C.—2.

improvements have been effected, including new 11,000 volt metering and distribution panels, an underground cable to receive power from the Grey Electric-power Board, and also a new remote control to operate the main haulage from the weigh cabin. A borehole was put down at the head of No. 3 dip to carry power-cables underground. Improvements to the bathhouse and other sanitary conveniences have been completed. The total output from commencement of operations is 3,951,520 tons. Blackball Greek Mine. —Early in the year No. 1 section was closed down and a new section opened out farther up the creek. This was made possible by the completion of the flume, and coal was delivered from three mine-openings to the flume during the year. A coal-bin capable of storing 600 tons of coal was completed. The output from the mine was limited by unfavourable trade conditions. The total output up to 31st December 1932, is 25,103 tons. Briandale Collieries, Ltd. —During the year development work in Walker's section was continued by driving the main heading in a north-easterly direction. The coal in the main heading declined gradually in thickness and the heading was finally stopped 6 chains from the mine entrance in coal 1 ft. 4 in. to 1 ft. 6 in. in thickness. Going westerly the old workings in the No. 3 section were reached. In the Aerial section a fault running northeasterly was encountered, completely cutting off all development work to the north. A boring-plant has been procured, and the future development of the mine will depend upon the results obtained therefrom. The total output from commencement of operations is 63,731 tons. Wallsend Colliery. No. 1 Section : The quality of the coal in this section varied considerably, with stone intrusions and bad roof in places, this being no doubt due to the influence of the Buckley fault. Early in September, 1932, this section was abandoned, and the services of sixty-five workmen dispensed with. No. 2 Section : Development has been continued by two dip headings driven southerly to win a block of coal bounded on the south by the Dobson fault and on the west by the Taylorville fault. The most easterly of these dip headings encountered the fault after being driven a distance of 10 chains. The No. 2 dip extension was continued in good coal. No. 3 Section : During the year the work of driving the stone dip across the Taylorville fault was speeded up Three shifts with three men each with power rock-drills were employed and the seam was struck on the 10th November. The stone-drive lift. 6 in. by 7 ft. 6 in., and dipping at a grade of 1 in 3-3, is 8 chains in length. Haulage from the area is provided for by a Carron worm-driven electric winch of 75 h.p. The winch is housed in a chamber of reinforced concrete. The main return, adjacent to the shaft, has been enlarged for a distance of 3 chains to a point where the two airways joined. The debris from the stone tunnel was stowed in the old workings to strengthen the pillars. The total output from this colliery up to the 31st December, 1932, is 423,747 tons. Dobson Colliery. After a stoppage of four and a half months, due to an industrial dispute, operations were recommenced on the 15th February, 1932. Coal-winning operations had been chiefly carried out in four main sections viz., Nos. 1 and 2 east, and Nos. 1 and 2 west, whilst development levels in two additional sections were driven and are known as No. 3 east and No. 3 west. In No. 1 east district development is limited to a comparatively small area bounded on the north by the Dobson fault and on the east by the Mount Buckley fault. Only a small amount of solid work remains to be completed in this district. Pillar-extraction was commenced in the No. 2 east, work being carried on both to the rise and dip sides of the level, which is being advanced for further development. Work in No. 3 east district was of a purely developing nature, the levels having been advanced for a distance of 13 chains, whilst a dip, for the formation of panel workings, has been driven for 4J chains. Preparatory work for the installation of an endless-rope haulage system was also undertaken In No. 1 west district three pairs of miners were engaged during the major portion of the year. Considerable trouble was encountered and the work of forming a panel of workings to the dip was stopped, due to various unfavourable conditions, such as general thinning of coal, extremely friable roof, and prevalence of gas exuding from the seam known as the " Brunner Rider " immediately overlying the main Dobson seam. In the No. 2 "west section, two panels of workings were developed and work commenced on a third panel. Development work in No. 3 west was carried out by driving a pair of parallel levels. These were advanced a total distance of 14 chains and a dip started to open up a panel of workings in this area, being advanced a distance of 3 chains. Work generally was greatly hampered by trade conditions, the mine having worked only 127 days for the year. The total output of'coal up to the 31st December, 1932, is 575,707 tons. Tyneside Colliery. —Only a few tons of coal were produced from this mine during the early part of the year. The mine closed down early in May. Total output of coal by the present owner up to the 31st December, 1932, is 1,469 tons. Paparoa Colliery.—The work of coal-winning at this mine has been confined to two main sections —No. 1 section and the Aerial section. In the No. 1 section two main inclines are being driven 7 chains north-easterly towards the outcrop. The main levels have been driven 9 chains westerly, the coal maintaining its thickness and quality throughout. In the Aerial section dirty coal was reached in the main level at 21 chains from the mine-entrance. Pillar-extraction was commenced at this point. As the development work is well forward, parallel dips being driven south-westerly have been temporarily stopped. The erection of a new fan in the No. 1 section had materially improved the ventilation of the mine. The total output from this mine up to the 31st December, 1932, is 710,173 tons. United Brunner Mine. —Work throughout the year consisted of cleaning up and timbering old roadways and the winning of a small amount of coal from pillars left in the old workings. Mining operations ceased at the end of the year. The total amount of coal won by the present owners up to the 31st December, 1932, is 886 tons. Co-operative Mines. Spark and Party, Bewanui. —The work of extracting pillars to the rise was continued during the year. Development work consisted of driving parallel headings on the strike of the seam in a north-easterly direction below and beyond the pillared ground. The main dip was extended a distance of 2 chains and a level broken away. The total output from this mine from commencement of operations is 37,970 tons. Duggan and Party. —The solid work having been completed, pillar-extraction has been commenced adjacent to the old No. 3 section of the Liverpool State Colliery. The coal is thin and of good quality. Only a limited number of pillars remain to be extracted. The total output up to the 31st December, 1932, is 47,295 tons. Old Runanga Co-operative Parly (O'Brien and Party).—ln the Bluff section development work consists of driving parallel headings in a north-westerly direction in coal of good quality, averaging 6 ft. in height. To the rise, parallel headings are being driven towards the old No. 3a State Mine workings, where a synclinal fold was met with, the coal dipping slightly. The output from this mine from commencement of operations is 33,120 tons. Goldlight Colliery (Williams and Party).—The main east level, after being driven a distance of 10 chains, was stopped adjacent to a fault. A pair of parallel dip headings driven south-easterly for a distance of 3* chains met with a feeder of water and were abandoned. All work to the dip has thus ceased. To the rise all solid work has been completed and pillar-extraction commenced on the north-easterly boundary. Total output up to the 3lst December, 1932, is 35,581 tons,

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