C.—2.

ANNEXURE B.

STONE QUARRIES.

SUMMARY QP REPORT BY INSPECTOR OP QUARRIES POR THE NORTH ISLAND. (R. T. H. Dale.) The following is my report for the year ending 31st December, 1939, for stone quarries and tunnels worked under the Stone Quarries Act, 1910, in the North Island district. The statement attached gives details of the number of quarries worked, the number of men employed, and the output and valuo of the various classes of stone. Quarries. A total of 321 quarries was w.orked during 1939, a decrease of 2 as compared with tbo previous year. The number of men employed decreased from 1,954 in 1938 to 1,433 in 1939, a decrease of 521. This decrease in the number of workmen is due to the tapering-off of the work on city reserves, which involved quarrying, and also to the more efficient handling by means of machinery of the outputs of some of the large quarries. Tunnels, Wellington City Council's Sewerage Tunnels.—The tunnel has been driven north from Drummond Street to Everton Terrace, arid is now being continued towards Wellcsley College and from Wellesley College towards Sydney Street. At the last inspection the total distance driven was 7,500 ft., 6,700 ft. of which was lined and completed. The tunnel is being driven in sections . from shafts varying from 15 ft. to 50 ft. in depth. They are supported on timber, most of which is recovered when the tunnel is lined, which lining consists of precast concrete crowns and inverts set in flat concrete walls. The tunnel is semicircular top and bottom, and 6ftby 3 ft. in the clear. With the object of reducing the risk of surface damage due to tunnelling operations, 1,700 ft. of concrete pipe, 4 ft. internal diameter, has been forced, by means of hydraulic jacks, under the shallow sections. This work was done in,sections up to 128 ft. in length between jacking points. The jacking was done from each end of the section, and in every case an excellent connection was made. The tunnels are well ventilated, and electric lighting is installed throughout. The work throughout is of a very high standard. An average of forty-five men was employed for the year. Birkenhead Borough Council.•—The tunnels to provide the borough's sewerage scheme with an outfall at Brassey Road had, at the last inspection, been driven by the contractor for a total distance of 3,830 ft. in papa and clay formation. They are 6 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in. in the clear and are timbered where necessary. A total distance of 3,311 ft. has been laid with concrete sewerage pipes and sand stowed. Twenty men were employed in tunnelling and lining. Output of Stone. The bulk of the output of stone in the North Island district is being used for roading purposes, and during 1939 the output from quarries supplying material for this purpose has again increased. The output of stone for road use in 1939 was 1,169,050 tons, an increase of 58,972 tons on the 1938 total of 1,110,078 tons. A total of 172,348 tons of limestone were quarried during 1939 for the manufacture of agricultural lime and 269,724 tons for cementmaking. The tonnage of limestone used for agricultural purposes in 1939 was 172,348 tons, as compared to 181,008 tons, in 1939, a decrease of 8,660 tons. The tonnage used for cementmanufacture was 269,724 in 1939, an increase of 50,606. toi).s on the 1938 tonnage of 219,118 tons. The tonnage of stone used for miscellaneous , purposes, which includes soft stone for brick and tile manufacture, has decreased from 180,263 tons in 1938 to 75,063 in 1939. This decrease is due to the completion of various filling and reclamation works on, city reserves. The total tonnage of stone produced during the year was 1,694,862 tons, valued at £353,266 at the quarries. The tonnage for 1938 was 1,697,057 tons, valued at £325,952. Accidents. The following accidents occurred in quarries during 1939 : — Fatalities.,, On 21st March at Smale's quarry, Takapuna, Luka Yelarich, while filling a lorry at the floor of the quarry, was struck by a falling block of sandstone weighing about 2 tons and was crushed against the back of the lorry. On 15th May, at Going's lime quarry, Ruatangata, William Kaire, quarry foreman, aged forty-nine years, while preparing a charge, received fatal injuries from a premature explosion of gelignite. On 15th November, at the Rotorua County Council's quarry at Mamuku, Hector Wiringi, labourer, who was engaged cleaning up the quarry floor, received fatal injuries from a fall of earth and stone which was dislodged by stripping operations. Serious Accidents. On 13th June, at McCallum Bros.' quarry, Karamuramu Island, Edward Da vies, labourer, was assisting in the charging of a down hole with lythyte when a premature explosion occurred. He sustained injuries to his face, eyes, and hands. On 29th October, at Sinclair's quarry, Tomorata, James Scott, quarry foreman, was working alone, and was struck by a rolling stone, receiving injurios which necessitated the amputation of his right forearm.

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