C—2a

Stone-dusting. —This work was done regularly throughout the year. Underground Workings. —Pillar-extraction was continued in Nos. 3 and 4 Dips throughout the year in coal averaging 6 ft. in height. Minor faultings and stone bands resulted in comparatively low outputs and a correspondingly high proportion of stone mined and filled from working places. In the workings advancing in a south-easterly direction towards the main drives the total distance driven was 10 chains. Faults, splitting of the seam, and stone bands encountered below the drives rendered the seam unworkable and pillar-extraction was commenced in the last quarter of the year. Access to a small block of coal to the north of the Ohai Syndicate's Mine workings was obtained by driving in stone for a distance of 180 ft., and nine single places are now developing approximately 40,000 tons of good coal with an average height of 10 ft. One case of spontaneous combustion occurred in the vicinity of a fault. All recoverable coal had been won prior to the heating and the area was sealed with three stoppings in a permanent barrier. Plant.— Compressed-air drills were installed in all working-places during the year. Repairs and maintenance were efficiently carried out by the engineering staff. McLean's Opencast Coal-winning. —Opencast operations continued regularly throughout the year, the gross output being 43,689 tons 18 cwt. all of which was available for disposal. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1949 Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stocks in yard Add net output for year ..43,689 18 0 31st March, 1950 Less stocks in yard Total disposed of .. .. '. 43,689 18 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. .. .. .. 43,689 18 0 Local and mine sales Workmen and free issues — 43,689 18 0 Days Worked.— McLean's Opencast worked 230 days out of a possible 240 ordinary working-days. In addition, the opencast worked on 12 colliery holidays during the Ohristmas - New Year period. The difference between the days worked and the possible number of ordinary working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day, funeral of ex-member of Miners' Union ; 1 day, stripping ; 4 days, wet weather ; 3 days, mechanical breakdowns ; 1 dav, Easter Tuesday, 1949. Employees.— The average number of men employed at the opencast was 14. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 180 tons 11 cwt. General. —The total quantity of stripping performed during the year was 126,900 cubic yards. The total quantity of coal won from the area since the commencement of production on 20th December, 1948, has been 52,418 tons 9 cwt. The coal has been of excellent quality throughout. Plant. —No additional plant units were installed during the year. The engineering staff of the Ministry of Works maintained all plant in an efficient condition. I have, &c, J. McArthtjk, District Manager.

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