OUR COAL MINES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 893, 12 August 1910, Page 5

OUR COAL MINES.

THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS. ' According to the ' annual report • oil coal mines, the annual output of codl . in this Dominion has doubled during the past decade. Last year the output total- . led 1,911,247 tons—bituminous and semibituminous coal, 1,257,233; ' pitch coal, : 5473; brown coal, 559,509; and lignite, ; 89,032 tons. The predominant feature i of the.'year in the coal-mining' industry has been the increased demand for the best classes./ of coal: resulting in ! greater ,outputs' }, ; from the principal oollieries; a decline, '" however, in the production of lignite from the southern mines has occurred,which may be attributed'to the stoppage of many of'the gold dredges which usually'burn that'class'of fuel.' ; In conformity with the output, the - number of persons engaged at the col- : lieries has also practically doubled within the past ten years. ;ln 1905 the total ■ employed above ground; was 992, and below ground 2902, or a total of 3894. Por 1909 the . total employed above ground was 1159, and below ground 3032, or a total of 4191. Towards the end of 1909 a discovery of ooal of lignitious class was made upon , Crown lands in the country adjoining the Main Trunk Railway, about three miles to the westward of Waimarino station. The confines of tho coalfield' ore not yet known, but it is believed to be an extension' of the Jlokau. coal-bear-ing series; /Several outcrops of coal' have been located, varying froth 3ft. to Sft. in thickness. Dr. Bell pronounces the coal to be of fair quality, suitable for household use, though not of value for steaming purposes. . The large increase in the quantity of coal exported during the year is very satisfactory, and would be very important if the trade could be maintained and gradually increased, the quantitybeing 201,085 .tons, as Against 100,502 tons during the previous year; and the value .£183,981, as against .£55,546 in 1908.