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Deficiencies. —-There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the period. Accidents. —Two serious accidents occurred at this colliery. On 6th October, 1949,, a trucker suffered a compound fracture of third metatarsal of the third toe, which was subsequently amputated. The accident occurred when a timber-jack slipped. On 13th February, 1950, a miner severed his left thumb as the result of an axe being deflected in the course of timbering. Stone-dusting. —This work was carried out regularly in the dry portions of the mine. This mine was acquired by the State on Ist May, 1949, and on account of deterioration in the outbye and older portion of the mine and the large tonnage of coal standing in pillars, further development to the east was stopped and preparations made to extract the coal already developed. The undeveloped area to the south-east of the existing mine will be developed at a later date from the Keddale Valley. Clearing of falls and the reconditioning of the main haulage to regain access to the inbye portion of the mine delayed the resumption of normal coal-winning for some weeks after the mine was acquired. On several occasions subsequent to the reconditioning of the haulage, normal coal-winning has been interrupted by heatings and falls on the haulage in the vicinity of the mine portal—a total of fourteen weeks' normal coal-hewing being lost from these causes. An appreciable tonnage of fallen coal was recovered during these periods. The output for the period was obtained from clearing falls of coal during the reconditioning of the haulage roads and from the formation, splitting, and extraction of pillars in the inbye section of the mine. Heatings. —Two areas in the older portion of the mine and adjacent to the mine mouths were sealed off by the erection of stoppings. Return and Intake Airways. —The outbye portion of the intake roadways, which was driven in surface gravels, was unloaded of portion of the overburden and enlarged. The outlet of the return has since been treated in a similar manner. Bins and Screening Plant. —New timber supports were placed under the holding bin and the structure was held together with wire-rope ties from side to side to prevent further settlement and bulging respectively. A petrol-driven winch was installed near the mine mouth for the purpose of hauling timber and mine stores from the road head. A tram, 4 chains in length, has been laid from the mine mouth to the road head to facilitate haulage of supplies and timber. I have, &c, K. T. H. Dale, District Manager. From the Superintendent, State Coal-mines, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— 22nd June, 1950. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the workings of the Liverpool, Strongman, Blackball, Wallsend, Dobson, and Paparoa State coal-mines for the vear ended 31st March, 1950. Liverpool Colliery Coal-winning. —The gross output for the year was 100,036 tons 17 cwt., an increase of 6,922 tons 17 cwt., when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (1,441 tons 17 cwt.) and the quantity used on works (1,195 tons), there remained for disposal a net output of 97,400 tons.

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