C—2a

Waitewhena Opencast Coal-winning.—The net output for the year ending 31st March, 1949, was 42,931 tons 14 cwt., a decrease of 1,494 tons 18 cwt. 2 qr. when compared with the previous year. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : —- Ist April, 1948- Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock on hand Add net output .. .. 42,931 14 0 Less stock on hand, 31st March, 1949 42,931 14 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. .. .. .. 42,909 14 0 Workmen .. .. .. 22 0 0 42,931 14 0 The net output of the opencast since its inception amounts to 151,070 tons 9 cwt. 3 qr. The year's output has been won from No. 2 Area, and coal stripped but not extracted at 31st March, 1949, was 13,000 tons, with a further 40,084 tons of coal to be stripped to complete the No. 2 Area. The opencast worked 270 days. The average daily output was 159 tons. For the period 16th November, 1948, to 26th November, 1948, small outputs were produced due to a major alteration to the Waitewhena Siding screening plant. After this period the output consisted of crushed slack. Further alterations to the plant enabled sized domestic coal to be produced from the output, and to date the plant is capable of producing total output of crushed slack or sized domestic and crushed slack. The change over from one class of output to the other requires approximately fifteen minutes to effect. Employees. Normally 38 employees are engaged in the stripping, production of coal, cartage, and screening at the opencast and are employed by the Ministry of Works, coal cartage and excavating contractor, and the State Coal-mines. Accidents. There were no accidents of a serious nature during the year. Stripping.—Stripping was carried on by the Ministry of Works and the coal cartage and excavating contractor. Ministry of Works plant consists of five D 8 tractors and blades and four 12-cubic-yard carryalls, together with a compressor and boring equipment for boring the sandstone overburden when blasting is necessary. Two rock-rooters are also used for breaking hard overburden. The coal cartage and excavating contractor's plant consists of ten motor-trucks with an average capacity of 5| tons per load for carting the coal twelve miles from the mine to the Waitewhena Siding. A compressor and boring equipment is used at ■the mine for breaking out the coal and a f-cubic-yard shovel excavator is used for loading the coal. Earthwork plant consists of one f-cubic-yard shovel excavator with dragline equipment, one T.D. 14 tractor with angle blade, and one' 12-cubic-yard carryall. I have, &c., T. Young, District Manager.

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