Co., Maori Point. —The suction cutter dredge which was erected on tho company's claim proved quite unsuitable for working the rough stony ground in tho Shotover River, and ceased operations in the early part of the year. The Undaunted Dredging and Mining Co., Naseby. —This company was formed to work a special dredging claim of 200 acres near Naseby. The dredge on the Kyeburn which was formerly owned and worked by tho Otakau Golddredging Co. is being removed and reconstructed for working the claim. A Pelton wheel, driven by water from the company's race from Deep Creek, will be used for working the dredge. Minerals other than Gold. Tungsten. —The Glonorchy Scheelito Co. produced 4 tons 5 cwt. scheelite, valued at £289. Platinum. —33 oz. of platinum concentrates, valued at £231, were recovered from alluvial and sea-beach claims at Orepuki and Wakapatu. Accidents. No serious accidents occurred at metal-mines or dredges in the Southern Inspection District during the year.
ANNEXURE B. STONE-QUARRIES. SUMMARY OF REPORT BY INSPECTOR OF QUARRIES FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. (Mr. James Newton). During the year as much time as has been available has boon spent in actual inspection, and I have to record that, taking a reasonable view of the operations, I have found generally the operators have exercised due care with regard to providing safe working-conditions. During the year a good deal of tunnelling in connection with drainage, &c, has been done in and around Auckland City, the tunnels varying from a few feet in length to several thousands of feet. In all the lengthy tunnels the owners and contractors have provided mechanical means in order to ensure a healthy supply of air, usually in the shape of centrifugal fans, electrically driven. Some have preferred tho pressure and some the exhaust system. The leading men have invariably been those who have had a lengthy experience in coal or stone mining. I have, on inspection, found the drives to be adequately ventilated and well supported whenever support was required. The quantity of stone won, including all kinds, for the year under review has been 1,501,715 tons, which shows an increase of 341,356 tons over last year's production, whilst tho increase in value has been £74,429. The number of quarries operated shows a decrease of 3, whilst the number of persons employed has increased by 115. The year's operations, I regret to say, have not been free from accidents, one fatal and four serious accidents having taken place. On the 2nd March G. Jones, a workman employed in tho Cook County's Patutaha quarry, had a small bone in his foot broken as the result of being struck by a falling stone. Jones was loading a truck on the floor of the quarry from a heap of loose material about 6 ft. high, when one of the stones from the heap rolled down, striking him. Jones at the time did not think that he was seriously injured,, and continued in his work ; but, the injury becoming painful, he knocked off and consulted a doctor. On examination it was found, that a small bone was broken. On the Ist July, in the same quarry, a workman by the name of V. W. Linski sustained a broken leg as the result of having been struck by a rolling stone. Linski was engaged removing the loose overburden from the top of the quarry, in which, was embedded a boulder, and was loosening the boulder with his pick, when it rolled forward and, striking him on the leg, inflicted the injury mentioned. On the 6th July a workman employed at the Te Kawa quarry received injuries to his head as the result of being hit by the fastenings of a belt. Malcolm Mclvor, the injured man, was in the act of turning the crusher over the centre, when he came in contact with the belt, which was running round on a loose pulley on the crusher-shaft. On the 18th October a very distressing accident happened in a small tunnel that was being driven by the Mount Albert Borough for sewerage purposes, whereby G. McMahon lost his life and A. Watts lost an eye, the result of boring into unexplodcd gelignite. It was known that explosives had been lost down a crevice when charging previous holes, and McMahon had been warned of this. When boring out the face two days later, he struck the lost plugs, with fatal results. I may mention that in the intervals between actual inspection of the scattered quarries my time has been busily occupied with clerical work, mostly in connection with correspondence and examinations of applicants for quarry-managers' permits. The examinations are conducted on a practical basis, very little theoretical matter being introduced, and, provided the applicant has got a knowledge of the Act and regulations and has had the necessary experience, I find that most aspirants are able to pass. In conclusion, I wish again to mention that I have received very great help from the officers of tho various public bodies in the matter of reaching the operating quarries in the remote country districts. They have motored me long distances in order to facilitate inspection, very often at considerable inconvenience to themselves.
27
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ANNEXURE C.
MINING STATISTICS.
Table 1. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1927.
Average i Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. °' ! Quartz crushed . ~ — I Value. employed, j | Amalgamation. Cyanidation. | Thames Borough. Moanatairi Creek— Tons owt. qr. lb. Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. Caledonia ■ Kuranui - Moanatairi 13 258 0 0 0 215 0 0 .. 643 3 4 Gold-mining Co. Alburnia .. .. .. 12 4 0 0 0 5 18 0 .. 15 3 8 Lucky Shot Gold-mining Co. .. 5 14 0 0 0 21 1 0 .. 54 19 10 Prospectors .. .. .. 11 1 0 0 10 0 2 0 .. 1.5 6 0 Specimen collections .. .. .. .. 93 7 0 . . ICC 4 11 Slags and sundries .. .. .. .. 41 4 0 .. 70 17 1 41 277 0 0 10 382 12 0 j .. 905 14 10 Waeki Borough. Waihi— j Waihi Gold-mining Co. .. 587 179,643 0 0 0] .. 420,571 1 0 320,992 12 11 Waihi Grand Junction Gold Co. ' 14 28,334 0 0 0 .. 38,098 10 0 43,424 17 6 601 207,977 0 0 0 .. 458,669 11 0 364,417 10 5 Ohinemuri County. Owharoa— Rising Sun Gold-mining Co. .. 1 .. I 35 7 0 .. 40 18 6 Rarangahake— Earl of Glasgow Claim .. 7 81 0 0 0 97 4 0 .. 144 14 7 A. R. Aitken (Talisman) .. 2 .. j 78 13 0 .. , 39 0 0 10 | 81 0 0 0 1 211 4 0 .. 224 13 1 Coromandel County. Waikoromiko— Four-in-hand .. .. 2 .. 10 11 0 .. 29 3 0 Tokatea— Mount Welcome .. .. 3 1 0 0 0 95 5 0 .. 238 3 6 Tiki HillIris.. .. .. .. 2 34 10 0 0 25 19 0 .. 70 7 0 Prospectors .. .. .. 10 18 0 0 18 3 0 .. 52 2 10 Specimen collections .. .. .. .. 8 12 0 .. 23 2 0 17 36 18 0 0 158 10 0 .. 412 18 4 SUMMARY. Thames Borough .. .. 41 277 0 0 10 382 12 0 .. 965 14 10 Waihi Borough .. .. 601 207,977 0 0 0 .. 458,669 11 0 364,417 10 5 Ohinemuri County .. .. 10 81 0 0 0 211 4 0 .. 224 13 1 Coromandel County .. .. 17 36 18 0 0 158 10 0 .. 412 18 4 Totals, 1927 .. 669 208,371 18 0 10 752 6 0 458,669 11 0 366,020 16 8 Totals, 1926 .. 696 190,638 1 3 8 2,783 8 0 503,220 3 0 349,195 19 1
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Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the West Coast Inspection District for the Year ended 31st December, 1927.
Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1927.
Summary of Inspection Districts.
Locality and Name of Mine Average Num eu r0t Quartz crushed, i employed. _J Gold obt Amalgamation. ;ained by Cyanide and Concentrates. Value. Maelbobough. Maelboboui £ s. d501 11 5 Wakamarina— Dominion Consolidated marina— ninion Consolidated Tons cwt. qr. 8 800 0 0 NTtiit «mHi 8 Tons cwt. qr. 800 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 140 8 0 Oz. dwt. gr. Waiuta— Blackwater Mines-— Reefton— Wealth of Nations Crushington— New Keep-it-Dark Alexander River— Aloxander Reefs Big River— New Big River Nelson. 4,133 13 0 68,645 3 6 ,a— ckwatcr Minos— an— JNELSON. 190 41,362 0 0 : 190 41,362 0 0 13,423 16 0 jn— ilth of Nations inirf.nn— 25 1,924 0 0 25 1,924 0 0 877 15 0 638 7 0 5,876 9 2 mguin— v Keep-it-Dark nrlnr River— 8 430 0 0 8 430 0 0 88 13 0 33 7 0 440 12 0 naer i.tivcr— xander Reefs iver— 17 628 0 0 17 628 0 0 929 14 0 246 19 0 4,525 18 0 aver— v Big River 15 1,024 0 0 15 1,024 0 0 713 9 0 325 7 14 3,253 3 2 Totals, 1927 263 46,168 0 0 16,173 15 0 5,377 13 14 83,242 17 3 Totals, 1926 236 47,395 0 0 18,127 18 4 5,852 14 0 93,061 11 7
Average Number of Gold obtained by juartz Locality and Name of Mine. Men employed. crushed. Amalgamation. Ooncentratss. Waihemo County. itoneburn— Golden Bar 6 Tons cwt. qr. Oz. dwt. gr. I 28 0 0 4 10 0 Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. 17 6 6 Totals, 1927 6 28 0 0 4 10 0 17 6 6 Totals, 1926 5 135 0 0 I 88 1 18 15 6 12 ! ! 416 3 8 i I __
Inspection District. Persons employed* Quartz crushed. Bullion obtained. 1 Value. Statute Tons. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. Northern (North Island) .. .. 669 208,372 459,421 17 ' 0 366,020 16 8 West Coast (South Island) .. .. 263 46,168 21,551 8 14 83,242 17 3 Southern (Otago and Southland) .. 6 28 4 10 0 17 6 6 Totals, 1927 .. .. 938 j 254,568 480,977 15 14 449,281 0 5 Totals, 1926 .. ,,'j 937 238,168 530,087 11 10 442,673 14 4 In addition, 151 persons were oinployod at unproductive quartz-mining.
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Table 2. Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Companies Act, 1908.
Name of Company. Amount v alue °f Scrip Date of Subscribed of Capital. Amount paid Registration. Capital. p \« ! which no Cash ; alloUed. per Share. Number Number Total Arrears of Share- of '"^JSKtaSUES of Calls, holders Men em- smce registration. smce at present.' ployed. : Registration. Quantity, j Value. Total Amount Amount of ' of Debts Dividends owing by paid. : Company. Value: '■ AUCKLAND DISTRICT. 1 £ £ £ I £ Alburnia Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. ..20/12/24 11,032 10,443 528 j 110,323 2/-and 1/- 60 Hauraki Mines Consolidated, Ltd. .. ..28/11/25 68,067 25,304 28,750 272,271 Various 923 Caledonia-Kuranui-Moanataiari Consolidated Gold- 16/3/20 ; 35,000 25,416 2,500 150,000 5/- and 1/2 Nil Mining Co., Ltd. Nonpareil Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) .. .. 14/9/20 19,399 4,131 2,625 88,496 Various Nil Tiki Talisman Gold-mines, Ltd. .. .. ..I 22/5/25 5,125 1,578 7,500 50,500 Various 16 Kuranui Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) .. ..I 5/6/25 | 8,026 3,807! 210 82,364 1/1 Nil Mount Welcome Gold-mining Co., Ltd". .. ..21/10/20 1 3,600 2.480 2,500 24,400 Various 99 Owera Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 7/6/23; 5,102 3,082 10,000 60,410! Various 106 Lucky Shot Gold-mines, Ltd. .. .. ..1 9/4/25! 10,000 7,923 2,000 100,000! 21- 76 Golden Age Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 2/7/26 12,000 2,500 2.000 120,000 6d. 15 New Waiotahi Gold-mining Co. (No Liability! ..! 31/8/22 31,275 9,477 4.000 125,090 1/9 and 1/10 8 Maoriland Consolidated, Ltd. .. .. ..' 24/3/25: 13,750 4,271 5,000 80,000 5/-and 1/4 Nil Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines. Ltd. .. .. 1/6/14 102,859 53,076 55,275 205,618! Various 143 Majestic Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (in liquidation) .. 14/12/22 41,509 33,163 8,304 166,037 Various 22 Occidental Una Umted Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) 9/11/26! 23,875 2.813 2,500 95,500 9d. and 8d. 30 New Zealand Metals. Ltd. .. .. .. 29/11/26 5,000 4,100 Nil 5,000 20/- and 15/- Nil Muir's Gold Reefs, Ltd... .. .. .. 14/5/20 81,692 81,692 Nil 81,754 Various 61 Iris Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 17/4/24 2.500 2,500 Nil 100 £25 Nil Four-in-hand. Ltd. .. .. .. .. 31/7/23 18.700 7,082 2,500 74,800 5/-and 2/7* Nil Areo Concentrates, Ltd. (in liquidation) .. .. 2/8/24 12,000 5,051 5,000 12,000 14/6 and 13/6 33 348 956 264 53 64 44 72 79 323 234 171 79 222 221 148 7 206 40 55 205 I Oz. £ 9 I 5 15 30 i Nil Nil 12 215 643 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 4 10 25 2 47 133 Nil Nil Nil 6 21 54 3 ! Nil Nil 5 I 211 567 2 Nil Nil 18 i 7,282 1,354 Nil i Nil Nil 6 ! Nil Nil 4 j Nil Nil 15 .. 164,776 Nil .. 73 Nil 285 789 Nil Nil Nil 10,415 ! 11,249 i 28,916 4,104 i 1,577 ! 3,799 j 2,911 3,064 1 9,415 I 4,418 ■ 9,089 ! 4,265 53,006 42,880 2,407 2,495 332,009 2,687 9,436 ! 1,365 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil £ 65 306 985 88 212 65 60 53 3 4 61 Nil 378 5,980 456 Nil 58,294 2 362 132 NELSON DISTRICT (INCLUDING WEST COAST). 79 64 67 32 73 286 164 587 124 22 39 35 424 264 67 Nil Nil Nil Nil 328 1,199 9 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 15 1,777 7,229 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 872 3,626 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 52 68,630 291,356 5 Nil Nil 15 1,982 7,629 13 .. 395.843 10.028 2,955 i 1,871 4,001 38,822 20,763 27*011 8.661 4.807 209.566 13.152 15,883 293.827 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 19,617 Nil Nil 112,800 1 86 Nil 1,445 16 3,108 100 11,675 11,361 7,403 5,512 3,081 644 1,800 3,605 4,518 North Big River Gold-mines, Ltd. .. .. 29/10 19 44,915 12,951 34,000 44,915 15/3 Nil New Murray Creek Gold-mines. Ltd. .. .. 25/7/23 15,000 4,821 10,000 15,000 20/- and 10/- 75 Murray Creek Gold-mines, Ltd. .. .. .. 14/12/25 35,007 2,752 25,000 35,007 6/- 500 Ngahere Gold-prospecting Co.. Ltd. .. .. 22/12/25 22,000 4,000 18,000 44,000 10,'- Nil New River Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. .. .. 8/5/25 58,000 27,741 25,000 58,000 Various 258 Southern Mines Development Corporation, Ltd .. 27/7/26 27,720 11,579 Nil 27,720 Various 4,507 South Blackwater Mines, Ltd. .. .. .. 1/3/20 75,000 11,200 43,000 75,000 20/- and 7/- Nil "Reefton Gold-mines, Ltd .. 20/10/19 107,935 173,689 20,000 107,935 Various 12,737 New Millerton Mines, Ltd. .. .. .. 1/3/20 50,000 18,450 29,500 50,000 20/- and 18/- Nil New Discovery Mines, Ltd. .. .. .. 1/3/20 50,000 13,200 26,000 50,000 20/- and 11/- Nil South Big River Mines, Ltd. .. .. .. 15/12/23 25,000 1,000 20,000 25,000 20/- and 7/- Nil Rimu Gold-dredging Co.. Ltd. .. .. .. 20/7/20 213,572 142,863! 70,709 213,572 20/- Nil Mahakipawa Goldfields, Ltd. .. .. .. 12/10/23 17,903 15,838 15,025 658,563 Various 1,901 Alexander Mines, Ltd. .. .. .. .. 9/3/26 75,000 18,392 i 29.000 75,000 8/- 7 New Big River Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 19/8/07 6,000 2,400 j Nil 24,000; 2/- Nil
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Shotover Gold Claims, Ltd. .. .. .. 28/1/26 7.131 3,8+2 Wairarajia Gold Claims, Ltd. .. .. .. 18/11/24 10,200 6,563 Golden River Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 21/1/25. 4,634 i 2,585 Golden Bed Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 12/3/25 4,962 2,962 Golden Gorge Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 27/11/25 5,154 4,254 Shotover Consolidated, Ltd. .. .. .. 19/2/26 56,950 20,070 Kawarau High Level Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 17/8/25 8,687 6,559 Nokomai Sluicing Co., Ltd .. .. .. 14/6/26 25,000 14,840 Lucky Chance Kawarau Claims, Ltd. .. .. | 29/11/24 8,000 6,000 Another Chance Kawarau Gold, Ltd. .. .. 15/12/24 8,000 6,000 Te/nuka Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 11/12/24 2,000 1,200 Vogel's Vision Gold Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 19/11/24 16,020 13,642 Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. 23/9/00 6,000 6,000 Upper Nevis Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. .. .. 20/9/26 25,000 25,000 Hidden Treasure Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 16/6/25 2.400 2,400 Billy Creek Development Co., Ltd. .. .. 28/7/26 480 Undaunted Dredging and Mining Co., Ltd. .. 23/6/27 5,000 3,166 Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. 3/12/04 1,200 1,200 Skipper's Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 20/11/11 3,450 345 Natural Bridge Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 8/4/25 2,600 2,185 Golden Chance Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 10/7/25 j 1,400 1,190 Broken Hill Mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 2/8/26; 2,291 1,945 Cromwell Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 6/2/25 1,325 1,192 Nevis Junction Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. j 23/6/26 3,477 3,208 : Kawarau Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. j 8/4/24 14,985 4,985 Good Fortune Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. j 13/5/25 1,800 1,027 Glenorchy Scheeiite Mining Co., Ltd. .. ..I 6/12/11 3,000 Nil Sandhills Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 19/12/13 7,000 2,000 Co!o3sus Gold-mining Development Co., Ltd. .. 28/8/14 30,073 j 12,073 Lawrence Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. .. 18/3/16 5,000 5,000 Golden Crescent Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. 26/11/98 3,500 3,500 nSailors' Gully (Waitahuna) Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. 3/6 ''96 8,400! 200 Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Co., Ltd. .. .. 2/5/07 600! 600 Sevi Era Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. .. : 4/3/25 7,000 4,396 Central Treasure Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. 15/7/25 5,442 4,284 Molyneux Electric Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. .. I 23 7 25 9,000 : 6.500 Big Beach Gold-mining Co., Ltd. .. .. j 7/12/26 22,500 12,862 United M. and E. Water-race Co. (Registered) .. 23/4/72 7'600 St. Bathan's Channel Co., Ltd. .. .. .. j 4/1/82 '• 4,590 4,590 Hartley and Riley Consolidated Gold-dredjing Co., : 30 7/27 9,473 Ltd. JVIcGeorge Bros., Ltd. .. .. .. ..27/3/12 11,400 11,400 Lady Ranfurly Gold-mining Co. (Kawarau), Ltd. .. | 12/8/25 ! 8,015 4,006 N.Z. Platinum, Ltd. .. .. .. .. 30/7 -'26 7,729 4,451 Nil 500 1,187 1.556 900 30,000 1,000 10,160 2,000 2,000 Nil 600 Nil 5,000 Nil 20,000 Nil Nil 3,105 1,400 Nil 1,200 600 1,650 9,999 600 3,000 5,000 18,000 Nil Nil 8,200 Nil 1,500 1.500 2,500 9,125 Nil Nil Nil Nil 3,000 2,250 7,131 Various 10,200 13/6 4,634 20/- and 16/6 9,925 10/- and 8/6 20,616 ' 5/56,950 Various 8.687 Various 25,000 20/32,000 5 •■- 32,000 5/2,000 12/100,000 | 4/3 and 5/6,000 20/30,000 20/2,400 20/21,600 20/- and 6/5,000 15/12 £100 3,450 20/16,000 4,3 8,000 4 3 13,966 5/- and 4/3 1,925 | ' 18 - 20,510 : 5/299.708 1/1.800 20/3.000 207,000 20/30,473 20/5.000 20 - 3,500 20/8,400 20/600 20/7,000 Various 13.884 Various 9,000 20/22,500 20/152 £50 81 Various 844,000 Various 11,400 2032,063 Various 8,250 j 16/3 and 20/i 62 I Nil Nil Nil NilNil 110 Nil Nil Nil Nil 5 Nil Nil Nil Nil 583 Nil Nil Nil Nil 217 Nil 269 Nil 8 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 15 90 Nil 512 Nil Nil Nil Nil 57 Nil 101 138 83 120 277 95 53 69 312 367 10 261 17 I 153 13 5 35 9 30 37 28 i 37 33 74 1,056 11 20 65 23 20 26 9 194 185 i ioo ! 163 4 263 6 45 99 8 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 Nil 6 ! 16 30 98 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 46 Nil 5,493 14 ! 33 Nil Nil Nil j Nil 5 Nil 2 2,516 t 2,112 Nil 28 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil 2 Nil | Nil 1 94 Nil Nil Nil 4 1,192 1 Nil 6 6,015 6 I 13.528 6 | 11,437 14 19.476 Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 301 8 192 || 16,909 Nil i 1,507 Nil Nil 1 j 29,939 1 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 60 365 Nil Nil Nil 181 21,099 137 Nil Nil Nil 9,760 8,863 109 4 Nil 8 Nil 366 Nil §313 4.562 Nil 25,050 54,080 45,088 76,735 Nil Nil 1,164 735 69,138 5,817 Nil 127,606 Nil . Nil . 2,353 6,524 2,909 2,877 2,817 800 6,827 21,372 5.827 5,822 1,174 13,144 21.643 34,666 2,393 152 3,306 11,928 9,763 2,237 1,157 1,933 1,188 2,934 6,148 106,7381 724 84.965 18.072 35,336 23,588 44,693 37,152 66,466 510 673 3.729 1,291 74,783 11,113 5,665 79,072 303 4,624 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1,050 Nil Nil Nil Nil 1,380 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 7.125 Nil Nil 3,750 14,175 9.200 19,215 Nil Nil Nil Nil 3,534 Nil Nil 48,000 ! Nil Nil 175 33 1 Nil 150 . 1,000 50 6,234 485 230 Nil Nil 1,195 9,811 Nil 400 313 185 1,679 30 i 86 2 15 79 14,971 Nil 901 6,509 5,214 46 326 318 2 10 597 3,164 Nil 15 32 Nil Nil 29 * Although registered as mining company, does not directly engage in mining. on tribute. [I Property has been worked until recently by Scandinavian Water-race Co., Ltd., X Claimholders' account. § Scheelite, £83,165. under tributary agreement.
