C—2a

The gross output of the colliery since being taken over by the State on Ist April 1948, totals 152,106 tons 19 cwt. ' Days'Worked.—The colliery worked 228 days out of a possible 240 working-days The difference between the ordinary days worked, 228, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : Deputies' dispute, 4 days ; no doctor at Stockton, 3 days ; union stop-work meetings, 3f days ; polling days i day ; Hon P C. Webb's death, 1 day ; Wellington v. Buller Eugby match, f day. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning the average number of persons employed m and about the mine was 279 men and 22 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 64 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 108 men and 2 boys Surface, 107 men and 20 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.— The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 4s. 4d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 an increase of 7s. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.- -The average daily output was 334 tons 4 cwt. 2 qr. and the coalhewers average daily output was 6 tons 15 cwt. 2 qr., as compared with 310 tons 18 cwt and 7 tons 14 cwt.- 2 qr. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 11,249. _ Accidents.— The accidents for the year totalled 185. There were no fatal or serious accidents. Underground Operations.— Whareatea Colliery— Forsyths Rope End Section : Places on pillar-extraction. This section is now practically exhausted. Nine Box Jig Section, Fourth South: Production mainly from pillarextraction and splitting of barrier pillars. Scotties Section, Third South : Mainly pillar extraction including top coal Iwo places have been driven to the dip on low side of the horse road south-easterly' MtisfeTt "I an ar6a C ° ntammg a PP roxima tely 5 acres of coal, and is proceeding Kitchins Landing, First North : Development of the bottom seam proceeded throughout the year in good-quality coal 5 ft. to 6 ft. thick. Wet conditions prevailed m this area. Approximately 32,000 tons are now standing in pillars, but unfortunately, the prospect headings have encountered numerous bands of stone m the seam which makes it appear that we have reached the limits of the particular split seam. However, when underground boring rig is procured, proof or otherwise o± continuity could be obtained by drilling from the top-seam workings ahead of the present troubled ground. In the meantime the prospect headings have been Waterloo Dip : Mainly on splitting and pillar-extraction,- but a prospect heading is being driven in a westerly direction towards a borehole showing 19 ft 6in of coal Numerous attempts were made in the past to negotiate this troubled ground to reach the aiore-mentioned area, but were abandoned. Satisfactory progress was made by shiftmen and now a pair of miners are producing in 7 ft. of coal. If further progress is satisfactory an auxiliary fan will be installed to improve the ventilation. Birchalls : Prospecting in the bottom seam is proceeding in a westerly direction and is showing satisfactory progress. In the top seam production is mainly from splitting and pillar-extraction. &

24