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ANNEXURE B

STONE-QUARRIES

REPORT BY INSPECTOR OF QUARRIES FOR THE NORTH ISLAND (R. C. Kerns) The following is the report for the year ending 31st December, 1944, for stone-quarries and tunnels worked in the North Island .District under the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, and the Quarries Act, 1944. Quarries A total of 243 quarries was worked during the year 1944, being an increase of 18 compared with last year, while the number of men employed in the industry for the year 1944 was 942, showing a decrease of 115. Output oi? Stone The output of hard stone used for roading, hydro-electric-dam construction, and concrete work was 855,187 tons. There is no marked difference when compared to last year's production, but in passing I should refer to the shortage of labour being experienced in the industry, also a distinct hindrance evidenced in outlying districts in the want of certificated men. For agricultural requirements 371,055 tons of limestone was quarried during 1944, an increase of 80,601 tons over last year, also 251,305 tons of limestone for cement, against 271,246 tons for last year. A total of 1,477,637 tons of stone, valued at £369,502, was produced for 1944, compared with 1,407,851 tons, valued at £333,659, for 1943. Tunnels The Gisborne Borough Council had started to drive a tunnel for a water-supply scheme, the estimated length being one mile and a quarter, but this was discontinued due to local causes. Extensive shaft-sinking and tunnelling was carried out to investigate the strength and nature of the country for major dam-sites on the Waikato River at YVhakamaru and Maraetai, which lie between Arapuni and Atiamuri. A diversion tunnel was driven 600 ft. at Lower Nihotapu to pass a valley creek and facilitate construction of a dam to augment the Auckland City water-supply. Accidents Fatal Accidents A fatal accident occurred on 28th January, 1944, at the Okete Quarry, near Raglan, to C. Russell and P. Henriksen, caused by a premature explosion while loading explosive for a tunnel blast. Serious Accident On 17th August J. Sanders, a contractor at Greenhill Quarry, Ripia, Te Kopuru, sustained the loss of his left eye by being struck with a splinter of rock he was spalling. Prosecutions There were no prosecutions during the year.

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