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Table 2—continued. Statement of Afairs of Mining Companies, as published in acordance with the Companies Act, 1908—continued. FOREIGN COMPANIES.
Name of Company. Date of Registration of Office in Dominion. of Canital rriven to Share Number of Amount paid I Arrears ' of Share- g: J Subscribed 0 '^ | holders Shares™ upper of Calls, holders ||| Capital. "SvEhLoSsli Dominion Share, Dominion ; Dominion on l-ggg-S Quantity and Value of • Tte Total f^Sl 0 ' Gold and Silver produced B ~™dVture Amount of L ' a f b r!' t m 3S since Registration. D „ a «|!Com — I Registration. ,£? New Quantity. [ Value. Dominion. Zea]and ' Quantity. Value. New Zealand Crown Mines Co., Ltd. Progress Mines of New Zealand, Ltd. Blackwater Mines, Ltd. Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, Ltd. £ 13/1/14 39,585 8/12/96 275,000 25/3/07 250,000 22/1/96 250,000 £ 11,367 Nil Nil Nil I £ 200,000 200,000 17,378 116,529 4/-, 3/6, and3/- ! 31,629 20/55,561 20/57,248 | 20/- £ 285 Nil Nil Nil 159 ; I 71 173 190 3 3 145 3 Oz. £ £ 17,618 16,848 47,163 348,244 1,473,066 1,243,844 309,690 1,312,487 1,046,378 173,798 719,732 955,418 £ Nil 5,385 18,876 12,398 £ 5i 2\ 2,00' 891
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APPENDIX B. REPORTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Eng-inebk and Chief Insmctor or Coal-mines to the Under-Secretary of Minus. Sir — Wellington, sth July, 1928. I have the honour to present my annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1927, in accordance with section 42 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. The report is divided into the following sections : — I. Output. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act— (a) Permitted Explosives: (/)) List of Mines required by Law to use Permitted Explosives, (c) List of Mines required by Law to use Safety-lamps, (ii) Dangerous Occurrences, (c) Electricity at Collieries. (/) Prosecutions. V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining. Annexures — A. Summary of Annual Reports by Inspectors of Mines. B. Colliery Statistics. SECTION I.—OUTPUT. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows :—
The following is a table showing the annual production of coal and the quantity of coal imported since 19.11 :—
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Class of Coal. Northern District (North Istind). I Tons. Bituminous and sub-bituminous 172,348 Brown 575,182 Lignite West Coast District (South Island). Output of Coal during 1927. Southern District (South Island). Tona. 34U462 121,557 Totals. Tons. 1,290,529 954,436 121,775 i Total Output to the End of 1927. Tons. 1,118,181 37,792 218 Tons. 40,470,314 21,761,713 4,094,055 Totals for 1927 747,530 1,156,191 463,019 | 2,366,740 66,326,082 Totals for 1926 653,849 1,122,176 463,974 I 2,239,999 63,959,342
Year. Coal produced. Total Quantity of Coal imported. Coal produced and imported. Year.' Coal produced. Coal imported. Total Quantity of Coal produced and imported. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. Tons. 2,066.073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614* 2,208,624 2,257,135 2,068,419 2,034,250 1,847,848 Tona. Tons. 188,068 i 2,254,141 364,359 2,541,974 468,940 2,356,945 518,070 :. 2,793,684* 353,471 2,562,095 293,956 j 2,551,091 291,597 ! 2,360,010 255,332 "' 2,289,582 391.434 j 2,239,282 1920 .. 1.921 .. 1922 .. 1923 . . 1924 .. 1925 .. 1926 .. 1927 . . Tons. 1,843,705 1,809,095 1,857,819 1,969,834 2,083,207 2,114,995 2,239,999 2,366,740 Tons. 476,343 822,459 501,478 445,792 674,483 572,573 483,918 378,090 Tons. 2,320,048 2,631,554 2,359,297 2,415,626 2,757,690 2,887,568 2,723,917 2,744,830 I l_ * Includes II tons shale.
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The gross output of coal for 1927 showed an increase of 126,741 tons over the output for 1926 and is the greatest annual output yet recorded. The increase of 126,741 tons is made up of an increase of 94,141 tons in the output of bituminous coal, an increa.se of 48,611 tons in the output of brown coal, and a decrease of 16,011 tons in the output of lignite. The increase in the output of bituminous and brown coal is largely due to the fact that the Railway Department used, and is still using, local coals wherever practicable in place of Australian, coals. In the Northern District the output of bituminous coal from the Hikurangi district was 60,430 tons over that for the previous year, and the output of brown coal from the Waikato mines was increased by 33,251 tons, the combined increase being 93,681 tons. In the West Coast district the output of bituminous coal showed an increase of 33,711 tons, the output of brown coal an increase of 342 tons, and of lignite a decrease of ,38 tons, the total increase for this district for the year being 34,015 tons. In the Southern district there was an increase of 15,018 tons in the output of brown coal and a decrease of 15,973 tons in the output of lignite, which together make a net decrease of 955 tons in the output of this district for the year. The coal-market was dull throughout most of the year, and a considerable amount of slack time was worked at almost all the mines. The combined capacity of the existing mines is well ahead of the demand, particularly for brown and lignite coal. During 1927 there was very little time lost at the mines through industrial trouble. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table :■
SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.
Total n.itm.t fnr Total Output to Number of Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. 10-17 31st December, Persons 1927. ordinarily j employed. Northern District. * Tons. Tons. Hikurangi .. .. .. Hikurangi .. Sub-bituminous 87,005 241,208 206 Wilson's .. .. .. „ .. „ 66,029 359,542 184 Kotowaro .. .. .. Huntly .. Brown .. 148,914 1,054,318 272 Pukemiro .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 149,272 1,448,402 280 Waipa .. .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 63,130 918,065 128 Glen Afton .. .. .. Glen Afton .. „ .. 176,254 668,300 296 West Coast District. West-port-Stoekton .. .. Ngakawau .. Sub-bituminous 144,655 2,337,482 260 Millerton .. .. .. Millerton .. „ 187,672 7,532,960 464 Denniston .. .. .. Denniston .. ,, 231,374- 9,356,992 550 Westportmain .. .. .. Westport .. ,, 27,754 56,628 51 Cardiff Bridge .. .. .. Seddonvillo .. ,, 29,663 114,135 32 Paparoa .. .. .. Roa .. „ 36,897 581,014 104 Blackball .. .. .. Blackball .. „ 135,314 3,602,148 423 Liverpool (State) .. .. Rewanui .. „ 147,736 1,762,923 381 James (State) .. .. .. Rapahoe .. „ 39,278 145,668 88 Dobson.. .. .. .. Dobson .. „ 32,166 91,167 174 Southern District. Kaitangata and Castlehill (3 colleries) Kaitangata .. Brown .. 61,501 4,516,010 220 Taratu .. .. .. .. „ .. Lignite .. 23,376 658,142 41 Linton (2 collieries) .. .. Nightcaps .. Brown .. 95,262 395,846 133 Wairaki (2 collieries) .. .. „ .. „ .. 38,984 239,327 97 Mossbank .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 36,571 170,380 59 Birchwood .. .. .. Ohai .. „ .. 31,235 147,154 55 139 other collieries .. .. All coalfields .. Various .. 376,698 7,023,087 876 Collieries abandoned or suspended, &c. Various .. „ .. .. 22,905.184 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 2,366,740 66,326,082 5,374
Average N umber of Persons employed luring 1927. Inspection District. Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Southern West Coast Northern 247 773 366 714 2,162 1,112 961 2,935 1,478 Totals, 1927 1,386 3,988 5,374 Totals, 1926 1,336 3.823 5,159
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The following statement shows the tons of coal raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about collieries, &c, to 1927.
SECTION lII.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1927, with their causes :—
The fatal accidents for the year were at the rate of LB6 per thousand persons employed and 4-23 per million tons of coal produced. The following is a short account of tho fatal accidents : — In the Birch wood Mine, on the 14th January, a miner named James Burns was struck on the head by a prop which had been supporting the roof of his place on the gob side and had been knocked out by a large stone falling from the waste ground ; he died on the 20th January. On the 4th February, Jesse Baddeley, one of a co-operative party owning a small mine near Dunollie, was working on the tramway-bridge which crosses the Seven-mile Creek - , when he fell from the bridge on to the rocks below, fracturing his skull and dislocating his neck. A serious accident occurred in the Millerton Mine on the sth February by which four men lost their lives, these being W. Pearson, mine-manager ; W. Maher, underviewer ; J. Cowan and M. Ford, two mine deputies. A large fire had occurred in the Millerton Mine some six months previously and had resulted in a considerable area of the mine having to be sealed off. An attempt was to be made to recover part of this area, and a preliminary examination by men wearing self-contained breathingapparatus was arranged for to determine the extent of the fire still existing behind the stoppings, and consequently how much of the area could be recovered and the best method of doing same. For some weeks prior to the sth February a team of Millerton men had. been undergoing training in the use of rescue apparatus, their teacher being Francis Duffy, underviewer at Denniston Mine, who had had much experience in the use of this apparatus. On the sth February, Messrs. Pearson, Duffy, Maher,
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Year. Output, in Statute Tons. Persons ordinarily emp! loyed. Total. Lives loi Tons raised per each Person employed Per Million 'below Ground. Tons produced. rt by Accider lout Coliieriei I"er Thousand Persons employed. nts in or 38. Number of Lives lost. Above Ground. lielow Ground. Prior to 1900 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1.907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1.919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 13,444,437 * 13,444,437 1,093,990 1,239,686 1,365,040 1,420,229 1,537,838 1,585,756 1,729,536 1,831,009 1,860,975 1,911,247 2,197,362 2,066,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614 2,208,624 2,257,135 2,068,419 2,034,250 1,847,848 1,843,705 1,809,095 1,857,819 1,969,834 2,083,207 2,114,995 2,239,999 2,366,740 66,326,082 1,093,990 617 1,239,686 688 1,365,040 803 1,420,229 71.7 1,537,838 703 1, ,585,756 833 1,729,536 1,174 .1,831,009 1,143 1,860,975 992 1,911,247 1,159 2,197,362 1,136 2,066,073 1,365 2,177,615 1,130 1,888,005 1,053 2,275,614 1,176 2,208,624 1,050 2,257,135 988 2,068,419 1,090 2,034,250 1,102 1,847,848 1,095 1,843,705 1,152 1,809,095 | 1,218 1,857,819 I 1,191 1,969,834 1,353 2,083,207 1,364 2,114,995 1,288 2,239,999 1,.336 2,366,740 1,386 * 1,843 2,066 2,082 2,135 2,525 2,436 2,518 2,767 2,902 3,032 3,463 2,925 3,198 3,197 3,558 3,106 3,000 2,893 2,892 2,849 2,926 3,149 3,365 3,647 3,505 3,489 3,823 3,988 * 2.460 2,754 2,885 2,852 3.288 3,269 3,692 3,910 ■ 3,894 4,191 4,599 4,290 4,328 4,2.50 4,734 4,156 3,988 3,983 3,994 3,944 4,078 4,367 4,556 5,000 4.869 4,777 5,159 5,374 * 593 600 655 665 609 651 687 662 641 630 634 706 681 590 039 711 752 715 703 648 630 574 552 540 594 606 586 593 * 3-65 2-42 1-16 2-81 2-60 3-78 3-46 6-55 2'68 3-66 7-28 6-77 4-13 3-18 21-53 4-07 2-65 1-93 2-95 5-41 0-54 5-52 3-23 2-53 4-80 3-78 6-69 4.23 * 1-62 1-09 0-69 1-40 1-21 1-83 1-02 3-07 1-28 1-67 3-48 3-26 2-08 1-41 10-35 2-16 1-50 100 1-50 2-53 0-24 228 [•81 I-co 2-05 1-67 2-90 1-86 165 4 3 2 4 4 6 6 12 5 7 16 14 9 et 49 9 6 4 6 10 1 10 6 5 10 8 15 10 Totals .. 412 66,326,082 returns for previous years see page 3 ;2, Mines Statemei rt, 1.921. Yoar of Ralph 's (Huntly) ixplosion. * For
Fatal Ai •cidents. Serious Non-fi ital Accidents. Number of Separate Fatal Accidents. Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons injured, including those injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. ___!____ I Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Palla of ground Explosives Haulage Miscellaneous —Underground On surface 3 1 1 2 *3 1 4 2 1 6 I 8 6 4 1 6 I S 6 5 Totals 7 lo 26 27
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Smith, Cowan, and Ford, equipped with Proto apparatus, went into the Millerton Mine to explore the fire area. The brick stopping at the head of No. 1 dip was broken. This acted as an intake, and a considerable volume of air passed through the stopping into the fire area and cleared the atmosphere in the neighbourhood of the stopping. The party then entered the area and was able to get as far as the fourth stenton without the flame safety-lamps being affected. At this point the lamps went out. Messrs. Pearson and Duffy then donned their breathing-apparatus and made three separate traverses of the fire area before they returned to the stopping. The exploration work should have finished at this point, but Messrs. Maher and Ford were anxious to see the inside of the sealed-off area, and received permission to go down to the foot of the dip, a stated time being given them in which to get there and return to the stopping. The necessity of using the breathing-apparatus beyond No. 4 stenton was impressed on them before they left. They did not return within the time specified, and the others realized that Maher and Ford had got into difficulties. Duffy went down to No. 4 stenton and sawMaher's and Ford's lights on the ground a short distance away. He crawled down to where they were without his apparatus and was able to drag out Maher's body. Duffy then proceeded to try and revive Maher by means of artificial respiration. Duffy himself in recovering Maher's body had suffered, considerably from gas. Duffy then ordered Cowan and Smith to don the rescue apparatus and go in and attempt to rescue Ford. Smith and Cowan proceeded down the dip past where Duffy was, and both were wearing their apparatus. Smith was in the lead and got as far as Ford's body, but, Ford being a heavy man, he was unable to do anything by himself. It appears that before entering the gas Cowan, for some unknown reason, discarded his breathing-apparatus and entered the gas without it. He got to where Smith was standing beside Ford's body and then collapsed. Smith, being unable to do anything, returned up the dip. Pearson then donned Smith's apparatus and went into the gas, but did not return. Assistance was then sent for, and the mine-manager and others arrived on the scene. Since by this time four men had already been lost while using the apparatus, the mine-manager decided that the apparatus should not be used any further. He therefore made an attempt to carry air into the dip by means of brattice and to recover the bodies in that way. Eventually this method proved successful, and the bodies were recovered. An examination of the apparatus used by Maher and Ford showed that they had not put the nose-clips on or had the mouthpiece inserted. In Pearson's case the nose-clip and mouthpiece were in place, but the oxygen had not been turned on. Evidently Pearson, through excitement, had omitted to do this. After the fatality, and before the apparatus had been interfered witli in any way, the three sets of apparatus worn by Messrs. Ford, Maher, and Pearson were tested and found to be in good condition and safe for use in an irrespirable atmosphere. The only conclusion to be drawn from a consideration of the evidence available was that the accident was due to errors of judgment on the part of those in charge of the team, and to the breaking-down, under stress, of the organization, of the team. The training given to Maher, Ford, and the others was practically the same as what is recognized in Britain as sufficient to qualify for a certificate of competency in rescue work. On the 4th. April, in the Birchwood Mine, J. W. Reid, a roadman, was resetting a prop when a fall occurred, by which he sustained serious injuries to his leg. He died in hospital on the 7th April from gangrene. D. Tennant, an underviewer, employed at the Blackball Mine, wont into the mine on the morning of Sunday, the 9th October,, to make an inspection of the workings. He had not returned by the afternoon, and a search-party entered the mine to look for him. He was found under a fall. The actual injuries which he had received were apparently not serious in themselves, but he died from shock the same evening. At Rotowaro Mine, on the 21st October, a labourer named A. Henderson was crushed between two railway-wagons. He and four other men were moving a wagon on a 1 - in- 70 grade when another wagon moved forward and crushed deceased between the buffers. On the 23rd December, C. Roskvist, a rope-road worker employed at the Westportmain Mine, was struck by the haulage-rope on a steep incline and killed.
SECTION IV.-WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a) Permitted Explosives. (Regulations 233 to 237 inclusive.) The following is a table showing the quantity of permitted explosives used and the number of shots fired at New Zealand coal-mines during 1927 —
Quantity of Permitted Explosives used (lb.). Quantil Exploi Num Number of nber of fisflred SI iots. i'a 2 s »•§ a> £ •h Cl P & H Number Inspection District. _! of 8 j £ Shots fired. ill rS l I <M a I <! M to . «. ! Jorthern (i.e., North Island) .. 101,265 .. .. 114,742 Vest Coast Cof South Island) .. 199,956 .. 97,552 355,634 louthern (i.e., Canterbury, Otago, 23.059J .. 49,184| 113,162 and Southland) Totals .. .. 324,280| .. 140,736J 583,538 01 ► +h ai o > «'« r. o »■§, >.« r 6 ! 36 | 42 ► ► J +h ai HfH o > u3 aim ai rt •no i-O Bm fl| >.« >,« M M a> »| a> a ■h a a> o B-S >fi H 79 390 56 525 a> > o an . hh m OrrJ ns cq Total. 30 238 30 Tons. 115 363,049 664 1,146,785 86 242,161 583,538 42 525 298 865 1,751,995
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Seventy-four per cent, of the coal produced in the Dominion during 1927 was broken down by permitted explosive, and the average production of coal per pound of explosive used was 3"71 tons, and per shot fired 3-00 tons. (b) List of Mines required by Law to use Permitted Explosives. The following is a list of mines as at the 31st December, 1927, required by law to use permitted explosives : — Northern Inspection District. Pukemiro Collieries, Pukemiro —throughout South Mine. Rotowaro Colliery, Rotowaro —throughout No. 1 and No. 3 Mines. Glen Afton Colliery, Glen Afton —all sections of the mine, with the exception of A section. Waikato Extended Colliery, Huntly- -all sections. West Coast Inspection District. North Cape Mine, Puponga. Reddale, Reefton (Woodlands, Empire, LishPuponga, Puponga. man's). Stone's, Takaka. Reefton Coal Co.'s, Reefton. O'Rourke's, Murchison. Waitahu Colliery, Reefton. Bennett, Blair, and McDonald's. Seddonville. White Rose, Morrijigs. Zealandia, Seddonville. Armstrong's, Dunollie. Cardiff Bridge, Seddonville. Baddeley's, Runanga. Celtic, Seddonville. Bellevue, Runanga. Chester's, Seddonville. Blackball Coal Co.'s, Blackball. Clydevalc, Seddonville. Brae Head, Dunollie. Coal Creek, Seddonville. Cain's, Rapahoe. Dove's, Seddonville. Castle Point, Runanga. Glen Lea. Seddonville. Dobson, Brunnerton. Glasgow, Seddonville. Duggan's, Rewanui. Harris, Karamea. Hunter's, Dunollie. Murray's, Seddonville. Manderson's, Runanga,. Quinn and party's, Seddonville. Briandale, Ten-mile Barrytown Road (MoSt. Helens, Seddonville. Neill's). Rogers Bros., Seddonville. Moody Creek, Dunollie. Westportmain, Granity. Old Runanga Co-operative party, Rewanui. Westport-Mokihinui, Seddonville. Schultz Creek, Runanga. Westport Coal Co.'s, Denniston mines. Scott and Kerry's, Twelve-mile, Barrytown Westport Coal Co.'s, Millerton mines. Road. Westport-Stockton, Ngakawau. Smith's, Runanga. Wynn's, Seddonville. Spark's, Rewanui. Rocklands, Berlin's. State Coal-mines (Liverpool Collieries and Whitecliffs, Berlin's. James Colliery). Archer's, Capleston. Paparoa, Roa. Caliope, Reefton. Wafer's, Runanga. Clele, Merrijigs. Wallsend, Brunnerton. Coghlan's, Capleston. Allan's, Brunnerton. Collins and Kearns, Reefton. Dennehy's, Barrytown Road. Dorans, Capleston. New Point Elizabeth, Dunollie. Morrisvale, Reefton (Perfection Valley and Matchless). Southern Inspection District. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata. Birch wood Mine, Ohai. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. Linton Mine, Ohai. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. Oahi Coal Company's mine, Ohai. Wairaki Mine, Ohai. (c) List of Mines required by Law to use Safety-lamps. The following is a list of the mines as at the 31st December, 1927, required by law to use safetylamps :— Northern inspection District. Pukemiro Colleries, Pukemiro—Main north heading section (now abandoned). Rotowaro Colliery, Rotowaro —Throughout No. 1 and No. 3 Mines. Glen Afton Colliery, Glen Afton—No. 1 heading section. West Goast Inspection District. Westport Coal Co.'s (one section, Millerton Spark's, Rewanui. Mine). State Mine (Liverpool No. 2) Oobson, Brunnerton. Paparoa, Roa. Hunter's, Dunollie. Wallsend, Brunnerton. Manderson's, Runanga.
