C—2

B Section main heading has been extended to a point 14 chains from the main heading. Three development headings are being driven for this area. Development of B1 Panel has been pushed on rapidly by machine. No further development has taken place in A Section, but a line of surface bores has been put down parallel to the main heading to test the swamp bed. These prove the existence of a thick bed of fireclay above the coal for the distance bored, 4 chains ahead of the face of A Section main heading. Development of No. 1 Rise Panel was completed in June and pillar-extraction is now proceeding. Development of No. 2 and No. 3 Rise Panels is being continued. A new fan-drift to the surface, concrete lined, has been completed in line with the main return and will be equipped with a modern fan designed for the mine, while a new haulage road is being driven to the surface in line with the main heading. A straight cut across several bends of the Awaroa Stream below the dam which supplies the water for the bathhouses will improve the getaway of the water during wet weather and will also provide for better disposal of drainage from houses in Rotowaro Village. Waikato Extended Opencast (Roose Shipping Co., Ltd.). —During the year a small output was maintained from opencast coal for shipping on the Waikato River and house coal. Nine men were employed and the total output was 5,325 tons. Late in the year the screens, bin, and loading gear on the Waikato River bank were completed, and it is now intended to work an area of stripped coal to the west of the present opencast, using motor-trucks for transport to the landing. Bell and Devlin's Mine. —A party of four are working this small mine, which commenced work in June in a small area of coal obtained on royalty from Taupiri Coal-mines, Ltd. The coal is of good quality and the output is taken by motor-truck to the railway at Huntly. Glen Afton Potteries Opencast.—A small area of stripped coal 6 ft. thick has been worked intermittently as required, the output being used in the pottery-works. Huntly Brickworks.—No coal was worked during the year. All clay required for brickmaking at the works was quarried at two faces. Late in the year construction of a large modern kiln of continuousaction type was commenced and is now well under way. This will ensure greater output with a betterquality product. Te Pahu Colliery, Karamu. —Early in the year prospecting was started by a party of two men at a 6 ft. outcrop near the Karamu Caves, on Auckland LTniversity endowment property. Prospects were encouraging, and underground mining commenced in June, and the drive has been put in 3 chains from the outcrop and an airshaft connected. The coal at the face is 4 ft. 6 in. and is of fair quality. Dally''s Mine, Hauturu. —Owing to its isolated situation and the difficulty of getting qualified men to work it, this small mine produced no coal during 1945. Whatawhata Campbell Colliery.—The face of the main dip is now 9 chains from the surface, and it is intended shortly to continue its development to the south-west as the seam maintains its thickness of 10 ft. Al5 ft. upthrow fault has been struck to the south-east, but the seam has been shown to continue beyond this, and further proving and development will be done. The mine has maintained a steady output during the year in supplying the local market. Rangitoto Opencast Coal-mine (Hamilton and Harvey), Otorohanga.—Production continued at this mine, which was operated for the owners by a contractor until July, and later by the owners themselves. Owing to the poor quality of coal produced, there was little demand for this coal after October, and only two men were employed from then on, producing a very small output from the 5 ft. of clean coal at the top of the seam. The output for the year was 11,226 tons. Kimihia State Opencast (Johnson's Mine). —No. 4 Area : Production from this area continued in 1945, extraction of available coal being completed by 30tb. June. . The total spoil shifted was 201,500 cubic yards, and the total coal won from the area 46,614 tons, including 14,764 tons during 1945. The area has now been worked over and prepared for resowing, seed and manure being on hand for this purpose. No. 2 Area : Work on this area started on 16th February and was finished by 16th June. A total of 39,300 cubic yards of spoil was removed for a total output of 9,096 tons of coal. This area has also been prepared for resowing, and seed and manure are on hand. No. 1 Area : Total spoil used on the stop-bank was 94,960 cubic yards, including 71,000 cubic yards in 1944 and 23,960 cubic yards in 1945. Spoil handled in the whole area, both in stripping the seam and constructing the bank, totalled 301,200 cubic yards to 31st December, 1945. Coal produced to date totals 20,298 tons, and production of coal started on 18th June, 1945. During the year bins and screens were completed at the opencast, the coal being brought to the bins by " flying fox " from the open cut. Haulage of the coal by motor-truck to Huntly was found to be too costly and subject to interruption, and late in the year a full-gauge rail connection was provided from the main line south of the old Kimihia Station to the mine bins. A 5-yard electrically driven Bucyrus-Erie dragline purchased in America was also delivered and assembled, and in the latter part of the year has speeded up the stripping of overburden. Clen Afton State Opencast.—Spoil shifted in 1945 was 155,000 cubic yards, making a total to the end of the year of 326,000 cubic yards. Coal produced was 15,465 tons during 1945, making a total production of 27,302 tons for the opencast. Work is proceeding, but will probablv be completed during 1946.

39