STATE COAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14428, 19 July 1907, Page 5

STATE COAL.

ANNUAL REPORT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July IS. Tho annual report of the State Coal Minas presented to Parliament this afternoon, shows that the quantity of coal dealt with was 196,509 tons, valued ait £158,097. Of the output, 81,502 tons wont to the railways, 4445 tons to other Government Departments and 67,530 tons to private consumers. “The demand at present,” the report says, “ far exceeds tho supply, hut patience has to be exercised. eg the development of a largo field has to ho gradually and carefully carried out.” A good deal of what is termed “soft coal” exists in the Seddonvillo mine, but first-class cool is also obtainable. Owing, however, to tho preponderance of slack, for which there is practically no market, it mis considered inadvisable to actually push on matters until such time as tho briquette works in corn'so of construction were completed. The works have now been finished, and if the briquettes are found to be a good marketable article,_ and the mine manager's anticipation as to a run of good hard coal is realised, it augurs a much brighter future for tho Seddonville colliery. The manager of the department urges that it would he advisable to exercise caution in opening new depots. “Population,” he says, “is the chief factor in tho success of such undertakings, and it may ho necessary to find some other means of distributonr coal in the smaller districts.” Mr Bishop, the mines manager, referring to the Point Elizabeth mine says the frequent blockage of tho port of Groymouth still continues to he the principal hindrance, to the progress of the coal mining industry on that field, and its general effect is to reduce the output and the earnings of the workers, and to increase the cost of production. The balance-sheet shows that the net profits for the year totalled £8460.