C—2a

At Wairaki No. 1 Mine, pillar-extraction was carried on during the year while the output from Wairaki No. 3 Mine was obtained from solid workings. An increase in output of 375 tons was recorded. The output of the Wilton Colliery decreased by 8,715 tons to 79,937 tons. This colliery has been seriously affected by a shortage of labour following the revocation of the Industrial Man-power Emergency Regulations, and the bad winter caused numerous slips and washouts which affected output. Work continued at the Kimihia Opencast No. 1, where 42,762 tons were produced, making the total output to date 123,031 tons. During the year Athey wagons and tractors were used to remove the unstable overburden, which was dumped outside the mine area. A start has been made on the building of a stop-bank round an area adjacent to the No. 1 Area and known as Kimihia No. 1 Extended. The new area is estimated to contain 450,000 tons of coal. At the Glen Afton Opencast, weather again interfered with output. During the year 15,803 tons were produced, and approximately 8,000 tons remain to be extracted. Work continued steadily at Kemp's Opencast, where 55,246 tons were produced. The Mangapehi Mine suffered from shortage of man-power, and the output declined by 4,171 tons. The decrease in output at the Waitawhena Opencast was due to the extremely wet weather experienced during the winter, which caused difficulties in stripping and transport. Mining conditions at the Tatu Mine have shown an improvement during the year and a small increase in output has resulted. During the year further electrical plant was installed underground. The Wangaloa Opencast produced 32,023 tons for the first complete year of operation. OUTPUTS

A comparative statement of outputs for the last two financial years is shown hereunder:—

2

Mine. Output, 1946-47. Output, 1945-46. Percentage Increase in Gross Output. Percentage Increase in Net Output. Gross. Net. Gross. Net. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Liverpool 100,077 95,380 122,108 117,430 -18-04 -18-78 Strongman 99,329 96,680 100,275 98,420 - 0-94 - 1-77 James 39 39 Blackball 60,037 58,356 61,424 59,286 — 2-26 - 1.57 lVLangapehi 53,940 51,549 58,112 56,014 - 7-18 — 7-97 Tatu 34,377 32,375 32,573 30,979 + 5-54 + 4-51 Wallsend 47,075 ' 44,664 47,233 45,028 - 0-33 - 0-81 Dobson 59,380 57,806 54,580 53,047 + 8-79 + 8-97 Stockton 237,460 231,690 215,221 208,460 + 10-33 + 11-14 Mossbank 25,468 24,398 24,128 22,725 -j- 5-55 + 7-36 Wilton 79,937 75,154 88,653 83,651 - 9-83 -10-16 Wairaki 68,800 65,274 68,425 63,343 + 0-55 + 3-05 Burke's Creek* 14,454 13,575 Glen Afton Opencast 15,803 15,803 14*394 14^394 + 9-79 + 9-79 Kimihia Opencast 42,762 42,762 32,398 32,398 +31-99 +31-99 Kemp's Opencast 55,246 55,246 38,097 38,097 +45-01 +45-01 Ohai Opencast 49,475 49,475 35,492 35,492 +39-40 +39-40 Waitewhena Opencast 21,630 21,630 23,198 23,198 - 6-76 - 6-76 Wangaloa Opencast 32,023 32,023 8,587 8,587 Totals 1,097,273 1,063,840 1,024,937 990,588 * Colliery taken over on 3rd June, 1946.