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Southern Inspection District. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata. Birchwood Mini!, Ohai. Kaitangata No. I Mine. Linton Mine, Ohai. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. Ohai Coal Co.'s mine, Ohai. Wairaki Mine, Ohai. (d) Dangerous Occurrences reported. (Regulation 82.) The following is a short account of the most serious of these. A full list is contained, in tin; District In selectors' reports. In the last week of November a severe " creep " occurred in the lower workings of the Birchwood Mine, and a few days later a fire broke out in the upper level. It was than found necessary to seal off the whole of the mine by building stoppings in the main intake and main return. Early in January the fire broke through the stopping on the return side, and an explosion occurred, no men, of course, being in the mine. The total amount of coal lost by the " creep " and subsequent fire is estimated to be ovor 40,000 tons. (c) Electricity at Collieries. (Regulation 243.) The following is a summary of the annual returns, in accordance with Regulation 243 (c), regarding electrical apparatus at collieries : — Number of collieries at which electrical apparatus is installed .. .. 32 Number of continuous-current installations .. .. . . .. f 3 Number of alternating-current installations .. .. .. . . 22 Number of collieries electrically lighted .. .. .. . . 23 Number of colleries using electrical ventilating-maohines . . . . .. 25 Number of collieries using electrical pumping plants . . . . .. 23 Number of collieries using electrical haulage plants .. . . .. 19 Number of collieries using electrical screening plants . . . . .. 10 Number of collieries using electrical miscellaneous plants. . .. .. 17 Number of collieries using electrical locomotives . . .. .. 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface .. .. .. 4,781 Total horse-power employed from motors below ground .. .. .. 3,246 (/) Prosecutions. There were four prosecutions by tho Department's Inspectors during the year. On. the 11th .July a shot-firer was convicted and lined for failing to see that all persons in the vicinity had taken proper shelter before he fired the shot, as required by Regulation. 228 (1). On the 12th August three miners were convicted and fined for failing to bring out the explosives remaining in their possession at the end of the shift, as required by Regulation 224 (4). On the 12th September the mining manager and mine-manager of a mine were convicted and fined for failing to provide adequate ventilation as required by section 91 of the Coal-mines Act. On the 21st November the mine-manager and the deputy in a, mine were convicted and fined for failing to provide stop-blocks, as required by Regulation 94. SECTION V.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING COAL-MINES. The most important provision in the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1927, is one which makes wages, payable for a period not exceeding six months, a charge on the land on which the mine is situated and on the mining plant, and also, with certain provisoes, gives wages priority over existing and subsequent mortgages. Other provisions in this Act refer to the surveys required for coal-mining rights, to the distribution of the vcntilating-current throughout the workings of a, mine, and to the finances of the State coal-mines. • I desire again to acknowledge the efficient help and co-operation which I have received throughout the year from the District Inspectors. In recent years endeavours have been made to get better methods of mining adopted in all coal-mines, the object being to increase the safety of the mines, to reduce the risk of underground fires a.nd to deal promptly with these when'they occur, and to lessen the excessive loss of coal which has obtained in the past. Efforts in this direction were continued throughout the yoar and met with a certain measure of success. The improved methods already adopted at several collieries are now showing by their results that they give increased efficiency and safety. At many of the older mines the extensive workings and thick seams present a very difficult problem. In its solution the managers of the mines concerned and the Inspectors are co-operating, and there is little doubt that better results will shortly be obtained than formerly. In the past less than 40 per cent, of the coal was extracted ; the newer methods demonstrate that over 60 per cent, of the coal in an area can be got without increasing the cost of working or lowering tho standard of safety. I have, &c., J. A. C. Bayne, Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.
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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRIOT (Mr. William Baeolay, Inspector). Tho total output of coal produoed from tho mines in the Northern Inspection District for the year 1927 was 747,530 tons, an increase of 93,081 tons when compared with, the returns of the previous yoar. Employment figures of miners in and about the coal-mines in the Northern District showed an average of 1,478 men for the year 1.927, an inercaso of 136 over the figures of tho previous year. With one or two exceptions, all the principal mines returned largor outputs owing to the fact that the Railway Department took increased supplies of local coal for locomotive use. Bord pillars and barriers havo beon substantially increased in sizo in all the mines, and the managers speak highly of the benefits now obtaining in pillar-extraction from tho formation of larger pillars in the first workings. Underground fires can bo better controlled within the limits of tho goaf, and more settled conditions prevail during the actual extraction of the pillars. In the Waikato district alone there are approximately 10,000,000 tons of coal standing on pillars—a quantity equal to seventeen years' output at the present rate of extraction. Much of the coal is liable to spontaneous combustion, especially where thore are tails, and the open workings are a menace to the safety of tho mines by reason of the fact that they provide reeessos for dust and gas accumulations. The problem in connection with the trcatmont of dangerous accumulations in old workings is being gradually overcome by scaling off tho disusod bord and heading roadway sections with brick stoppings at the entrances to the first workings, thus minimizing the risks attachable to gas and dust accumulations, and also preventing to a great extent, by the exclusion of oxygen, the self-heating of tho coal in abandoned workings. The practice of stono-d listing the accessible workings of tho mines, as a means of preventing fires and disastrous explosions, has been followed by tho managers of all the collieries in this district. In one colliery tho dust on 11,000 yards of roadways was sampled, tested, and treated. During- the year there has been considerable activity in mine-development and coal-prospecting. The Renown Colliery, formerly known as lletherington's Colliory, Waikokowai, is being equipped with modern machinery and developed to market its coal early in tho winter season. Several coal-prospecting liconsos have been granted in tho Tangarakau distriot, Taranaki, and operations to date have exposed a numbor of thin seams of brown coal accessible to tho railway by tramway connection. Hikurangi Goal Co., Ltd. (Shaft Colliery). —A noteworthy feature in connection with the operations of this mine for the past year is the remarkable recovery made both from a. mining and financial point of view. During the previous year the mine-workings were flooded for a period of five months, and the output in consequence was only 20,908 tons. For the past year the output was 87,005 tons, and tho overhead charges in connection with the operations of this large colliery would bo practically the same as tho previous year. During the year many additions to plant and buildings were made, notably a new electric generating unit and motor for a 9 in. pump, a main and tail-rope haulage plant for the west side, the extension of the surface endless-rope haulage system to connect with the loading-bank at the railway-sidings, a Keith and Rlackman ventilating-fan of a capacity of 50,000 cubic feet of air per minute, and an extension of tho bathhouse in order to provide additional bathing-accommodation for workmen. During the past six months the headings in McKenzie's dip section havo boon standing owing to the incidence of periodical water " bursts " from tho faults and to the inefficiency of the installed pumps. The headings of the western district have proved an area of 30 acres of workable coal of excellent quality, free from faults, and the seam is moderately inclined to the rise of the haulage system. All the working-places in the mine are systematically timbered with set supports to roof and covering laths. The dust on the roadways throughout the mino has been sampled and analysed, and the records of the results furnished evidence of naturally wet conditions. Several pillars in the west soction have been removed between two faults, and a crushing movement which settled on the small 30-ft.-square pillars was responsible for an increase in temperature to 80° wet and 81° dry in the return places. Pillars of 30 ft. square are totally inadequate in size for tho support of a roof aroa of 450 ft. at the point of extraction. Under the present management 50-ft.-square pillars havo been formed in the first workings to support the roof-cover where the workings are in close proximity to the base of the Hikurangi Mountain. Tho ventilation of the workings has boon remarkably improved during tho year, due to the largor fan and to the oxtension of the use of brick stoppings in crosscuts between intake and return. An average output of 400 tons per day has been maintained during the year. Wilson's Colliery, Hikurangi. —The main dip headings of the company's Waro Colliory have beon extended altogether one mile from the mine entrance, and have reached the boundary of the extensive Hikurangi Swamp. An inrush of water, estimated at 15,000 gallons per hour, caused the cessation of mining operations until such time as a more powerful pump could be obtained and installed at tho point of inflow. Much splitting of the seam by the occurrence of fireclay bands has boen encountered in the dip workings, and the workable thickness of coal has in oonsequence beon reduced to 5 ft. in the majority of the places. The pillars have been successfully extracted in the stone-drive soction, and the crushing movement has been confined to the limits of the goaf by the formation of larger pillars both in barriers and botween bords. Tho roadways are naturally wet throughout, with the exception of small stretches. Tho mine-dust has been sampled and tested on several occasions, and the results disclosed that the dust contained a large percentage of both moisture and ash. A marked decrease in tho average of temperature of the mine lias been recorded in all sections. Auxiliary fans havo been installed to ventilate the dip-developing places. A subsidiary cndless-ropo haulage plant, electrically driven, has beon installed to operate in the main dip and connect with the main haulage system. A new bathhouse, designed to provide twelve additional cabinets for showers has been constructed in concrete and is now in commission. Tho combined pumps are raising to the surface approximately 30,000 gallons of water per hour, and another steam boiler has boon installed on the surface for the purpose of augmenting tho supply of steam to the electric generators. Mino-development during the year has fallen short of supplying the usual number of places, due to the splitting of the scam and its displacement I>3' faults. Kerr and Co. (Phoenix Colliery). —Operations by tho co operative party during the year have been confined to tho removal of pillars in an area known locally as the Phunix section, to tho west of the Main North Road. This mine section was formerly worked by Moody and Co. about thirty years ago, and the workings at that time covored an area which has since beon acquired for the deviation of the Main North Road. Pillars of small dimensions, to a dopth of 30 ft. from the surface and to a distance of fully 20 chains along the line of road, were left in to support the road surface. None of the coal pillars under the road remaining from the previous working have been extracted by tho party. Kerr and Go. (Rocks Mine). —Two miners, by arrangement with Kerr and Co., wore engaged in working out sevoral abandoned coal pillars noar the outcrop, and 714 tons of coal was recovered by tho party. The output was convoyed by road to Hikurangi Railway-station, a distance of two miles. Silverdale Colliery (Foot's Grown Lease). — A new mine section conveniently situated to the County Road has been opened during the year. A coal-seam of 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness was reaehod at 70 ft. by a dip drive 1 in 3, and 2 ft. of fireclay is uplifted in tho main headings in order to provide passages for tho skips. A modified system of longwall working has been adopted to facilitate the extraction of the pillars, Large pillars are being formed in the
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first instance, and the headings are boing pushed ahead to the boundaries. The fireclay roof of the coal-seam has been safely supported with timber systematically spaced and set throughout the roadways. An average output of 20 tons per day is conveyed to the Hikurangi Railway-yards. Northern Go-operative Colliery (Cunningham's Crown Lease). —The available coal on this lease is almost exhausted , and thoro are only a few pillars of inferior coal near the entrance to tho drive remaining for extraction. Surface boreholes put down during the year have not revealed further areas of workable coal. Glen Nell Colliery (Crown Lease). —The seam is only 2 ft. 3 in. in thickness, and occurs at a shallow depth. It is overlain by a stony hard roof, which allords a safe cover for the workmen. Wide places are worked in reduction of the coal pillars, a few remaining for extraction. A new drive is projoeted for winning tho rise coal. Hillside Colliery (Cummings and Party). —A small colliery was opened up by a co-operative party on an isolated portion of the property of the Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., under contract and lease from the company. The area was much troubled by faults, and extraction of coal was confined to a rise area in close proximity to tho main-rise heading. Shallow boreholes are being put down by. the party on an adjacent property. The output is carted to Hikurangi Station, a distance of two miles.] Belton's Colliery (Freehold). —The mine is situated on freehold laud adjoining the Hikurangi Valley Road. Operations have been limited to the removal of a strip of coal abandoned by tho Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., some years ago. Pour miners have been employed during the year, and generally the mine has been well managed. The party operating the mine pa3 7 s a royalty of 3s. 3d. per ton to the owner of the freehold section, and the output of approximately 20 tons per day has been removed by means of motor-lorries over the Town Hoard's Valley Road to the Hikurangi Railway-yards. The road is in a bad state of repair, and neither the miners nor the owner contributes toward its v pkeep. Ruatangata Colliery (Freehold). —During the year mining operations were suspended for four months pending the settlement of a dispute between the owners and a co-operativo party in respect to the terms and boundaries of tho lease. A Sirocco fan electrically driven has been installed in the return-airway shaft, resulting in a marked improvement of the ventilation of tho mine-workings. A scam of fireclay 4 ft. in thickness has split the seam into two separate seams, 4 ft. and 7 ft. respectively, and it has been found more practicable to work off the top seam before oponing out extensively in the bottom seam. Harrison's Waro Colliery, Whangarei (Freehold). —This colliery was recently acquired by the British Standard Cement Co., Ltd. Boring operations have been conducted on the property in order to prove the oxistenco of tho seam eastward of the existing shafts. The branch railway to the mine, which has not been in use for several years, is being repaired and reconditioned for a train sorvice to the mine. New pumping machinery is being installed underground, and generally the mine-workings are being extended to produco sufficient fuel for tho company's cement-works when they are erected at Whangarei Heads. Ngnngaru Fireclay and Coal Co., Ltd. (Fireclay-mine, Kiripaka). —Tho company exposed an elevated outcrop of fireclay 10 ft. in thickness, intermixed with bands of stone and shale. A loading-bank for motor-lorries has been constructed in close proximity to the main county road within a quarter of a mile of Kiripaka Post-office. Tho fireclay is jigged down a steep surface tramway to the loading-bank. Three largo motor-lorries have been acquired for the purpose of convoying the output to Whangarei Harbour, a distance of ten miles. The clay is then shipped by sea to Auckland. Rotowaro Colliery. —The workings of tho company's three mine sections have been advanced, with encouraging results. In No. 1 mine section the pillars have been withdrawn, within tho limits of the sectional barriers, to the roadways of tho new engine section and the oast section. The main endless haulage-rope has been extended beyond the pillared sections, and two new bord sections have been opened out on the oast side of the mine. Several incipient fires have been detected and suppressed in their early stages, and the affected areas have been isolated by brick stoppings. A workable seam of coal has been proved by No. 3 dip heading to extend towaid the west of the proved troubled area. The available air-current is judiciously divided into four separate splits, thus onsuring a fresh supply of air to each working-section. An additional pumping unit has been installed in order to cope with the increasing inflow of winter months. Tho electric transmission-cables have been carried over tho surface to connect by boreholes at selected points with tho motors and other apparatus underground. Sampling and testing of the mine-dust has been conducted in accordance with the regulations, and the roadways have boen liberally treated with stono-dust, as evidenced by tho whiteness of the walls and by the recorded analyses. In No. 2 mine section the workings are confined to the lower seam. The soam is highly inclined, making the conditions rather difficult for faco-work. Contour headings have been driven to provide access to the rise pillar coal. Marked progress has been made in tho development of No. 3 mine (bottom seam). In addition to winning an output by machine mining, the main headings have advanced 20 chains through a disturbed seam containing numerous faults and drift stone. An extensive area of thick coal has beon proved ahead by boring, and the main headings should soon provide room for tho production of coal on a large scale. Surface developments in progress include the installation of another electrical generating unit, a 500 h.p. steam boiler, and reconditioned mine-workshops affording facilities for conducting all repairs to the plant and machinery. Pukemiro Collieries. —An output of 149,272 tons was obtained from two separate mine sections, named the north and south. In the north mine section the pillars are being successfully removed from throe branch sections. A high percentage of pillar coal is obtained by the method employed to remove the pillars. The roofs of the roadways surrounding the pillars are supported by additional rows of props set to prevent any roof-movement while the successive splits and slices are worked off tho pillars. When the supports are efficient it is often possible to remove entirely all the coal in tho pillar, and in coming back when the props are drawn off—a few at a time —much of the fallen top coal is recovered before the roof stono eventually falls. The driving of headings from the north-west section and from the Glen Afton side of the colliery to connect the brickyard soction is proceeding, both headings being driven through the stone underlying tho seam. In the south mine section the headings and bords of the first working of the seam are approaching the proved faults and boundaries. Tho pillars are intact and should be in a good state of preservation, as they have been enclosed within the rings of stoppings erected to seal off the panels of the first workings. The main south heading is standing on a fault of considerable displacement, and boreholes are being drilled from the surface at intervals to prove the depth of the disturbance of the strata. The roadways in both mines have been liberally treated with incombustible dust. The roadways and mine equipment have been maintained in good condition. The ventilation has been effective and adequate throughout the mine-workings. In the east section the seam was followed to the surface through an intervening gully to a higher outcrop, and preparations arc now being made to grade the roadway for endless-rope haulage. A total of 280 persons was employed in and about the colliery in connection with the operation of the mine. Out of that number coal-miners averaged 110, and tho daily average output of coal per miner was 0-9 tons. Glen Afton Collieries. —This well-established colliery produced an output of 170,254 tons during the year. Headings of considerable length have been driven ahead of bord requirements for the formation of panels and barriers, and mine-dcvelopemnt generally has been maintained in advance of possible output requirements. Eleven mine sections, known locally as A, B, C, D, E, F, Q, H, I, J, and X, have beon opened out, and six of the sections— namely, A, E, F, I, J, and- X—areK —are producing coal in required quantities. Tho other sections have been sealed off by stoppings at the entrances in order to isolate the old workings, and to arrest the loss of carbon by oxidation, which is considerable in mines of variable temperatures. The most important developments comprise the recovery of the seam through the 70 ft. upthrow fault, the formation of -new bord sections beyond the fault-line, and the extension of the subsidiary haulage plant in E section to the inbye connected H section. A section continues to produce a high percentage of pillar coal under excellent pillaring conditions. The main headings in E section have reached the line of the thin coal area which is converging toward the workings of II section. The average temperature of the mine as recorded by hygrometric observations is 64° wet bulb, 66° dry bulb. A
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feature of this colliery is the absence of mi no-water in a number of the sections driven some distance to the dip under a roof-cover of 400 ft. of limestone, and apparently the seam does not contain any moisture other than that which is combined in tho coal. To provide adequate security against the dangers from dust accumulations, all accessible open roads have been efficiently stone-dusted and maintained with incombustible dust up to the standard required by the regulations. Sovoral boreholes have been put down during the year, and attention is being given to tho advisability of providing a third escape at a selected point of the workings. Preparations are being mado to install an additional generator for the production of electricity in order to satisfy the. increased mino demand for power. Graham's Colliery (Go-operative Party). —Operations during the year have been confined to pillar-extraction, and the workings have been maintained in good order. Two jigs, one on the surface and another in the mine, are properly equipped and in good running-order. A new return airway has been driven parallel to tho horse haulageroad. A connection to the east side outcrop has been made by way of the main heading, which has followed the dipping floor to the outlet. Nineteen men are employed for an output of 60 tons per day. Pukemiro Junction Colliery (Grown Lease : Co-operative Party). —This colliery is being worked in two sections In No. mine section a high percentage of the available coal is being won from the pillars noar tho outcrop. The dust on tho roadways has been frequently treated with ground limestone. The bords in No. 2 mine section have reached the boundary, and preparations aro being made to extract the pillars. Eighteen men are -ordinarily employed, and the output averages 50 tons per day. Waipa Colliery. —This well-known colliery, situated at Glen Massey, and connected to the Government railway at Ngaruawahia by seven miles of branch railway, continues to maintain its average output. There are three working-sections branching off from the terminus of the main endless-rope haulage-road. In No. 1 section, while a line of pillars contiguous to a fault was being removed, a crushing movement, influenced by ,tho break in the roof-cover at tho fault, settlod over Kelly's dip section and crushed the roadways to the extent of blocking the passages to the pillar area. The area was subsequently sealed off pending the , construction of other approaches to the dip. In No. 3 section, through tho fault, tho coal-seam averages a thickness of 11 ft. and is on an almost level floor. The main dip heading has not beon actively worked during tho year; its direction has been turned to an angle of 30° to the east in order to escape the thinning of the seam proved on the wost side. Extensive alterations havo been made in connection with tho electrical installation. The cables have been carried over the surfaco on poles to the farthest point of tho underground workings, and an armoured cable has been let down the return shaft to connect with the system underground. A subsidiary haulage plant (electrically driven) has been installed to more advantageously cope with the output from the main dip section. The mine-dust has been efficiently sampled and tested, and the roadways replenished with approved stone-dust. Waikato Extended Colliery. — During the year operations in this colliery have been confined to the extraction of the remaining pillars. A second escape drive has been constructed near to the rise of the present workings. The coal-dust has been sampled and tested. The company has recently acquired, by lease from the Taupiri Mines, Ltd., tho right to mine the remaining coal in the Old Waikato Mine, abandoned by the company during the year 1906. The output of 10,000 tons was conveyed by several river-steamers to Hamilton, Cambridge, and to the Waikato Heads, where the coal is in use for bunkering the Northern Steam Shipping Co.'s west-coast steamers. Huntly Brickworks. —Tho opencast quarry of fireclay is situated within the boundaries of Huntly Town District. An output of 50 tons of fireclay is mined daily, and manufactured into bricks and tiles. Operations have been safely conducted during the year. Taupiri East Colliery (Auckland University Council Endowment Lease). —This small colliery is openod out in the vicinity of tho south shore of the Kimihia Lake. A drive has been driven to reach a block of riso coal to tho south of the old mine dip. Tho coal-soam is much broken by outcrop intrusions of ash and surface clay. The output is carried by motor-lorry to Huntly Station, a distance of three milos. Campbell Colliery, Whatawhala (Grown Lease). —Tho main heading has been advanced about 4 chains in a westerly direction, and a short rise heading affords means of access to a block of coal which can be opencast mined in a gully. Preparations are being made to extend the workings to tho dip, where machinery will be required for water-drainage. Tho output is conveyed over the County Road by motor-lorries to Hamilton, a distance of eleven miles. Renown Colliery, Waikokowai. —During the year sixty to seventy men havo been omployed in development work, and excellent progress has recently been made with the construction of tho company's endless-rope haulage tramway to Rotowaro, and the opening-up of the extensive coal-soam. Tho sidings for the screens, taken off the main railway at Rotowaro, are almost completed. The formation work in connection with the two miles and a half of surfaco tramway is almost completed. The permanent rails have been laid down over two milos of tho track. One viaduct, 10 chains in length by 40 ft. high at the highest point, has been completed, and two others in closo proximity to the mine are in process of erection. Four tunnels —4, 6, 7, and 8 chains in length respectively—have been driven through spurs in the hills. Sixty acres of land have been surveyed into sections and sot aside as sites for workmen's cottages. From a point 6 chains from the mine-entrance, where the coal-seam was intersected, six headings havo been turned off the main drive— two in an easterly direction, two in continuation of tho main haulage-road, and two westerly for the purpose of affording means for ventilation. One-and-a-half chain pillars have been, formed between the respective headings, and the hoadings do not exceed 10 ft. in width. The requisite machinery for operating the mine and tramway has arrived at the mine and is being rapidly assembled in ordor to onablo the management to place the output on the market at an early date. Old, Stockman Mine, Mokau. —An output of 520 tons of coal has beon produced during the year and conveyed thirty miles down the Mokau River by motor-launches. The output is nocossarily limited by the depth of water in the rivcr-channol, which is seasonally obstructed by snags and overgrown willows. - Fougere's Goal-mine, Talu. —Prospecting operations have been conducted by a party working co-operatively on Section 4, Block IV, Pouatu Survey District. There is a clearly exposed coal-seam of 2 ft. 6 in. outcropping between beds of sandstone. Owing to the configuration of the surrounding hills and thickness of roof-cover, the continuity of the seams can only be ascertained by means of driving from the outcrop. The outcrop lies at a distance of eleven milos by road from Tahora, the terminus of the Government railway. Operations to date have been confined to tho construction of 10 chains of aerial tramway from the outcrop to the County Road. Tangarakau Colliery (Grown Area). —The colliery is situated approximately three miles north of Tahora. Operations have been conducted on a Crown lease of 11 acres granted to the Public Works Department, which Department later transferred its right to a syndicate comprising William Shanks and several business men of Stratford. The syndicate has also obtained the coal rights over 300 acres of Crown lands surrounding the Public Works area. The exposed coal-scam does not vary in thickness to any marked extent. It is 5 ft. in thickness, measuring from tho sandstone roof to the fireclay floor, but contains a band of 6 in. of shaly unmarketable coal occurring about I ft. from the floor of the seam. Tho Tangarakau Gorge is the natural outlet for the coal in this district, and access could be obtained by the construction of three miles of tramway from tho terminus of the Public Works Department's tramway at Tangarakau. Developments consist of an aerial ropeway over tho Tangarakau River, a 130 ft. span of travelling overbridgo constructed over the rivor, and two headings driven 110 ft. northward under the sandstone cover. Several buildings have been erected to accommodate the workmen. The output is conveyed by road to Tahora, from whence it is railed five miles to the Public Works Department's power-station at Tangarakau.
