NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 657, 6 November 1909, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

STATE COAL-MINES. ANNUAL EEPORT. The gross output of the State coal-mines for last year was 8M.900 tons, which, allowing 9870 tons for mine consumption and waste, leaves 800,035 ioi- market, an increase ot 27,620 tons o\er tho preceding ptnod. Xtie coal from tho Point Elizabeth mine was disposed of as follows :-Railwaj6, 09,645 tons, £68,812) other Government Departments, MO4 tons, ittlfl; detiots, 62,096 tort, ping companies and private consumers, J3,JBb tons Wflffl.-The ™d from the Scddpnville mfno w,W lisposed of « 26,774 tons, £a#&\ other GowMMnt Departtons, £398; depots, 3234 tons, £2702 J Thinning companies and private *f dmers, 16,5$ tans, £0638; briquette works IUW tons, £31169, Briquettes ot the value of £10,5<6 were sold to the railways, £1739 to tho depot*, and £451 worth went to local, customers at works. 'The Wellington, ttristchurch and Wanganii' depots are rapidly, increasing their soles, and tho Dunedin depot is said to be making fetcady progress. Other depots art to be established in various centres. The effort b. get municipal authorities t6 undertake to sale of coal in the smaller And inland centres did not meet with the success anticipated, Borough counoils (says the report) do not seem anxious to undertake the running of eoal yards but this phase of the business is not being: lest sight of. An increased output and batter quality of coal are expected in the near future, The general manager /™\ n n iB i n , * Vt!l JeasOn.to regret the establishment of toStet<l Coal Department, which has, new been five years in existence and has bee* a beneficial and profitable undcrtakim..' .-fty «$* «• whicKtho new works at Point Bllutatti are being projected is such as to enable 2000 tons per day to ba produced.' , GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO COME. ' Tho PriruO Minister stated yesterday that in the Financial Statement, to te\towgM down next Wednesday evening;'there will be references to the land question, retrenchment naval defonce, internal defence, and Native legislation He hoped that before the end of nost week tho Land Bill, Defence Bill, and Unvy Bill Woull bo circulated. s GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. Tho chief librarian, in- his, annual report, oomnlams that some recess privilege-holders do noTcompiy WwiffittWionw % n>o coiri-, plains about memboru p keo-pin S . l books .too Jong. Thoro are even cases where tho retmest for the return of books has been ignored. He also comments on the objectionably practice of somo Members itt taking out books without entering -them in tho dov-boolw This causes great intonvenieneo to fto staff, and adds fcrcatly to the chanco of books being lost bcybnj all possibility of recovery. IMPREST SUPPLY ACT. The 'amount of £7?2,000 covered by the Imnrest Supply Act passed yesterday is to provide for objects set forth in to following schedules - „..«,,,„ First Schedule. i £ Tho Consolidated Fund WOO The Public Works Fund 2<»,T00 The -Loans to Local B*h« Accouit ... ,000 Tho Land ,for Settlements Account 1,000 The State Forests .Account 2,500 The State Coal-mines Account 30,000 fhe Scenery Preservation Account i,wu The Hutt Brihraj and Read Improvement Account ....■•• ■';••'•:;•■ < 6 '' w The Railways Improyemeilts Authonsation Act Account "•■;•■•"';■" "'™ u (The Maori Land Settlement Act AcI -count '. '' Total ', £m ' m Second Schedule. i £ Tho Government Insurance Account .... 7,000 The Government Accident Insuranco The' State Fire'lnsurance Account 1.500 Tho Public Trust Office Account ......... 3,000 Tho Government Advances to bottlers Ofnce Account m The Government Advances to Workers Ofiice Account l < ™ 'Total' ■■■■■ •■ ■>•***<* Mr. Fisher has giver, notice to ask the Prime Minister whether tho Government can see their way to set up an Appeal Board for thoso branches of the public service in which Appeal Boards do not aliCady exist. •