C.—2A

Deficiencies .—The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £22 17s. 7d. Accidents. —Several serious accidents and a number of minor accidents occurred during the year, of which the following is a summary : — A collier received a fracture of both leg and ankle when he was caught by a fall of coal. A shiftman was caught between a truck and prop, resulting in his pelvis being fractured. A trucker had his arm. caught between two trucks, resulting in a fracture of the wrist. A shiftman was struck by an empty truck, his ankle being fractured. A collier was struck by a piece of falling coal and received a fracture of the arm. Mine Workings, Morgan Seam. —The major portion of the operations in the Morgan seam was pillar-extraction in the Nos. 1 and 2 banks, Morgan West, and Nos. 2 and 4 banks, Morgan East. Development work was carried out in the No. 3 bank, Morgan West, and levels were driven in a westerly direction. In the bottom level the coal is pitching at an angle of 60°. In the cross-cut section the gradients are becoming less steep and. the coal is of a harder nature. In the Morgan main east level, two dips have been started and driven a distance of 12 chains, practically due south, in coal approximately 30 ft. in thickness. Development work in this section has been carried out with coalcutting machines, one " Eickhofi " and one " Korfmann " machine being used. All shot-holes were bored by a rotary, compressed-air machine. Both headings have been, driven next to the hard mudstone roof, resulting in a saving of timber and greater safety on the main haulage-road. A small panel to the west has been, developed by ordinary hand methods, and in this panel all places have been driven on the floor. A small barrier of sufficient thickness to isolate this section from the older Morgan East working has been left. Concrete Stoppings. —All necessary stoppings to isolate the fire area in the Morgan East section have been completed. Kimbell and Anderson Seams. —In the Kimbell west dip section, development places to the rise are still being driven in coal of good quality, but the grades are very irregular. To the west, all solid places have been completed, and a barrier left adjacent to the No. 1 bank fire area in the Main. Kimbell west level. Anderson Dip. —Development work to the dip has been stopped, the grade being 1 in, I|. Two levels east and two levels west are being driven to work the coal between the converging faults. Pillar-extraction, West Level. —Pillar-extraction has been, carried out in the West Level, Kimbell dip, and when nearing completion a heating occurred and the area was sealed, ofi. Considerable quantities of gas are being given ofi. The coal in the section is of a soft nature. No. 8 Section. —All solid work has been completed, and pillar-extraction has been commenced in Nos. 6 and 7 banks. Pillar-extraction in the No. 1 Kimbell West was completed during the year. Endless-rope Haulage. —Preparations have been made to install an endless-rope haulage in the Kimbell and Morgan dips, but owing to delays in the delivery of the plant the work has not been completed. Repairs and Maintenance. —All necessary repairs to buildings, viaducts, &c., have been carried out. A start has been made to re-lay the hoist road with 40 lb. rails, and the work is now well in hand. Stone-dusting. —Work under this heading has been continued. The total number of samples taken, from the Liverpool Colliery and analysed was 459. Viaduct. —The substance mentioned in previous annual reports has continued, and constant realigning of the viaduct and hoist-road is necessary. James Colliery. Coal-winning. —The gross output for the year was 22,936 tons 4 cwt., a decrease of 1,819 tons 4 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After making allowance for stocks on hand and slack raised, and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 22,951 tons 7 cwt. 1 qr., which is accounted for as follows : —

2

Screened. Small. Slack. Total. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. 5,969 18 3 167 15 1 .. 5,760 15 0 11,898 9 0 Railed Canterbury .. 8,687 9 1 572 3 3 382 15 0 .. 9,642 8 0 Local sales .. .. 130 15 0 7 II 3 .. 302 10 1 440 17 0 Sold to workmen, and free issues Stock in bin and yard.. . . 20 0 0 . . 280 0 0 300 0 0 Stock on wharf ' 211 0 1 . . .. 54 8 0 265 8 1 Stock on dump .. .. ■ • • ■ 404 5 0 404 5 0 14,999 3 1 767 10 3 382 15 0 6,801 18 1 22,951 7 1 Used on works .. .. 97 0 0 .. .. 97 0 0 Waste .. .. .. 794 4 0 .. .. 794 4 0 Totals .. 14,999 3 1 1,658 14 3 382 15 0 6,801 18 1 23,842 11 1