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Power Coal-mine, Ohura.- —Tho mine is situated on Section 1, Block IV, Crown area, Waro Survey District, five miles by road eastward of Ohura Township. A coal-seam 3 ft. 3 in. in thickness has been exposed at the base of a precipitous hill in close proximity to the County Road. The seam is overlain by a mass of hard sandstone, and tho gradient of tho soam is inclined to tho rise of the hill. A pair of prospeeting-headings has been driven into the coal-seam in order to prospect the area, which is held by prospecting license. Development consists of the erection of several huts for workmen, affording good accommodation, and the construction of an access bridge across the stream. A caterpillar tractor, together with three caterpillarfitting wagons, has been purchased for the purpose of conveying the output to Ohura. The tractor is capable of removing 18 to 20 tons of coal from the mine to Ohura in one load at a speed of four miles per hour. It has been demonstrated that the tractor does' not damage roads —in fact, it has been proved that its tread is beneficial to unmetalled road-surfaces. Accidents. No fatal accidents occurred in the underground workings of the Northern District mines during the year under review. On the 21st October, 1927, an unfortunate accident occurred on the railway-siding of tho Rotowaro Colliery slack-dump, whereby Alexander Henderson, thirty-nine years of age, was fatally injured by being crushed between two railway-wagons. The deceased was pushing a wagon with four other men on a down grade of 1 in 70, when another wagon, presumably unbraked, moved downward and crushed him between the buffers of the moving wagons. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. .' On the Bth March Thomas W. Lees, a miner employed at Waipa Colliery, sustained injuries to his chest and ribs, caused by a fall of roof-coal. Lees is still off work. On the 14th April a miner, Henry Baldwin, employed at Glen Afton Colliery, received an injury to his left eye, which subsequently became septic and impaired the vision. Baldwin was incapacitated seventy-five days. On the 27th April William Byers, a miner employed at Waipa Colliery, was injured in an accident, caused by a fall of roof coal and stone. Byers was off work 111 days. On the 12th May Thomas E. Cooke, a miner employed at Wilson's Colliery, sustained a fractured wrist, caused by a piece of timber falling from a skip. Cooke was incapacitated seventy-four days. On the Ist July Nicholas Bossad, a trucker employed at Rotowaro Colliery, received serious injury to his right hand whilst engaged in rerailing an overturned skip. Bossad was off work eighty-four days. On the 28th July William Clare, deputy shot-firer employed at Pukemiro Junction Colliery, sustained a fractured tibia, due to a skip running over the rail-end on to his leg. Clare was off work 140 days. On the 27th September Harold Astbury, miner, working at Rotowaro Colliory, sustained a fracture of the right collarbone, due to being struck with a piece of timber. Duration of disablement, seventy-four days. On the 17th November a serious accident occurred at Waipa Collieries Co., Ltd., branch railway, whereby two surfacemen, J. Hill and H. Herbert, sustained fractures of the right and left legs respectively. A trolly on which the injured men were riding collided with a stationary trolly which had preceded them by a few minutes, and both men were thrown over a viaduct by the force of the collision. On the 24th November Frederick Wilkinson, age sixteen years, sustained a fractured leg whilst working at the boring-machine on the surface at Rotowaro Colliery. Wilkinson is still off work. Prosecutions. On the 12th August three miners were convicted and fined £5, £2 10s., and £2 10s. respectively, and costs, for failing to bring out of the mine the explosives remaining in their possession at the end of the shift. Dangerous Occurrences. (Regulation 82.) On the 18th June the manager of the Glen Afton Collieries reported indications of heating in the goaf in A pillar section. The heating was subsequently suppressed by the erection of brick stoppings. On the 6th December the manager of Wilson's Colliery reported a fire at the top of the air-shaft. The fire was subsequently extinguished by water. < WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (Mr. O. J. Davis, Inspector). During 1927 the coal-output for the combined Nelson, Bullor, Reefton, and Grey districts was 1,156,191 ton ß or an increase of 34,015 tons. The output from the Nelson District increased by 2,353 tons ; Buller decreased by 9,482 tons; Reefton increased by 197 tons; and Groy increased by 40,947 tons. The total number of men employed during the year was 2,935, being an increase of 155 over the year 1926. Buller District. Denniston Colliery. — Coalbrookdale Mine. —ln Birchall's section operations consist of pillar-extraction within the panels and splitting up the barrier-pillars at the inbye end to allow of extraction. The coal has thinned to an unworkable thickness. Seven pairs of miners employed here. In Mcllwain's section the main headings are still proceeding westerly in good coal. Panel headings are being driven to win places. Seam is over 15 ft. thick, of which the bottom 8 ft. is being worked in development. Thirteen pairs of miners are employed here. In Waterloo section a new haulage-road has been made, with good results from a haulage point of view. The undulating strata has forced the management to use power to haul the coal from the dip folds. The coal is of good quality and of great thickness. About 8 ft. is worked off the floor during development. In the Extended dip section operations consist chiefly of pillar-extraction and the development of a small block of coal on tho south-western side of the rope-road. In the Big Pillar section operations consist of pillar-extraction. No trouble has been experienced with the fire during the year. In the No. 8 Cascade operations consist solely of the extraction of pillars. At this mine stone-dusting is being carried on. Denniston Colliery. — lronbridge Mine. —This mine includes Deep Creek, which consists of small isolated blocks or areas of coal near the surface of the hill. The bulk of the output is still being produced from the older parts of the mine, comprising Kruger's section, Kiwi section, and No. 1 Pillar section; also from a reopened section known as Young's section. Good results are being obtained from the straight-line pillar method in extraction. Power haulage is being installed here and there .to eliminate horso haulage. The mine has been free from fires during the year. Stone-dusting is being carried on. Millerton Colliery. —No extensive development work has been done during the year. The big fire has been giving the management much concern, and a number of men are employod constantly controlling it by sandfilling cracks, playing water on it, and erecting numerous heavy stoppings to prevent it spreading. Evans Daylight section; Evans section; Nos. 1 and 2 dip sections were lost on account of the big fire. These sections are sealed off from the workable parts of the mine. In the north-east, No. 2 west, 3rd west, and 4th west sections operations consist of extracting pillars and driving through old bords and pillars to reach the inbye end of areas of pillars with a view to their extraction. In the sth west, 6th west, and 2nd Mangatina
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sections operations fare confined to exploiting small areas of coal existing under ridges and small knobs. In the Mangatina section arrangements are well in hand for the driving of headings in the bottom coal to reach some pillars which were left behind in a former working. In February Manager Pearson, Underviewer Maher, and Deputies Ford and Cowan lost their lives while engaged in exploratory work in the No. 1 dip section of tho Mine Creek mine of this colliery. The intention was to prove whether the No. 1 dip haulage-road could bo recovered for future haulage purposos. Stockton Colliery. —Operations consist of the development of the Fly Creek area, which has so far been proved to contain a great thickness of coal of fair quality, and finding a ready sale. The panel system of working is being adhered to. The seam is a very wet one. A new loco, road is being constructed to facilitate haulage of coal. The workmen will also travel by loco., and walking-time, therefore, will be considerably reduced, and more time allowed at the coal-face. The old mine will soon be finished, on account of having to leave enough pillars to protect the main loco.-road. Westport Main Colliery. —This small mine adjoins the Millerton Colliery. Operations consist of driving headings in a north-easterly direction. As much of the scam has very little overburden, a goodly portion is won by the opencast method. About forty men are employed. Transportation is by gravity-incline haulage. Clydevale Colliery. —During the early part of tho year prospecting operations revealed a fair-quality coal, about 6 ft. thick, under a narrow ridge. The main heading was driven to this area and development work started. Towards the latter part of the year an output of 40 tons daily was being obtained. Prospecting operations may possibly reveal a fair aroa of coal in unbroken country ahead. Cardiff Bridge Mine. —The output of this mine is conveyed by fluming, and is now approximately 120 tons per day. In two places of this mine the coal is got by the miners and transported entirely by water, thus doing away with filling and trucking. No solid coal remains to be worked, and the output is derived from pillars. Close supervision has prevented any outbreak of fire this year. Old Cardiff Mine (Dove's). —The output is derived from pillar-extraction in the old aroa and from an area of solid coal on the south side of the mine. The fire is still active and causing much concern. The output is about 120 tons daily. Chester and Party's Mine. —Work has continued steadily on. a small scale throughout the yoar. The seam is very thin and stony; three men are employod. Goal Greek Mine, Upper Mokihinui. —Prospecting operations having proved successful, the party, working on the co-operative principle, arc developing a seam of coal which finds a ready sale. Five men are employed. Celtic Mine. —Stony bands and local faults disturb the seam, which is very friable and dirty. Three men are employed. The output is about 0 tons daily. Glasgow Co-operative Party's Mine. —This area adjoins the old State mine on the north-eastern boundary. A boiler and winch having been procured, work has been confined during the year to developing the area to the dip. Five places are being worked. Faults to the rise prevented further progress, but it is proposed to prove the fault at a later date. The coal finds a ready sale to the Railway Department. Quinn, and Party's Mine, Mokihinui. —The output is about 5 tons daily. Three men are employed. The seam is very thin, with stony bands. Glen Lea Mine (Black and Party), Seddonville. —Operations have been confined to driving through old workings to reach a small block of coal which is supposed to exist inbye. Financial difficulties caused a suspension of operations during tho latter part of the year. Bennett's Mine, Upper Mokihinui. —Operations in the early part of the year were susponded on account of an influx of water in the dip workings. New pumping-gear was procured, the dip unwatered, and work commenced driving on tho seam to win places. The coal is transported by flume to the rail-head. Westport-Mokihinui Mine. —The seam is of variable thickness and quality. About nine men are employed. Tho output is delivered by flume to bins at railway. Westport-Cascade Mine. —Seventeen men are employed. The output is about 60 tons daily, and is transported to railway by a fluming seven miles and a half long. The seam is a continuation of the Denniston seam, and abuts against the Mount William fault, along the Cascade Creek. Charming Creek Mine. —During the year operations have been confined to the construction of a light railway, five miles long, to Ngakawau. The haulage-tunnel to reach the seam is being driven in a north-easterly direction. Huts for the workmen have been built, also a blacksmith's shop. It is expected to reach the seam about the middle of the year. Rocklands Mine, Buller Gorge. —Two men are employed. The seam is over 20 ft. in thickness. Trade is poor and transportation difficult. Very little work was done during the year. Whiiecliffs Mine, Buller Gorge. —Two men are employed. The seam is about 18 ft. thick. Very little work was done during the yoar. Grey District. Liverpool State Colliery. —No. 1 Top mine : During the year operations have been confined to extraction of pillars on the east side and the exploitation of a small block of coal on the west side. The Morgan seam was exhausted about the middle of the year. No. 2 mine : The development of the Morgan and Kimboll seams has shown a clearly defined fault to exist on the west side. On the east side the seam is developing normally. To the rise in tho Kimbell seam stony bands caused a thinning of the coal. As the mine is worked on the semi-panel system, arrangements have been made to extract the pillars in each panel as the panel-headings reach the barrier. The mine is being thoroughly stone-dusted. A new boiler has been installed and improvements made at the ventilating-fan to ensure a good supply of air to meet all requirements. Spark and Party's Co-operative Mine. —Further driving on the seam had to be abandoned on account of dirt and stony bands. The pillars are being extracted preliminary to the exploitation of an area of coal to the dip. Duggan and Party's Co-operative Mine. —Operations are confined to pillar-extraction in the upper seam ; it is proposed to open up the lower seam afterwards. O'Brien and Party's (Old Runanga) Mine (Co-operative). —Operations consist of driving on an area of coal on the western side of the old Bins Extended Mine of the Liverpool Colliery, and the extraction of a few pillars left behind in the old mine. Moody Creek Co-operative Mine. —This mine is nearly exhausted, and the party is prospecting an area of country on the north-eastern side. Guy and Party's (New Point Elizabeth) Co-operative Mine. —Work consists of driving level-headings on a seam of coal on the western side of the Seven-mile Creek. This seam is a continuation of the seam worked in the Point Elizabeth State Mines at Dunollie. Baddeley and Party's Go-operative Mine. —Faults having cut off the seam, operations now consist of pillarextraction. Nine men are employed. OastlecliJ Mine (Co-operative). —Operations consist of driving level and incline headings in an area of coal on the western side of the Seven-mile Creek, near the State Mine office. The seam is about 7 ft. thick, and nine men are employed. Armstrong and Party's Co-operative Mine. —This mine will soon be exhausted. Work is confined to extraction of the few remaining pillars. Hunter and Party's Co-operative Mine. —The pillars in the old area having been exhausted, work is now proceeding driving along the side of the old No. 2 dip boundary pillar with a view to its extraction. Work will then be put in hand to drive a dip-haulage to tho bottom seam.
