Papers Past | Parliamentary Papers | Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives | 1917 Session I | MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. D. S. MacDONALD,...

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Page- .... 1-6 Mines Statement Mineral-production -.2 Quartz-mming 9 Alluvial and Dredge Mining 2 Coal-mining 3 Tungsten-ore (Scheelite) 3 Sulphur . . i Petroleum .. + Kauri-gum 4 Stone-quarries 4 Persons engaged in Mining.. • r > Mining Accidents . . f> Geological Survey " . ..5 State Collieries ... G Schools of Mines . . G Subsidized Prospecting Roads and Tracks Government Water-races Coal-miners' Relief Fund Provision for Persons totally incapacitated by Miner's. Phthisis.. Tables to accompany the Mines Statement Appendices to the Mines Statement > Appendix A-Reports relating to Metalliferous Mines and Stone-qua tries . - . - 12-61 Report by Inspecting Engineer I. Production of Minerals 11. Persons employed I'll. Accidents ...... 16 IV. Gold-mines (I.) Quartz-mining .. •• • • • ■ • • •■ ' (2.) Dredge Mining .. ■• ■• •• •• •■ J 7 (3.) Alluvial Mining.. V. Minerals other than Gold Tungsten Ore .. • • • • • ■ • • 99 Sulphur 23 Petroleum .. . • • ■ • - - - Cinnabar .. •• •• •• -- Phosphate Kauri-gum

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Appendices to the Mines Statement — continued. Appendix A— continued. Report by Inspecting Engineer— continued. i •„,,,. VI. Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 (I.) Quarrying Operations .. .. .. .. .. ..24 (2.) Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. ..24 Explosion at Ohakune Quarry .. .. .. .. ..25 (3.) Summary Report of Mr. J. P. Downey, Inspector of Stone-quarries, North Island .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 VII. State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..26 (1.) Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. ..26 (2.) Government Prosjuecting-drilla .. .. .. .. ..28 (3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields .. .. .. .. ..29 (I.) Government Water-races.. .. .. .. .. ..29 VIII. Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. ..29 Annexure A -Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 30 Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. ..30 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ~30 Oil-wells .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 Fatal Acoiden! s .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 Non-fatal Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. ..31 Cinnabar-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..31 Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast Inspection District .. .. ..31 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..31 Dredging .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..33 Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..33 Southern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. ..34 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..34 Alluvial Mining . . . . . . .. ... .. ..36 Dredge Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. ..38 Minerals other than Gold .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 _nnexure B -Extracts from Report_ of Government Water-raoe Managers .. .. 39 Wainiea Kuniara Waiei'-races. Westland .. .. .. .. ..39 Mount Ida Water-race, Central Otago .. .. .. .. ..4(1 Annexure C--Reports of Directors of Schools of Minas .. .. .. ..II Coromandel School of Mines .. .. .. .. .. ..41 Thames School of Mines .. .. .. .. ..- .. ..II Experimental Plant .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4.1 Karangahake Sohool of Mines .. .. .. .. .. ..14 Waihi School of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. ..44 Huntly School of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. ..45 Westport School of Mines . . .. .. .. .. .. ..45 Reefton School of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. ..45 Otago School of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. ..46 Annexure D—Mining Statistics .. .. .. .. .. ..17 Quartz orushed and Cold obtained in llauiaki Mining District .. .. .. 17 Quartz crushed and Cold obtained in Marlborough and Westland Districts.. 48 Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District .. .. 49 Total Value of Bullion won .. .. .. .. .. .. 49 Bullion purchased by Banks .. .. .. .. .. ..49 Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies •• •• •■ ' •• ..51 Annexure E —Examinations for Mine-managers and Battery Superintendents .. 54 Examination Questions .. .. .. .. .. .. ..54 List of Mine-managers, Battery Superintendents, and Dredgemasters .. .. 58

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Appendices to the Mines Statement — continued. Page Appendix B —Reports relating to the Inspection of Coal-mines.. .. .. . .62 1 16 Report by Inspecting Engineer.. .. .. .. .. •• ..62 Section I. Output .. .. .. ... .. ■• ..62 Section 11. Persons employed .. .. .. •• •• .'. 6_ Section 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. •■ ■■ ''I Section IV. General Remarks .. .. .... .. .. .. 67 (a.) Mining Operations .. .. .. .. .. ..67 (b.) Ventilation .. .. .. .. .. .. •■ 69 (c.) Eye Accidents to Coal-hewers owing to Flying Fragments of Coal .. 71 (d.) Systematic Timbering .. .. .. .. .. 72 Annexure A —Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 74 Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. •• ..74 West Coast Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. ..76 Southern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. ..78 Annexure B .Bxunner Fireclay-deposits.. .. .. .. •■ ..82 Annexure C—Statistics, of Workings in Coal-mines .. .. .. ..si Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. .. *l West Coast Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. 81 Southern Inspection District, .. .. .. .. .. ..85 Annexure D —Examinations for Colliery Mine-managers and other Mine Officials . . 88 Examination Questions .. .. .. .. .. .. ..89 List of Persons whp hold Certificates under the Coal-mines Acts .. .. .. 94

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TABLES. Page Accidents, Eye .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 71,72 Accidents in Coal-mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64-66 Accidents in Metal-mines, <fcc. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13-15 Accidents in Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24-25 Affairs of Mining Companies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51-53 Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Analyses of Mine-air, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 Auriferous-quartz Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2, 16,47 Bullion purchased by Banks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49, 50 Coal exported .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..11 Coal imported .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10, 11 Coal, Output of .. .. .. .. .. .. 2, 3, 10, 62, 63, 65, 84-88 Coal-miners, Number of .. .. .. .. .. 5,11,13,16,63,64,65,71 Coal-miners' Relief Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Coal-mines Statistics of Workings in .. .. .. .. .. 84-88 Companies, Affairs of Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51-53 Companies, Sluicing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Dividends .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2, 16-19, 51-53 Dredge Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17, 18 Dredges, Number of .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16,17 Electrical Plants at Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69 Eye-accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 71, 72 Gold and other Minerals exported .. .. .. .. .. . . 7, 8, 9 Gold or Bullion obtained .. .. .. ~ .. .. 2,16-19,47-49,51-53 Gold produced 1857-1916 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ? Gold-mines, Number of .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16, 18 Mineral-production .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I, 13 Minerals exported .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,7-9,13 Miners, Number of .. .. .. .. .'. 5,11,13,16-18,51-53,63-65,71,84-88 Ore treated at Thames School of Mines Experimental Plant .. .. .. 42 Prospeoting-drills, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Prospecting Parties, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 26, 27 Quarries, Stone, Output, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .'. ..24 Quartz crushed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,16,21,47-49 Roads, Subsidies on .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 29 Scheelite .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 20, 21 Schools of Mines, Expenditure on .. .. .. .. .. . . 29 Sluicing Companies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..19 Statistics of Workings in Coal-mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 84-88 Stone-quarries, Output of, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Sulphur .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..22: Timbering, Intervals allowed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 73 Tungsten-ore.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20,21 PLANS AND MAPS. Map of Kimu Goldfield, Westland Mining District, N.Z., showing Prospecting Boreholes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. To face page 17 Ventilation Plan, No. 9 Level, Waihi Gold-mining Company .. ... To face page 30

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1917. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. D. S. MacDONALD, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament the Mines Statement for the year ended the 31st December, 1910. The value of minerals exported, together with that of the coal-output for 1.9.1.6, amounted to £2,978,436, as compared with £3,374,523 for 1915, being a decrease of £396,087 (or 11*7 per cent.). It is satisfactory, however, to state that the decrease is more apparent than real, and is confined almost wholly to gold, the export of which during 1915 was inflated by the shipment of gold accumulated during the latter part of 1914, but prohibited from export by statute. The production of coal, kauri-gum, tungsten-ore, and other mineral substances, including the output from otir stone-quarries, has considerably increased, notwithstanding the abnormal conditions caused by the Great War and the shortage of labour. The output of coal amounted to 2,257,135 tons, being an increase of 48,511 tons above that of the previous year, and, with the exception of that of 1914, constitutes a record for the Dominion. The output per person employed underground amounted to 750 tons, which is the highest attained in New Zealand, and has been exceeded on only one occasion in Australasia, and then only by 1 ton. The value of tungsten-ore exported during the year, which also constituted a record, amounted to £49,070, as against £27,784 for the previous year. Though this increase must be attributed partly to the increased price paid by the Imperial Government for this commandeered mineral, it is in the main due to greater production. MINERAL - PRODUCTION. The following table shows the quantity and value of gold, silver, and other minerals, coal, and kauri-gum exported during the years 1915 and 1916, also the quantity of native coal consumed in the Dominion during the same periods :—

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Year ended inded ■ Product. 31st December, 1915. 31st December, 1916. 31st December, 1916. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Valu | i Quantity. Value. r£ £ Gold ... ... ... ■• 422,825 oz.* 1,694,658* 292,620 oz. 1,199 Silver ... ... 957,541 „ * 95,583* 787,053 „ 85 Tungsten-ore ... ... ... 194 tons 27,784 266 tons 49 Mixed minerals ... ... . ■•■ 3,450 „ 5,377 7,335 „ 14 New Zealand coal exported ... ... 323,992 „ 329,731 328,183 „ 326 New Zealand coal used in New Zealand 1,884,632 „ 942,316 1,928,952 „ 964 Kauri-gum 4,575 „ 279,133 5,448 „ 339 Coke 28 „ 46 33 „ 292,620 oz. 787,053 „ 266 tons 7,335 „ 328,183 „ 1,928,952 „ 5,448 „ 33 „ £ 1,199,212 85,111 49,070 14,614 326,553 964,476 339,343 57 £ Total value for 1916 ... ... ... ... ... 2,978,436* 1915 ... ... ... ... ... 3,374,523 * Tbe value of tbe bullion produced as stated in tho official returns from tho mines amounted to £1,192,197.

