C—2a

On 22nd May, 1945, a shiftman working in the C panel was crushed between a box and jig prop. He suffered severe head injuries which resulted in his death on the following day. On 15th October, 1945, a miner in No. 1 Slant Dip was struck by a fall of stone and suffered severe head and chest injuries which resulted in his death some days later. Underground Workings.—ln No. 1 Dip, development of the coal between the roll and the fault has been extended approximately 4 chains in good coal and the driving of a new road to simplify the transport in this section is almost completed. No. 1 Slant Dip : The endless rope has been shortened approximately 2 chains and splitting almost completed up to the old rope end. Very bad roof conditions have been met with throughout this section, practically all the old workings being closed by falls. No. 2 Slant Dip : Splitting has been carried on throughout the year on a line parallel to the barrier between this and No. 1 Slant Dip. C panel has reached the low coal area and splitting is being carried out in this section. In the Extension Section the development of the area to the rise of the three prospecting levels is being carried out and splitting will be commenced as soon as the low coal area is reached. During the year the iron rail guides were removed from the shaft and six wooden guides to each cage installed, also safety catches fitted to the river-side cage to work on the centre guide. These alterations gave a much improved operation of the cages. In the up-cast shaft, hitches for 24 ft. 10 in. by 6 in. buntons have been cut and six installed, also all hanging timber, &c., has been removed and the sump cleared out. Dobson Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 54,579 tons 19 cwt. 2 qr., a decrease of 6,527 tons 15 cwt. 2 qr. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (1,310 tons 18 cwt. 2 qr.) and the quantity used on works (222 tons 4 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 53,046 tons 17 cwt. Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : —- Ist April, 1945 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 416 4 0 Stock on wharf .. .. .. 525 17 0 942 1 0 Add net output for year .. .. 53,046 17 0 53,988 18 0 31st March, 1946 Less stock in bin and yard .. 1,765 2 0 Less stock on wharf .. .. 211 2 0 1,976 4 0 Total disposed of .. .. .. 52,012 14 0 Disposals Shipped.. .. .. .. 35,816 13 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 12,130 15 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 2,125 11 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 735 17 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 1,203 18 0 52,012 14 0 The gross output from the colliery since it was taken over by the State Coal-mines -totals 184,645 tons 0 cwt. 2 qr.

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