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Boote and Party's Go-operative Mine (Brae Head). —Owing to stony bands in the coal causing a thinning, work was commenced on the extraction of the pillars. A new haulage-tunnel is to be driven at a lowor level to-work an area of coal on the dip side. Smith and Party's Co-operative Mine. —Work is confined to the extraction of pillars to the rise of the horse level. On completion it is proposed to exploit a block of coal on the dip side. Manierson and Parly's Co-operative Mine. —Operations consist of driving places on tho west side of the dip haulage with a view of working a few small pillars known to exist in the upper seam. Tho pillars on the east side have been exhausted. Scott and Party's Co-operative Mine. —The seam of coal worked was of such poor quality that it could not be sold at a profit, and tho mine was closed down towards the end of the year. Wafer's (Te Miko) Mine. —The seam worked is about 3 ft. thick, and of fair quality. Three men are employed. Coal-seams are known to underlie the one at present being worked, and an area has been taken up under prospecting license. Marshall's Mine (Co-operative). —An area of thin coal, about 3 ft. thick, is being worked in Scliultz Creek. Three men are employed. Dennehy's Mine (Schultz Creek). —Two men are employed on a seam about 3 ft. thick. An outcrop of coal, about 17 ft. thick, is showing in a creek about 20 chains away on the eastern side. Briandate Mine. —Operations consist of driving level and incline headings in a seam of good coal on the northern side of tho Ten-mile Creek. Tho scam is vory undulating, and the inclination steep in parts. The coal is very hard. New Grey Point Elizabeth Mine (Co-operative). —A small area of coal, which cannot very well be worked from the James mine, has beon leased to a co-operative party. The seam is about 6 ft. thick. Levels are being driven on the seam to win places. Cain's Mine. —A small area of coal is being worked on the western side of the James mine. Two men are employed. James Slate Mine. —The main headings have only about 3 more chains to go to reach the outcrop. Panels arte being opened up off these headings. On the outbye side tho pillars are being extracted in the outcrop and dip sections. Arrangements are under way to install a coal-cutting machine. Electrical plant is to be installed, and the steam plant scrapped. Dobson Mine. —After the disastrous explosion of December, 1926, the mine was flooded and remained so for some time. The mino was dewatered during April and May, and the bodies of the entombed miners recovered by the 18th May, after which some weeks were occupied in putting the mine in working-order, and it was not until the 30th Juno that coal-production was resumed. The workings are being stone-dusted throughout, and the ventilation has been greatly improved. The levels and headmgs in the mine, which is being laid out on the, panel system, are being driven to win places. The general condition of the workings is vory good. Very little water is making in the seam, and the main pump only works part-time. A coal-cutting machine, driven by compressed air, is being installed. Wallsend Mine. —Operations during the year have consisted of dowatering tho main dip. Arrangements are now under way to fully equip and develop the property. Allan and, Parly's Co-operative Mine. —A party of miners have obtained the right from the owners of the Brunncr lease to work a piece of coal supposed to have been left behind when the Coolgardie section of the Brunner Mine was abandoned. The coal is very much crushed and does not find a ready market. Blackball Mine. —During the year operations have been confined to developing the solid coal to the dip in No. 9 and on the east and west sides of No. 9, and the splitting and robbing of pillars inNos. 2 and 3 levels. Blackdamp outbursts and blowers have been giving a lot of trouble, and the management is having difficulty in keeping the ventilation up to the required standard. The new electrical plant is in operation, and as a result the management can easily deal with the inflow of water. A new and up-to-date bathhouse has been constructed and is now in use. Paparoa Mine. —During the year work has been confined to the extraction of pillars and the pushing-ahead of a level on the western side to reach an area of good coal which is known to exist across the creek. The pillars in this mine are very much crushed, due to the overburden and the tender nature of the coal. • ' Inangahua District. Osborn's Mine. —This is a small area of coal, about nine miles from Reefton, near Merrijigs. Two men are employod, and the seam is about 3 ft. thick. Clele Mine. —The workings in this mine are nearing exhaustion, and it is proposed to develop known areas of coal on the eastern side. Tho seam is about 6 ft. thick and of fair quality. Eight men are employed. The coal is transported by flume and tram to the Reefton-Groymouth Railway at Taipoiti. Phoenix and Venus Mine. —Small quantites of coal are being produced from an area of coal on the dip side of the fire area. McLaughlin's Mine. —A small area of coal-bearing country adjoining the Caliope area is being worked on a small scale by two miners. The coal is sold locally. Reddale Coal-mine. —This mine is being worked by a company which has acquired rights over areas on which have been worked the Empire, Lishman's, and Woodlands mines. This mine will work all the areas. A haulage drive is being driven to prove the seam to the dip. The coal is of fair quality. During the year much trouble has been experienced through fires, caused by spontaneous combustion, in the old~workings to the rise. These were temporarily sealed, off, and the work of constructing heavy stoppings is now in progress. This mine has suffered from lack of orders for coal. Reefton Coal Company's Mine. —During the year work has been confined to developing the area on both sides, of the main dip haulage., The main dip heading has not been extended during the year owing to tho present plant being unable to cope with the water and provide extra power for driving the dip heading. A small area to the riseis being worked by a co-operative party of miners. ... , Morrisvale Mine. —During the year a party of men were employed to drive through the fault to prospect the country beyond. This area is on the dip side of the fire area. Matchless Syndicate's Mine,- —This small mine is on an area of coal - bearing land owned by W. J. Morris. The land is leased to a party of miners. The seam is about 10 ft. thick. Operations are confined to extraction of pillars. Perfection Syndicate's Mine. — This mine is on a small area of coal-bearing land leased to a party of minors by W. J. Morris. The seam is about 10 ft. thick. The pillars are being extracted on the rise side of the old level, and a new tunnel is being driven on the seam at a lower lovel. Waitahu Mine. —This mine has worked very bad time during the year! Work consists of driving places in the outcropping seam to the rise. No development work has been done in the main part of the mine. Lack of capital and heavy transportation costs prevent successful working. . Archer's. Mine.—This mine has worked very steadily during the year, producing a good-quality coal. The seam is. about 8 ft. thick and pitching steeply. The seam being worked is known as the No. 2 seam of this district. Five men are employed, and the output is delivered by motor-lorry to Reefton Railway-station. '..c.:Q.oghlqn's Mine.— The_ jgJUars. t0.,-th.e-rise, of the main level having been, extracted, a level is now'being driven through the fault to prove the country beyond. Oh the north-eastern side a party of met) are driving places,.on an outcrop and producing good-quality coal. The seam is about 8 ft. thick. The coaFis transported by motor-lorry. Doran's Mine. —One man is employed winning coal from a small area hear Coghlan's mine. The seam is about 0 ft. thick, and of good quality.
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Nelson District. O'Rourke's Mine, Murchison. —Operations consist of working a highly inclined seam, 2 ft. thick, by driving a level in the seam and working the coal to the rise on a wido face. Props are set at suitable intervals. Broxbourne Mine. —This is a small mine on freehold property at Motupipi. The output is usod principally to burn lime, and a small quantity is sold in winter. The seam is about 0 ft. thick, highly inclined, and of fair quality. Stone's Mine, Takaka. —This is a small mine on freehold property. Tho seam is about 3 ft. thick, and of fair quality. A fair demand exists for this coal in winter. Marble Creek Mine was oponed for a few weeks during tho year to win a few tons of coal as a samplo order. The seam is very highly inclined and the coal is of fair quality. North Cape Mine. —During the yoar the shuit mine was closed down. Arrangements were then mado to roopen tho old mino with a view to extending the dip drive to tap tho seam on the downthrow side of the fault. Two places are being worked in the thin coal on tho eastern side. Puponga Mine. —ln the new section tho seam thickons as it goos west, being about 7 ft. thick at the faeo of the level. On the eastern side the seam thinned to such an extent as to make it too expensive to work. The coal is of good quality. In the old mino one place is being worked, but the coal is very mushy and only fit for boiler-firing. Fatal Accidents. Sovon workmen were fatally injured whilst employed in or about tho coal-mines of tho West Coast Inspection District during tho year —one by falling off a bridge, four asphyxiated by noxious gases, one by fall of roof, and one by a haulage-rope breaking. On the 4th February a miner named Jesso Baddeley met his death by falling off a bridge across tho Soven-milo Creek at Dunollio. The bridge was being reconstructed for coal-haulage purposes by tho co-operative party of which deceased was a member. On the sth February Manager Pearson, Underviewer Maher, and Deputies Cowan and Ford, of the Millorton Colliery were ovorcome by poisonous gases whilst ongagod in exploratory work in the fire area. Proto apparatus was used on this occasion, and was found on examination to be in good order and condition. On the 9th October Duncan Tonnant, undorviewer in the Blackball Mine, was fatally injured as the result of tho roof caving in whilst he was on his rounds of inspection in the No. 2 dip soction. On 23rd December Carl Roskvist, employed at the Westportmain Mine, was killed by being caught by the haulage-rope on the main haulage incline. BBBIOTO Non-fatal Accidents. On tho 21st January Story Worgan, employed in the Denniston Mine, received a fracture of tho left leg as the result of going under a piece of bad roof-stone to tamp a shot-hole. The injured man had unsuccessfully tried to pull down the stone and an attempt was being made to shoot it down. On the 17th February a boy named Joshua Oldham recoived injuries through his clothing becoming ontangled in the shafting of a conveyer, whilst employed on the screens at Donniston Colliery. On the 10th March a miner named John Smith was burned by an ignition of firedamp in the stable section of the Liverpool Colliery. The place had been examined by tho doputy and found clear of gas prior to the mine commencing work. When Smith entered the place later on his naked light came in contact with an accumulation of gas, with the above results. On tho 29th April H. McLeod, employod in the Denniston Mine, received a simple fracture of the left leg through a beam of timber falling on him whilst he was engaged with others in moving the timber into position for a terminal wheel. On the 4th May David Murray, a miner employed in tho Millerton Mine, received a fractured leg, caused by a piece of coal falling from the rib of an old roadway, where he had gone to get some tools. On the 20th June G. Lang, a miner, was riding in tho workmen's train at the Stockton Mine, when one of the trucks became derailed. Lang jumped out of the truck, fell, and fractured his arm. On the 21st June T. Grcon, a miner, employed in the Paparoa Mino, was engaged at the working-face, when a piece of coal came away and fractured his leg. On the 28th July Harry Wiseman, employed in the Denniston Mine, was twisting a truck on a flat-shoet, when he fractured his right arm. On the 14th September Alex. Black was splitting a piece of wood with an axe, when he chopped off the index finger of the left hand at the middle joint. On the 24th October Alfred Hill, manager of Hunter and Party's Mine, was attending to a pump, when the universal joint caught tho safety-lamp and swung it against his face with such force as to cause fracture of the cheek-bone. 'On the 23rd November John Morgan was operating a gravity incline in the Donniston Mine, when the race became unmanageable. In trying to jam on the brakes he hung on too long, and the result was that tho empty truck fractured his right leg. On the 9th December James Berry, a miner employed in the Millerton Mine, was engaged at the coal-face, when some false roof over tho coal came away and knocked the shovel against his body, causing serious injury to the groin and abdomen. The place was well timbered. Tho false roof was over a pillar-stump. Dangerous Occurrences under Regulation 82. On the 30th July a small fire broke out in the goaf area at the Reddale Mine. The area was sealed off from the other workings and got well under control. On the 27th October spontaneous heating was reported as taking place in 3rd west clip pillars of Millerton Colliery. Tho area was sealed off and kept under control. Prosecutions. On tho 12th September the mining manager and the mine-manager of a mino were convicted and each fined £5 and costs for failing to produce in such mine, at a time when there were persons thorein, an adequate amount of ventilation to dilute and render harmless noxious gases to such an extent that all roads, levels, and workings were in a fit state for working and passing therein, as is required by section 91 (1) and (2) of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (Mr. Georoe Duggan, Inspector). COAL-OUTPUT. . During 1927 the total output of coal from Canterbury, Otago, and Southland—4o3,ol9 tons —again showed a decrease, being 955 tons less than that of 1920. The Nightcaps and Ohai Mines produced 240,078 tons, as compared with 200,402 tons, an. increase of 40,270 tons for the year. The Shag Point Coal-mining Co. produced 27,808 tons, an increase of 9,703 tons over their 1920 output. Southland produced 36,106 tons more than the previous year, but South Otago shows a decrease of 45,184 tons, partly due to the Kaitangata Nos. I and 2 and the Castle Hill Mines being idle For lour months. The old English
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company being unable to continue producing, a new company was floated locally, and it commenced operations in April. It is pleasing to report that again the mines have been practically free from stoppage through labour troubles during the year. Mount Torlesse Mine. —Tho number of men employed at this mine being much less than formerly, and the output consequently less, a second-class certificated manager is now in charge instead of a first-class one. The back heading dip, which was stopped about a year ago, recently was extended 30 yards. As the seam was found to be pitching steeply this dip was again stopped. A rise connection was made in the main dip to the seam above. A place—broken away to the west off the back heading dip—was only driven 5 yards, as the 4 ft. seam was found to bo dipping very steeply there also. At tho face a borehole was put up, and this proved the upper seam to be. at least 6 ft. thick, with about 4 ft. of stone between the seams. An endeavour may be made to work this small area of the upper seam to the west. On the east side a couple of pillars were extracted, but as no work is now being done in that locality stoppings were put in to seal off this pillared area. There is about six months' work for two pairs of miners in the remaining east-side pillars. Austin's Claystone Mine, Sheffield. —Another level was driven to the north, but when 47 yards in the fireclay pinched out, so pillaring will soon be resumed on tho south side. About another year's pillar-work remains to be done. Springfield Mine.— Towards the end of the year a fow tons were won from the remaining coal near the surface. Homebush Mine. —The coal in the main dip and in the lower north levels becoming very inferior m quality, these places wero stopped. From near the face of the dip a place has beon driven to the south and it is now in ovor a chain, with about a couple of chains farther to go. Higher up the dip tho levels to the south cannot be driven as far. Only a small triangular aroa of solid work remains to be done ; then they will commence to extract the available pillars, which cover a little over an acre in extent. In the fireclay-mino a new dip was driven from the surfaco for 130 ft. at a grade of lin 3. The seam of fireclay then flattened, so, as an extension, a level is now being driven from the bottom of the (lip. Bush Gully Mine.— The pillars have all been extracted from the thin seam worked during 1926. They are now working another thin seam 70 ft. below the exhausted one. Three levels have been driven, the lowest one being 3-J chains in. Near tho surface this seam was 2 ft. Sin. thick, but it has thinned to 2 ft. 2 in. and contains a 2 in. band of soft stone. St. Helen* (Whitecliffs) Mine.—Only small stumps of pillars, left from former workings, were proved by the new dip drive, and these are now being won. Another endeavour will soon be made to prove if workable coal exists to the west. Steventon Valley Mine. —A new dip is being driven, at a grade of lin4, on the east side the fault. It has connected with a return airway near the fault. The dip is now down about 5 chains. The coal at the face is 7 ft. thick, with 2 ft. of stone above, then another 5 ft. of coal. The fault having veered to the west, a place has been broken away off the dip on that side. On tho east side the bottom level met a large roll when 2 chains in. It is intended to drive through this roll later on. West of the fault a prospect shaft was sunk 24 ft. down from the surface, but no coal was proven there, so the fault appears to be a large one. _ . Olearview Mine. —There still remains a little solid work to be done m splitting a large pillar to the rise and outbye from the fault. No attempt has yet been made to work the dip coal. Tripp's Mine. —Early in the year, when coming back with the tops along the main haulage-road a small section of unworked coal was found above and extended to the west. This coal soon became dirty, so the few pillars which had been formed were brought back. The tops along the main haulage-road are also nearly finished. The area beyond the opencast section proved to be a very small one remaining from old workings. A fow small lifts and somo tops are now being won from there. The miners are considering getting a small boiler, pump, and haulage-engine to continue driving the dip south of their present workings, which was stopped about two years ago. _ , , ... Burnwell Mine.— There was no output during the year from this mine. A lease, to work the silica sand, has been granted on part of this area to the Southern Cross Glass Co. of New Zealand, Ltd. Albury Mine.— Early in the year the fire at this coal-pit was checked, but it again broke out in September on the face nearest to the traffic road. lt was decided that the only means of combating it would be to flood the opencast area. The low-level drive connecting with this area was dammed, and water was pumped from a creek about 10 chains away and about 70 ft. lower levol. Fortunately heavy rains fell while pumping was being done, so the area was successfully flooded and the fire extinguished. As most of the available lignite west of the traffic-road has been won, permission was sought to drive under the road and to the woodbank area on the east side, where mining is again being done. Allanholme Mine.—No work was done at this mino during the year. Bellemore Mine.— An old miner is driving a small prospect-tunnel on freehold land west of the Bellemore Mine, and he anticipates cutting the seam which was worked in that mine. Roseneath Mine (near Wharekuri). —Thin mine is on freehold land near the east bank of the Waitaki River. A tunnel was driven almost due west 12 yards in als ft. seam of soft coal. Off this, a place was driven to the north for 30 ft., but the coal continued soft. A dip was put down to the north-west as a continuation of the main drive, and after going 15 ft. fairly hard coal was met. This is expected to continue under the traffic road and into the land north of the road held under a coal-prospecting license. Another level was driven in a lower seam, which proved very soft and dirty. This place may later be connected to the main drive and then used as a return airway. ~.,,,. Airedale Mine.— This new mine is about 10 chains from the old Prince Alfred Mino. A level tunnel was driven from a gully near the Papakaio-Airedalc traffic-road. Three seams were met, but only tho lowest, about Bft thick is being worked. Except for a thin band of stone about 3 ft. from the floor, this seam is very clean. The bottom seam is only 2 ft. thick, and the middle one, 6 ft. thick, is very soft. Four miners are now employed at this mine. ,„.,-• mi < ■ v a i Ngapara Mine.— -Two levels were recently driven to the north off a dip going east, the root m both places was very tender. Instructions were given that timber supports must be set. Shag Point Mine.— -During the early part of the year a little driving was done in the mam dip, which is now 3 chains down from the surface. Owing to tho continued wet weather, work has recently been confined to the places going north and south from near the face of the dip. The north place is now in 2 chains, but the coal at the face is very soft. The south place is in 25 yards in clean hard coal. Haulage up the dip is still being done by horse, as the trade is rather dull and the owner will not incur the expense of an electric haulagePoint Coal-mining Co.'s Mine.—On. the east side of Hancock's dip (the one driven from near tho bottom of the main haulage-road) three levels are now being worked in coal 2 ft. Bm. thick. The lowest place on the west side is in 7 chains, and has reachod the large upthrow fault. The dip itself was not extended during the year. From the main west level a place driven into the upthrow fault provod it had 38 ft. displacement there. A bore was put down, but proved no workable seam below. An inclined stone tunnel at a grade of 1 in 3* was driven across the fault. Four places are now being worked in that section in coal 7 ft. high containing" a stone band 18 in. thick. The level in the middle west section off the long crosscut and going towards the Allandale old workings is now about 5 chains off these old workings and in coal only 2 it. thick. This place may soon bo stopped. In the top west section off the crosscut no places are now being worked, but five pillar places are being worked in the top east section.
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St. Andrew's Mine. —Two young miners recently put down five hand-boreholes and proved an area of unworked ground north of the old workings to contain a seam 9 ft. thick. They put in a 6 ft. by 0 ft. drive for 3 chains, and an extension of 20 chains of the traffic-road had to be made by them to connect with the new drive. Rough Ridge Coal-pit. —A few tons were won from the south-east corner of the lease during the year, further stripping of the gravel overburden was ordered to be done. Idaburn Pit. —The suction of the small centrifugal pump was lowered, thus enabling Oft. to Bft. of bottoms to be won from the western end of the pit. Very little work has been done on the eastern end, and further stripping must be done there prior to resuming coal-mining. Oturehua Coal-pit. —Work has recently been recommenced at this pit. The water which filled the pit was pumped out and the slack and debris lying in the north end was filled away. Cambrian Coal-pit. —A small output was produced during the first half of tho year, but since then nothing has been done and the pit is now almost full of water. A good deal of stripping will have to be done before any further supply is obtained from the pit.. Alexandra Mine. —The few remaining workable pillars were extracted early in the year and production ceased in June, McPherson's Pit. —Stripping is constantly being done with the three hydraulic nozzles, and a large aroa of lignite has been bared of the overburden. An incline has been put down into the 20 ft. seam of lignite below the level of the tail-race. The mine-trucks are hauled up this incline by a winch driven by a Pelton wheel. There appears to be several years of work at the present output without extending the boundaries of the pit, as the major portion of tho 20 ft. seam remains to be won. The old fire area to the south is well cut off, but occasionally it breaks out afresh and one of the nozzles has to be turned that way again. Shepherd's Creek Mine. —All the available pillars having been taken out, the old mine was closed in March last, and work was recommenced in the new area about 7 chains to the south. When in about 4 chains the main level (going west) met an upthrow fault. A place was diiven south-west off this level, but the roof of sand closed this place when in 150 ft. Two places have been driven 150 ft. to the south, and on the north side a return airway has been driven to the surface through the overlying sand. Two other places, 5 ft. to 6 ft. wide, have been driven on tho north side. This mine is being connected to the Central Otago Power Board's lines. The mine cables are installed in proper galvanized-iron conduits, and a 4 k.v.a. 2J in. centrifugal pump has been ordered. Nevis Crossing Pit. —A small block at the north end of the pit is now being worked at a depth of 25 ft. from the surface, the clay overburden having been first sluiced away to a safe batter. A jet elevator is used for lifting the drainage-water from the workings. About half a mile north of the pit a little prospecting has been done on the outcrop, but only small blocks of crushed coal was proved. Parfitt's Coal-pit. —This pit is four miles and a half in towards the hills from the main traffic-road between Wedderburn and Oturehua. The lignite being worked is 30 ft. thick, and dips to the west at an inclination of 75°. The pit is almost rectangular, being now about 18 yards long by 14 yards wide, and is over 7 yards deep. Water is brought from a low hill near by, and the available pressure of about 401b. is used to siphon the water out of the pit. A little stripping of the overburden has been done on the north ond to extend the pit in that direction. A few tons may also be got from a higher seam of lignite, 10 ft. thick, which, like the main seam, is also dipping 75° to the west. Freeman's Mine. —Three miners are still employed at pillar-work. No signs of heating are now showing, and all the stoppings around the old heated goaf are cool. Jubilee Mine. —Permission was granted to drive a pair of headings in No. 5 section under the Brighton traffic-road. Good coal, 8 ft. thick, has been proved for 6 chains south of the road. In the north-west portion of No. 5 section the pillars have been extracted and it is now scaled off with good stone stoppings. The coal is rather soft and mushy in the places going west off the main heading. The pillars are now being made larger than formerly, but a few are less than the required area. West of the main heading and on the north side of the road two places are still being worked, but, as the coal is becoming much poorer, theso places will soon be stopped. Most of the places on the east side and north of the road havo reached tho boundary. In No. 6 section five miners are pillaring, and this section will be exhausted in about six months. In No. 7 section (Hollow's Drive) the water from the thirty-year-old workings was gradually released. The present places are all narrow, and from 4 ft. to 5 ft. in height. Three miners are on pillar work in this section, which will also be exhausted in another six months. Auchmeddon Coal-pit. —Eighteen tons were won from this small oponcast pit during the year. Willowbank Mine. —The west-side pillars are nearly finished, but a little remains to bo done on the east sido. The east level, driven over 8 chains in from tho surface, proved to be 30 ft. too low in altitude. A place driven in the seam on the. line of and ahead of the east level was in coal for 3 chains, so the fault which the places below had met evidently had either cut out or deflected at a sharp angle below this place. Another drive was commenced from the surface and dipping at a grade of 1 in 12 to the south-east. This is expected to cut the seam when 2| chains in. Brighton Mine. —Late in the yoar the son of the owner commenced a dip drive at a grade of 1 in 10 near the north-east corner of the freohold land and near the road from Brighton to Saddle Hill. This drive, going north-east, is 5 ft. wide and 4 ft. high, and when in 51ft. was deflected to the east for a few feet. A level was then driven to the south-east for 21 ft. alongside old workings of over forty years ago. The dip was continued for a few yards, again meeting the old workings. Very little more work can be done there. The seam is of fairly good lignite, but rather friable. A prospect-shaft 4 ft. by 2 ft. has been sunk about 8 chains south-east of the mine-entrance, reaching the seam at 42 ft. Waronui Mine. —The available pillars in the No. 1 mine have been extracted, but they may again endeavour to work this seam south of and to the dip of the old workings. This would entail driving a new haulage-road, chiefly in coal, 2,400 ft. long. It is estimated that there are 15 acres of workable coal there. In the No. 2 mine five miners are on pillar-work in the east side, and others will soon be again working the west-side pillars. The old places having closed, a good deal of expense was incurred in cleaning up and retimbering the roads. Crichton Mine. —The main level, in 6J chains in fairly good coal, is stopped temporarily.* The back level, which is in rather soft coal, is being extended, and is expected to hole to an outcrop in about another chain. Places 8 ft. to 10 ft. wide have been driven east off the main level. These places, although going in the direction of tho full dip, are being driven level. Owing to the thickness of the seam, the roof was not reached until the places had been driven over 90 ft. Taratn Mine. — Barclay's section : This is still the only section being worked. As tho solid work was completed early in the year, all miners are now on pillar-oxtraetion or working back top coal. About 10 chains north-west of the entrance to Barclay's section and west of the upthrow fault a prospect-level going south-east was driven. A full face of rather soft coal is now showing 80 ft. in from the surface. This drive should command a good area west of the 60 ft. fault, as a borehole put down 59 ft. proved 24 ft. of coal, of which the lower 18 ft. was hard. If a short dip was driven near by to the west, it would cut the shaft seam, which is 130 ft. below the one now being worked in Barclay's section. The heating at the mine-entrance again caused anxiety early in the year, but water was pumped up to cool it. Being so near the entrance, constant vigilance has to be exercised, but it is at present well under control. Tuakitoto Mine. —Two miners are now working places west of the main level, and 45-ft.-square pillars are being formed. A ventilating-fan 3} ft. in diameter was made at the mine and is now running at the top of the shallow air-shaft. It is driven by a petrol-engino, and circulates 4,070 cubic feet per minute.
