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importance ia talcing place, 'rite stone drive, which was commenced near the screening plant, has now intercepted Samson's seam. The length of tho stone drive is approximately 3,000 ft., and its construction will materially lessen the underground transport charges and greatly facilitate the further development of this seani to the dip. 8a far as the present mine is concerned, the extent of its future life will be determined by the results obtained from development work in this locality. Southland District. At the Beattie Coster, Hedgehop©, Coster, Waimuniu, Newvale, Mataura Paper-mill, Croydon, Raby, Firelite, Argyle, Ota Creek, Asher's Siding, Waimeamea, and Hawkanui Coal-pits, opencast operations were continued during the year. _ Balfour Mine. —The main south levels have been continued and lignite of fair quality produced, Boghead Mine. —Development places have been continued to the dip, and also lower levels to the north and south. Otikerama Mime. —Development work has been continued along the main east levels, and a new air-shaft constructed. Black Lion Mine. —Pillar-extraction lias been continued to the north and north-west of the mam jig heading. A development heading now being driven north-west may prove a small area of thin coal, but nothing lias been done to indicate much more coal being made available. Black Diamond Mine. —The whole of the mine output has again been won from pillar-extraction, the area worked being from the lower portion of the main dip heading and up to No. 4 level. Mossbamk No. 4 Mine. —Development work has been carried out to the north, east, and west. Faulting has been encountered in all three directions. Further development work will be commenced to the dip —i.e., to the south. Star Mine. —Pillar-extraction has continued in the panels to tho rise of No. 1 east level with satisfactory results. Further development work was" carried out to the dip, and a series of lower levels were also driven in an easterly direction. The result of the development work is reasonably good. Birch-wood Mine. —The greater portion of the output] has again been won from pillar-extraction in the lower areas. Development work has also been continued in the No. 2 west section, but insufficient concentration has been applied to development work. Wairaki. —No. 1 Mine: Pillar-extraction has been continued in the several sections of this mine throughout the year. As no further development work is anticipated at this mine, pillar-extraction will be continued. No. 3 Mine: ,The main dip heading has been extended to a total distance of 17 chains and is being continued. No. 1 west level lias been driven 12 chains; work in this level lias disclosed a faulting running north-west - south-west. The quality of coal being developed is good, and the development of the mine continues to prove a fairly large area of good-quality coal. Linton. —No. 1 Mine: During the year development work has taken place in Nos. 9 and 10 sections, following upon the extension of the maim dip heading, which is standing on a fault running east - west and intercepted at a point 44 chains from the mine entrance. Pillar-extraction is proceeding in the remaining sections of the mine. No. 3 Mine: The main north headings have now been driven a total distance of 2(S chains, a fault having been driven through and an area of good-quality coal made available north of the fault. Development work and consequent pillar-extraction lias continued throughout the sections to the east and west of the main headings and on the outbye or south side of the fault. Fatal Accidents. On the 14tli September George Wilson, shiftman, was killed in the Wairaki No. 1 mine. He was engaged Jin, laying a road into a pillar place when he sustained a fractured skull as a result of being struck by falling coal. On tho 28th October Arthur James Birley, employee at the East Taieri Mine, was killed by electric shock. Birley was illegally engaged in carrying out alterations to the electric underground circuit, and sustained an electric shock as a result of faulty electric connections made by him. Serious Accidents. On the 7th January Eric Roberts, miner at the Airedale Mine, sustained a compound fracture of the left leg as a result of being struck by falling coal in a solid place. On the 10th February R. Rutherford, miner at Birchwood Mine, sustained a fracture of the right leg as a result of being struck by falling stone just inbye of the lip of the working-place. On the 17th February R. Lambert, surface worker at the Star Mine, sustained a fracture of the right forearm as a result of being troddajjj on by a horse. On the 20th February Mark Lancaster, miner, Kaitangata, sustained head injuries as a result of being struck by falling coal; in this case the use of a helmet definitely averted a fatality. On the 2nd April John Nally, trucker, Linton Mine, sustained a compound fracture of the right arm as a result of being struck by the jig-rope socket. On the 24th April Robert Carson, screen worker, Kaitangata Mine, sustained a fracture of the right leg as, a result of slipping adjacent to the picking-table. On the 9tli June S. C. Gray, surface worker at Linton Mine, sustained a fracture of the right forearm as a result of being crushed between two mine trucks. Dangerous Occurrences. Wairaki No. I.—l7tli January: Heating occurred in the goaf, stone dip section. Area effectively sealed off. Linton No. 1. —20th February: Fire broke out in No. 3 section. Area effectively sealed. Linton No. 1. —9th March: Fire broke out in the old liorse-levcl section. Stoppings were erected and the area flooded. Wairaki No. 1. —Heating occurred in No. 6 section. Area effectively sealed off. Black Lion. —20tli June: Fire broke over the stoppings in the horse-level section. The -area was effectively sealed off. Mount Somers. —19th July: Fire broke out in the old workings. Concrete stoppings were erected and the area flooded. Wairaki No. I.—23rd November: Heating occurred in the stone dip section. Tho area was effectively sealed off. Prosecutions. On the 19th May a mine-manager was prosecuted and convicted for a breach of Regulation 220 (2) of the Coal-mines Regulations 1939, and fined £1 10s. and £2 costs. On the lltli December a mine-manager was prosecuted and convicted for a breach of Regulation 254 (2) of the Coal-mines Regulations 1939, and fined £2 and 10s. costs.

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