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The gross output from the colliery since its inception amounts to 377,437 tons 3 cwt. Days Worked. —The colliery worked 231 days out of a possible 242 ordinary -working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 2 statutory holidays, making the total number of days worked 233. The difference between the ordinary working-days (231) .and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 4f days, stopwork meetings ; 3 days, deputies' dispute ; 1 day, roads and railway flooded ; If days, power failure ; f day, bad state rope road ; f day, breakdown of haulage. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning the average number of persons •employed in and about the mine was 199 men and 5 boys, made up as follows— Underground : Coal-hewers, 68 ; shiftmen and truckers, 81 ; Surface : 50 men and 5 boys. Coal-heivers 1 Average Daily Earnings.—The average daily earnings of the coalhewers' were £3 7s. 4d. ; after deducting explosives the net return was £3 Is. Id., an increase of 3s. Bd. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.—The average daily output from the mine was 398 tons 4 cwt. and ■the hewers' average daily output was 11 tons 0 cwt. 1 qr., compared with 359 tons 13 cwt. and 12 tons 0 cwt. 1 qr. for the previous year. The number of hewers' shifts •worked was 8,498, as compared with 6,804 for the previous year. Deficiencies. —Nil. Accidents. —During the year the number of accidents which necessitated absence from work for more than three days was 168, an increase of 6 on the previous year. «On the 20th January, 1949, a trucker sustained a fracture of the right fibula. On the 16th February, 1949, a trucker sustained a fracture of small bone of the right wrist. Apart from these two accidents, none were of a serious nature. Underground Workings.—No. 2 Mine : The output from this mine was won from pillar-extraction. This mine is in its final stage of production, as only a few pillars are left to extract. No. 3 Mine : Splitting and pillar-extraction has been carried on on the west side ■of the mine. Portion of the seam where thinning occurred has been developed, but •on the whole this proved disappointing, the coal itself being of a very stony nature. An electric coal-cutter and drill is in operation on this section. No. 3 Extended Mine —No. 2 Bast section : Pillar-extraction has been continued •on the south side of the main headings and development has been completed to the north, where pillar-extraction has- been commenced. A coal-cutter and electric drill is in operation in this section. No. 3 Bast Section : Development of main headings was continued and has reached a point 31 chains from the main haulage. The subsidiary endless-rope haulage has been extended to near this point. The main headings have also reached a point where the seams have split by the intervention of a thick band of stone, together with .a thinning of seam and bad roof condition. Development has also continued to the south-west, and although the area is not large, the coal itself is of . very fine quality. A coal-cutter and two electric drills are in operation in this section. No. 4 East Section : Pillar-extraction has been continued in this section. No. 2 West Section : All coal was won from pillar-extraction in this section. No. 4 West Section : Development was completed on the south side of main heading and pillar-extraction commenced. The endless-rope haulage has been extended in a southerly direction to win coal for the Te Puroa Road area. The main heading in this new area has been driven chains. Stone-dusting.—Dusting has been carried on at frequent intervals during the year. Dangerous Occurrences. —There were no dangerous occurrences during the past year. Plant. —Major parts of various plant were replaced during the year. Various new machines were installed in workshops. An electric-driven coal-cutter with self•contained drilling attachment was installed in the mine and has been giving satisfactory results. One hundred new tubs were placed in service.

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