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AURIFEROUS-QUARTZ MINING. The value of bullion obtained from our quartz-mines during 1916 amounted to £944,188, as a result of treating 442,362 statute tons of quartz. The dividends distributed by gold-quartz mining companies amounted to £185,005. The following is a statement of the quantity of quartz treated, the value of bullion obtained, and the amount of dividends paid by the more important quartzmining companies during 1910 : —

ALLUVIAL AND DREDGE MINING. The value of the production from alluvial claims amounted to £123,492, as compared with £153,300 during the previous year, a decline of £29,868, which was chiefly confined to West Coast claims. During 1916 there was a revival of interest in West Coast alluvial mining, the result of payable prospects being obtained by Government Keystone drills operated at Rimu Flat, near Hokitika, by an Australian company. A number of dredging and sluicing claims have been taken up by strong companies, and a dredge and a sluicing plant have been installed thereon. The gold-production from alluvial claims for the current year may therefore show an improvement over that of 1916. The Howard goldfield, which was discovered early in 1915, and is situated on a tributary of the upper Buller River, has not proved extensive or rich, and the number of miners thereon has declined during the past year. The gold-dredging industry continues to decline, the number of bucketdredges in commission having decreased from fifty-two during 1915 to forty-five during 1916, and the gold-production from £164,605 to £125,317. COAL-MINING. The output of coal during 1916 amounted to 2,257,135 tons, as compared with 2,208,624 tons during 1915, being an increase of 48,511 tons. The principal activity in the coal-mining industry occurred in the Westport, Greymouth, and Huntly districts. The following is a comparative statement of the coal and lignite raised during the years 1914, 1915, and 1916 :—

- ... Dividends paid. Quant.ty Va , ue Name of Company. QuMtz Total to End treated. 1916. of December, 1916. Statute Tons. £ £ £ Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. .. 173,420 363,612 j 99,181 4,776,083 Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited) 112,203' 211,108 38,138 190.188 Talisman Consolidated (Limited) .. .. .. 16,935 81,454 j 17,250 ; 1,017,472 Blaokwater Mines (Limited) .. .. .. 40,247 78,590 21,999 162,445 Other quartz-mines .. .. .. .. 99,557! 209,124 5,197 * Totals .. .. .. 442,362 944,188 185,065 * * Unknown. The average value per ton of ore treated amounted to £2 2s. 8d.

Inspection District. Output for Output for 1915. 191(3. Increase 1916. n.,*™* f„_ Increase or Decrease, Output tor . . -., xa-iA between Years 1915 and 1914. Northern (North Island) West Coast, (South Island) .. Southern (Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) Totals .. Tons. Tons. 460,415 ; 486,114 1,278,994 1,295,635 469,215 475,386 I Tons. 25,699 16,641 6,171 Tons. Tons. 440,453 Inc. 19,962 1,351,182 Dec. 72,188 483,958 „ 14,743 2,275,593 Dec. 66,969 2,208,624 2.257,135 48,511

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The comparative tonnage of the various classes of coal for the years 1915 and 1916 is summarized as follows :—

The coal-production, satisfactory as it is, would have been greater had the coal-miners continued to maintain the maximum output, but unfortunately the output was considerably curtailed during November and December in several of the mines. This restriction, which became more general, during February and March of the current year, culminated in strikes lasting a fortnight or more in several coalmining districts. lam glad to be able to say, however, that since the resumption of work no trace of the go-slow policy has been seen, and the output of all the mines has been normal. TUNGSTEN-ORE (SCHEELITE). The quantity and value of tungsten-ore exported during 1916 constitutes a record, amounting t0|266 tons, value £49,070, as compared with 194 tons, value £27,784, during 1915. Owing to the commandeering by the Imperial Government at a fixed import price of £2 15s. per unit (1 per cent.) of tungstic acid—an increase of about 80 per cent, above the average ante bellum price—there has been increased activity in mining and prospecting for scheelite and other tungsten minerals during the year. The principal operations have been carried out in the locality of Glenorchy, where scheelite-quartz lodes have been found to extend from Mount Judah, in the Richardson Range, which flanks Lake Wakatipu, to the eastward to the Dart River, westward of Paradise, a distance of about twelve miles, and to occur at varying altitudes up to 5,000 ft. above the lake. The known ore-deposits are, however, too small and intermittent to warrant any large capital expenditure for their exploitation, and the present method of operation by small and economically managed mines may be commended. SULPHUR. During the year inquiries were made on behalf of the Imperial Government as to the price at which sulphur could be shipped from New Zealand ; as a result of such inquiries an inspection was made, and a report was supplied to rne, of which the following is a brief summary : — Native sulphur in sufficient quantity to be profitably worked is known to occur only in the thermal districts of the North Island (near Rotorua and Lake Taupo), and at White Island. The most extensive deposits occur at Tauhara North, near Taupo. With the exception of the small lake deposit on White Island, all the known native sulphur is reported to occur in the form of pockets in pumice or sinter around fumaroles or thermal springs. These deposits, although of high grade generally, are small in comparison with those of massive form in seams or veins as extensively worked in Japan, Sicily, and North America. Owing to the nature of the deposits and to transport difficulties it is unlikely that sulphur can, under normal conditions, be exported from New Zealand to compete with the supplies of the above-mentioned countries. Since the beginning of the present year, however, sulphur has risen to very high prices in the London market. Prior to 1898 there was no separate record kept of the quantity of native sulphur exported from New Zealand ; between 1898 and 1902, however, 4,727 tons, value

Class. Output for 191(1. j < Output for 1915. Increase or Decrease for 1916. Bituminous and semi-bituminous coal Brown coal Lignite Tons. 1,422,074 . I 653,898 181,163 Tons. 1,404,400 725,001 79,223 Tons. Increase 17,674 Decrease 71,103 Increase 101,940 Totals 2,257,135 Increase 48,511 2,208,624

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£13,239, were exported to Australia. Since 1902 the small quantity of sulphur produced has been used at chemical-works in the Dominion. During 1916 a lease was granted by the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts to Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co's. New Zealand Drug Company of portion of the Rotorua Sanatorium Reserve for the purpose of Obtaining sulphur therefrom, a royalty of 15s. per ton being charged. Prior to 1910 the company obtained from that land 3,204 tons of sulphur for refinement at its Auckland works, a royalty of ss. per ton being charged. During 1916, after the lease was granted, 466 tons were obtained. PETROLEUM. Operations in search of petroleum have been confined almost wholly to the Taranaki District, and these have been uneventful. The Blenheim well of the Taranaki Oil Land-s Acquisition and Development Company (Limited) on the 2nd July, 1917, had attained a depth of 5,014 ft. At 2,200 ft. a small flow of petroleum occurred. The Huiroa bore of the Consolidated Oilfields on the 2nd May, 1917, was 4,921 ft. deep, and had tapped a small amount of gas, but nothing more than a trace of oil. The operations of the Taranaki Oil-wells (Limited), at Moturoa, were confined to recasing its No. 2 well and to the separation of benzine from the crude oil yielded by its Nos. 3 and 5 wells. KAURI-GUM. The quantity of kauri-gum exported during 1916 amounted to 5,448 tons, value £339,343, as compared with. 4,575 tons, value £279,133, during 1915, an increase of 873 tons and £60,210. The total value of kauri-gum exported to the end of the year amounted to £.17,875,483. The European market for this fossil resin—used in the manufacture of varnish, and linoleum —being greatly restricted by the present war, new but smaller markets have been obtained. During the year the distillation of kauri-gum oil from peat in North Auckland was resuscitated after a lapse of years. The peat yields from 20 to 30 gallons of oil per ton. About 25 per cent, of the product is stated to resemble petrol, and it is being used to propel motor-cars and launches. STONE-QUARRIES. For the closer inspection of those 283 quarries and places which come under the operations of the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, at which about 1,648 persons were employed during the year, the whole of the statutory inspection has been transferred to the Inspectors of Mines, and an additional Inspector has been appointed tor the North Island quarries. During 1916 the output of crude stone from the above quarries amounted to 1,331,003 tons. The quarrying industry of the Dominion is increasing in magnitude rapidly, and promises to become of considerable importance, this being due to the great variety and excellence of our building-stone and to the quantity, high quality, and general distribution of limestone for agriculture and cement-manufacture. At the recent Panama-Pacific Exposition held at San Francisco an exhibit of New Zealand building-stone by the Mines Department in open competition was awarded a gold medal. PERSONS ENGAGED IN MINING. The number of persons employed in and about the mines of the Dominion during 1916 is estimated at 7,701, or 660 less than the number employed during the previous year. The number employed at metalliferous mines was 3,713, and at coal-mines 3,988. The number of gum-diggers is not known.

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The following table shows the number of miners in each inspection district, and the branch of mining in which they are engaged : —

MINING ACCIDENTS. The number of lives lost at metalliferous mines during 1916 was nine, the proportion of deathsJper 1,000 persons employed being 2-42. At [collieries six lives were lost, being at the rate of 1-5 per 1,000 persons employed, or an output of 376,189 tons per life lost. At the North Island collieries no fatal accident happened during the year, and at the collieries of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland none has occurred during the past three years and a half—a remarkable record. At those operations which are regulated by the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, two lives were accidentally lost, being at the rate of 1-24 per 1,000 persons ordinarily employed. At Government quarries, which do not come under the operations of the Act, and are therefore not inspected by officers of the Mines Department, seven lives were accidentally lost during the year, and four during 1915. It appears to be desirable that Government quarries should be brought under the operations of the Stone-quarries Act. No difficulties have hitherto arisen through Government machinery being under the provisions of the Inspection of Machinery Act and State collieries being under the provisions of the Coal-mines Act. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Owing to reductions in the regular staff, caused by war conditions and by resignations, detailed field-work was done only in Taranaki. Officers of the Survey, however, visited a large number of localities in order to furnish reports on coal, limestone, phosphate-deposits, &c. The publications during the year ended the 31st May included only the Annual Report and Bulletin No. 18, which deals with the geology and mineral resources of the Reefton district. Three elaborate palsoontological reports are about to be issued, and several bulletins dealing with areal geology are in various stages of preparation and publication. Data for a fairly complete report on the limestone and phosphate deposits of the Dominion have been obtained, and are being assembled for publication as rapidly as the small staff and other work on hand will permit. STATE COLLIERIES. The output from State collieries during 1916 was 277,845 tons, of which 140,917 tons was produced from the Point Elizabeth Colliery, and 136,928 tons from the Liverpool Colliery. The output from the two collieries exceeded that of the previous year by 39,645 tons. The State coal business during the year ended the 31st March last resulted in a profit of £18,521 ss. 9d., as compared with a profit of £2,515 during the previous year. The average price realized for State coal during the twelve months was 19s. 4-76d. per ton, as compared with 16s. 8-71d. per ton for the preceding year. The Point Elizabeth Colliery will probably be worked out within the next twelve months, and thereafter considerable difficulty will be experienced in supplying coal to meet the demand, especially for railway and. household requirements. Investigations have been made during the past eighteen months with a view to discovering a locality where a new State mine could be successfully established. The reports obtained were not sufficiently encouraging to enable any decided opinion as to the advisability of embarking on a new colliery to be formed.

