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ANNEXURE A SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF COAL-MINES NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. Adamson, Inspector of Coal-mines) Summary of Operations of Each Colliery for the Year 1949 North Auckland District Kamo State Colliery (J. Hadcroft (First Class), Mine-manager).—All coal from this mine was won from solid work in the East Dip and Slant Dip Sections. The workings in the East Dip Section, until February, were in the bottom seam, where a section had been opened up between the main dip haulage road and a fault some 13 chains to the north-west. Splitting of some pillars was carried out, but owing to soft floor and bad roof producing excessive floor heave it was found necessary to abandon this work. Eleven chains from the top of the East Dip haulage a stone drive was driven on line with the dip haulage into the top seam and the dip development continued in this seam for a further 14 chains in 9 ft. of good-quality coal. In the Slant Dip area (bottom seam) development was advanced to 42 chains from the head of Doel's Dip Heading. The coal averaged 9 ft. in thickness except for the last few chains, where a series of small faults were encountered. A section was also opened up midway along the Slant Dip hauage road and advanced some 20 chains on level course. This development has been temporarily stopped in faulty ground. On the surface, improvements have been effected to the tip-head, and the bathhouse capacity increased by building a 15 ft. extension to this building. Trial operations were carried out with an electric-driven Siskol coal-cutter with reasonably satisfactory results. One hundred and twenty-nine men were employed underground and 24 on the surface. Cunningham's Opencast, Hikurangi (C. G. Cunningham (Permit), Mine-manager).—Two men were employed recovering, by opencast methods, small pillars of coal left behind by a previous underground venture. Waikato District Pukemiro Colliery (S. R. Eyeington (First Class), Mine-manager).—Production was continued throughout the year from the North and South Mine areas. In the North Mine 8 pairs of miners continued with pillar-extraction. Considerable difficulty was experienced in this mine through an outbreak of fire at the outcrop encroaching on the workings. It is pleasing to record, however, that the outbreak has been kept under control. In the South Mine output was won from five districts known as Taupiri Section, South Straight, Middle Section, Home's Dip, and No. 1 Right Section. In the Taupiri Section pillar-extraction was continued by 11 pairs of miners. During the latter portion of the year operations were completed in the Morgan's Dip area. A centrifugal pump with 5 in. delivery was installed, thus improving pumping facilities in this area. In the South Straight Section the main heading struck the main fault early in the year, with the result that development work was confined to an area to the left. Four pairs of miners were employed, with 2 pairs of miners on pillar-extraction to the right of the main heading. Pillarextraction was continued by 6 pairs of miners in the Middle Section with good results. To allow for the extraction of roadside pillars on the No. 2 Right main haulage road a new intake haulage and return airway was established for Home's Section by way of No. 1 Right haulage. In the Home's Dip Section heavy roof and heaving floor continued to prevent efficient and adequate pillar-extraction, which was continued by 3 pairs of colliers. An improvement in working conditions cannot be expected until a line is reached on the outbye side of the old Rope End Section. A further 12 pairs of miners continued with pillar-extraction in the No. 1 Right Section. During the year a new endless-rope haulage was installed to cope with the increased output brought about by the new haulage connection with Home's Dip Section. On the surface a 400 kw. mercury arc rectifier was installed in the power-house, which in due course will replace the existing steam generating plant. Two hundred and twenty-one men were employed underground and 69 on the surface. Renown Collieries, Ltd. (T. Geddes (First Class), Mine-manager).—During the year development work was continued in the New Mine area adjacent to the boundary of the company's property with the Mac Donald Mine workings. Five pairs of miners were employed in No. 1 East Panel, where the seam averages 15 ft. in thickness. Varying gradients militated against the successful operation of coal-cutting machines, with the result that development was not up to the usual standard. The No. 1 Mine area is divided into the following sections—East Rope End, No. 2 West, No. 2 East, Thompson's Pillars, and the Main West Heading Sections. The East Rope End Section was exhausted late in the year and the section sealed off. Thirty-one pairs of miners were all engaged on pillar-extraction in this mine, with the exception of No. 2 East Section, where solid work is being pursued with the aid of coal-cutting machines. Pillar-extraction in Thompson's Pillars and in the Main West Heading Section is nearing completion. In the latter section the rate of extraction has been adversely affected by considerable heaving of the soft floor. No work was done in No. 5 North Section for some considerable time on account of a shortage of suitable labour. The thickness of coal in this mine ranges from 7 ft. to 16 ft.

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