C—2

Blackball State Colliery, Blackball (P.T. Peattie (First Class), Mine-manager).—Main Dip : This dip was extended for a further 9 chains. The seam is undulating and is of a very wet nature, making mining conditions difficult. The coal is hard and bright and 12 ft. to 15 ft. in thickness. Sump Dip : The development of this dip was stopped at the beginning of the year and a large ipanel was formed which can be utilized as a major pumping-station at some future date. Dunn's Dip : This dip was extended for 4 chains on a steep gradient in coal of fair quality. Twin levels were advanced in a northerly direction to connect with the endless-rope haulage. It is proposed that one of these levels will be used as a haulage road between Dunn's Dip and the endless-rope haulage. The coal in this area is of a friable nature and is 12 ft to 15 ft. in thickness. Crow's Nest: A slant dip was driven 8 chains to give access to a block of coal proved by No. 1 Bore. The coal is of good quality and 12 ft to 15 ft. thick. North Heading : A new north heading was extended for 6 chains from the main dip to win the coal up to the barrier of the old Blackball Mine workings. The coal in this area is of a hard bright nature and ranges from 12 ft. to 15 ft. in thickness. Thirty-four men were employed on the surface and 155 men underground. Blackball Greek Colliery (Balderstone and Party), Blackball (W. Balderstone (Underviewer), Mine-manager). —Operations continued in splitting and extracting pillars in the old Blackball co.'s workings in the top seam. One man was employed on the surface and 8 men underground. Briandale Collieries, Ltd., Ten-mile Creek (T. Howard (First Class), Mine-manager).—Pillar-extraction continued in a small seam adjacent to the old Burnside Co-operative Mine. Two men were employed underground, 3 men were employed transporting coal by locomotive from six mines, and 1 man was employed on track maintenance. Wallsend State. Colliery, Brunnerton (J. Cunningham (First Class), Mine-manager).—No. 1 Section : Coal-production from this section was won from pillar-extraction only, the thickness of seam being approximately 10 ft. Old No. 2 Section : This section is being dewatered to allow the fault in the dip heading to be prospected. No coal was won from this section during the year. No. 1 Slant Dip Section : Coal-production in this section was won from pillar-extraction only, thickness of seam varying from 8 ft. to 12 ft. The system of haulage in this section was changed from endless-rope to direct-haulage. No. 2 Slant Dip Section : Pillar-extraction only was carried out in this section during the year. The seam varies from approximately 8 ft. to 12 ft. in thickness. Extension Section and B Section : Pillar-extraction was also carried out in both these sections. The coal-seam over this area contains a band of stone which varies from 6 in. to 18 in. in thickness. Thirty-two men were employed on the surface and 119 men underground. Dobson State Colliery, Dobson (J. G. Quinn (First Class) Mine-manager).—During the year the output was maintained by development in the Main Dip and No. 5 West Sections with a small amount from the east side. No. 5 West Section was generally good, but the fault which was first encountered in No. 4 AVest Dip has gradually cut off all places down as far as the main level and this fault is now being proved by drilling, but no coal has yet been struck. The Main Dip area struck a fault in No. 2 Dip, and this was pierced with a 10 by 7 drive and coal struck at 60 ft. near No. 1 Borehole. Preparations have been completed for the extension of the main endless ropeway by 18 chains to a point where the dip actually levels out. This will be the permanent terminus of the ropeway. The coal from the working-places will be transported to this point by auxiliary machines. Paparoa State Colliery, Boa (J. J. Queen (First Class), Mine-manager).—The output from both the West and Aerial Sections was mainly from pillar-extraction. The only development work carried out was in the Aerial Rise Section, where two levels were driven some 18 chains to 20 chains beyond the Paparoa Coal Co.'s workings. These two levels were driven through faulted country and, in places, inferior coal, but the possibilities looked encouraging at the end of the year. It is intended to put through a new drive so as to improve the haulage from this section. The old west fan which was situated at Waterfall Creek was dismantled and installed as a ventilating unit for the Aerial Mine and proved quite satisfactory. Work was commenced on the erection of the high-tension power line from Middle Flat to Soldiers. It is expected this will be completed early in 1949. Twenty-two men were employed on the surface and 57 underground. Co-operative Mines in Grey District Spark and Party's Mine, Rewanui (E. Cohen (Underviewer), Mine-manager).—All the output was obtained from pillar-extraction. Two men were employed on the surface and 7 men underground. Old Bunanga Mine (O'Brien and Party), Rewanui (E. W. Kennedy (Underviewer), Mine-manager).-—The output was won from development work on the dip side of the seam. This seam is about 4 ft. thick with 1 ft. band of stone in the middle. Two men were employed on the surface and 8 men underground. Moody Creek Mine (Wright and Party), Dunollie (R. K. McTaggart (Deputy), Mine-managtr.— Development work was continued in 9 ft. of coal on the west side of the fault running parallel with the dip haulage road. The leading place was driven in a northerly direction to connect with the surface for a new return airway. One man was employed on the surface and 7 men underground.

56