C.—2.

APPENDIX C.

REPORT OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. Geological Survey Office, Sir, —• Wellington, 30th April, 1940. 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 1939. Coal-mines Act. —The annual examinations of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, were held at Huntly, Reefton, Westport, Greymouth, and Dunedin on the 17th October and two following days. In addition, two candidates were examined at Westport for mine-surveyors' certificates. Examinations for candidates who desired to obtain underviewers' and firemen-deputies' certificates were held at Dunedin on the 10th and 11th October ; at Huntly on the 7th, Bth, and 9th November; at Greymouth on the 22nd and 23rd November; and at Westport on the 28th and 29th November. Two special examinations were held at Greymouth during the year, one for a candidate who held a partial pass for underviewer's certificate, and the other for a candidate who held a partial pass for a fireman-deputy's certificate. The total number of candidates sitting the various examinations under the Coal-mines Act was eighty-seven, an increase of three as compared with the previous year. Sixty-seven, gas-testing certificates were issued to candidates during 1939, while twenty-eight candidates whose certificates were more than five years old were re-examined in gas-testing and their certificates endorsed to that effect. Pursuant to section 6 of the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1937, five underviewers' and twentyfour firemen-deputies' certificates were endorsed by the Inspectors of Mines. One mine-surveyor's certificate without examination was, in accordance with the regulations under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, granted to an applicant who possessed the necessary qualifications. Mining Act.—Examinations for mine-managers' certificates under the Mining Act, 1926, were held at Waihi, Reefton, and Dunedin on the 17th October, 1939, and two following days. In addition, four candidates (two at Waihi and two at Reefton) were examined for battery superintendents' certificates, while an examination for dredgemasters' certificates was held at Greymouth on the 21st November. The total number of candidates sitting the several examinations was twenty-two, an increase of five as compared with the previous year. One dredgemaster's Class B certificate (by exchange) was granted to an applicant on production of an equivalent certificate issued after examination by a recognized authority outside of New Zealand. General.—Pursuant to the provisions of the Petroleum Act, 1937, four service permits were granted during the year. A number of certified copies of certificates lost or destroyed were, on application, granted by both Boards, which also dealt with a considerable number of matters arising out of applications for and issue of certificates, none of which calls for special mention. The following is a summary of the various examinations and the results obtained : —

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Number of Candidates. Number of^rtifioatM Aot and Examination. g Examined. Passed. Partial Pass. „ ,. Recognized jx lain. Q re( jentials. 1. Coal-mines Act, 1925 — Mine-manager's certificate— (а) First class — Written examination . .1.6\ 2 4 2 Oral examination .. 5 f (б) Second class —■ Written examination .. 4\ 2 2 Oral examination .. 3 J Underviewer's certificate 28 8 5 8 Fireman-deputy's certificate .. 37 40* 9 40 Mine-surveyor's certificate — Written examination .. .. 2\ Oral examination .. .. • • f 2. Mining Act, 1926— Mine-manager's certificate — (a) First class — Written examination .. 6\ j 2 Oral examination .. if (b) Second classWritten examination .. .. \ Oral examination .. .. f Battery superintendent's certificate— Written examination .. .. 4\ 2 | 2 Oral examination J .. .. 3 f Dredgemaster's certificate — Class A .. .. ■. 2 Class B .. .. • • 10 7 .. 7 Class B (by exchange) .. . . _ 1 1 _ • • ■■ 1 * Includes thirteen candidates who last year were credited with partial passes pending the production of certain certificates. t B °th candidates had previously passed the written examination. } Includes one candidate who had previously passed the written examination.