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Kaituna Mine. —A little coal was produced during the year from tho top-scam area. The lessee has removed the mining plant and intends surrendering his title. Kaidale Mine. —A little pillar-work was being done near the mine-entrance early in the year. As I considered it unsafe to further rob tho fow formed pillars, I gave notice that no further work be done on them. The party soon after ceased work at the mine. kaibrook Mine. —Tho lessee and his son did a little pillar-work, but in July I gave notice not to extract any more of tho formed pillars, and to make future ones, if any, at least 36 ft. square. The lower workings are full of water. Kaitangata, No. 1 Mine. —Work was resumed under the newly formed Kaitangata Coal Co., Ltd. on the 19th April, 1927. The upcast into the main seam was continued out of a place on the east side of the 6 ft. seam workings, and when up 150 ft. at a grade of lin 1 tho main seam, 24 ft. thick, was pierced. Tho lower 12 ft. is split up by play bands, but tho upper 12 ft., which is in clean soil, is workable. To connect with this upcast a dip is being driven, at a grade of 1 in 3, from a gully on the surface and to the north-east of the workings. About 800 ft. down the drive a seam of very hard coal was met 8 ft. thick, but containing a 9 in. band of stoneabout 2 ft. from the roof. The drive will be 1,200 ft. in length and will soon be completed. It will be used as a main return airway, the ventilating-fan being removed from the present air-shaft, which will then bo filled in. Most of the development during the year was done to the east and south in the 6 ft. seam, which continues clean and hard. The main heading, going south-east, in this seam is within 6 chains of reaching virgin ground east of the old main seam (Mundy's dip) workings. From the continuation of tho main heading a rise will be driven to work the main seam in this virgin area, A crosscut, going almost, due east from the main heading, has been driven in the seam. This will also soon reach virgin ground. A stono drive was put up to the main seam, but, meeting old. workings, it was sealed off, and the crosscut will be extended in the 6 ft. seam for a few chains; then another rise to the main seam will be driven. To work the main scam near the upcast from the 6 ft. seam the main haulage-road is being extended by a cross-measures drive. This level is now in 700 ft., and has another 300 ft. to go to cut the main seam. A place was turned away to the south at the 600 ft. mark, and a parallel heading to tho cross-measures drive commenced 50 ft. away, but rising at a grade of lin 4. For ventilation purposes a connection has been driven from the 6 ft. seam below. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. —Five pillar places are being worked in No. 4a seam section, and six pillar places in No. 5 seam section, which are near the long connecting drives to tho No. 1 mine. This connection is therefore now broken by the waste ground. A level going south-east, being a continuation of the main haulageroad from the bottom of tho dip, is being driven in conglomerate and is now 700 ft. and connected with another stone drive which now acts as a return airway. About a chain beyond this connection a dip is to be driven at a grade of 1 in 3 to the south, crossing the measures, and to prove if workable coal exists in that locality. Castle Hill Mine. —ln September the marketing of coal from this mine was recommenced. Six miners then began pillaring in the No. 5 seam section and eight in the north portion of No. 7 seam section. The latter section places were stopped in November, and the section again sealed off. In the south section of the 6 ft. seam two shiftmen are extending the levels to the south. Many large rolls were met in these levels, three having recently been driven through. Summerhill Mine. —This mine is near the traffic-road between Kaitangata and the mouth of the Clutha River. A small party of miners reopened the mine early in the year, but as trade became very slack only two of them are now working there, and even they are occasionally idle for lack or orders. After retimbering the old drive an upthrow fault was crossed, and they drove into a seam of coal about 15ft. thick containing a band of hard clay 6 in. thick. They are working the 6 ft. to 8 ft. of coal below this band. Dunlop's Mine, near Lovell's Flat. —Early in the year two minors opened a small mine near the old workings of Dunlop's mine. A dip, 7 ft. by 6 ft., and timbered with sets, was driven 53 ft. at a grade of 1 in 4. To the west a level, 6 ft. by 6 ft., was driven, but a large downthrow fault was struck. A couple of levels were then driven to the east in tender coal. Trade becoming slack, tho mine was abandoned. Benhar Mine. —In tho old mine five miners are employed in the dip area a few chains north of the main haulage-road. As the No. 4 seam is being worked in this mine, and tho No. 2 seam, 60 ft. to 80 ft. higher, is being worked in the new mine, a vertical rise was put up from the old mine to connect with a level in the new mine. Only two miners are employod in tho new mine. Whiterig Mine. —A 4 ft. ventilating-fan of the axial or propulsive type was made by a Goro engineering firm and installed at this mine early in the year. The fan runs in ball bearings, and is driven by a small A.C. motor. The seam was found to be rising steeply in the old-level place, so it was stopped and is now used as a sump. The main north level has been extended and a couple of places driven to the west. Green's Mine, Gore. —Owing to the reduced demand, only seven miners are now employed at this mine. The main haulage-road, which is again being extended, was deflected 45° and is now going north-west and to the full dip of tho seam. It is now 11$ chains down from the surface. Brick and concrete stoppings 18 ft. wide have been built between the main intake and return airways, and the, ventilation has consequently been considerably improved. To prevent the need of such wide stoppings in the future, all places on the cast side are now being broken away narrow. Glenlee Mine. —Two miners are employed, one in the bottom level and tho other splitting pillars to the rise of the upper level. Ramsay's Mine. —Stripping has been abandoned, and the owner is now putting in a drive to the north. This place, 7 ft. wide by 7 ft. high, will hole into old workings on the west side. Argyle Pit. —The new owner is stripping off the overburden by sluicing, and ho has olaared away most of the large slip which covered the face of lignite early in the year. Mclver's Pit. —The lignite produced from this pit is from a narrow strip of land between the old Rossvale Mine workings and the cast bank of the Waikaia River. Stripping in this pit is also done by sluicing. Northcoat's Pit. —A few tons were won from an area about 10 chains north of Mclver's pit. Terrace Mine, Kingston Crossing. —No work has lately been done in the main level, but the back level has been extended and cut-throughs driven to the main level. The back level is now very wet at the face, and very little work has been done in tho south-west places owing to the heavy inflow from that direction. The pillars along the main level appeared to have been robbed early in the year, so notice was given that such must be stopped. «The new air-shaft was completed and ladders placed in position. Princhester Creek Pit. —An opencast pit, worked for local requirements. Lynwood Pit, Te Anau. —The customary small output, required by the steamer plying to Glade House, has been maintained from this opencast pit, nine miles from the Te Anau Hostel. Boghead Mine. —A little work was done in extending the No. 2 dip, where a small electric pump has been installed, but most of the output was produced from the two bottom levels going to the north. Mataura Lignite-mine. —Only five miners are now employed at this mine, and owing to slackness of trade they can only work broken time. All the men are employed in the north places, as the south places, have reached the boundary. A borehole was drilled from the surface and 2$ in. pipes driven down to carry the cables for an electric motor which will soon be installed for pumping purposes. Most of the pillars are now being formed to the required dimensions. Barking's Mine. —During the year a few places have been driven to the west and south, but, as they have only a hand-pump to cope with the mine-water, they are again working an opencast area just ahead of the traffic-road. Stripping of the overburden is being kept well ahead. Ola Creek Pit. —The owner is now working in the south end of tho pit, the north end being under water. About 5 ft. of lignite is being worked, covered by about the same thickness of gravel.
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Clarke's (Wyndham) Pit. —Work at this pit was resumed in March by a new owner, who is now working the upper portion (about sft.) of the seam of lignite. The lower portion is flooded, but the water is kept below the upper portion by occasional pumping. About 12 yards to the west of the pit the gravel overburden is being carted away for road-metal, thus stripping an area which will later be worked for tho lignite. Diamond Lignite-pit. —Work has boen continued in the lower lift throughout the year. Black Diamond Mine. —A small area of coal was opened up inbye the bottom east level, but it proved very disappointing. The coal became very stony, and, although driving was continued for a while in the upper portion of the scam, it eventually became too stony to work, so the section was stopped. A prospect-level, going south-west, was driven a short distance into the faulted ground at the bottom of the dip. All the miners are now employed in the north-cast section, and when this small area of solid work is completed only pillar-extraction will remain to be done. Smilhvale Mine- About three-quarters of a mile east of the Black Diamond Mine three men have been prospecting on freehold land between the Ohai Railway and the Nightcaps-Ohai traffic-road. A surface tramway has been laid from the road down to a level in a 4 ft. seam of coal which is rather dirty. This level is in 100 ft., and a couple of inclines have been driven to the outcrop. The small output is hauled up to the road by a stoam-winch, and conveyed from there by motor-lorries. Mossbank Mine. —During the past year development has preceded in a south-easterly direction, and most of the output has been won from the land sublet from the Wairaki Coal Co. To the east the workings are being cut off by a large washout which is now running about south-east. Some of the places in No. 4 section are within a couple of chains of being under tho Wairaki Settlement traffic-road. The coal continues to be very variable in quality, in some places being clean and hard, while it is stony and dirty in others. In Nos. 4 and 5 sections it has improved considerably, but it still contains many stono backs. In No. 5 section a dip has been driven almost due south, and the face is about 14 chains north of being under the Ohai Railway. Another coal lease has been applied for over land south of the railway, and if the title be granted it is intended to drive a pair of dip headings under the railway to work this southern area. Many brick stoppings have been built between main intake and return airways, consequently the mine-ventilation is much improved. No inflamable gas has yet been found in this mine. Wairaki No. 1 Mine. —ln the No. 1 oast section the solid work is nearly completed, and throe pairs of miners are working pillars in that section. Only four single solid places aro being worked in No. 2 east section. These places are in fairly clean coal, 25 ft. thick, with a good parting about 9 ft. from the floor. Tn the main and back levels inflammable gas has been reported on many occasions since July, and consequently instructions were issued in September that until further notice the ventilating-fan must be run continuously from 4 p.m. on Sundays until the men ceaso work on Saturdays. The charts in tho fan-house show that this instruction has been duly complied with. The face of the main level is now almost under tho Ohai Railway. In the No. 3 west section fourteen single solid places are being worked. No work is now being dono in No. 2 west section, whore the coal is rather dirty. Tn the No. 1 west soction the quality improved considerably, but the places entered the faulted area, so the solid work is almost finished and pillaring will soon start there. Finely crushed limestone is now used for stone-dusting the mino roadways. On both sides of tho main haulage-road many concrete and brick stoppings have been built, and a steel and concrete overcast is nearing completion on tho haulage-road. A fine concrete housing was built for tho doublo inlet Sirocco fan. This fan-house is equipped with steel doors for air-reversal if required. The haulage-engine being too close to the mine-entrance, a new foundation is being built. The engine should be at its new site early in the coming year. Wairaki No. 2 Mine. —A few miners were employed early in tho year at pillar-extraction, but owing to slackness of trade thoso men were found employment in tho No. 1 mine and the No. 2 mine was temporarily stopped. Linton No. 1 Mine.' —Down the dip the solid work below the main lovel is nearly finished, and a pair of miners is now working at pillar - extraction. The No. 1 level area was sealed off, as the heated water percolating through from the rise-section fire caused heating there also. Three pairs of miners continued pillar-extraction in the rise area. The fire in tho goaf has given much anxiety, and many additional concrete stoppings were built around it. Most of these stoppings are now cool, but two of them recently showed a temperature of 100° Fahr. on the outside of the stoppings. Linton No. 2 Mine. —In the No. 1 south section pillaring in -both upper and lower workings is being done simultaneously, and tho first workings in the upper portion of the scam were kept immediately over thoso of the lower portion. The tops, 5 ft. to 12 ft. thick, above the upper workings are first won ; then tho coal between the two sets of workings, 10 ft. to 12 ft. thick, is fetched back together with portions of the pillars. This method has proved to be a safer one and gives a bettor percentage of extraction than the old method of working over 30 ft. of tops from the lower workings. Below No. 3 south level in tho small dip area six pairs aro on solid work, and in the No. 3 inner section, under the No. 2 south upper workings, five solid places are being worked. Since March all the coal in the Linton mines has been filled with shovels instead of forks. Within a month a great improvement was noticeable in the reduction of dross and coal-dust on the haulage and trucking roads. Stone-dusting in compliance with the regulations is now regularly done with crushed limestone of sufficient fineness to comply with the regulations. This stone-dust is purchased at Winton and railed to Ohai. To work the extensive area of coal proved to tho north of the 100 ft. downthrow fault a dip is being driven at a grade of 1 in 4, and it will cross the fault when in 700 ft. After crossing the overlying measures the drive is now in the main scam, and a connection for ventilation and pumping purposes has been made to the dip section of No. 1 mine. Formerly the miners were paid on the basis of two tubs to the ton, but now all the coal is weighed near the screens and the miners paid according to the weight shown. The bathhouse near the mine, built during 1920, was burned to the ground on tho 29th April last. Another bathhouse has been built on the old site and of the same design as tho former one. Tho lamp-cabin for the Oldham electric lamps proving too small, an addition has been added to it, and a hotter method of checking the miners' lamps is now in vogue. The electric cap-lamp is much favoured by tho miners. Birchwood Mine. —On the west side most of tho pillars were successfully extracted, but on the east side a severe creep, due to tho small pillars, came on early in the year, and eventually resulted in a fire breaking out on the 28th November. Consequently the main portion of the Birchwood mine workings had to be sealed at the main intake and return air-ways, and no further work can be done there. Many attempts were made to extract the lower oast pillars, but the timber sets in tho levels were crushed within a week or so of their renewal, the fine-grained sandstone then closing the places. A small strip of country between the No. 12 east level and tho fault not having previously been worked, a place was driven off the No. 12 east level, but, as the pillars being formed wore much too narrow, instructions were given for this lower level to be stopped. In August a short dip drive was put down into a small area of coal proved by boring on the flat land south of the Morlcy Stream. Tho coal proved vory stony to the south and west, and on the north a largo washout was struck. After taking off somo side coal and working back tops the materials were brought out in December and tho section was then stopped. About 10 chains east of the main mine-entrance a dip going south has been started, from which a small area of the bottom scam will be worked. The bottom seam is 0 ft. thick in that locality. A few pillars in the main seam between the old horse level and the fault are also being worked. The bore put down from the surface 17 chains south-west of the face of the main drive was stopped at 030 ft., no coal-seam being mot. Ohai Coal Co.'s Mine. —A few pillars, both in the north and south sections, still remain to be won, and there is still some top coal to win down tho dip, so the mine at the present output will last until May next. A few chains north of the large downthrow fault a borehole was drilled from the surface. Owing to insufficient easing, the borehole fell in when it was down to 450 ft., no coal having been met.
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Black Lion Mine. —The drive 17 chains north of the No. 1 mine workings, called " Ross Drive," was stopped in March in coal 8 ft. thick, but full of dirty backs. In the No. 1 mine a few pillars were split on the west side, and out of one of the east levels a dip was driven in fairly clean coal. Production from this mine ceased in July. Near the Morley Stream a new drive was put down, dipping lin 3J to the north. Two seams were met, both from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in thickness. The upper seam proved disappointing, as a washout was met on the east, north, and west sides. Above the lower seam is a stratum of 2 ft. of claystone, which in most places has to be taken down with the coal. The main heading, after dipping for 5 chains, was continued in the rising seam which at the face is 10 ft. thick and fairly clean. West of the main heading two places are being driven, and two others on the east side ; but the seam is dipping in both directions, so the main heading is on an anticline. Al5 in. Sirocco ventilating-fan driven by alO h.p. three-phase motor is now in use, but if the prospects warrant it a larger fan will later replace this one. Beaumont Goal Syndicate's Mine. This syndicate has been prospecting on freehold land three-quarters of a mile north-east of the Linton Mine. In a small triangular area of coal-boaring country, and cut off from the remaindor of the fiold by a large igneous dyke, a short dip was put down to the west in coal 11 ft. thick. West of the face of this dip a borehole was recently drilled, but no coal was met. At a grade of .1 in 4 another dip was driven to the west in the flat land south of the porphyritic dyke. Fifty feet down from surface the coal was rather dirty, and it appeared as though a roll or fault had been passed through. A party of three miners are now going to work this mine and convey the output by motor-lorries to the railway at Ohai, one mile and a half away. New Brighton Extended Mine. —In April four miners commenced to drive a small level near the south-west corner of an area formerly held under a lignite license, and only a few chains north of New Brighton Coal Lease No. 39. After driving about a chain a large fault was met and the mine was abandoned, only 30 tons of coal having been won. Tussock Creek Mine.—During the first half of the year two miners drove a short dip at a grade of 1 in 6 on a seam of low-grade lignite 12 ft. thick and containing many clay backs. There is only about 9 ft. of clay overburden over the seam. This mine is only 3 chains west of another small area, formerly worked by a Mr. McDonald, who has recommenced work in the new dip. He has stripped off the few feet of clay above the coal and is now extending the work as an opencast pit. Fatal Accidents. Birchwood Mine.—On the 14th January a miner named James Burns was struck on the head by a falling prop in his working-place, sustained a fracture of the base of the skull, from which he died on the 20th April. This prop had been supporting the roof on the goaf side of his working-place. A large piece of sandstone slid from the goaf into the lift and pushed out the prop. James Henwood, who was working with Burns, saw the prop falling and sang out, but the top of the prop struck Burns. Birchwood Mine. —On the 4th April a roadsman named William Reid was struck on the left leg by a lump of stone, breaking both tibia and fibula. A centre prop which was too near one of the rails was being replaced by the miners in McLeod and Robb's heading. McLeod had put in another prop on the high side, and when he was carrying away the prop which had been knocked out Reid stepped forward to where it had been, and a large piece of the sandstone roof then fell, striking him. Reid died in the Riverton Hospital on the 7th April of gangrene as the result of the serious injuries. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Linton No. 1 Mine. —14th June: John Dempster, miner, fractured skull, caused by being struck by a piece of coal from a shot in his working-place. Wairaki No. 2 Mine.—2lst June : James Hunter, set-rider, was caught between a rake of full tubs and the engine-house at the surface, and his right iliac bone was fractured. He had difficulty in unhooking the set and continued too long in trying to do so. Linton No. 1 Mine. —14th September : Archibald Dixon, fireman deputy, in going over the surface to examine an area where pillars had been worked below he tripped and fell headlong on to a lump of stone in a depression about 10 ft. deep, thus fracturing his skull. Linton Mine.—l9th September: A. Pennack, horse-driver, fracture of the right wrist. He was holding back on the first tub of a rake of full tubs on the surface tramway, and when they struck others ahead his arm, being between the first and second tubs, received the full weight of the other full ones behind on his elbow, consequently receiving an impacted fracture of the wrist. Linton No. 1 Mine.—lsth November: John McGill, shot-firer, in helping to push over a large lump of coal from the upper to the lower workings was struck by another large lump from the roof above, which completely severed three fingers from his right hand. Dangerous Occurrences notified under Regulation 82. Waronui Mine.—2Bth March: A fire was discovered near the top of the pillar section in No. 1 mine It was effectually sealed off by the 4th April. Afterwards the main stoppings were strengthened by other stoppings being built outside the main ones. Linton Mine.—2sth July: The goaf fire in the No. 1 mine burnt through the barrier, and this was discovered at 2 a.m. It was sealed off by 8.30 a.m., when the miners then commenced work for the day. The place to the dip was also sealed off that day as a precautionary measure against another outbreak. Wairaki Mine. —25th July: Signs of heating were noticed at the lowest pillar-working in the west side of No. 2 mine. Preparations had already been made, so it only took about two hours to seal off the incipient fire. Waronui Mine.—l4th August: Another fire was discovered in the No. 1 mine on the Sunday afternoon. This occurred outside one of the stoppings put in to seal off the fire of the 28th March, and had apparently come through breaks caused by the heaving floor. It was quickly sealed off that day. Albury Mine.—l4th September: The fire again broke out in the opencast section and endangered the traffic-road near by. A petrol engine and pump were purchased, and water from a creek, 70 ft. lower level, was pumped into the pit. Fortunately heavy rains assisted the pumping and the fire was extinguished by flooding the area. Birchwood Mine.—2Bth November: Active spontaneous combustion was found above No. 1 level on the east side, and, as very little workable coal was available above that level, stone stoppings were put in the main intake and return airways about 2 chains down from the surface. The manager states that black-damp was up to these stoppings before they were completed, yet an explosion occurred on the 3rd January, 1928. Falls then occurred, closing the drives, and other timbers were withdrawn, allowing further falls to take place, effectively sealing both drives. Prosecutions. On the 11th July a fireman-deputy, who was also the authorized shot-firer, was convicted and fined £3 and costs for failing to see that a miner had taken proper shelter. This miner suffered a fractured skull through being struck by a piece of coal flying from a shot in his working-place. On the 21st November a mine-manager was fined £3 and costs and a fireman deputy was fined £1 and costs for failing to provide stop-blocks at the brow of a dip haulage-road.
a—2
COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1927.