Classification. Inspection District. Northern, j West Coast. Southern. Totals. 1910. 1915. Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore Coal Othor minerals 1,693 838 5 1,144 2,221 866 929 5 3,703 3,988 10 4,193 4,156 12 490 168 2 Totals 2,536 3,365 1,800 7,701 8,361 660

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SCHOOLSj[OF MINES. The expenditure by the Department on the schools of mines situated at Coromandel, Thames, Karangahake, Waihi, and Huntly, in the North Island, and at Westport and Reefton in the South Island, amounted during the year ended t__e'3lst March, 1917, to £3,792 13s. 6d. The total expenditures on these schools, exclusive of subsidies paid to the University of Otago School of Mines, amounted on March, 1917, to £70,390 9s. Id. At the annual Government examinathese schools no student competed for any of the six scholarships offered annually by the Government. It is now several years since a scholarship has been gained, notwithstanding that the conditions have been considerably relaxed. SUBSIDIZED PROSPECTING. During the year ended 31st March, 1917, seventeen approved prospecting parties were granted subsidies amounting to £6,506 13s. 4d., of which £5,353 13s. 4d. was expended during that period. Upon these subsidized operations and those subsidized previously twenty-two parties, employing sixty-seven persons, were during 1916 engaged in prospecting. The results as yet attained have been unimportant. ROADS AND TRACKS. The expenditure on roads and tracks by subsidies and direct grants during the financial year ended 31st March, 1917, amounted to £17,098 6s. 3d. GOVERNMENT WATER-RACES. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, which render possible hydraulic mining in the Kumara district, Westland, and the Naseby district, Central Otago, have during 1916 supplied seventy miners with water for sluicing, by which gold to the approximate value of £14,683 was obtained. The cash received for water sold amounted to £2,609, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races was £3,462. These races are therefore not self-supporting, and no allowance for interest on capital expenditure or depreciation has been made. During 1916 the average annual earnings per miner using Government water, after deducting the amount paid for the same, was £170, being £10 less than during the previous year. From these earnings must be subtracted all expenditure on plant and material, also rent and other incidental expenses ; it will thus be seen that the alluvial miners using Government water appear to be satisfied to work for less than the current rate of wages in other arduous occupations. COAL-MINERS' RELIEF FUND. As required by the Coal-mines Act, 1908, the owner of every coal-mine contributes per ton on all coal sold, for the relief of coal-miners who may be injured whilst working, and for the relief of families of coal-miners who may be killed or injured. The following is a statement of the accounts of the fund during the two last financial years : — Year ended Year ended 31 st March, 1916. 31 st March, 1917. £ £ Contributions .. . . . . 1,966 1,980 Allowances on account of accidents, &c. 1,526 ■ 1,427 Balance .. .. .. 7,303 8,172 PROVISION FOR PERSONS TOTALLY INCAPACITATED BY MINERS' PHTHISIS. By the passing of the Miners' Phthisis Act, 1915, the Gold-miners' Relief Fund was abolished; and provision is now made in the new Act for a pension of £l per week being paid to a married man or a widower with young children, and 15s. per week to a single man who is or becomes totally incapacitated for work owing to miners' phthisis contracted while working as a miner in New Zealand. In addition to this, the widow of any pensioner under the Act who dies from that disease is entitled to a pension of 12s. 6d. per week for two years. Funeral expenses to the extent of £20 are also provided for. Duty of 3d. per ounce on all gold exported is reserved for these pensions, and the Act is administered by the Commissioner under the Pensions Act, 1913.

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TABLES TO ACCOMPANY THE MINES STATEMENT.

No. 1. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold and other Minerals entered for Exportation during the Years ended the 31st December, 1915 and 1916, and the Total Value since the 1st January, 1853. The Coal-output is also included.

Name of Metal or Mineral. Por Year ended the For Year ended the , . tT"'* 1 *? 31st December, 1916. 31st December, 1915. 81st Deoer Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. t-om the , 1853, to the nber, 1916. Value. Precious metals— Gold Silver 0/,. £ Oz. £ Oz. 292,620 1,199,212 422,825 1,094,553 21,827,711 787,053 85,111 957,541 95,583 20,127,377 1,079,073 1,284,323 1,380,366 1,790,136, 41,955,088 £ 85,847,675 2,181,493 Total gold and silver 88,029,168 Mineral produce, including kauri-gum— Copper-ore Chrome-ore Antimony-ore.. Manganese-ore Hoematito ore Tungsten-ore Sulphur (crude) Mixed minerals* Coal (New. Zealand) exported Coke exported Coal, output of mines in Dominion (less exports) Oil-shale Kauri-gum Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ 19,209 38,002 54,941 01,905 469 201,550 13,239 224,877 4,193,379 25,120 19,707,717 1,498 r, son 5,809 3,768 19.364 iy,00^ 77 77 266 49,070 194 27,784 1,833 4 99'," Tons. 1,498 5,869 3,768 19,364 77 1,833 4,927 51,32'.' 4,491,115 16,564 39,599,056 4 , Wti 7,335 14,614 3,450 5,377 51,322 328,183 326,553 323,992; 329,731 4,491,115 33 57 23 40 16,564 1,928,952 964,476 1,684,632 942,316 39,599,056 14,444 5,448 339,343 4,575 279,133 349,271 2,270,217 1,694,113 2,216,806 1,584,387 44,559,108 1,284,323 1,380,366 1,790,136 14,444 349,271 7,230 17,875,483 Total quantity and value of minerals Value of gold and silver, as above.. 2,270,217 1,694,113 1,284,323 2,216,806 1,380,366 44,559,108 42,423,133 88,029,108 130,452,301 Total value of minerals produced, including gold and silver 2,978,436 3,597,232 3,374,523 2,978,436 3,597,232 * Includit g concentrates, slimes, and tailii 20 tons; puiniee-sanil, 4,0(:4 tons; pumice-stone, 1 lime, 391 tons. rigs, 2,646 to: 52 tons; pyr igs, 2,646 tons; jewellers' sweepings, 1 j|, tons; greenstone, 35..',, t 52 tons; pyrites, 4 tons; building-stone, 21 tons; stone (rough), is; jewellon ■ites, 4 tons s' sweepings, ; buildiug-st< •eerrstone, SSjJr stone (rough), tons; marble , fi tons; and

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No. 2. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Exportation from New Zealand during the Years ended the 31st December, 1915 and 1916, and the Total Quantity and Value-from 1857 to the 31st December, 1916.

Yeai 31st Door • ended imber, 1916. Year ended 31st December, 1915. Inorei Decrease ended Docemb ase or )for Year I 3lst >er, 1916. District and County or Borough, Total Quanti from Janua 31st Deceu ty and Value iry, 1857, to nber, 1916, Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Increase. jDecrease. Auckland— County of Coromandel County of Thames County of Ohinemuri County of Piako .. Borough of Thames Borough of Paeroa Borough of Waihi Oz. 2,745 10,450 43,638 131 1,939 2,033 127,043 £ 11,441 42,903 182,003 550 7,511. 11,175 537,724 Oz. 1,428 7,581 58,675 409 1,710 £ 5,849 30,990 240,779 1,097 6,592 Oz. 1,317 2,875 Oz. Oz. £ 15|037 278 229 2,033 144^969 577^643 17,926 WELLINGTON 188,585 793,967 214,772 863,550 20,187 6,343,012 24,316,939 188 706 Marlborough— County of Marlborough 2,319 9,012 3,568 13,804 1,249 99,301 386,676 Nelson — County of Waimea County of Collrngwood County of Takaka County of Murchison 4 310 4 1,850 16 1,241 10 7,425 5 446 21 1,805 4 1,810 1 136 46 ' 184 2,174 8,698 497 2,010 1,077 1,733,968 6,874,704 Wkst Coast— County of Buller .. County of Inangahua County of Grey County of Westland Ross Borough Kumara Hokitika.. 2,030 51,710 4,301 6,116 623 346 7,500 195,380 17,348 2 4,821 2.492 1,384 5,421 92,415 7,989 9,321 3,191 1,830 915 20,299 365,555 32,573 37,788 12,708 7,320 3,002 3,391 40,099 3,028 3,205 2,508 1,484 915 65,192 55,890 *24,175,377 Canterbury— County of Selwyrr 248,997 121,082 479,965 6,088,047 19 L8 52 9 116 458 Otao.0— County of Taieri .. County of Tuapeka County of Vincent County of Maniototo County of Waihemo County of Waitaki County of Bruce .. County of Lake County of Wallace County of Fiord .. County of Southland County of Clutha.. County of Waikouaiti 202 8,804 8,724 3,304 97 820 416 1,415 131 4 10,150 3 830 35,359 35,275 13,158 386 3,238 1,662 5,679 546 10 41,290 8 397 10,809 24,199 3,882 551 1,140 1,962 4,003 4,093 40 24,147 18 587 1,017 68,021 97,990 15,479 2,090 4,509 7,943 10,164 16,575 161 98,545 66 2,202 195 8,005 15,475 578 454 320 1,546 2,588 3,962 36 13,997 15 587 Unknown 34,070 137,447 81,828 331,494 47,758 7,559,266 30,078,588 276 1,072 1,065 3,012 789 3,813 14,227 Totals 292,620 1,199,212 422,825 1,094,553 130,205 21,827,711 85,847,675

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No. 3. GOLD PRODUCED, 1857 to 1916. Table showing the Total Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Exportation from the 1st January, 1857, to the 31st December, 1916. (This Return shows the Output of the various Goldfields. Gold entered at Nelson from Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport is put under the Head of "West Coast," and Gold from Invercargill and Riverton under the Head of "Otago.")

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Auckland. Nelson. Marlborough. West Coast. Otago. Wellington. Canterbury. Grand Totals. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. j Value. Oz. Value. Prior to 1914 1914 1915 1916 5,823,841 115,814 214,772 188,585 £ 22,203,539 455,877 863,556 793,967 310,983 895 497 2,174 £ 1,229,258 3,581 2,010 8,698 92,330 930 3,568 2,319 £ 359,612 7,259,953 [ 3,611 61,393 j 13,864 121,082 9,012 65,192 £ 28,841,373 7,396,809 236,776 48,922 479,985 82,893 248,997 34,346 £ 29,423,234 195,522 335,106 138,519 £ 273 1,044 123 13 4 £ 483 20,884,312 227,954 52 422,825 19 292,620 82,058,541 895,36' 1,694,551 1,199,211 Totals .. 6,343,012 i 1 . 99,147 386,099 7,507,620 29,807,111 7,562,970 30,092,381 273 : 1,044 24,316,939 314,549 1,243,547 | 7,562,970 30,092,381 273 ! 1,044 140 554 i 21,827,711 85,847,671 . I

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No. 4. Table showing the Increase or Decrease in the Annual Production of Coal and Oilshale in the Dominion and the Quantity of Coal imported since 1878.

