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The District Manager, State Coal-mines, Reefton, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir2Bth April, 1947. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the workings of the Burke's Creek and Garvey Creek State Coal-mines and Wangaloa Opencast for the year ended 31st March, 1947. Burke's Creek Colliery Coal-winning.—This colliery was acquired by the State on 3rd June, 1946. The gross output for the ensuing period ended 31st March, 1947, was 14,453 tons 10 cwt. After allowing for loss on measurement and waste (599 tons 18 cwt. 1 qr.) and the quantity used on works (278 tons 10 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 13,575 tons 1 cwt. 3 qr. Taking into account stocks on hand at the date of acquisition and at the end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the period : 3rd June, 1946 Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard Add net output for period .. .. 13,575 1 3 Add surplus stocks taken on charge .. 96 6 0 13,671 7 3 Less stock on hand .. .. 81 0 0 Less stock on dump .. .. 40 0 0 l2l 0 0 Total disposed of .. .. .. 13,550 7 3 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. 326 3 3 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 11,868 9 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 8 10 Local and mine sales .. .. 1,095 14 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 252 0 0 13,550 7 3 The gross output of the . colliery since its acquisition by the State on 3rd June, 1946, totals 14,453 tons 10 cwt. Days worked.—During the period 3rd June, 1946, to 31st March, 1947, the colliery worked 200J days out of a possible 201 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 13 back Saturdays, and 5 statutory holidays, making the total days worked 218|-. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 200f, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day shift (counted as half a day), fall on the main dip. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 52 men and 3 boys, made up as follows —Underground : coal-hewers, 14 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 26. Surface : 12 men and 3 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 7s. 7d. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 4s. 4d. per day. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 66 tons 3 cwt. and the coal-hewers' daily output was 5 tons 6 cwt. The total number of hewer shifts for the period was 2,733.

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