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" E " Hill Opencast Mine. —Opencasting was continued by mechanical means and very satisfactory results were obtained. The output was to the order of approximately 700 tons per day maintained throughout the year. Extensive repairs and renewals were made on the loco, road during the year, over one mile of track being entirely relaid. Extensive alterations and repairs were almost completed on the main bin at Ngakawau. An up-to-date bathhouse, situated at No. 3 Loop, on modern lines was erected and was in use for the greater part of the year. Comet Mining Party's Mine, Inangahua (P. Pupich (Permit), Mine-manager).—Very little output was won from prospecting operations at the beginning of the year. This mine has now closed down and is abandoned, Two men were employed. Paine Bros.' Mine, Buller Gorge (N. B. Paine (Underviewer), Mine-manager).—Coal is won solely by opencast methods, embracing the recovery of coal left behind in pillars by former underground mining. Eight men were employed. Rahui Mine (Buller Goal Mining Co.), Buller Gorge (J. H. Chandler (Deputy), Mine-manager).— Pillar-extraction continued by hydraulic means in coal averaging 12 ft. in thickness. Two men were employed underground and 1 on the surface. Heaphy's Opencast Mine, Buller Gorge (J. A. Gilroy (Deputy), Mine-manager).—Production was obtained partly from underground work and partly from opencasting. Owing to the party's inability to procure a bulldozer, underground operations were adopted to maintain an output and at the same time provide an extension to the existing flume to make possible the fluming of coal from the furthermost part of the lease. Coal is of good quality and ranges up to 25 ft. in thickness. Three men were employed underground and 2 on the surface. Nelson District Owen Colliery (Owen Collieries, Ltd.), Owen River (C. Taylor (Deputy), Mine-manager).—The output was won principally from development of two levels in low coal 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. in thickness. Towards the latter end of the year, however, 1 pair miners was placed on pillar-extraction near the outcrop. Seven men were employed underground and 1 on the surface. Six-mile Mine (J. Gillespie), Murchison (J. Gillespie (Permit), Mine-manager),—The output was won by 4 men working a vertical seam of irregular thickness. Three men worked underground and 1 on the surface. Strathmore Mine (R. E. F. O'Rourke), Murchison (R. E. F. O'Rourke (Permit), Mine-manager).— A very small output was won from a 4 ft. seam of good-quality coal. Westhaven Mine (G. and A. H. Wynn), Mangaralcau, Collingwood (P. Hart (Deputy), Minemanager). —Development was continued on level course right and left of the crosscut dip. The seam averaged 5 ft. in thickness and is of fairly good quality. Six men were employed underground and 2 on the surface. Victory Mine (R. H. O'Brien), Glenhope.—No coal was won from this mine during the year and the mine was abandoned. WharariJci Mine (McHardy and King), Puponga (A. J. McHardy (Second Class), Mine-manager),— A small quantity was mined by prospecting operations in a seam 5 ft. thick. Two men Were employed underground. Fatal Accidents One fatal accident occurred during the year. On 10th March, 1947, A. J. Campbell, shiftman, Liverpool Colliery, was killed instantly when a fall of coal dislodged two sets of timber which struck him on the head and back. Death was due to fracture of the base of skull and extensive injuries to base of neck. Serious Non-fatal Accidents Twenty-two serious accidents occurred during the year : On 27th January, 1947, Luigi Viol, shiftman, Wallsend Colliery, was struck by a falling bar and sustained a fracture of the second and third transverse lumbar vertebrae. On 13th February, 1947, Kevin Rushton, surface ropeboy, Burke's Creek Colliery, sustained a simple fracture of the right arm when shunting trucks at the mine mouth. On 24th February, 1947, Charles Wesley, miner, Wallsend Mine, was struck on the back of his right hand by a falling lath, sustaining a fracture of fourth metacarpal. On 11th March, 1947, R. McKenzie, shiftman, Burke's Creek Colliery, when assisting to shunt some full trucks in a lay-bye sustained compound fracture of the toes of the right foot. On 14th April, 1947, Norman Gourdie, trucker, Dobson Colliery, fell and struck his left shoulder on a rail. It was later ascertained that he suffered a fracture of left scapula. On 16th May, 1947, Neil Harris, trucker, Burke's Creek Colliery, sustained severe head injuries When his head was crushed between the top of a truck and a carrying-bar at the bottom of a jig. On 27th June, 1947, F. Rogers, miner, Alborn's Mine, was buried by a fall of top coal and sustained a dislocation of the spinal column. On Ist July, 1947, J. Biddington, trucker, Strongman Colliery, was crushed by two full trucks and received a fractured pelvis and right fibula.

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