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APPENDIX C. REPORT OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. Geological Survey Office, g IE Wellington, 30th July, 1937. Oil 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 1936 Coal-mines Act. —The annual examinations of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, were held at Huntly, Reefton, Westport, Greymouth, and Nightcaps, on the 20th October and two following days. In addition, one candidate was examined at Westport for a mine-surveyor's certificate under the Coal-mines Act. Examinations were held for candidates who desired to obtain underviewers' and firemen-deputies' certificates at Dtmedin on the sth, 6th, and 7th October ; at Huntly on the 10th November ; at Greymouth on the 19th and 20th November ; and at Westport on the 27th November. Thirty-six gas-testing certificates were issued to candidates under the Coal-mines Act. The Board's decision regarding the non-acceptance of gas-testing certificates more than five years old is now in full force, and it is necessary for candidates for examination, whose gas-testing certificates do not comply with the Board's requirements, to undergo a further gas test. During 1936 seventeen candidates were re-examined in gas-testing and their gas-testing certificates endorsed to that effect. The total number of candidates sitting the various examinations under the Coal-mines Act showed an increase of twenty over the previous year. Mining Act. —Examinations for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates under the Mining Act, 1926, were held at Waihi and Reefton on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd October, the total number of candidates presenting themselves for examination being nine, as against eight for the previous year, while an examination of candidates for dredgemasters' certificates was conducted at Greymouth on the 18th November. Under the Mining Act, 1926, one service permit as oil-well manager was granted. The Mines Department, at the request of the Board, has revised the list of deep or swift-flowing streams in respect of which it is mandatory that the masters of dredges working thereon shall be the holders of Class A Dredgemasters' Certificates, and I understand the revised list will appear in the annual report of the Department. General. The Boards decided that each examiner under the Mining and Coal-mines Acts should be asked to supply a short comment on the lines followed by the examiners under the Coal-mines Act in Great Britain as to the manner in which the candidates as a whole answered each question set, and that the Board should furnish the information obtained to Schools of Mines, and, if desired, to the press. The Boards also dealt with a considerable number of other matters arising out of applications for and the issue of certificates, none of which, however, calls for special mention. The following is a summary of the various examinations and the results obtained : —

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Number of Candidates. Nu mber Act and Examination. , Examined. Passed. Partial Pass. Exara^ation . Recognized Credentials. 1. Coal-mines Act, 1925 — Mine-manager's certificate — (а) First class — Written examination .. 14\ | g Oral examination .. *4/ (б) Second class — Written examination . . 10 \ 2 9 2 Oral examination . . 8 f Underviewer's certificate . . .. 16 lOf 2 10 Fireman-deputy's certificate ... 35 29J 8 29 Mine-surveyor's certificate — Written examination .. 1 \ Oral examination . . .. • ■ f 2. Mining Act, 1926 — Mine-manager's certificate — (a) First classWritten examination .. 6 \ Oral examination .. If (b) Second class — Written examination Oral examination Battery Superintendent's certificate — Written examination .. 3\ Oral examination .. .. If Dredgemaster's certificate — Class A.. .. .. 2 2 .. 2 Class B .. .. 6 5§ .. 4 Class B (by exchange) .. j 1 j 1 • • 1 * Includes one candidate who had previously passed the written examination. f Includes one candidate who last year was credited with a partial pass pending production of a certain certificate. J Includes nine candidates who last year were credited with partial passes pending production of certain certificates. § Includes one candidate whose certificate was not issued, pending production of further evidence of service.