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On 23rd June at Taupiri Coal-mine an inrush of water into Ollis's Dip Section, No. 1 Mine, resulted from the creek breaking in from the surface. Due to the extent of flooding, the Callaghan's Dip Section was unable to be worked. On 3rd August at Pukemoro Mine a fire which broke out in the No. 2 Right requiring the assistance of the Rescue-station equipment was ultimately effectively dealt with by sealing it off. On 11th August at Mangapehi State Mine a fire was discovered in the timber lagging over the* main dip near the pumping at bottom of the dip. At this point a large quantity of loose coal was supported by the lagging. The heat generated set fire to the timber. The fire was quenched withe water and brought under complete control. On 28th August at Mac Donald Mine in E Jig Section a fire was caused through a defective stopping. The assistance of the Superintendent, Rescue-station, was requested in the subduing of this fire. Upon inspection it was found that two stoppings were necessary to seal the affected area off. During' the process of sealing, six pairs of miners were withdrawn from their working-places, but five pairs were able to resume work the following day. On 29th August at Taupiri Coal-mine in the No. 4 Panel, Callaghan's Dip Section, a fire was discovered on the goaf side of a stump that was extracted. As the result of this fire this panel had to be sealed off for the time being. On Ist October at Mac Donald Mine three stoppings were necessary to seal off an area where a heating was taken place in the E Dip Pillar Section. The necessary stoppings were erected, and soons after the area was reported clear. On 3rd November at Mangapehi State Mine a fire of maximum intensity was discovered about midway between the Nos. 1 and 2 East Levels. To effectively deal with this the assistance of theSuperintendent, Rescue-station, was requested. During the period of dealing with this fire all men except those engaged on fire-fighting were withdrawn from the mine. It seems certain that this fire resulted from spontaneous ignition in the fallen top coal in the airway. Resulting from the nature of this fire it has been decided to have all loose or fallen coal cleaned up from these airways. On Ist November at Glen Afton Mine fire-stink was detected coming from the goaf in the E2 First Panel pillars. To effectively isolate this area a fall of roof was secured and stoppings erected to seal the goaf. On the 6th November at Wilton State Colliery it was reported that a brattice door had been accidently ignited through an employee passing through. This was effectively and satisfactorily dealt with. Persecutions During the year four prosecutions were taken, two by the inspection staff, one by the Pukemiro* Co., and one by the Renown Co. The two cases taken by the management of the Pukemiro and Renown Cos. were taken at the instigation of the Inspector of Coal-mines, who considered that as a means of strengthening the hands of the managers concerned it was in their best interests from a disciplinary point of view to take action on their own account. The case taken by the Pukemiro Co. was against a trucker, James Mati, who was found with smoking-material in his pocket whilst in the mine. This resulted in a fine of £5 with Court costs being imposed. In the case of Renown the charge laid was against a Maori, Tarawhiti, who assaulted a deputy shot-firer whilst in the execution of his duties. This resulted in a fine of £lO and Court costs being imposed. The two cases by the Inspector were : Firstly, that of K. L. Harvey, manager, Rangitoto Opencast Mine. The charge laid that on 16th April, 1947, he did fail to exercise daily personal supervision of the mine. On this count he was fined £2 and Court costs 10s. The second case was that of M. Miller, deputy and shot-firer, Pukemiro Colliery, who neglected to see that all persons in the vicinity had taken proper shelter before the firing of a shot. For this omission he was fined £5 and Court costs lis. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. Adamsost and L. C. Cook, Inspectors of Coal-mines) Geeymouth District Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui (L. F. O'Loughlin (First Class), Mine-manager).—Anderson Dip Section : Four pairs of colliers were employed partly in pillar-extraction and partly in the solid. Owing to the heavily fallen nature of the old roadways, recovery of pillars, particularly towards the bottom of the James Dip haulage road, was extremely difficult. A level driven in continuation of Kennedy's Dip was extended into Leech's Dip area, which was previously sealed off. It is proposed to prospect for the continuation of the seam beyond the fault encountered in this level which terminated all work on the eastern side of the Anderson Dip Section.

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