C—2a

In the Old Mine a new access drive from the escarpment has been completed, penetrating a large area of pillars of thick, hard coal. Webb Mine : Unexpected difficulties, through faulting, seriously arrested progress with development for a period. The main headings have now penetrated beyond the troubled belt, in excellent coal. Preparations are well in hand for the development of the Webb Extended Mine. Opencast: Production during the year was fairly satisfactory. A large face has now been opened up on the main area. With the new equipment in use a large output should be obtained. Close boring has been continued over a large adjacent area, proving over 4,000,000 tons of excellent coal, within opencast range. Survey and Prospecting. —Steady progress was maintained in surface mapping, and close boring Blocks F and G proving over 4,000,000 tons of low-ash, low-sulphur, and low-moisture coal. In Baynes Block, which lies to the north of F and G scout, boring has proved about fifteen years' reserves for Webb Mine at the present rate of production. Tower Station. —During the year a 1,500 kW. turbo generator was installed in the Ngakawau Power-house and a 11,000-volt six-panel switch board was built, and the necessary metering installed. One of the three water-tube boilers with the economizer was completed, and the new plant was put on load in December. The Westport and district load was taken over from Denniston during the Christmas holidays (3 weeks) while the Denniston Plant was being overhauled. The Ngakawau Plant was able to do this while the mine was idle, but the changing over to the 50-cycle supply to the mine must be delayed until the arrival of 1,000 kVA. 11,000 to 6,600 volt transformer. Boiler Installation. —The Department is arranging the completion of the installation of the boilers with its own employees, and this work is progressing satisfactorily. New Power-lines. —The new 11,000-volt power-line from the Ngakawau Powerstation through Granity, connecting up with the Denniston Power-line, is completed and the old low-tension line pulled down after transferring the low-tension lines on to the new poles. Two 11,000 to 415 volt transformers were also erected on this line at Granity and one at Ngakawau. A new 11,000-volt line was erected from Ngakawau to Hector over the Ngakawau River and extended to the top of Hector. Two transformers are to be used in this area and one is erected, the other will be put up as soon as the earthing transformer comes to hand for the power-station. One of the 50 kVA. transformers purchased for Hector is being used for this duty in the meantime. Ngakawau Bin Machinery Repairs. —During the Christmas holidays the machinery in the Ngakawau Bins was overhauled and a new driving-unit was installed on the first scraper conveyor, and a new distributing jigger was installed on the main screen. A new power-line was built over Webb Mine and the high-tension power taken to a transformer at the 6 in. bore hole, where the 400-volt cable is taking the power underground. This will give an improvement in the voltage for the Webb Mine equipment which is being installed. A branch of 6,600-volt line is also being erected to the Webb Mine Extended, and a winch, pump, and fan made ready to install at the Dip drive in this area. In March, No. 4 Substation was destroyed by fire. This dislocated the running of the locomotives, but by regulating the traffic, coal transport is being maintained at a slightly reduced tonnage. Efforts to locate suitable equipment to replace that lost are being made. Aerial Ropevjay. —Progress has been maintained with the erection of the aerial. Thirty-five trestles foundations have been completed and eleven trestles erected. Access routes to trestle sites on Sections 3 and 4 are well advanced. Excavations at No. 3 loop are in hand, also excavations for trestle foundations on Section 3.

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