NEW ZEALAND MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND MINES.

RECORD OUTPUT OF. COAL\

MORE USE OF LOCAL PRODUCT.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY.

[BY TELECtIAPir. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A record output of coal from the mines of New Zealand last year is chronicled in tho Mines Statement presented to the House of Representatives by tho Minister of Mines, Hon. W. A. Veitch. Tho output was ovor 70,000 tons more than in any previous year. This result, was due largely to tho utilisation by tho railways more locally mined instead of imported coal and to tho commendable action of gas companies in obtaining great Quantities of their requirements within the Dominion, said the Minister. Tests carried out by tho blending of different classes of New Zealand coal have proved that by using suitable mixtures tho results for gas-making purposes aro not inferior to thoso obtained from imported bituminous coal. Tho absence of industrial trouble of a serious character has been one of tho pleasing features of tho coalmining industry and is evidence that a spirit of goodwill exists between employers and employees. That this condition will continue to prevail is earnestly to bo hoped. With the knowledge gained from investigations carried out in tho Dominion laboratory as well as in countries abroad it is considered that in the near future it should bo possible to considerably curtail coal importations and by adopting some of tho proved carbonising processes now in operation' abroad to eliminate much waste and securo better and greater results from carbonised fuel.

Impetus to Goldmining,

While it is gratifying that the quantity of bullion production during the year 1928 shows an increase of 26,4940z. over that of tho preceding year, still it is a matter of regret that there has not been a genuine revival in this important industry, continues the report. The discovery of new and payable goldficlds would give an impetus to mining generally and materially help to remove some of our existing troubles and to some extent relievo unemployment. A general feeling of optimism, however, prevails among prospectors and those who have invested their capital in search of precious metals. Much energy is now being devoted to devising means of extracting bullion from lodes of low grade which it is believed exist in several parts of the Dominion.

The search for oil still continues in different parts of both the North and South Islands. Prospecting for oil necessitates the expenditure of largo sums of money in preliminary surveys and boring. Up to tho present time the location of a commercially payable oil well, as the result of boring in recent years, has not eventuated, but it is hoped that success will ultimately attend the efforts of those who aro now engaged upon the work.

Accidents During Year

Discussing mining and quarrying accidents tho Minister said that in metalliferous mines, in which 1494 men were ordinarily employed, there was one fatal accident and six other serious accidents. At stone quarries, employing 2161 men, one person was killed and seven seriously injured. There were 5376 persons ordinarily employed about coal mines. Nine men had been killed and 15 seriously injured. Tho detailed mapping and the making of an inventory of the mineral and other natural resources of New Zealand proceeds steadily, though all too slowly, since about one-quarter only of tho total area has been covered after 23 years' work, adds tho report. Much of tho information collected concerns resources which hava little present intrinsic value, but which will ho worth a great deal when New Zealand has reached a further stage in its economic development.