63

C.—2

APPENDIX C. REPORT OF THE BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. Mines Department, Wellington, 10th June, 1919. The Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. I have the honour to submit the following report on behalf of the Boards of Examiners Tinder the Mining Act and Coal-mines Act for the year 1918-19 —or, rather, for the period from the 11th November, 1918, to the 31st May of this year. Examinations for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates were held in December, 1918. Interim examinations were held on the 20th May last, to which all candidates who were unsuccessful at the previous examination or were debarred from sitting through the influenza epidemic were admitted. A meeting of the Board of Examiners under the Coal-mines Act was held on the 29th January, 1919, in order to consider the results of the examinations held on the I.oth December and following days. A first-class mine-manager's certificate under the Coal-mines Act was granted to James Noilson, and W. C. Davies was granted a partial pass. Alexander Cain and John Rrennan obtained partial passes for second-class mine-managers' certificates. It was resolved that all candidates who had been prevented by the influenza epidemic from sitting for the December examination should be permitted to sit at the interim examination in May. This lias been carried into effect, and the same, privilege was extended to candidates who had intended to sit for examination under the Mining Act. A motion was carried recommending that all candidates for mine-managers' certificates, <fee, who succeeded in passing the written examinations for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates should undergo an oral examination before the Board. It is probable that provision for the oral examination of such candidates will be made during this year; and, if so, candidates who pass the written examinations to be held, next December will be expected to present themselves in Wellington at the next meeting of the Boards, which is to be held at the end of January, 1920. No meeting of the Board of Examiners under the Mining vVct has been held during the period for which this report is made. Tho following oil-well managers' permits have been issued since tho 14th October, 1918, under Regulations Nos. 199-201 : Neil. Christenson, New Plymouth ; Jan Federowicz, New Plymouth ; Lafayette Keith, New Plymouth ; B. C. O'Dowd, New Plymouth. These are the first permits issued under the above-mentioned regulations. Thomas Myers, Kiripaka, has been granted a second-class coal-mine manager's certificate in exchange for an equivalent British certificate. Examinations for under viewers and firemen-deputies under the Coal-mines Act were held at Dunedin on the 11th March, with the result that the following gained certificates : Underviewer— James Phillips, Taratu. Firemen-deputies —Fred Barclay, Kaitangata ; John Hannah, Glentunnel ; William Hollows, Fairfield ; John Mackie, Kaitangata ; William Snowdon, Kaitangata. I greatly regret having to report the death on the 20th April of Mr. 11. P. Hornibrooke, of Auckland, who had been a member of the Board of Examiners under tho Mining Act for many years. P. G. Morgan, Chairman of Boards.

LIST OF MINE - MANAGEBS, BATTEBY SUPERINTENDENTS, AND DREDGEMASTERS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES UNDER THE MINING ACTS. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Act, 1886, without Examination. Adams, H. H., Waiorongomai. Harrison, R. H., Coromandel. Ralph, J, G., Thames. Andrews, T., Thames. Hunter, R., Thames. Reid, P., Coromandel. Barclay, T. H., Thames. Jamieson, A., Coromandel. Rooney, F., Reefton. Bennett, J., Alexandra. Jenkins, M., Wakatipu. Scott, T., Waiorongomai. Black, T., Waiomio. Johnstone, H..-Bluespur. Smith, J. E., Thames. , Burch, W. H., Thames. Kerr, J., Thames. Stone, F., Karangahake. Cameron, A., Macetown. McGruer, G. N., Karangahake. Sturm, A., Waipori. Chapman, J. A., Dunedin. Mcintosh, D., Bluespur. Todd, C., Heriot. Davis, J. E., Queenstown. Moore, H. W., Thames. Treloer, J. S., Reofton. Edwards, J., Skipper's. Morrishy, A. A., Glenorchy. Watson, T., Reefton. Elliott, J., Macetown. Newman, W., Naseby. Wearne, T., Endeavour Inlet. Evans, J. H., Skipper's. Polton, A., Karangahake. Williams, J., Skipper's. Frewen, J. 8., Queenstown. Porter, J., Waipori. Wylie, W., Ross. Gilmour, T., Thames. Quinn, E., Te Aroha, Young, G., Skipper's, Glass, W. M., Naseby.