C—2a

Taking into aecount 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, 1948 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 534 10 0 - Stock on wharf .. .. .. 838 9 1 1,372 19 1 Add net output for year .. 82,300 0 0 Add surplus stocks . . .. 1,150 0 0 —83,450 0 0 84,822 19 1 31st March, 1949 Less stock in bin and yard .. 153 19 3 Less stock on wharf .. .. 580 3 3 : 734 3 2 Total disposed of .. .. 84,088 15 3 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped ... .. .. .. 56,837 12 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 13,077 5 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 2,672 10 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 7,736 0 3 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 3,765 8 0 84,088 15 3 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 898,626 tons 12 cwt. Days Worked.—The colliery worked 213 days out of a possible 242 ordinary workingdays. In addition, the colliery worked 2 substituted statutory holidays, making the total days worked 215. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 213, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 5 days, deaths and funerals of workmen ; 22 days, strike ; 1 day, dispute re trucking by miners ; 1 day, timbermen dispute. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 249 men and 5 boys, made up as follows — Underground : Coal-hewers, 70; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 118. Surface: 61 men and 5 boys. Goal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 15s. 9d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 lis. 9d., an increase of Is. Bd. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 396 tons 4 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 1 cwt., as compared with 407 tons 17 cwt. and 6 tons 13 cwt. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 14,038. Deficiences. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £5lB. Accidents. —On 29th April a shiftman was caught by a moving truck, sustaining a fractured leg. On 7th February a trucker was struck by a fall of stone, causing severe injuries to his right leg necessitating amputation. Stone-dusting.-—Work under this heading was continued during the year. The total number of samples taken from the Strongman Colliery and analysed was 455. Underground Workings.—Main East Heading : Main heading advanced 3 chains. The average thickness of the coal is 10 ft. There are three pairs of miners in this section. South Sections: Five pairs of miners have been engaged developing towards the Bob Fault. Average thickness of coal, 9 ft.

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