No. 5. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Coalfields, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1915 and 1916, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.

No. 6. Table showing the Output of Different Classes of Coal.

Coal and Sh the Do ale raised in jminion. Goal Imported, Year. Tons. Yearly Increase or Decrease. Tons, Increase over Preceding Year. Decrease below Preceding Year. Prior to 1878 1878 1879 1880 1881. 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1910 709,931 162,218 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 480,831 511,063 534,353 558,620 613,895 586,445 637,397 668,794 673,315 691,548 719,540 720,054 792,851 840,713 907,033 975,234 1,093,990 1,239,686 1,305,040 1,420,229 1,537,838 1,585,750 1,729,530 1,831,009 1,860,975 1,911,247 2,197,302 2,006,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614 2,208,624 2,257,135 Inc. 69,000 „ 08,705 „ 37,339 „ 41,010 „ 43,492 „ 59,009 „ 30,232 „ 23,290 „ 24,207 „ 55,275 Dec. 27,450 Inc. 50,952 „ 31,397 4,521 „ 18,233 „ 27,998 7,108 „ 00,197 „ 47,862 „ 06,320 „ 68,201 „ 118,750 „ 145,090 „ 125,354 „ 55,189 „ 117,609 „ 47,918 „ 143,780 „ 101,473 ,. 29,900 „ 50,272 „ 280,115 Dec. 131,289 Inc.. 111,542 Dec. 289,010 Inc. 387,009 Dec. 60,990 Inc. 48,511 174,148 158,070 123,298 129,902 129,582 123,540 148,444 130,202 119,873 107,230 101,341 128,003 110,939 1.25,318 125,453 117,444 1.12,901 108,198 101,750 110,907 115,427 99,655 124,033 149,764 127,853 103,923 147,196 169,040 207,567 220,749 287,808 258,185 232,378 188,008 304,359 468,940 518,070 353,471 293,950 0,664 24,904 20,722 14,379 135 •• 9,151 4,520 24,378 25,371 86,070 21,850 38,521 13,182 07,059 176,291 104,581 49,130 10,072 33,778 380 0,042 18,242 10,329 12,643 5,889 17,124 8,009 4,483 4,763 6,442 15,772 21,911 10,727 29,023 25,807 44,310 104,599 59,515

Name of Coalfield. Output. 1916. 1915. I Increase. I I Decrease. Approximate j Total Output up to 31st December, 1916. Slorth Auckland .. Waikato (including Mokau) kelson rJuller .. 'nangahua Jrey nanterbury 3tago "Southland Tons. Tons. 126,506 117,882 359,608 342,533 26,147 26,629 714,015 710,969 11,402 12,151 544,071 529,245 19,465 15,954 281,552 293,604 174,369 159,657 Tons. 8,024 17,075 3,046 14,826 3,511 14 ,'712 Tons. '482 749 12,052 Tons. 3,512,634 4,560,665 308,671 14,401,071 264,509 8,710,458 718,597 8,853,137 2,760,429 Total 8 2,257,135 2,208,624 2,257,135 2,208,624 48,511 48,511 44,090,171 44,090,171

Class of Coal. Out; mt. Increase. Decrease. Approximate Total Output to the 31st December, 1916. 1916. 1915. Bituminous and semi-bituminous Tons. 1,422,074 653,898 181,163 Tons. 1,404,400 725,001 79,223 Tons. 17,074 101,940 Tons. Tons. 28,800,708 71,103 13,145,210 2,144,253 Brown Lignite Totals 48,511 44,090,171 2,257,135 2,208,624 48,511

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No. 7. Table showing the Total Quantity and Value of Coal imported into and exported from New Zealand from and to each Country during the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

No. 8. Number of Persons ordinarily employed in Mining other than Coal during the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

I Imports. Exp :iorts. Country imported from or exported to. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Tons. £ United Kingdom Straits Settlements Canada, via West Coast Australia .. .. .. . .. 293,956 189,526 Fanning Island .. .. .. .. ' Fiji * Egypt Chile U.S.A., via East Coast U.S.A., via West Coast German Samoa Tons. 115,682 49,811 5,330 51,972 11 1.7,391 25,246 1,815 2,403 15,596 575 40,705 640 766 2,172 1,560 £ 121,734 41,688 5,198 48,509 24 15,997 20,307 2,293 2,583 17,031 580 41,172 864 600 2,254 1,962 Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Society Islands Tuamotu Archipelago Totals .. .. .. .. 293,956 189,526 I :|! Includes 3,492 tons imported and subsequently exported 331,675* 328,796

Number of Persons ordinarily implc iyed at T01 ;al. County or Borough. Gold-quartz Gold VI inns. Alluvial Mines. Golddredges. Mines other than Gold and Coal. 1916. 1915. Northern Inspection District. Jounty and Borough of Thames .. 153 Jounty of Ohinemuri ... .. 359 ,, Coromandel .. .. 72 Piako .. .. .. 3 Borough of Tauranga .. .. 3 Waihi .. .. .. 1,099 Puhipuhi district Etotorua 3reat Barrier Island.. .. .. 4 153 359 72 3 3 1,099 5 196 395 62 2 2 1,207 6 2 6 5 4 West Coast Inspection District. Jounty of Marlborough .. .. 97 3 ,, Waimea .. .. .. 10 ,, Collingwood .. .. .. 11 „ Murchison .. .. .. 53 Buller .. .. .. i 33 „ Inangahua .. .. 590 4 Grey .. 79 Westland.. .. .. .. 121 Borough of Ross .. .. .. .. 18 „ Hokitika .. .. .. 4 40 21 56 100 10 11 53 37 634 100 177 18 4 92 12 13 50 48 730 154 188 69 Southern Inspection District. Jounty of Taieri .. .. .. .. 3 Tuapeka .. .. .. 6 156 Vincent .. .. .. 6 59 „ Maniototo .. .. .. 63 ,, Waihemo .. .. 29 Waitaki .. .. .. .. 17 „ Lake .. .. .. .. 43 Wallace .. .. .. •• 47 „ Bruce „ Southland .. .. .. 73 Stewart Island 35 128 4 1 "24 7 198 193 63 53 17 110 47 7 173 3 2 241 227 77 28 21 103 51 20 195 0 " 5 "62 i 7 100 3 Totals 2,435 787 2,435 787 392 99 3,713 4,205 Summary of Persons ordinarily employed in or about Nat Zealand Hnes during 1916 and 1915. i916. 1915. Increase or Decrease. Sold, silver, and scheelite Dther metalliferous mines joal-mines Totals 3,614 99 3,988 7,701 4,193 12 4,156 Dec. 579 Inc. 87 Dec. 168 8,361 Dec. 660

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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT. APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 16th May, 1917. I have the honour to present my tenth annual report on metalliferous mines, together with annexures and statistical information, for the year ended 3lst December, 1916. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure through the Mines Department on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c, are for the period covered by the financial year —viz., from the Ist April, 1916, to the 31st March, 1917. The reports, &c, are divided into the following sections:— I. Production of Minerals. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (I.) Quartz-mining. (2.) Dredge Mining. (3.) Alluvial Mining. V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarries. (1.) Quarrying Operations and Statistics. (2.) Accidents. (3.) Summary Report by Inspector of Stone-quarries for North Island. VII. State Aid to Mining. (1.) Subsidized Prospecting. (2.) Government Prospecting-drills. (3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. (4.) Government Water-races. VIII. Schools of Mines. Annexures, — (a.) Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines. (b.) Reports of Water-race Managers. (c.) Reports of Directors of Schools of Mines. (d.) Mining Statistics. (e.) Examinations under the Mining Act, 1908, and Lists of Certificate-holders.

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I. PRODUCTION OF MINERALS. The following statement shows the value of the exports from metal-mines and kauri-gum fields from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1916 : —

The advance in the production of tungsten-ore is due to the increased price created by munition requirements. The decrease in the value of bullion from gold-mines is not unexpscted, quartz-mining and gold-dredging being declining industries.

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines of the Dominion during the year : —

111. ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured in metalliferous mines during 1916 :•—

Being at the rate of 2-42 fatalities per 1,000 persons employed. During the first half of 1916 no fatal accident occurred at any metal-mine; then followed nine before the close of the year. Of these only two may be classed as accidents inseparable from the dangerous occupation of mining—viz., those by which T. F. Rowney at Waihi and perhaps T. J. O'Connor at Reefton lost their lives—and I regret to report that the accidents to W. Irvine, A. Riley, J. Shore, M. Hillhouse, E. Parker, and G. Edgar were due to either the recklessness or ignorance of the sufferers, and that the death of J. Mcintosh was due to a criminally mischievous act, for which the culprit escaped justice. Full details of these fatal accidents are here furnished. The most capable management and inspection in the world is helpless against some of the careless acts I describe.

