C.—2.

Output.

Number of Persons Employed.

Remarks. Nelson District.—The cause of the decrease in output in this district was the reduction by 50 per cent, of the persons employed at the Owen Colliery and operations at O'Rourke's Mine having been at a standstill during the whole year. Butter District.—With the exception of the Cardiff and Cascade Creek Mines, all mines in this district continued to work good time during the year. At the two mines referred to, there was a decrease in output of 3,001 tons and 3,704 tons respectively, yet there was an increase of 8,079 tons from this district. Reefton District.—The mines in this district worked better time than during the year 1937. This is reflected in an increase of output to the extent of 4,148 tons, with an increase only of two persons employed. The Surprise and Perfection Mines on the Morrisvale lease remained closed during the whole of the year. Grey District.—Although the number of persons employed) in] this district] shows an increase compared with the number employed during 1937, there was a slight decrease in output. This condition is due chiefly to the reduction of persons employed on coal-production at the Blackball Mine. This mine shows a decrease of 10,168 tons compared with the year 1937, although the number of persons employed was increased by two. Quite a large number of persons have been employed at this mine since Ist April, 1938, constructing two stone tunnels for the purpose of tapping the coal lying to the dip of the old dip workings in the mine. Substantial increases in output were shown at the Dobson and Paparoa Mines, and 50 per cent, of the Co-operative Parties' mines increased their output. Greymouth District. Liverpool State Colliery, Kewanui.—Morgan Seam : All operations in the Morgan seam have been confined to the area situated to tho rise of the main levels to the cast and west of the main stone-drive. With the oxception of the output from six development places which have operated during the year in No. 3 west bank, the output from the Morgan seam has been obtained from pillar-extraction. All development work to tho rise of the main levels has been completed with the exception of a portion of No. 3 west bank. Pillarextraction is carried out under the straight-line principle. It is intended to commence development to the dip of the main levels in the near future, and, preparatory to commencing, larger-diameter pipes, to carry compressed air, are being installed along the main haulage tunnel and preparations for the installation of an electrically-operated compressor have been made on tho surface adjacent to the return airway. On the 11th August a fire occurred, due to spontaneous heating, in No. 1 bank seotion, Morgan east. Temporary stoppings were immediately erected to seal off tho fire, and later the fire was enclosed within three concrete stoppings. In November the fire revived immediately behind the concrete stopping on the intake side, and it was found necessary to erect a second line of stoppings to seal off the firo permanently. We may also add that stoppings have been erected in all sections of the Morgan seam for the purpose of creating barriers between each section. Kimbell and Anderson Seams : Development work in the Kimbell west dip is still in progress, while the Anderson dip has been advanced a distance of 8 chains in good-quality coal, the seam lying at a gradient of 1 in 2f. Development work in tho Anderson west level ceased during the year owing to the coal to the west becoming dirty and unmarketable and pillar-extraction has been commenced. In the east level, after driving 7J chains, a fault was encountered. Prospecting through the fault proved the existence of the seam 8 ft. in thickness which contains a band of stone 4 in. in thickness. The greatest portion of the output from tho Kimbell and Anderson seams was obtained by pillar-extraction. The haulage facilities in the Kimbell and Anderson seams will be improved as a result of the installation of larger-diameter compressed-air pipes and the installation of the compressor referred to in connection with development work in the Morgan seam. AH wood bars that required renewing on the main haulage road during the year have been removed and steel bars substituted. James State Colliery, Bapahoe.—Coal-mining operations during the year were carried out in both pillarextraction and solid workings. In No. 1 west section all pillars were extracted to within a safe distance of the main haulage road and the area closed down, while in No. 2 west section pillar-extraction was almost completed at the end of the year, only one pair of miners being employed in the section. Very little work was done in the Cannel Creek section during the year, but pillar-extraction will commence early in 1939. In the new dip section development work has continued. The main headings were extended in an easterly direction and the coal-seam maintained an average thickness of 7 ft. to Bft., while tho coal is of very good quality. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 levels in this section, coursing in a northerly direction, encountered a fault, and development work in this direction ceased. No work was done in No. 1 east section for a considerable time, but during the year operations recommenced. The pillars therein are being split and robbed, it being necessary to leave stumps of coal to prevent water entering the mine from the surface.

70

1937. 1938. Increase. Decrease. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Nelson District .. .. .. .. .. 17,505 16,574 .. 931 Buller District .. .. .. .. .. 432,378 440,457 8,079 Reefton District .. .. .. .. .. 44,077 48,225 4,148 Grey District .. .. .. .. .. 481,268 479,133 .. 2,135 975,228 984,389 12,227 3,066 Net increase in Output = 9,161 tons.

1937. 1938. Increase. Decrease. Nelson District .. .. . . . . .. 50 39 .. 11 Buller District .. .. .. .. .. 770 852 82 Reefton District .. .. .. .. .. 92 94 2 Grey District .. .. .. .. .. 1,044 1,086 42 1,956 2,071 126 11 Net increase in Persons = 115.