o—2a0 —2a

South Sections : Developing work towards the Bob Fault has been completed, and pillar-extraction commenced with seven pairs of miners. No. 1 South Section : Pillar-extraction has proceeded in the western portion of this panel with two pairs of miners. No. 3 North Section : Two headings are proceeding north. Five pairs of miners are engaged in this section. Coal, 20 ft. thick. No. 2 North Section : No. 3 Panel has been completed. No. 4 Panel stopped on thinning coal a distance of 48 chains from north of main drive. No. 2 North Heading has advanced 4 chains, average thickness of coal, 10 ft. Three pairs of miners employed. Serious faulting has occurred in this section cutting off some of the working-places. Fault: Four pairs of miners have been engaged developing between No. 2 North and Doherty Fault. Average thickness of coal, 20 ft. New Seam No. 2 North : Three pairs of miners are engaged developing. Average thickness of coal, 9 ft. Slant Dip Section : Three pairs developing to the west, 5 chains down the Slant Dip, average thickness of coal, 9 ft. Panel between Slant Dip and Bob Fault completed. Three pairs engaged developing along the bottom of the panel towards the Bob Fault. Main Dip advanced 3 chains with an average thickness of 12 ft. of coal. Two pairs of miners employed. Rise Panel Section : This section was stopped on thinning coal a distance of 25 chains from No. 2 Dip. Blackball Colliery Coal-winning. —The gross output for the year was 69,860 tons 3 cwt., a decrease of 924 tons 14 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (1,831 tons 3 cwt.) and the quantity used on works (394 tons), there remained for disposal a net output of 67,635 tons. Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1949 Tons cwt. qr. .Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. . . 1,471 8 0 Stock on wharf .. .. 46 19 0 1,518 7 0 Add net output for year .. ~ 67,635 0 0 69,153 7 0 31st March, 1950 Less stock in bin and yard .. 2,332 1 0 Less stock on wharf 2,332 1 0 Total disposed of .. .. 66,821 6 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 26,650 14 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. 18,764 13 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 16,445 8 0 Local and mine sales .. . . 3,320 1 0 Sales to workmen and free issues . . 1,640 10 0 66,821 6 0

36