Classification. 1915. 1916. Increase or Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1916. Decrease. Gold Silver Tungsten-ore Other minerals Kauri-gum... £ ... 1,694,553 95,583 27,784 ... ! 5,377 279,133 £ 1,199,212 85,111 49,070 14,614 339,343 £ Dec. 495,341 Dec. 10,472 Inc. 21,286 Inc. 9,277 Inc. 60,210 £ 85,847,675 2,181,493 201,550 412,642 17,875,483 Totals 2,102,430 1,687,350 Dec 415,080 106,518,843

Classification. Classification. Inspection District. Northern. West Coast. Southern. Total, 1916. Gold, silver, and tungsten Cinnabar Tin Copper 1,693 1,144 866 5 ■ ... 3 2 3,703 5 3 2 Totals for 1916 Totals for 1915 1,698 1,144 871 1,876 1,356 971 1,144 1,356 871 971 3,713 4,205 3,713 4,205 The decrease in the number of persons employed ma inlistment for military service, and to the decline of gold-i -, to a couside lining. •able extent, b< attributed to

Inspection District. Exp! isives. Falls of In S] Ground. iafts. Miscellaneous Under- Surface. ground. g3 -&! ta qj • to a ® o _s ■© o t W CQ Ph CO About Dredges. To: »l. 3 rfe^j 0 t B i« QJ 5 >-a I arj <D flJJ -s O JB : JD w 01 p a .2. 'in 'a* CO J Ol (fl CD §3 'g 5" r5-d mi M 1° 'O I rH fcH r2 O.* 3 IrH 'C Q M r2 M a> co QJ r-J t-4 'C fl OJ H CO. Jorthern Vest Coast iouthern 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 "i i 4 4 1 4 2 l Totals 2 2 2 3 1 1 3 l l 9 7

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The following is a brief description of fatal accidents in connection with metalliferous mining operations during 1916: —

Date. Xame and Situation of Mine. Xanie, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Cause of Accident, Nature of Injurie?, and Remarks. 27 June .. 30 June .. 16 July .. 19 July .. Blaekwater Mine, Waiutu Waihi Gold-mining Compam 7 's mill, Waikino Success dredge, near Hokitika Talisman Mine, Karangahake I Albert Riley (15), working at cyanide- Found dead in a vat full of cyanide solution a little after midnight. He was working alone at the vats vats : there is no evidence to show how this accident happened. It is assumed that he climbed on to the rim of the vat and accidentally fell in, or that he fell from a gangway above the vats, being an adequately fenced and lighted gangway. A boy so young should not have been left in sole charge of cyanide-works at night; a breach of the Mining Act, section 236 (b), was committed thereby. William Irvine (40), working at ore- He was found suffocated at the bottom of a quartz-hopper which supphed ore to an automatic hoppers feeder at a stamp battery. It is supposed that while carrying out his duties he either fell into the hopper and was rendered insensible, or was buried while endeavouring to loosen quartz which had arched and ceased running in the hopper. Joseph Shore (58), engineer .. .. About 11 p.m. on a bright Sunday night, whilst boating himself across the paddock to the dredge, he fell into the paddock and was drowned. The dredge was equipped with all the safety appliances as required by the law. Deceased was the holder of a first-class certificate as manager under the Coal-mines Act. Matthew- Kay Hillhouse (39), mine- While standing on a skip in the Talisman underlay (63°) shaft, 24 ft. above Xo. 8 level, for the manager purpose of throwing a plumb-line on to a beam between the winchng-drum and pulley, he slipped and fell down the shaft to the No. 14 level, a distance of about 850 ft., and was killed. At Xo. 8 level, about 24 ft. below the point from which deceased fell, there are doors provided to close the shaft when men are working above; this door was not closed. On the 8th June Inspector Paul had warned deceased not to work in the shaft without putting in a stage. He had the reputation of being a careful man,, but in this case he took a risk, and lost his life in consequence. This is the third fatal accident, causing altogether the loss oi four lives, which has occurred at this shaft during the past four years. Thomas Francis Rowney (50), stoping con- He and his mate, A. E. Lewis, experienced anil careful miners, having broken through into a tractor temporarily suspended stope at Xo. 2 level, Martha lode, which had been stopped on account of danger, were cleaning up quartz in order to crib a pass, when they heard a fall from the back of the suspended pass above them and about 30 ft. away. For the purpose of investigation they unnecessarily 7 and unwisely proceeded into the suspended stope too far, when a large flake fell from the back, striking deceased on the head and body, and breaking his leg. He died the same evening from the injuries received. Edwin Francis Parker (41), alluvial miner.. On the day work was resumed at the claim of deceased, after a suspension over the winter months, he took a needless risk and entered the tail-race to build a wall of stones to support it, when a fall of about 1 ton of earth occurred, crushing his chest and breaking one leg. He died from shock two hours later. He and his mate, Thomas Blanchard, knew that the race was dangerous owing to undermining; and the proper course would have been to sluice the sides down, and make the race safe before effecting repairs therein. 11 Aug. .. Waihi Gold-mining Company's Mine, Waihi 28 Aug. Parkers claim, Kyeburn

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13 Oct. .. Waihi Gold - mining Company's Waihi SO'Oct, .. Keep-it-Dark Mine, Reefton 15 Dec. .. Blaekwater Mine, Waiuta Mine, John Mcintosh (46), miner .. .. I He and his mate, John Brown, experienced miners, working on contract, at about 1 p.m., carrying lighted candles, entered the cage at No. 5 shaft to descend to Xo. 12 level (1,350 ft.). The cage w-as provided at its ends with single bars as protective barriers 4 ft. 4 in. above the bottom of the cage. During the descent something struck the cage, causing a slight oscillation and extinguishing the candles. Brown immediately spoke to deceased, but received no reply. Xearing Xo. 12 level he felt for his companion, but found he was gone. On arrival at that level a bent piece of iron tramway-rail was found lying flat on the bottom of the cage; this had fallen into the cage during its descent. The body of deceased waj found much mutilated in the sump of the shaft. At the subsequent inquest, which occupied several days, evidence was given that during the two days prior to this fatality 7 several weighty articles had been put down the shafts from the upper levels in a mysterious manner, but the officials had failed to report these dangerous occurrences to the manager a contravention of section 262 of the .Mining Act by the shift boss. The verdict of the Coroner's jury was as follows : " The jury are unanimous that the deceased met his death at Xo. 5 shaft through being struck with an iron rail and dislodged from the cage while descending to Xo. 12 level. There is not sufficient evidence to show how the rail came into the shaft; we are of the opinion that it did not get into the shaft accidentally, and are thoroughly satisfied from the pitman's evidence and our inspection of Xo. 5 shaft that it was in good order prior to the accident. The rail and the la.dder were put down into the shaft by some person or persons unknown; the evidence is insufficient to show by 7 whom. We are also of the opinion that the articles falling down Xo. 2 shaft entered it in the same manner. We cannot lose sight of the fact that the missiles that came down Xo. 2 shaft previous to the fatal accident at No. 5 shaft should have been reported to the mine-manager immediately, thus probably preventing tbe unfortunate fatality."' For the contravention of section 262 of the Mining Act. in not reporting previous cases of articles falling down the shafts, the Inspector of Mines, Mr. M. Paul, took legal proceedings against Mr. J. T. Hollis, shift boss at the Waihi Mine, who in consequence was fined. This fatality was undoubtedly due to the criminally mischievous act of a person who indiscriminately putheavy articles into the shaft, careless of the consequences: unfortunately, insufficient evidence existed to warrant a prosecution for manslaughter. Thomas John O'Connor (27), quartz He and his mate, both experienced miners, were working at a face in Xo. 4 level. At about 7 a.m. miner a fall of quartz from the roof occurred, instantly killing deceased. His mate considered the place safe, as did the shift boss, who visited the place about half an hour before the accident. George Edgar (27), assistant cha.mberman. . He was engaged at the chamber of Xo. 4 level, wdiich was well lighted by electricity. He inadvertently, and in an absent-minded manner, walked into the shaft in the presence of the chamberman and shift boss ; he possibly thought the cage was there. He fell 600 ft., and was killed instantly. The shaft was properly protected by 7 doors, which were open at. the time, as stone was being raised. i

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IV. GOLD-MINES. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and number of gold-mines and dredges : —

* In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word " bullion " is used in preference to " gold." t The bullion-production is from 45 dredges, but the dividends given are only from 10 of these, the property of registered companies ; seventeen dredges, the property of registered companies, declared no dividends. Tho profits of privately owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. } The bullion-production is from 232 alluvial mines, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that are the property of registered oompanies. (1.) Quartz-mining. The following is a statement showing the tons of ore treated, the value of bullion produced, and the amount of dividends paid by quartz-mining companies in each of the inspection districts during the years 1915 and 1916 : —

The average value per ton of ore treated amounted to £2 2s. Bd., being an increase of 2d. above the average for 1915, The following is a statement of the production, dividends declared, and the number of persons employed by the principal gold-quartz mining companies during 1916 : —

— ] I [uartz-mining ... iredge mining t... lluviai mining :[; Production of Bullion, 1916.* (All Mines.) £ 944,188 125,317 123,492 Dividends paid, 1916. 'By Registered Companies only.) £ 185,065 9,915 13,109 Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Number of Working Quartz and Alluvial Mines and Dredges. 2,435 392 787 91 45 232 91 45 232 Totals, 1916 ... | Totals, 1915 ... j 1,192,997 1,348,489 1,192,997 1,348,489 208,089 274,615 3,614 4,149 368 397

Inspection District. Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. Dividends pa: tered Com] id. (By Regispanies only.) 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. ] or them Vest Coast iouthern 318,456 330,199 121,066 151,161 2,840 3,269 £ £ 759,809 796,685 183,140 231,150 1,239 2,689 £ 158,566 26,499 £ 210,016 27,249 Totals ... 442,362 484,629 944,188 1,030,524 185,065 237,265

Name of Company. Quantity of Quartz treated. During 1910, Value of Bullion. Average Value per Ton. Dividends paid. Total to 1910. . EndofDecember, 1916. ill" ■S O r2 isi* Northern District— Tons. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Ltd.)* 173,420 Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining 112,203 Company (Ltd.) Talisman Consolidated (Ltd.) .. 16,935 West Coast District— Wealth of Nations .. .. 24,186 Blackwater Mines (Ltd.) .. .. 40,247 New Big River Gold-mining Com- 5,548 pany (Ltd.) Other quartz-mines throughout New 69,823 Zealand Statute Tons. .173,420 112,203 £ 363,612 211,108 £ s. d. 1 2 19 I 17 7 £ £ 99,181 5,040,514 38,438 | 190,188 687 394 16,935 81,454 4 16 2 17,250 I J,047,472 220 24,186 40,247 5,548 37,300 78,590 19,363 1 10 10 1 19 0 3 9 10 24,999 16M94 91,200 102 176 47 69,823 152,761 2 3 9 5,197 809 Totals, 1916 .. .. .. 442,362 442,362 944,188 2 2 8 185,065 Unknown 2,435 * The total value of the output of this company a given are free of income-tax. it the end of the year was £11,500,231. The divider nds here Reports on the various quartz-mines by t Annexure A accompanying this report. he district Inspectors of Mines are contai ned in

RIMU GOLDFIELD WESTLAND MINING DISTRICT NEW ZEALAND 1917.