ANNBXD R E B.
B—C 2.
51
TS I -6 Name of Mine and locality. or »S£*™- N ame and Address of Owner. iSpofSS" otherwise). -Nanager. g ot Loal. g s Coal . seams worked. g ll '1| 1 I *.■§! „! ! Nrrab r of Persons £-3 Thickness: System of ZS Tr , t ., Total Total urd.uarily employed. Depth of Shaft CJassiflcaton || lm ckm«s Thickness Under- JJ ™. Output to Output to „"*™ . ot or ofCoal. B - nnal-aaams worked. ground s.s ""P.lf- or 31st Decern- 31st Decern- £ > . Ventilation. Length of Tunnel | g Coal seam,., working. |-g 1B2 '- ber,1926. ber, 1927. S S 3 NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT A T orfft Auckland District. i i Hikurangi. Hikurangi .. . Crown lease and J. Makinson .. Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., Auckland i 5 ; Sub - bitu- ' 1 ! 7'to 10' 7'to 9' .. freehold minous Kerr ft Co.. Hikurangi .. | Freehold .. A. H. Taylor .. Kerr & Wyatt, Hikurangi .. 7J Ditto .. I 1 I 5' to 6' 5' to 6' . . Silverdale, Hikurangi .. .. ; Crown lease .. A. Ball .. S. G. Foot, Hikurangi .. .. ! 9_ „ .. I 1 I 3'to 5' 5' Northern Co-operative. Hikurangi ,, .. E.A.Cunningham E. A. Cunningham & Co., Hikurangi 9 | „ .. | 1 ; 4' ..4' Wil-iin-. Hikurangi .. .. Crown lease and G.Davidson .. Wilson's Collieries, Ltd., Auckland 10 „ .. i 1 8' .. S' freehold Warn. Whangarei .. .. Freehold .. J. Cadman .. British Standard Cement Co., Ltd., 17 ,, .. 1 5'to 13' ! 9' Whangarei Ruatangata, Kamo .. .. ,, .. R. Dickson (P.) .. Kamo Potteries, Ltd., Whangarei 7£ ,, .. I j 8' 6' Glen Nell, Hikurangi .. .. Crow T n lease .. J. Melntyre .. J. Melntyre & party. Hikurangi.. 3 „ .. 14' -.4' Hillside, Hikurangi .. .. Freehold .. ! Wm. Tunstall .. dimming * party, Hikurangi" .. 1$ ,, .. 1 ' 5' . . 3' 6" Bolton's, Hikurangi .. .. ,, . . F. Johnson. .. Johnson & party, Hikurangi .. l| ,, .. 15' .. 5' Tons. Bordand 2 S 87,005 pillar Ditto ..IT 5,361 ..IT 3.961 ..IT 361 ..IS 66,029 1 T ..IS 1,955 ..IT 1,097 ..IT 1.204 ..IT 1,952 ..IT 3.423 Tons. Tons. • 154,203 241,208 56 I 150 30,335 35,696 3 ! 8 26,060 30,041 1 I 4 29,042 29,403 1 3 293,513 ! 359,542 42 142 45,803 I 47,758 2 j 5 5,723 ! 0,823 1 4 1,107 2,311 1 2 400 ! 2.361 1 4 229 3.652 1 4 206 I Blackman ' S. 350'. fan S. 340'. 11 Natural .. T. 528'. 5 „ .. T. 120'. 4 .. .. T. 40'. 184 Sirocco fan S. 200', T. 924'. 7 Fan .. j S. 105'. 5 „ T. 400'. 3 Natural .. T. 40'. 5 „ . . T. 66'. 5 „ . . T. 40'. Waikato District. Rotowaro, Rotowaro .. .. Crownleaseand A. Penman .. Taupiri Coal-mines, Ltd., Auck- 10 Brown .. 3 7'to 27' 7'to 15' .. freehold land Pukeiniro, Pukemiro .. .. Freehold .. A.Burt .. .. Pukemiro Collieries Co., Ltd.. 12 „ .. 1 4'to 18' 4'to 15' .. Auckland Waipa, Glen Massey .. .. ,, .. T. Thomson .. Waipa Railway & Collieries, Ltd., 14 „ .. 1 8' to 10' 6' to 8' Wellington Waikato Extended, Huntly .. j ,, ..I J.Leonard .. Roose Shipping Co., Ltd., Mercer 11 „ .. 1 16i' .. ! 15J' Glen Afton, Glen Afton .. Crownleaseand P. Hunter .. Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., Auck- 7 „ .. ! 1 16;}' .. | 15.' freehold land Pukemiro Junction, Pukemiro .. Crown lease .. C. V. Malony .. Clare & partners, Pukemiro Junct. 7 „ .. ! 1 2' to 25' i 2'to 18' .. Taupiri East, Ki mi Ilia .. Auckland L'ni- J. Holland (P.) .. Holland and party, Huntly .. 6 „ .. 1 18' .. j 13' versity lease Campbell, Whatawhata .. Crown lease . . R. Fox .. .. Campbell Coal Co., Ltd., Hamilton 6 ,, .. \ 1 I 12' ..9' .. Graham, Glen Afton . . .. Freehold . . W. Mills .. .. Graham Coal Co., Pukemiro .. 4 ,, l ! 6' .. 5' 6" Bordand 3 I 148,914 pillar Ditto .. 3T 149.272 . 11 63.130 .. IT! 9.397 „ .. IT 176,254 905,404 . 1,054,318 74 IBS 1,299,130 : 1,448,402 66 214 854,935 918,065 30 98 58.455 67.852 i 2 7 492,046 668,300 ! 69 227 272 (1) Waddle, cv! T. 3,000', T. (2) Sirocco fan 1.200'. 2S0 Fans (2) . . T. 4.000', T. 3.200'. 128 Sirocco fan T. 6.000'. 9 Natural .. T. 490' 296 sirocco fan T. 4.200'. Taranaki District. Old Stockman, llokau .. Freehold . C. Wright (P.) .. Chambers Bros., Awakino .. 7 Brown .. 1 ! 4' 6* .'. 4' 6" .. 2T| 11,450 •. 1 Ti 1,465 ..IT 3.732 ..IT 10,936 Bord and 1 I 521 pillar Ditto ..IT 70 „ ..IT 41 55.205 66,655 ! 6 12 5,180 : 6,645 ! 1 2 9.996 : 13.728 2 5 29,557 j 40,493 3 15 1,926 '• 2.447 . . 2 70 i 2 4 41 ; 2 2 9,422,799 , 9,422,799 ! .. 18 Natural . . T. 350'. 3 „ . . T. 320'. 7 ,. . . T. 90'. 18 Fan .. T. 240'. 2 Natural .. T. 130'. 6 Fan .. T. 110.' 4 Natural .. T. 50' Tangarakau, Tangarakau . . P.W. lease .. "R. Fleming . . W. Shanks * Co., Tahora .. 1 „ .. ! 1 , 5' .. 5' Power, Ohura .. .. Prospect license E. Gascoigne .. Power Coal Syndicate, Palmerston 1 „ .. 1 | 4' . . 3' 6" (Crown) North Output of coUierlts included in previous statements at which operations are abandoned or suspended .... .. i .. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT. Nelson District. I Mount Burnett .. .. Crown lease .. J. Bashall .. Marble Creek Syndicate, Colling- 1 Sub - bitu- 1 12' .. T wood minous Puponga .. .. .. „ .. A. J. McHardy .. Puponga Coal Syndicate, Puponga 24 Ditto .. 1 3' 6" to 6' Full height North Cape .. .. .. Freehold .. J. Bashall .. North Cape Coal Co., Nelson .. 17 ., .. 13' .. Stone's . . .. . . „ .. ! R. C. Stone .. R. C. Stone, Takaka . . .. | 9 Brown .. 2 4' and 5' '., Broxbourne .. .. .. ., .. | .. Gilbert Boyd, Motupipi, via 1 Lignite .. I 1 11' 6" .. 5' .. O'Rourke's .. .. .. ., ..I .. A. O'Rourke, Murchison .. j 8 Brown .. I 1 2' .. Full height Stoping .. 164 Bord and .. 7,577 pillar Ditto 3,252 , 200 176 Stoning .. 120 52 I 216 2 2 255,599 263,176 0 14 108,291 111,543 9 11 842 1,042 . . 2 176 .. 3 677 797 .. I 1 4 Natural 20 „ .. T. 9 ch. 20 j „ .. T. 12 ch. 2 „ .. T. 11 ch. 3 „ . . T. 4* ch. 1 .. .. T. 9 ch.
C—2
52
COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1921—continued.
Bainn of Mine and Locality. Titles held (Crown Lease or otherwise). Name of Mine Manager. Name and Address of Owner. *H * _g j (lasiitcat'on 9 g of Coal. 'r =* A ai *."_! ;_,£ ! Number of Persons 21 Thickness System of °| TotaI Tot _, ordinarily employed. Depth of Shaft 3 1 inicKne.-s Th rll . ness Under- ._ £ Total outmrt to Outout to Means of i"*> _ r S_Coal-sams * olked - gromd U ** 3?sr Decern- 31stI&em- pU _. Ventilation. LcEgtll _[ Tuimel . S S ' wonting. B _ 192<. ber,1926. ber, 1927. o I ■_ 3 SrA I \ H M I E-i EST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT— c '.ontinued. Buller District. \Vcstport-Stockton Millerton Denniston Crown lease .. T. McGhie .. Westport-Stockton Co., Christ'ch A. Smith it W. Butler Westport Coal Co., Dunedin W. Hewitson ft G. Westport Coal Co., Dunedin Smith G. Gilbert .. J. T. Dove, Seddonville J. Tomasi . . McGuire ft party, Seddonville M. Forsyth .. Cardiff Bridge Co-op party. W'port Win. O'Rourke . . Mcintosh A Willman. Seddonville J. Penberth .. j Chester & Penberth. Seddonville T. Quinn. . .. Quinn A- party, Seddonville G. Wynn .. | G. Wynn ft Son, Seddonville J. G. Quinn .. Clydevale Coal-mines, Westport. . H. Monaghan .. Glasgow Co-op. Mining party, Seddonville F. T. Mitchell .. F. T. Mitchell, Charleston G. N. Warne .. G. N. Warne, Charleston R. M. Mulholland . . ; Celtic Mining party, Seddonville.. W. Leitch . . I Westport-Granity Coal-mines, Ltd., AVestport John Harris .. j John Harris, Karamea. . T. L. Bennett .. j Bennett ft party, Seddonville 19 36 47 Sub - bitu- 2 4' to 20' Full height minous Ditto .. 1 4' to 20' 12' 9 3' to 30' ; Full height Tons. Bordand .. 144,655 pillar Ditto .. .. 187.672 ... " 231,374 Tons. Tons. 2,192,827 ! 2,337,482 94 j 7,345,288 7,532.960 , 93 9,125,618 9,356,992 ! 163 | 166 260 Fans 371 464 „ .. T. 298 ch. 387 550 „ . . T. 410 ch. Dove's Coal Creek Cardiff Bridge Westport-Mokihinui .. Chester's Quinn's Wynn's Clydevale Glasgow 7 12 7 8 4 4 3 3 1 2' to 18' 10' 1 5' to 20' | 8' 1 5' to 30' ] Full height 1 6' to 16' 12' 13' . . | Full height ..15' .. : ..14' 1 5' to 14' 8' ..17' to 12' 6' to 11' .. , 9,047 . 1 1,654 29,663 , i 5,388 .. ..I 1,673 .. ... 1,234 „ .. .. 818 2,142 .. .. 7,516 109.965 119,012 1 ' 70,805 72,459 1 84,472 114,135 8 20,297 25,685 ; 1 11,157 12,830 i 1 5,155 6.389 1 2,919 3,737 1 7,686 9,828 3 7.460 14.976 5 10 11 Fan 4 5 Natural 24 32 Fan 8 9 Natural . T. 15 ch. 2 3 „ . . T. 8 ch. 2 3 2 3 "„ '.'. ft. lj cli.' 13 16 ., . . T. 17 ch. 11 16 imtchell's Warne's Celtic 4 2 3 Lignite .. 1 .. 7' ..1 Sub - bitu- 18' .. Full height minous Ditto .. 1 20' to 40' 10' to 30'.. Opencast .. 30 Bordand .. 1,060 pillar Ditto .. .. 27,754 81 111 12 21 l 1 4.983 6,043 I 1 .. 1 Opencast .. 1 3 I 4 Natural .. T. 9 ch. Westportmain 3 28,874 56,628 30 21 51 Harris's Bennett's Freehold Crown lease .. 5 1 Lignite .. 1 12' . . 5' Sub - bitu- 1 .. 7' minous , 3 „ .. .. 97 . 13 16 97 1 5,534 7 529 849 9.029 9.368 1 1 „ . . T. 20'. 5 6 „ .. S. 30'. 10 17 2 2 „ .. T. 5 ch. 2 8 „ .. Cascade Whiteclilfs .. Rncklands A. W. Whittlestone ■ Cascade- Westport Coal Co., W'port J. H. Burley .. James H. Bailey, Berlin's J. P. Burley .. Estate of Geo. Walker, Rocklands 1 5 25 1 20' . . 8' Brown ..IK 12' .. 1 27' . . 9' 5.534 320 389 Reefton District. N. Collins .. Collins it Kearns, Reefton Brown .. 1 15' .. 7' 6" Bord and .. 787 pillar Ditto .. .. 12,594 .. .. 4.190 ., . .. 558 Phcenix Crown lease .. 35 56,390 57,177 1 2 3 Natural .. T. J ch. Reefton Clele Big River William Wood .. Reefton Coal Co., Wellington Thos. McCormick . . Alborn it party, Reefton W. E. Fattorini .. New* Big River Gold-mining Co., Reefton A. Thompson .. W. J. Morris, Reefton T. Nicholl .. Nicholl ft Ecklund, Reefton Win. Lowden .. Reddale Collieries, Ltd., Or church [ C. Coghlan .. J. Coghlan, Reefton .. .. J. J. Doran .. J. J. Doran, Capleston .. P. Coghlan .. J. Coghlan, Reefton F. W. Archer . . F. W. Archer, Cronadun 26 41 15 1 14' .. 6'to 8' .. 15' .. Full height • •19' 150,921 163,515 10 28.056 32,246 | 2 12.417 12,975 3-1 44 i „ . . S. 10 ch. 6 8 j „ . . S's 35. ch. 2 2 1 „ . . T. 3 ch. .. Morrisvale Lankev's Creek Reddale Coghlan's Doran's Coghlan's Archer's Freehold 15 6 25 1 7 31 29 3 12' to 20' 8' „ ' . . 1 8' . . : 3. to 6' 1 14' .. 8' to 10' . . is' .. r ..16' is' .. r 3 9' to 18' 16' ... 2 4' ,v. 10' 8' 1 3' 6" .. Full height ..17' .. .. 7,087 . . . 720 4.643 428 157 1,928 2,710 .. 40.094 47.181 5 4.905 5.625 1 26.359 31.002 3 428 1.687 1.844 11.799 13.727 31,032 33,742 1 8,127 8.842 31 51 5,049 5.309 1 j 11 16 „ . . S. 100', T. 450'. 3 ; 4 4 7 4 4 1 1 4 4 4 5 Water-blast T. 650' ft natural 2 2 Natural . . T. 4 ch. 2 2 ., 2 i „ . h T. 3 ch.'' Caliope White Rose Waitahu Crown lease .. D. McLaughlin .. Caliope Coal Co., Christchurch . . W. Osborn .. W. Osborn. Merrijigs A. D. Williams .. Waitahu (N.Z.) Collieries, Ltd., London 9 4 18 , 715 20 260 Greymouth District. Armstrong's State reserve V. Armstrong .. Armstrong & party, Runanga Sub - bitu- 18' .. Full height minous Ditto .. 19' .. 7' 15' .. Full height „ .. 1 6' .. | „ „ .. . 2 17' .. I 15' Bordand .. 4,469 pillar Ditto .. •• 1,181 .. .. 4.344 .... 126 24.794 29,263 2 4 6 Natural 6 Allan's Baddeley's Bellvue Crown lease .. State reserve J. Allan .. .. Allan & party, Brunnerton .. ' J. Rowse.. .. Baddeley <fe party, Runanga J. nadcroft .. Bellvue Co-operative party, Runanga Wm. Parsonage .. Blackball Coal-mines Proprietary, Christchurch 5 7 1 ■•I 2,713 3.894 1 18.030 22,374 2 126 2 4 5 „ . . T. 4_ ch. 7 9 Fan 6 8 Natural T. 2 ch. .Blackball Freehold 36 ..2 135,314 _ ad. 3,466,834 3,602,148 88 335 423 Fan . . A's 1,232 ft. i 650 ft. "II i I
53
C—2
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COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1921—continued.
