;c—2A

Meantime the driving of the other headings is being continued, and it is expected that the second line of pillars will be ready for extraction by the time the first one is finished. The old South heading where the roof stone and floor heave had practically blocked the roadway for a distance of 10 chains has been cleaned up and retimbered. The road has now been connected up with a main layby in the South Section and is now being used as the main haulage road. This is a decided improvement on the old haulage system. Two headings have "been driven at right angles off the main haulage road at a position suitable for use as auxiliary haulage roads when the Egmont Fault has been pierced by a stone drive and upcast shaft. The position of the seam on the down-throw side of this fault has been measured by test boreholes and is approximately 20 ft. A main sump has been made at the bottom, of the main haulage dip capable of holding approximately two days' drainage for the mine. This water is now pumped to the surface by a two-stage centrifugal pump driven by a 30h.p. motor. In the Barrier Section, some progress has been made on the splits through the old No. 2 Dip pillars. The. intention is to use this section as a main sump when the old layby is reached. On the main haulage road where the Egmont Fault was cut, considerable difficulty has been caused by excess roof and side pressure, which has displaced the timber and forced the bar legs into the soft floor. Encouraging results are now being obtained by the use of 70 lb. steel rails as " sills " sunk into the floor at right angles to the drive and joggled with angle iron on each end. Conditions generally in other parts of the mine are fairly good; the amount of shift-work required, however, due to floor heave is abnormal. Approximately 20 tons of stone dust has been used during the year. m Waitewhena Opencast Coal-winning.—The net output for the year was 44,426 tons 12 cwt. 2 qr., an increase of 22,797 tons 1 cwt. when compared with the previous year. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year:— Ist April, 1947 — Tons cwt. qr. Stock on hand Add net output for year .. .. .. 44,426 12 2 Less stock on hand, 31st March, 1948 .. . Total disposed of .. .. .. 44,426 12 2 The net output of the colliery since its inception amounts to 108,138 tons 15 cwt. 3 qr. The year's output has been won from No. 2 Area, and coal stripped but not extracted at 31st March, 1948, was 16,000 tons, with a further 80,000 tons of coal to be stripped to complete the No. 2 Area. Daily outputs have been consistent throughout the year with only three partial working-days lost. I have, &c., T. Young, District Manager.

34