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(2.) Dredge Mining. This class of gold-mining is rapidly declining, only forty-five dredges being in commission during 1916, whereas in 1906 there were 167 active dredges. During the year five dredges ceased operations ■ —viz., Red Jacks and Murray's Freehold on the West Coast, and Manuherikia, McGeorge's No. 1, and Earnsclough No. 2, in Otago—in addition to which the Confidence at Lowburn and the Bruce at Glenore were dismantled. The following table shows the result of dredge-mining operations in New Zealand during the past eleven years !■ —

There appears to be a reasonable probability of a revival of dredging in the Hokitika district. Near Rimu, on the Hokitika River, favourable results have recently been attained after prospecting operations by means of three Mines Department Keystone placer drills, carried out by Mr. G. E. D. Seale, Government Drill Superintendent, for the Rimu Options (Limited), an Australian company. The area taken up by this company consists of thirteen special claims, containing about 1,200 acres, which has been divided into four dredging properties or subsidiary companies, as shown on the accompanying plan. This plan also shows the position of boreholes and estimated values given by Mr. Seale, for which, however, the Mines Department accepts no responsibility. The claims are situated on a buried channel of the Hokitika, commencing near Rimu Township and extending northwestward to the Hokitika-Ross Railway at Mahinapua Creek, near the ocean-beach, a distance of three miles and a half with an. average width of about 50 chains. The whole of the buried channel is contained in this area. This channel has been several times referred to in the reports and maps of the Geological Survey Branch of the Mines Department as a probable locality for payable gravel; but owing to the presence of water and the difficulty of testing the somewhat "heavy" and, in places, "tight" gravel by the primitive methods formerly employed the lower portion of the channel has remained unprospected until the operations here referred to were undertaken. Government Keystone drilling has been carried out over 650 acres, upon those properties situated nearest the beach outlet to the channel. The group of claims known as Rimu Options No. 4, which are embraced in the property near the Rimu end of the channel and which contain about 550 acres, is now being prospected by Government drills for the Hokitika Syndicate (Limited), a recently formed London company. Dredging operations commenced during April, 1917, by the Rimu No. 1 Dredging Company. The dredge " Glasgow," formerly in commission at Sandy Point, Otago, having been purchased, was refloated on the claim. This dredge has buckets of 7 cubic feet nominal capacity, with an estimated speed of ten buckets per minute. Owing to the heavy nature of the ground, this dredge has so far not proved at all suitable. The following are the published results of dredging to the time of this report going to the printer : — Date of Clean-up, 'r™_ „„„.,,_,, Value of Gold obtained. 1917. Jime wolKeu - £ s . d. April 16 .. .. .. .. .. 1 week 158 18 0 April 23 .. .. .. .. .. 1 week 111 16 0 April 30 .. .. .. .. .. 1 week 70 4 0 May 9 .. .. .. .. .. 1 week 2 days 70 10 0 May 18 .. .. .. .. .. 1 week 2 days 1.70 8 0 June 2 .. .. .. .. .. 2 weeks 1 day 183 5 0 These returns, averaging about sd. per cubic yard, when compared with the results obtained by Keystone drilling, as shown upon the accompanying plan, are unsatisfactory. The ground worked so far is about 1 acre; it contains very large stones tightly cemented by oxide of iron.

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■ Year. ■ Total Number of Dredges working. Value of Production. Average Production per Dredge. Dividcnd-pai by Registi -ing Dredges owned sred Companies. Number of Persons employed. Number. Dividends. 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 167 128 123 111 104 93 87 74 64 52 45 £ 505,199 419,834 373,818 327,676 315,237 297,900 257,333 195,848 191,112 161,605 125,317 £ 3,025 3,278 3,039 2,952 3,031 3,203 2,958 2,646 2,986 3,165 2.785 66 65 47 37 35 31 28 11 16 21 10 £ 103,722 89,707 75,800 56,788 51,918 45,318 38,841 18,750 23,080 26,333 9,915 1,150 1,013 893 838 775 694 621 491 427 392

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The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket gold-dredges during 1916. (Note. —The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.

(3.) Alluvial Mining. There has been a small decline in the production of bullion from alluvial mines, but this has been chiefly confined to the "West Coast. There are indications, however, that there may be an improvement in output from the West Coast during the current year. The Howard Eiver goldfield, situated on a tributary of the Buller Eiver near Tophouse, was discovered early in 1915, but has not proved extensive or rich, and the number of miners thereon has declined from about one hundred and fifty to eighty during the past year. The following is a statement showing the value of bullion produced, the dividends declared by registered companies, the number of persons employed, and the number of working alluvial claims during the past three years : — 1916. 1915. 1914. £ £ £ Value of bullion produced .. .. .. 123,492 153,360 157,323 Dividends declared by registered companies .. 13,109 11,118 10,992 Number of persons ordinarily employed at claims 787 1,019 1,054 Number of working claims .. .. .. 232 283 258

Name of Dredge. Locality. So 2.s -»hS hx aj . o 4S S o 3 5.3 -g lis ° jj 2.1 Sa —. c '3 i« 9 2 o a ft S 2 a .2 a .*"- § do n H ar II II II II •mjwo as ""3 °<% ft 6 So s * 3 a ho o a "I . (*J OH Divider declared. During 1910. Total. Otago ami Southland. Rise and Shine No. 1 Rise and Shine No. 2 Rising Sun Ferry (private) Electric No. 1 .. Electric No. 2 Earnscleugh No. 2 Earnscleugh No. 3 Earnscleugh No. 5 Cromwell .. ,, 5i • r >4 7 H 5 6* 5 7 6 5 6 44 5 5 4 Oi 5 5 4 4 4 H 34 44 44 44 5 10 10 10 Hi 10 10 12 12 13 10i 10 101 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 11 10 12 12 10 10 10 20 20 25 16 16 16 20 150 150 16 25 10 16 16 16 25 20 10 8 S 8 S s s s E E S S S s H s s s s H H s s s 8G S S 8 Ft. io 40 45 40 35 40 28 50 35 30 35 £ 6,249 6,399 5,366 2,618 5,185 1,239 203 4,015 3,278 4,155 2,074 £ | 4,200 1,200 ) - }" £ 51,900 23,000 133,900 Alexandra 30,250 Ngapara Karanui (private) Good Chance Manuherikia Olrig Kohinoor New Golden Run Pride of Clutha (private) . . Golden Treasure (privato) .. Cardrona Lefranchis (private) Lower Nevis Nevis Crossing (privato) Crewe No. 2 Otakau Adams Flat Rosedale (private) Duke of Gordon (private) . . 600 3,525 Roxburgh Island Block Miller's Flat Cardrona -III 15 10 35 40 30 18 20 10 10 30 16 10 16 14 86 566 69 1,593 1,432 2,427 651 112 1,986 1,780 299 4,552 1,671 2,776 2,821 1 674 t 652 1,789 2,873 1,796 2,433 300 34,200 300 3,200 800 Nevis Kyeburn Glonore Waikaka Waikaka Valley 12 12 12 70* 16 16 12 240 1,350 2,970 9,125 2,325 5 10 12 S 17 22,200 Paterson's Freehold No. 1 Star (private) Lady Florence (private) Waikaka Deep Lead No. 1 McGeorgo's Freehold No. 1 (private) McGeorge's Freehold No. 2 (privato) McGeorgo's Freehold No. 3 (private) Waikaka Forks (private) .. Charlton Valley (private) .. Koputai (private) Kura (private) 4 44 4 0 II 11 1.1 10 12 12 .1.0 .16 8 S 8 S 9 16 14 14 300 300 T 04 9 16 8 14 5,397 64 9 20 S 35 5,113 Charlton Creek Waikaia .. 5 3i 6 34 34 10 11 1.1 9 14 10 16 16 8 S S 8 11 18 20 30 3,555 1,899 1,945 5,328 I 160 I 211 Muddy Creek (private) ,, .. 9 12 S 15 West Coast. Near Hokitika Grey Valley Ahaura River Mawheraiti Antonio's Creek Tawhai (near Reefton) Capleston 6 5 7 54 8 5 0 25 .16 20 16 16' 12 20 S 8 8 S 8 S S 30 6,831 2,954 3,575 2,940 4,714 2,573 4,302 1,500 225 3,500 675 Success Rod Jacks Ahaura Murray's Freehold Worksop No. 2 .. Slab Hut Creek . . Hessoy, Cameron, and Tacon 12 11 II 11 14 11 11 35 20 21 16 30 Totals 125,317 9,915 * Brake hors. t-power.

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I'he following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends paid by the principal sluicing companies in the Southern District during 1916 :—

No West Coast alluvial mining company declared a dividend during 1916. On the 11th April the Ross Goldfields Reconstructed (Limited) agreed to the voluntary winding-up of the company, being of the opinion that the Ross Flat had, after exhaustive testing, proved valueless as a mining proposition, the sole cause of the company's failure being the low value of wash found in the mine and the high mining-cost due to a costly hydro-electric power plant. The company went into liquidation and sold its plant, &c, repaying therefrom the £7,000 borrowed from the Government under Part Xof the Mining Act. The purchaser of the plant was the Woolston Tanneries (Limited). At Woodstock, on the Hokitika, the Brighton Terrace Gold-mining Company has acquired leases over about 146 acres of the Brighton Terrace, with an option to purchase an additional 100 acres. The company's claims adjoin the south-east boundary of those of Rimu Options (Limited), and consist of portion of the terrace bank of the ancient channel of the Hokitika, which the last-named company is now floating into gold-dredging companies (see accompanying plan). In the early days of the Westland goldfields these terraces were in places successfully worked by driving. The difficulty in obtaining water by gravitation prevented sluicing operations on a large scale. The Woolston Tanneries (Limited) during 1916, having purchased the hydro-electric plant and water-rights from the recently liquidated Ross Goldfields Reconstructed (Limited), formed a company named the Kanieri Forks Power Company for the sale of electric power. This company has constructed a transmission-line from the Kanieri Forks power-station to a point on the south side of the Hokitika immediately opposite the claims of the Brighton Terrace Gold-mining Company, a distance of about five miles, the electric power there to be used for pumping river-water to the dam on the terrace claims above. The pumps consist of two units of two-stage centrifugal type, estimated by the makers (Thompson and Co., Castlemaine) to deliver 1,860 gallons per minute through a nozzle at a pressure of 50 lb. per square inch. The depth of gravel on the company's claims varies from 50 ft. to 70 ft. The system of working is otherwise the same as at Kumara —viz., by sluicing from paddock-faces, and removal of material and water by drainage-tunnel and tail-race into the river, the gold being saved in sluice-boxes near the tunnel-mouth. The drainage adit, formerly known as Douglas tunnel, is about 19 chains in length, and was driven in the (Brighton) bottom some years ago to test the back leads of Rimu Flat. It was subsidized to a small amount by the Government. The company commenced sluicing early during the current year. On the occasion of my inspection during January about 8 cubic feet of water per second was being pumped up into the dam above the ground to be sluiced, 367 electric horse-power being indicated at the pumps. The plant appeared to work satisfactorily. It is proposed to sluice for twelve hours each day, utilizing about 8 sluice heads at the nozzle ; the night water will be stored for flushing the tail-race. Thus 16 heads will be used during the period worked. It is estimated that the capital expenditure on this property, exclusive of the electric-power plant, by the present owners amounts to about £6,000, in addition to £15,000 paid for the property to Rimu Options (Limited). This scheme and operations in connection therewith has been carried out under the superintendence of Mr. Frank B. Powell, mining engineer, of Hokitika. A description of the alluvial claims by the district Inspectors of Mines is contained in Annexure A accompanying this report.