Name of Mine and Locality. Titles held (Crown Lease or otherwise). Name of Mine Manager. Name and Address of Owner. res — ai is r" Classification of Coal. |f| Thickness | S ~'j! 0u^_ or Out^to J g Coal-seam,' — —. Jj °"_._.'°' Decern- 31^Decem- ■"' ! L_ I Total Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Depth of Shaft Means of F or S I i I j Ventilation. Tj __ gtho£ Tannci s \ s \ s < I W | £ OU^ TIFRN INSPECT] ON DISTRICT— -continual. {Central Otago District. Idaburn, Oturehua Oturehua. Oturehua Cambrian, Cambrian Alexandra, Alexandra McVherrson's, Coal Creek Flat Shepherd's Creek, Bannockburn.. Freehold .. R. K. Deaker (P.).. R. K. Deaker, Oturehua .. 57 I Crown lease .. J. R. Becker (P.) .. Becker Bros., Oturehua .. 33 ..I J. C. Trainor (P.) .. Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing 66 Co., St. Bathan'.- „ .. J. Robertson (2nd C.) Alexandra CM. Co., Alexandra .. 46 „ .. N. Harliwich (P.) .. N. J. Harliwich, Coal Creek Flat.. 57 ,, J. Hodson, jun. (2nd J. Hodson & others. Bannockburn 50 C.) .. R. Ritchie (P.) .. Robt. Ritchie, Nevis .. ..24 ,, .. Isaac Parfit .. j Parfit & Marslin. Nasebv .. 2 .. E. Beck (P.) .. Margaret Beck, Otnrehiia ..40 57 66 46 57 50 Lignite .. 1 1 1 ..1 1 I Tons. Tons. Tons. 20' .. AH .. Opencast .. 488 53,067 53,555 I 2 I .. 20' .. „ .. 57 5,277 5.334 1 .. | 18' . . .. „ .. 163 51,477 51,640 1 .. 15' .. 8' .. Bordand .. 240 109.975 110,215 ! .. 1 pillar 20' .. Al! .. Opencast .. 2,130 89.166 91,296 2| .. 18' .. 1' .. Bordand .. 1,927 116,862 118,789 2 1 2 pillar 40' .. Al! .. Opencast .. 333 17.271 17.604 2 30' ..30' .. | „ .. 252 175 I 427 1 .. 20' .. All .. I ,, .. 56 35.529 35.585 1 2 Open 1 1 1 Natural .. S. 65', T. 1,000'. 2 Open 4 Natural .. T. 200'. 2 Open 1 1 Nevis Crossing, Nevis .. Parlit's, Upper Idaburn Rough Ridge, Oturehua 24 2 fu Brown .. j 1 Lignite .. j 1 i» .. i 1 South Otago District. Freeman's, Abbotsford Freehold .. W. Evans (U.) .. : Freeman's Coal Co.. Green Island 47 Lignite .. j 1 10' to 12' All .. Bord and .. 4,052 601,236 605,288 2 4 pillar 4'to8'.. „ .. ; Ditto .. .. 16,346 498.912 i 515,258 9 IS 14' .. T ... Bordand .. 5,900 14,535 20,435 2 7 pillar 4' .. All .. I Opencast .. 18 17 35 5' .. „ .. Bordand .. 27 9,027 9,054 .. ! 1 pillar 6'& 12' , 6'& 10' .. Ditto .. .. 13,964 334,514 348,478 9 22 12' .. ! 7' .. ,, .. .. 1.229 4.919 6.148 1 : 2 25'to40' 7'to30' .. „ .. .. 23.376 634.766 658,142 15 26 12' .. 7' .. ,,.... 663 5.153 5,816 1 1 6' ..5' .. ,,.... 260 25.805 20,065 I .. j 2 11' -.64' .. ...... 208 2.607 2,815 .. 1 6; _ _. . All .. __ .. ..1 8 t0 2 ° " •■ " '• ■■ > 61,501 4,454,509 4,516,010 46 174 12' to 20' All . . " . . * J U' -■ 10' .. .. .. 8,444 257.279 265.723 1 7 10' to 14' ; 64/ .. ,, .. .. 203 8.407 .. 1 16' •- | 7' .. „ .. .. 425 .. - '425 ... 1 10 . • 6' .. .. 608 163 771 .. i 2 2-1' .. j 12' .. Bordand .. 3,102 99,477 102,579 1 2 , pillar 19 - - I 12' .. Ditto .. .. 13,068 318,293 331,361 3 | 7 1*' ■• j 8' .. .. .. 1,307 2S.787 30,094 .. ' 2 12' .. 12' .. , 424: 107,191 107,615' .. 1 •4' ..All .. Opencast .. 40 36.950 36,990 10 •• „ .. | .. 173 428 601 j 1 12' .. ! „ .. .; .. 506 9.699 10.205 1 25' .. 10' to 12' j Bord an J .. 833 10,182 11,015 1 1 pillar 6' ..AH .. Opencast .. 202 2,764 2,966 1 8' .. ,, .- 120 3,620 3,740 1 18' .. 11' .. I Bordand .. 2,204 48,461 50,665 1 3 pillar 6 Natural 27 Fan . . T. 797'. "9 Natural .. S. 70'. " .. j Open 1 | Natural .. S. 4.V. 31 ; Fan ..IT. 400', T. 1,200'. 3 Natural .. T. 413'. 41 Fan . . T. 924'. 2 ,, . . T. 130'. 2 1 : Natural '. .' T. 272'. f S. 730',T. 3,960'. "■'0 Fan= .. T.3,135',T.957\ --" iaru ■• 1 T. 3,300', T. I 1,320'. 8 Fan .. T. 1,400'. 1 Natural 1 2 3 i Fan .. T. 462'. 10 .. T. 746'. 2 Natural 1 ; „ .. I Open ... I l\ :; :: 2 1 "Natural .. T. 66'. 1 Open 1 4 Natural .. T. 360'. Jubilee, 3*"airfield Jubilee (under roads) . . Willowbank, Riccarton Auchmeddon. Fairfield Brighton, Brighton Waronui, Milton Viewbank, Crichton Taratu, Lovell's Flat .. Tuakitoto, Tuakitoto Kaituna, Kaitangata Kaibrook, Kaitangata Kaitangata No. 1, Kaitangata .. Kaitangata No. 2, Kaitangata .. Kaitangata (under roads) Castle Hill, Kaitangata Benhar .. Kaidale, Kaitangata Dunlop's, Kaitangata .. .. i Summerhill, Kaitangata .. i R. Hill (1st C.) .. Jubilee Coal Co., Dunedin .. I 30 Crown lease .. R. Hill (1st C.) .. ! Jubilee Coal Co.. Dunedin Freehold .. W. Robertson (U.) j Geo. Scurr & Co., Ltd., Mosgiel 7 Junction .. H. Orr (2nd C.) .. i H. Orr. Fairfield .. .. 2 .. N. McColl(P.) .. j Mrs. McColl, Brighton .. .. {12 „ ..J. Carruthers, jun. Bruce Rlv. & Coal Co., Dunedin .. 23 (1st C.) ,, .. N. Greaves (P.) .. ; N. Greaves, Milton .. 8 ,, .. J. Hadcroft (1st C.) Sarsood & Cheeseniaii. Dunedin.. 26 .. J. Throp(P.) .. J. Throp, Kaitangata .. ..17 ,, .. S. Newuurn (D.) .. Thos. Gage, Kaitangata .. 19 Crown lease .. T. Gage (D.) .. Thos. Gage, Kaitangata .. 8 Freehold .. F. Carson (1st C.) .. Kaitangata Coal Co., Dunedin .. 51 ,, .. F. (arson (1st C.) .. Kaitangata Coal Co. j Dunedin .. 15 Crown lease .. F. Carson (1st C.) .. Kaitangata Coal Co., Dunedin .. Freehold .. J. McLelland (1st C.) Kaitangata Coal Co., Dunedin .. 34 .. J. Walls (2ud C.) .. McSkimming & Son., Ltd., Benhar 64 Crownlease .. E. Richardson (U.) Morrison Bros.. Kaitangata .. 8 Freehold .. J. McMillan (D.) .. J. O'Fee & J. McMillan, Kaitangata 1 „ .. Thos. Heyes (1st C.) Co-operative party, Kaitangata 3 Freehold .. K. Craig (P.) .. I R. Craig, East Gore .. .. 49 .. i i i i 2 1 1 1 1 1 Brown .. 1 2 Lignite .. 3 1 • • 1 Southland District. Whiterig, East Gore .. Lignite .. 1 j 49 .... Green's, Gore .. F. Barclay (2nd C.) Executors estate, late T. Gieen, 39 Gore .. I F. W. Edge (P.) .. A. A. Edge, Waikaka . . .. ' 34 ... P. Ramsav (P.) .. P. Ramsay, Waikaka .. ..24 Crown lease .. T. Northcoat (P.) .. T. Xorthcoat ft Lahev. Waikaia. . 28 .. R. McIver(P.) .. R. Mclver. Waikaia ' .. .. I 4 „ .. T. Woodward (P.).. Thos. Woodward. Waikaia ..36 Freehold .. G. Daley (P.) .. ! G. Daley, Longridge .. .. 9 Crownlease .. J. A. Denton (P.) .. i J. A. Denton, Private bag, Lumsden! 25 .. W. Blatch(P.) .. E. C. Govan, Te Anau .. I 17 Freehold .. J. Bolger(D.) .. C. E. Rowe, Mataura .. .. | 22 39 „ -il Glenlee, "Waikaka .. .. f Ramsay's, North Chatton Landslip, Waikaia .. .. [ Mclver's, Waikaia Argyle, Waikaia Terrace, Longridge 34 24 28 4 36 9 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 1 Princhester Creek, The Key Lynwood, Te Anau Boghead. Mataura 25 17 22 Brown .. 1 Lignite .. 1 ■• I 1 I i i
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Mataura Lignite, Mataura Larking's, Mataura Ota Creek Diamond Lignite, Ashers Black Diamond, Nightcaps .. ! T. Barclav (2nd C.) j Beattie. Coster, A Co.,Ltd.. Mataura 51 ,, .. I 1 I 18 ..I J. T.Pearson (D.) .. ! P. Larking, Mataura .. .. 6 ,, .. 1 15 Crownlease.. E. Genge (P.) .. [ E. Genge, Wyndham .. ..47 ,, .. 1 T Freehold .. Wm. Thompson (P.) ! Win. Thompson, Wvndham ..20 ,. .. 1 12' Crown lease .. A. McMillan (P.) .. | S. McMillan, Invercargill 25 ! „ .. 1 38' ,, .. R. W. Duncan (1st C.) Black Diamond Coal Co., Invercar- 12 .. 1 25' gill .. T. McMillan (1st C.) Mossbank Coal Co., Invercargill.. 13 ,, .. 1 I 5' to 33' .. J. T. Moslev (1st C.) Wairaki Coal Co.. Gore .. 14 „ .. 1 7' to 20' Freehold .. J. T. Mosley (1st C.) Wairaki Coal Co., Gore .. 9 ,, .. 1 I'6' to 20' Crownlease .. G. S. Langford(lst C.) Linton Coal Co., Invercargill ..12 ,, .. 1 I -30' to 40' Freehold .. G. S. Langford(lst C.) Linton Coal Co., Invercargill .. .. ,, .. .. A. Morris (1st C.) .. ; Birchwood Coal Co., Box 674, 7 ,, .. 1 ! 7'to 8' Dunedin Crownlease.. J. B. Ross (1st C).. ! Ohai Coal Co., Box 145, Inver- 5 „ .. 1 20' eargill .. Ed. Mason (2nd C.) Black Lion Coal Co., Invercargill.. 6 „ .. 1 9J' P. Niven (D.) .. New Brighton Extended Co-op. 1 ,, ..115' partv. Nightcaps Freehold .. Thos. Thomson (D.) Wm. Smith. Nightcaps .. 1 ,, ..114' „ .. J. C. McDonald (P.) : J. C. McDonald, Tussock Creek .. 4 Lignite ..118' ,, .. S. Reid (D.) .. I Beaumont Coal Syndicate, Ohai.. 1 I Brown .. I 1 12' 12 9' All 6' All 8' Ditto Opencast Bord and pillar Ditto .. .. ( Opencast Bord and pillar 11,575 308,931 2,346 2,070 429 29,423 470 22,444 846 32.380 17,839 166,327 36,571 : 133,809 38,984 200.343 95,262 300,584 31,235 115,919 15,179 32,082 5,328 8.299 28 91 157 422 4 6,181,488 320.506 3 6 9 Fan .. T. 1,200-. 4.416 1 1 | 2 Natural 29,852 1 ..| 1 Open 22,914 1 .. ! 1 ' „ 33,226 1 .. j 1 „ 184,166 16 18 34 Fan .. T. 1,320'. 170,380 14 | 45 59 „ .. T. 462'. 239,327 21 76 97 Fans .. {£ 9 Q 8 ?' 395,846 23 110 133 Fan .. T. 1,320'. 147,154 18 37 55 „ .. T. 924'. 47,261 9 18 27 ,, .. T. 924'. 13.627 i 4 8 12 ., .. T. 330'. 28 .. ! .. .. Natural 91 .. 1 1 „ .. T. 100'. 579 1 i ■. 1 Open 4 ...... .. Natural .. T. 66'. 6,181,488 Mossbank, Ohai Wairaki No. 1, Ohai Wairaki No. 2, Ohai Linton, Ohai Linton, Ohai Birchwood, Ohai 7' to 20' . . All \ Ohai Coal Co., Ohai .. .. , Black Lion, Ohai New Brighton Extended Smithvaie, Nightcaps Tussock Creek .. Beaumont Coal Syndicate 7' All Outputs of mines included in pi ■evious statements at which operations have been abandoned or suspended Totals, Southern District, South Island Totals, West Coast Distriot, South Island Totals, Northern District, North Island .. 463,019 : 16,950.659 17,413,678 247 .. 1,156,191:32,990.929 34,147,120 773 747,530 13,721.080 14,468,610 366 714 2,162 1,112 714 961 2,162 2,935 5,112 1,478 ! 3,988 5,374 i Grand totals Output of collieries prior to 1890 not included in the above statement Shale exported, 1914 .. .. 2,366,740 : 63.662.668 66,029,408 1,386 ..' 296,653 21 66,326,082 ! I I I
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APPENDIX C. • REPORT OP BOARDS OP EXAMINERS. Geological Survey Office. Wellington, 11th July, 1928. Sib,— On behalf of the Boards of Examiners under the Mining and Coal-mines Acts, I have the honour to submit the following brief report on the work of the Boards during 1927. The annual written examinations of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, were held at Dunedin, Reefton, and Huntly in October last. Seven candidates sat for first-class certificates and six for second-class certificates, as compared with nine for first-class certificates and eleven for second-class certificates the previous year. In addition an examination was also held at Dunedin at the same time for a candidate for a minesurveyor's certificate under the Coal-mines Act, and one at Reefton for a candidate for a battery superintendent's certificate under the Mining Act, 1.926. Those candidates for certificates under the Coal-mines Act who were successful in obtaining the necessary marks in their written examination came, before the Board for oral examination at its annua] meeting in December last, with the result that the following were successful in obtaining certificates : First-class mine-managers' certificates —Richard Hall, Brunnerton ; John R. Watson, Huntly. Second-class mine-managers' certificates —Robert McDonald, Milton ; Albert Woods, Millerton ; William Johnston, Pukemiro ; Robert L. Godden, Pukemiro ; Valentine Curran, Pukemiro ; Robert Fleming, Huntly. Mine-surveyor's certificate —B. E. Edginton, Dunedin. In addition the Board of Examiners under the Mining Act granted a battery superintendent's certificate to Frank Leonard Sanderson, of Waiuta. During the year four examinations were held for candidates for certificates as underviewers and firemen-deputies —one at Huntly, on the 24th and 25th February ; one at Dunedin, on the 25th October ; and one each at Westport and Greymouth, on the sth and 16th November respectively. Sixty-three candidates presented themselves for examination —seventeen for underviewers' certificates, and forty-six for firemen-deputies' certificates. The number was sixteen in excess of last year's total. Six were successful in gaining underviewers' certificates, and thirty-five were successful in gaining firemen-deputies' certificates. The number of candidates offering themselves for examination under the Coal-mines Act showed a slight increase over that of the previous year, but I am sorry to say that there was a further decrease in the number of candidates offering themselves for examination under the Mining Act. This is not surprising, as the metal side of mining has unfortunately shown a declining tendency. The following holders of British certificates of competency as coal-mine managers were granted equivalent New Zealand certificates under the Coal-mines Act: First class —Robert Murray, of Nightcaps, and Thomas Howard of Runanga ; second class—Alexander Tervit, of Frankton Junction, and Robert Wilson, of Ohai. Mine-surveyors' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, without examination, were also issued to the following, the Board considering they possessed the prescribed qualifications : Thomas Geddes, Ohai ;W. H. Turner, Petone ;E. W. Kennedy, Runanga ; A. A. W. Dromgool, Auckland. In addition the first-class mine-managers' certificates of forty-one persons were also endorsed by the Board as competent to act as mine-surveyors. Two service permits as oil-well managers under the Mining Act were also issued during tho year one to E. W. Bender, of New Plymouth, and the other to P. D. Thompson, of Tokomaru Bay, It is with regret that I have to record the death in November last of Mr. P. G. Morgan. The late Mr. Morgan was Chairman of the Boards of Examiners under the Coal-mines and Mining Acts for a number of years, being first appointed in April, 1911, and was an able and indefatigable one, and one who always had the interests of the Boards at heart. His loss will be very great indeed. Mr. J. A. C. Bayne, Chief Inspector of Coal-mines, acted as Chairman of both Boards until my appointment in March last. The certilicates issued or endorsed since the last report of the Board-, was published are as follows :— COAL-MINES ACT, 1925. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Issued after Examination. Hall, Richard, Petone. Watson, John Reginald, Hunt-v. Issued on Production of Certificate from a recognized, Authority outside the Dominion. Howard, Thomas, Runanga.
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Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Issued, after Examination. Curran, Valentine, Pukemiro Junction. Godden, Robert Lawrence, Pukemiro. McDonald, Robert, Milton. Fleming, Robert, Huntly. Johnston, William, Pukemiro. Woods, Albert, Millerton. Issued, on Production of Certificate from a recognized Authority outside the Dominion. Glendenning, James William, Dobson.. Paterson, William, Christchurch. Wilson, Robert, Ohai. MIN R-STIRVEYORS' CERTIFICATES. Issued without Examination. Dromgool, Anthony Aloysius William, Auckland. Beilby, C. S., Denniston. Issued after Examination. Edginton, Bernot Kwart, Dunedin. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates endorsed under Regulation 8 (3) under the Goal-mines Act, 1925. Armstrong, James, Runanga. Howard, Thomas, Runanga. Penman, Alexander, Rotowaro Armstrong, Valentine, Runanga. Huntor, Charles, Rotowaro. Huntly. Bayno, John Archibald Campbell, James, Isaac Angelo, Greymouth. Ross, John, Ohai. Wellington. King, Thomas H., Runanga. Smith, Albort, Millerton. Baxendale, James, Auckland. Langford, George S., Ohai. Smith, George, Brunnerton. Brown, John Connel, Westport. Lowes, George Wall, Mahakipawa.. Strongman, Charles James, Granity. Buist, Charles David, Roa. Marshall, A. G., Donniston. Tattloy, E. W., Auckland. Crowe, William, Nelson. Makinson, Job, Hikurangi. Taylor, Alfred Henry, Hikurangi. Davis, Oliver James, Reefton. Morris, Arthur, Ohai. Thompson, Cyril, Brunnerton. Davies, Wilfred Charles, Huntly. Murray, Robert, Ohai, Southland. Thomson, Thomas, Ngaruawahia. Forsyth, Matthew, Seddonville. Neilson, James, Blackball. Watson, John, Rotowaro. Fry, Sidney, Brunnerton. Nelson, Edwin, Granity. Whittlcstonc, Arthur William, Den Gilbert, George, Millerton. O'Donnell, Alphonsus, Roa. niston. Hewitson, William Ewart Gladstone, Parsonage, William, Blackball. Wood, William, Reefton. Denniston. Pendleton, Samuel, Rotowaro. Underviewers' Certificates. Issued after Examination. Canning, GeorgeMoFarlane,Millerton. Philp, Thomas, Denniston. ■ Stirling, James, Huntly. Hutchinson, larison, Huntly. Smith, Joseph William, Donniston. Williamson, George, Glen Masscy. Firemen and Deputies' Certificates. Issued after Examination. Anderson, James, Denniston. Hawker, Clarence, Kaitangata. Olson, Claronce Victor, Millerton. Bennett, Thomas Low, Seddonville. H.ewison, Sydney, Dunollie. Orman, James, Millerton. Byors, William, Glen Masscy. Hillary, William, Reefton. Page, John Skikelthorp, Runanga. Coppersmith, Alexander, Denniston. Kelly, Henry Michael, Granity. Ross, Richard, Ohai. Currie, William Nicol, Pukemiro. Kelly, John, Runanga. Skinner, Charles, Reefton. Dellaway, Alfred James, Denniston. Lawson, Robert, Pukemiro. Stirling, James, Huntly. Edwards, Alfred, Dobson. Learmonth, Alexander, Glen Massey. Thomas, William, Donniston. Gaskell, Gilbert, Denniston. Lockington, Francis Edward, Reefton. Wallwork, William Alfred, Greymouth. Gourlay, James Wallace, Blackball. Marsh, Thomas, Runanga. Williams, Charles Henry, Kaitangata. Green, John Allen, Huntly. McKinney, John, Kaitangata. Wilson, Matthew, Ohai. Griffiths, Norman George, Runanga. Mitchell, Thomas, Glen Massey. Wilson, Robert, Pukemiro. Harris, Adam, Mt. Somers. Nimmo, Allan, Ngapara. MINING ACT, 1926. Battery Superintendent's Certikicatf.. Issued after Examination. Sanderson, Frank Leonard, Waiuta. Dredg em aster's Certificate tinder the Mining Act. Endorsed, as Glass A Certificate under Section 11 (C) of the Mining Amendment Act, 1927. Mouat, William Gilbert, Howard, via Nelson. I have, &c, J. HENDERSON, Chairman of Bonrds. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.
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Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1928-I.2.2.2.3
Bibliographic details
MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1928 Session I, C-02
Word Count
50,960MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1928 Session I, C-02
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