C—2a

Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £2 lis. 9d. Accidents.—ln addition to numerous accidents of a minor nature, 1 serious accident occurred on 9th October, 1946, when a shiftman was struck in the small of the back by a fall of side coal which resulted in him receiving a fracture of the spine in the right lumbar region. Underground Workings.—No. 1 Dip : Six pairs have been engaged in finishing the development in this section and have now commenced splitting on the retreat, In the area between the roll and the fault a distance of approximately 3|- chains was driven until cut off by the two converging faults. A good deal of prospecting was done on the fault side of this area with negative results. Owing to the dusty nature of the coal in this section, only six hours per day have been worked for the greater portion of the period under review. No. 2 Dip : One pair of miners has been engaged for the period brushing the dip as the water-level was lowered and latterly in driving the bottom level on the west side to the Taylorville Faults The Korfmann machine has been in use in this place and is giving good results. The water has been removed from the whole of the No. 2 Dip and the pump shifted to the machine dip area, and this has been pumped down approximately 27 yards. The concrete-block stoppings have been erected down to this point and the machine level brushed into the top of the machine dip. No. 1 Slant Dip : Owing to adverse roof conditions and to the slow rate of retreat, partly due to the working of six hours only due to the places being dusty, it has only been possible to keep four pairs in this section for the latter half of the year. No. 2 Slant Dip: Three pairs of miners have been engaged in splitting the pillars on a line parallel to the barrier and have reached a point approximately half a chain on the outbye side of the old dip. Good results have been attained in this section owing to splitting commencing immediately the barrier was reached, in direct contrast to our experience in No. 1 Slant Dip, where the pillars had stood for a long time. A good deal of trouble has been experienced with the pumping in this section owing to the corrosive nature of the water to be pumped. Extension Section: Six pairs now engaged in splitting in the retreat. Development was completed during the year owing to the low coal area cutting the section off. Splitting was commenced along the top airway, while a new main jig behind the present jig was constructed and a slant dip put down to work the two rows of pillars below the main level. Splitting is continuing on the retreat on the line of dip. A good deal of trouble and expense is occasioned by the continuous creep in these low workings and the slow rate of retreat, chiefly caused by shortage of men. The new 6 in. compressed-air line has been installed and is proving beneficial. The main return airway between No. 2 Dip and the bottom of the Upcast Shaft has been timbered and partially cleaned up, but a good deal more work still requires to be done here. The new airway has been driven, and as soon as the undercast has been erected we will put it into commission. One pair of miners has been engaged in driving a new airway between A Panel and the Slant Dip return, as the companion is closed along this stretch. Dobson Colliery Goal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 59,379 tons 17 cwt., an increase of 4,799 tons 17 cwt. 2 qrs. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste {1,341 tons 15 cwt. 2 qr.) and the quantity used on works (232 tons 4 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 57,805 tons 17 cwt. 2 qr.

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