Dividends declared. Name of Company or Party. Deep Stream Gold-mining Company Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company .. Golden Crescent Sluicing Company Havelock Sluicing Company Ladysmith Gold-mining Company .. Nokomai Sluicing Company Round Hill Gold-mining Company .. Ourawera Gold-mining Company . . 1.17 other claims Value of Gold produced. £ 918 7,61.5 1,131 3,335 4,249 10,425 4,033 1,975 47,465 T-, . i,, lr - I Totals to End of During 1915. lgl6 £ £ 187 2,000 3,760 9,095 175 11,375 1,900 9,300 2,481 16,376 3,600 48,083 706 12,286 300 14,215

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V. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. .Tungsten-ore. The quantity of tungsten-ore exported during the year amounted to 226 tons, valued at £49,070, as compared with 194 tons, valued at £27,784, in 1915. The following statement shows the quantity and value of ore exported : —

The quantity of tungsten-ore mined during the year was 285 tons (value £47,374) as tlie result of treating 19,360 tons of scheelite-bearing quartz, from which gold to the value of £7,651 was also obtained. There has been considerable activity in mining and prospecting for tungsten-ore in the form of scheelito, due to the commandeering of all British supplies by the Imperial Government at a fixed import price of £2 15s. per 1 per cent, of tungstic acid in the shipment, c.i.f. London or Liverpool, being an increase of about 80 per cent, above the average price for several years previous to the war. The principal operations have been carried out in the locality of Glonorchy, where the lodes occur in the mica-schist of Mount Judah in the Richardson Range, which flanks the lake to the eastward. The area over which these lodes occur and mining operations are in progress is considerable, extending from the Junction Mine, a few miles to the east of Glenorchy, at an altitude of about 3,500 ft. above Lake Wakatipu, northward about twelve miles to Mount Alfred Mine, near Paradise, on the Dart River. At numerous points in this distance scheelite-quartz lodes have been found at altitudes varying up to 5,000 ft. above the lake. All the lodes developed have the general characteristics of those of the Macetown, Skipper, Shotover, Bendigo, and Carrick Range lodes as described by Professor James Park*—viz., as belonging to the class of replacement fissure lodes in which a zone of country rock lying between two more or less parallel fissures has become crushed and contorted by wall-movement, and more or less silicified and partially replaced by quartz and calcite containing scheelite and a little gold. The scheelite-bearing quartz with calcite in the Glenorchy district occurs in the form of irregular lenses in the crushed country rock within the striated mica-schist and but slightly inclined walls, these lenses being connected by a ramification of small quartz veins of irregular course. From the form of the ore-body and connecting veins as exposed in the mine-workings I believe the contents to be derived from ascending solutions. The scheelite occurs in. irregular veins not exceeding 20 ft. in length, and is generally associated with calcite, which the miners regard as a favourable indication that a vein of scheelite is being approached. The lenses of ore occur with a certain regularity, and so far as mining operations have extended they have continued. Driving in the lode through barren matter, in the form of crushed and contorted country rock containing feeble and irregular veinlets of quartz, is therefore carried on with confidence that a lens of ore is being approached. The known ore-deposits are, however, too small and intermittent to warrant any large undertaking for their exploitation, and the present scale of operations by small and economically managed mines is to be commended. The principal operator in scheelite in the Lake Wakatipu district is the Glenorchy Scheelite Company, a Dunedin concern. This company has three mines—viz., Glenorchy, Junction, and Mount Alfred mines-—in addition to employing numerous working-parties obtaining ore from among the ranges. At the Glenorchy Mine the lode is inclined about 30° east. Eight levels have been driven from the outcrop, the vertical height between the top and bottom level being about 240 ft.; the longest level, is about 850 ft. Owing to the slight inclination of the lode the ore and rock is lowered from the stopes by jigs, as in the bords of a coal-mine. The lode varies considerably in thickness up to 10 ft. At the Junction Mine, situated at a considerably higher level than the Glenorchy Mine, and 2,500 ft. above the lake, the lode is also inclined at about 30°. Three levels are being driven to the southward ; stoping is also in progress. The lode averages about 4 ft. in width. The newly opened Mount Alfred Mine, near Paradise, has been considerably prospected on the surface, and by three levels in a lode varying up to 6 ft. in thickness having an inclination of about 45° with strike south-south-west. This mine being situated in the western bank of the River Dart, and tho lowest level being only a few feet above the river-bed, pumping and winding machinery will be necessary for deeper development; and there is every indication that the ore-bodies will be found to continue to deeper levels, therefore sinking is advisable here.

* Bulletin No. 7, N.Z. Geological Survey, 1909, p. 74.

Year. Quantity. Value Year. Quantity. Value. 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1.907 1908 Tons. 32 54 2 39 42 17 28 55 137 68 \ £ 2,788 2,635 83 1.200 1,439 791 1,848 3,407 15,486 6,055 1909 . . 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 19.15 .. 1916 .. Tons. 58 143 138 135 221 204 194 266 £ 4,263 15,070 11,853 13,347 22,933 21,498 27,784 49,070 Totals 1,833 201,550

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The treatment plant at all the company's mines is somewhat similar, the order of treatment being from stone-breaker to screen, jig, Wilfley table ; tailing being finally crushed by stamp battery. The concentrate now obtained never contains less than 70 per cent, tungstic acid, which may be regarded as high concentration. The gold is no longer saved at the Glenorchy mines, owing to the low tenor of the quartz in this metal. In the annual report of Inspector Whitley, in the Annexure A accompanying this report, reference is made to the foregoing mines in addition to the scheelite-mining operations at Macrae's, Stoneburn, The Reefs, and Waipori; and in the report by Inspector Bishop reference is made to the gold-schcelitc mines at Wakamarina, Marlborough, where the output from the principal mine—the Dominion Consolidated—has declined from 110 tons of scheelite-ore, value £14,133, during 1915, to 67 tons, value £11,849, during 1916. At this mine development has not been satisfactory, the lode having pinched out above the bottom crosscut, and prospecting operations underground for its recovery have not been successful: The company, however, has considerable reserves of low-grade scheelitequartz in their Golden Bar Mine, the value of which may be too low for it to be worked, profitably.

Table showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Scheelite-ore obtained for the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

Name, of Mine or Company. Locality. "* V . Scheelite Concentrates obtained. Value. I . " ' Otago and Southland. Tons. Glenorchy Scheelite Company and Glenorchy, Lake County 926 seven parties of miners Grant and Sinclair . . .. ,, „ 4 G. Scurr and party .. .. ,, ,, 4 Hay ward and Hood . . . . ! ,, ,, 4 Paulin and Tripp .. .. ,, ,, 60 H. Birley and party .. .. ,, ,, 30 Golden Point Company .. j Macrae's, W a i h e m o 440 County I). Peddie and party . . . . Ditto .. .. 290 Deep Dell Company .. .'. ,, .. .. 17 A. Phelan . . . . .. „ . . . . 8 H. Berry .. .. .. „ .. .. 51 B. Callery .. .. .. | „ .. .. 13 A. Innes . . . . . . ,, . . . . 2 F. A. Smith .. .. .. „ . • • • 7 Patrick Donoghue . . . . ,, . . .. 6 W. B. Macgregor .. .. „ .. .. 12 W. Lidstone .. .. .. ,, • ■ • ■ 1 Fraser and Gaytan . . . . ,, . . . . 75 Fraser, Gaytan, and Phelan .. '' ,, .. .. 5 William Macgregor .. .. ,, .. .. 16 D. McConnell .. .. „ .. .. 6 Philip Donoghue . . .. ,, . . .. 3 James Donaldson .. .. ,, .. .. I A. A. Cockerell .. .. .. .. 9 G. A. Carson .. .. ,, .. ... 7 Frank Cockerell .. „ .. .. 10 Pascoe and Reid . . . . ,, . . . . 1 Mareburn Company .. .. Mount Highlay, Wai- 1,010 homo County Stoneburn Company .. .. Stoneburn, Waihemo 738 County A. H. Forbes . . .. Ditto R. A. Mathewson . . .. ,, C. P. Cunningham .. .. ,, H. S. Molineaux .. .. Tho Reefs, Taieri County 40 A. C. Buckland .. .. „ „ 10 Alexander Ewart .. .. ,, ,, 4 G. Bertenshaw .. .. Waipori, Tuapeka County Tons cwt. qr. lb. 75 4 0 20 0 10 l 8 1 0 3 24 1 11 I 26 16 17 I 27 10 19 0 20 20 7 0 0 .13 6 .1 5 2 9 2 22 5 3 0 15 2 16 0 1 I 3 0 16 0 6 3 14 1 12 3 27 2 10 1 27 I 6 0 27 0 8 0 12 9 15 2 23 0 7 16 1 2 2 27 I 3 3 25 1 5 2 17 0 7 2 12 1 13 0 I 1 1 2 19 0 18 1 12 0 6 3 27 2 15 2 0 £ s. d. 14,593 2 6 91 17 6 161 17 6 243 5 0 3,305 2 G 1,984 17 10 1 J>5,914 6 3 J 475 15 7 957 3 0 513 0 9 216 14 10 61 18 0 296 3 0 469 3 3 231 5 0 71 3 3 I,811 14 3 65 13 7 194 19 (i 225 3 3 225 15 0 68 12 3 297 10 0 201 5 0 161 17 6 61 5 0 496 5 6 3 5 3 23 523 15 0 0 16 2 18 0 5 2 1 0 4 0 26 3 6 1 21 1 11 1 16 1 3 2 16 1 12 0 23 122 10 0 31 10 0 40 5 0 606 5 3 273 0 10 214 7 6 316 1 0 Marlborough. Dominion Consolidated Mine .. Wakamarina .. 15,550 67 0 0 0 11,849 4 11 Totals .. .. .. 19,360 19,360 257 18 0 16 47,373 16 1 Certain of the above mines p: Point, £334 : Deep Dell, £1 ; W. I The number of persons emplo* roduced gold as follows : Dominio* tfacgregor, £9 ; Stoneburn, £295 ; IV at scheelite-producing mines wai i Consolidated, [areburn, £277. ; 169. :6,735; Golden

