c.—2.

APPENDIX C.

REPORT OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. Sir, — Geological Survey Office, Wellington, Ist August, 1932. On behalf of the Boards of Examiners under the Mining and Coal-mines Acts, I have the honour to submit the following brief report on the work of the Boards during 1931 : — It is with very great regret that I record the death on the Ist January of this year of the late Mr. J. A. C. Bayne, Chief Inspector of Coal-mines and Inspecting Engineer of Mines, who had been an active member of both Boards since his appointment, by virtue of his office, on the 30th January, 1923. His death was a great loss to the Boards. The annual examination of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, was held at Waihi, Huntly, Reefton, Westport, Greymouth, and Dunedin on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd October. In addition, candidates were examined at Huntly and Greymouth for minesurveyors' certificates under the Coal-mines Act. On the same dates two candidates were examined at Dunedin for mine-managers' certificates under the Mining Act, 1926. Four examinations of candidates for certificates as underviewers and firemen-deputies under the Coal-mines Act were also held—one at Dunedin on the Ist September, one at Greymouth on the 17th and 18th November, one at Westport on the 21st November, and one at Huntly on the 26th and 27th November. One candidate was also examined at Dunedin on the 18th May for a dredgemaster's certificate, and one at Thames on the 18th December for a battery superintendent's certificate. The following is a summary of the various examinations held and the results obtained : —

Under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, seventy-nine gas-testing certificates were also issued as well as one duplicate fireman-deputy's certificate and one duplicate gas-testing certificate. Under the Mining Act, 1926, two service permits as oil-well managers were granted. Under section 11 (6) of the Mining Amendment Act, 1927, two dredgemasters' certificates granted prior to the passing of that Act were endorsed as Class A certificates. With the exception of gas-testing certificates the number of persons who applied for certificates both under the Coal-mines Act and the Mining Act was the same as last year. The standard of the work of the candidates who sat for examination was up to the average of previous years. A list of the certificates issued since my last report and which have been confirmed by the Boards is appended : — COAL-MINES ACT, 1925. First-class Mine-managebs' Certificates. Issued after Examination. —Wearn, Richard John, Collingwood. Issued on Production of Certificate from a Recognized Authority outside the Dominion.—Blackburn, Christopher, Grey mouth. Second-class Mine-manageb's Ceetificate. Issued after Examination.—Lees, Thomas Wilson, Glen Massey. Underviewebs' Ceetieicates. Issued after Examination. —Anderson, James, Denniston; Bird, Robert William, Ohai; Brown, William, Glen Alton; Bui'chfield, Walter, Granity ; Cowan, Thomas, Huntly ; Gardner, Matthew, Pukemiro Junction; Gaskell, Gilbert, Westport; Jenkinson, Alfred, Runanga; Joines, Frank Edward, Pukemiro; Mackay, Donald, Ohai ; McEwen, Harold Wallace, Stockton ; McLean, Roderick, Reefton ; Simpson, James Cochrane, Runanga; Strang, James, Blackball; Todd, Stephen, Glen Afton ; Turner, George Thomas, Reefton ; Whitelaw, James, Kaitangata ; Wilkinson, Herbert, Pukemiro.

66

Number of Candidates. Number Act and Examination. B Examined. Passed. P »« al Exam^ation . K^ognized 1. Goal-mines Act, 1925 — Mine-manager's certificate — (a) First class .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 1 Written examination .. .. 13 \ y .j j Oral examination .. .. .. 4/ (b) Second class— Written examination .. .. 13 \ j Oral examination . . . . .. 11 / Underviewer's certificate .. . . 24 9 5 9 Fireman-deputy's certificate . . . . .. 47 36 9 36 Mine-surveyor's certificate .. . . .. 2 2. Mining Act, 1926 — Battery superintendent's certificate — Written examination Oral examination .. .. . . .. 1* 1 .. 1 Mine-manager's certificate — Written examination .. 2\ 2 Oral examination .. . . • . .. 2 / Dredgemaster's certificate .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 * Passed the written examination last year.