C—2

ANNEXURE B QUARRIES REPORT BY THE INSPECTOR OF QUARRIES FOR THE NORTH ISLAND (R, C. Ruefin) The following is my report for the year ended 31st December, 1948, for surface and underground work done under the provisions of the Quarries Act, 1944, and which comes within the North Island District under my inspection. Quarries A total of 269 quarries were worked during the year 1948, being a decrease of 1 compared with last year, while the number of men employed at quarrying for the same period was 1,052 showing a decrease of 57 under the number for 1947. Total Output of Quarries The total ouput of material quarried for the year 1948 is 1,902,323 tons, valued in the quarries at £598,684, compared with 1,908,698 tons, valued at £567,167, for 1947. There is no marked difference in the quantities of the various materials won from quarries during the year under review, but I am inclined to believe that in the production of agricultural lime a much arger output would have been achieved if the operators had not been handicapped by difficulties beyond their control, such as loss of orders due to increased railway freights and shortage of railway wagons. Underground Quarries Wellington City Council. —Karori Reservoir Tunnel: Main drive finished* lined size 6 ft. by 6 ft., length 1,180 ft.; storm-water drive finished, fined size 6 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in., length 323 ft. ; adit finished, lined size 5 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft., length 70 ft. ; Maldive Street Tunnel, Khandallah, size 6 ft. by 6 ft., length'l,loo ft. ; tunnel at Pipitea Street, size 6 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in., carried on three-piece timber sets and lathed, clay country throughout. Working conditions good and adequately supervised. Auckland City Council. —Fanshawe Street : A party of men engaged in sinking and tunnelling. Olendowie Drainage Scheme : Tunnelling from shaft chamber was perservered with. Auckland City Council Waterworks Development. —Cossey's Creek Gorge to upper intake tunnel, size 6 ft. by 4 ft., length 300 ft.; investigation tunnel, size 6 ft. by 4 ft., length 300 ft.; diversion tunnel, size 6 ft. by 6 ft., length 900 ft. Auckland City Council. —Parnell Road to Maunsell Street Tunnelling : Size 6 ft. by 4 ft.; underground work is completed. Auckland City Council. —Customs to Fort Streets : Shaft sinking and tunnelling is now completed. Auckland City Council: Ardmore Ridge Tunnel: Size finished 6 ft. 4 in. by 6 ft. 4 in., length 7,300 ft. Redmonds end under contract to J. Doolan and party. In all these tunnels the working conditions and supervision are good. Accidents On 28th January, 1948, I accompanied Mr. N. I. Smith, solicitor, of King, McCaw, and Smith,, of Hamilton, at his request, to inspect a quarry near Matamata where Mr. A. B. J. Price received back injuries on the 27th April, 1945. Fatal Accident Fatality : Albert William Ham. This accident occurred at Waimiha on the 18th December,. 1947. The deceased was operating a slack drag-line and crusher. I inspected the scene of the accident on 25th February, 1948 ; I reported that it was not a quarry accident. Serious Accident Accident at Birkenhead Borough Council's Quarry at Takapuna to Sidney Trow on 3rd March, 1948. The injured person suffered a compound fracture of the left leg, a fractured pelvis, and a possible fracture of the spine. Accident caused when installing a primary jaw crusher, the frame slipped and pinned him against a wooden structure.

44