STATE COAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13480, 20 July 1907, Page 3

STATE COAL.

PROGRESS OF THE YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENTAL REPORT.

(Telegraphed by Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, July 19. The annual report of the State Coal Mines Department, presented to Parliament this afternoon, shows that the quantity of coal dealt with was 196.509 tons, valued at £158,097. Of the output 91,802 tons went 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 the supply, but patience has tc be exercised, as the development of a large field has to !»o gradually and carefully carried out."

A good deal of what is termed "soft coal exists in the Seddonvile Mine; but first-class hard coal is also obtainable. Owing, however, to the preponderance of slack, for which there is practically no market, it was considered injudicious to actively push on matters until snch time as , the' briquette works in course of construction were completed.' This work had now been finished ; and if the briquettes were found to he a good marketable article, and the mine manager's anticipation as to a run of good hard coal was realised, there #was a much brighter future for the Seddonville Colliery. The manager of the Department urges that it would be advis- i able to exercise caution in opening new depots. "Population," he says, "is the chief factor in the success of such undertakings, and it may be necessary to find some other means of distributing our goal in the smaller districts."

Mr Bishop, the Mines Manager, referring to the Point Elizabeth Mine, says the frequent blockage of the port of Greymouth still continues to be the principal hindrance, to the progress of the coal mining industry on that field, and its general effgpt is to reduce the output and th.) earnings of the workers and to increase the cost of production.

The balance-sheet shows that the net profits for the year totalled £8460.