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Sulphur. Native sulphur iii sufficient quantity to be profitably worked is known only to occur in the thermal districts of the North Island, near Rotorua and Lake Taupo, and at White Island. With the exception of the small lake deposit on White Island, all the known native sulphur in payable quantity occurs in the form of pockets in pumice, or sinter around fumaroles or thermal springs (from which it has been sublimed in crystalline form), and as black sulphur. Thefumarolic deposits, although, of high grade generally, are inextensive when compared with those of massive form in seams or in veins as extensively worked in Japan, Sicily, and North America. Prior to 1898 there was no separate record kept of the quantity of native sulphur exported, this being included under the heading of " mixed minerals " in the official statistics, but the quantity was not large. The following quantities have since been exported : — 1898 .. .. .. .. . . 1,766 lons ; value, £4,097 1899 .. .. .. ' .. .. 1,227 „ „ £3,483 1900 .. .. .. .. .. 1,692 „ „ £4,824 1901 .. .. .. .. .. 143 „ „ £360 1902 .. .. .. .. .. 100 „ „ £475 Since 1902 the small quantity of sulphur produced has been used at chemical works in the Dominion. Owing to the nature of the deposits and to transport difficulties it is unlikely that sulphur can be exported at a price to compete with the supplies of the above-mentioned countries. The following is a description of the most important of the native sulphur-deposits :■ — White Island.—-On this island sulphur-mining operations have been attempted on two occasions. During 1885 Mr. J. A. Wilson, of Auckland, and others bought the island, and from thence shipped 600 or 700 tons of native sulphur to Sydney ; they also erected a small, treatment plant at Auckland, but the venture was not a financial success. The island subsequently was sold to Mr. Andrew Grey, of Wellington, who resold to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency (Limited). This company during 1912 sold the island to the New Zealand Sulphur Company, composed chiefly of Vancouver shareholders, and this company expended about £30,000. Near Crater Bay, on the island, it installed a refining plant consisting of a boiler for producing superheated steam, and three cast-iron retorts each of 4 tons capacity ; a small wharf was also constructed. The crater lake was drained by a ditch to Crater Bay to enable the layers of sulphur thereunder to be worked; and while the lake-bed was draining, quarrying operations by the use of explosives were commenced on small veins or pockets of native sulphur in the crater-walls near the eastern shore of the island. A small quantity of sulphur was refined and filled into casks ready for shipment. These operations were in progress when, on or about the 11th September, 1914, a violent eruption of the great active thermal crater occurred ; all the eleven employees of the company, the treatment plant, huts and wharf were hurled out to seta, and every trace of the same was obliterated. The lake-bed and the site of the works were buried under from 10 ft. to 15 ft. of mud and boulders ejected during the eruption. A new vent was formed in the lake-bed, and it is stated that activity therefrom is much greater than from the former " blowhole " now buried in debris from the crater-walls. Large blocks of sulphur from under the lake-bed hurled up during the formation of the new vent, and now lying on the surface, show the seam of sulphur under the lake to be fully 6 ft. thick ; its area, however, is unknown. The quantity of sulphur in sight on other parts of the island does not exceed a few thousand tons. The cost of transport from the island would be considerable, and the dangers from sulphurgases and further eruptions render the island absolutely unfit for the employment of men. The following are analyses by the Dominion Analyst of samples taken by me : —■ Sulphur. Moisture. Per Cent. Per Cent. Average grade from lake-bed .. . . .. . . 77-90 0-81 High grade from company's opencut . . . . .. 90-31 0-56 High grade from fumaroles near crater-walls .. . . 75-77 13-10 Refined brimstone from company's casks . . . . . . 99-59 0-23 Tauhara North. —Upon Subdivision 1, Tauhara North, Block 16, Tatua Survey District, owned by 172 Maoris, and distant about nine miles north-east of Taupo by fairly good road, the most extensive of our known sulphur-deposits occurs. Immediately to the north of Lake Rotokawa, off the usual tourist track, is a considerable area containing hot springs, around which many pockets of rich sulphur outcrop, which may safely be estimated to contain several thousands of tons of highgrade sulphur. Additional pockets would certainly be proved by prospecting under the loose pumice surface. Samples of crude sulphur taken by me were analysed by the Dominion Analyst, with the following results : — Sulphur. Moisture. • Per Cent. Per Cont. Average grade .. .. .. .. .. .. 89-29 0-83 High grade .. .. .. .. .. .. 95-50 3-22 High grade crystalline (hard) .. .. . . .. 97-19 0-38 Black (hard) .. .. .. . . .. .. 73-80 1-04 The percentage of moisture was lost at .I.oo° C. in all analyses. This deposit has never been worked; the cost of transport to a shipping port would be considerable. Tikitere. —About eleven miles north-east byroad from Rotorua are situated upon Native land the pools of boiling mud arid springs of Tikitere, familiar to tourists. In proximity thereto pockets of yellow and black fumarolic sulphur outcrop, of which a few hundred tons may be easily obtained without injury to the sights which attract a considerable number of visitors annually. No sulphur has ever been removed from Tikitere, with the exception of a few tons exported by Captain H. R. Macdonald, of Rotorua, several years ago.

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The following are analyses of crude sulphur collected by me at Tikitere :— Sulphur. Moisture. Per Cent. Per Cent. Average grade .. .. ... .. .. .. 71-76 4-14 High grade .. .. .. .. .. .. 84-33 0-91 Highest grade .. .. . . .. .. .. 91-23 1-34 Black .. .. .. .. .. ... .. 69-41 0-74 ■Whale Island. —A few years ago sulphur-mining operations were commenced on a small scale at Whale Island, off Whakatane. A small refining plant was installed at Tauranga, but the operations did not prove a financial success, owing principally to the limited quantity of sulphur and the occurrence of hot springs, which hindered mining operations. Te Tarata. —About twelve miles by road north-east of Rotorua, on No. 3 Block, Whakapoungakau, a hot lake and a number of hot springs known as Te Tarata are situated. From this locality during 1902, and a few years prior thereto, about 5,000 tons of crude sulphur, averaging about 67 per cent, sulphur, was mined and loaded into drays by the Maori owners, for about £1 per ton, for Captain H. R. Macdonald. This ore was punted on the lake to Rotorua, and from thence carted to Rotorua Railway-station. Some of this was sold for exportation to Sydney for about lid. per unit on trucks at Rotorua. By these operations nearly the whole of the sulphur in sight was removed. In all probability there remains a moderate supply of sulphur under the hot lake, but to drain this a tunnel of considerable length would be necessary, and without prospecting this is not warranted. The following is an analysis of crude sulphur from Te Tarata : Sulphur, 71-30 per cent. ; moisture, 3-13 per cent. Rotorua. —The Department of Tourist and Health Resorts during 1916 granted to Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., New Zealand Drug Company, a three-years lease of Section 3 of the Sanatorium Reserve, situated near the Postmaster Bath at the extreme southern shore of the lake. A. royalty of 15s. per ton is required for all crude sulphur removed. Prior to 1916 this company removed 3,204 tons of native sulphur from pockets in the sinter on the lake-shore, and this was refined at the company's works at Auckland. For this sulphur a royalty amounting to £801, being at the rate of ss. per ton, was paid, to the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. During August last, after the lease was obtained, the company recommenced operations, and at the end of the year had obtained 466 tons of crude sulphur from their lease. A sample of fragments of crude sulphur, obtained by me from this lease, upon analysis was found to contain — Sulphur, 77-37 per cent. ; moisture, 2-26 per cent. In August last the price of roll sulphur on the London market was approximately £13 per ton. Thereafter the price began to rise, and in March roll sulphur was quoted at £28 per ton, flowers of sulphur at £29 per ton. Petroleum. Operations in search of petroleum have been confined almost entirely to Taranaki. No new wells were commenced during the year, and no development of importance occurred. The Taranaki Oil-wells (Limited) was principally engaged in recasing No. 2 well to a depth of 3,045 ft. with 8 in. pipe. The other wells of this company remain in the same condition as referred to in my last annual report ; the production of oil therefrom has somewhat declined. The Taranaki Oil Lands Acquisition and Development Company (Limited) has deepened its Blenheim well to a depth of 4,777 ft.* A small flow of petroleum occurs at about 2,200 ft. It is stated by this company that 15,300 gallons of crude oil was produced from the Blenheim well during 1916. The Consolidated Oilfields, Huiroa bore, has attained a depth of 4,788 ft."j" Gas and traces of oil have been encountered at various depths. The bore is cased with 6 iu. pipe throughout. Cinnabar. The Whangarei Cinnabar-mining Company has been engaged, with a small staff driving levels on the lode, and it is reported that favourable assay value has been obtained therefrom. The extraction plant was found unsatisfactory, and its use is now discontinued. Phosphate. The only operations in connection with the quarrying of phosphate were those of the Ewing Phosphate Company at Clarendon, Otago, which produced during the year an output of 7,600 tons. The total output for this company from 1902, the year of its initiation, to the end of 1916 is 102,472 tons. The known quantity of phosphate of commercial value in the Dominion appears small. Kauri-gum. The quantity of kauri-gum exported during 1916 amounted to 5,448 tons, value £339,343, as compared with 4,575 t ona . value £279,133, during 1915, an increase of 873 tons and £60,210. The total value of kauri-gum exported to the end. of the year amounted to £17,875,483. The European market for this fossil resin, used in the manufacture of varnish and linoleum, being greatly restricted by the present war, new but smaller markets have been obtained. During the year the distillation of kauri-gum oil from peat in North Auckland was resuscitated after a lapse of years. The peat yields from 20 to 30 gallons of oil per ton; and about 25 per cent, of the yield is stated to resemble petrol, and it is being used to propel motor-cars and launches. The residue is said to contain twenty-eight different kinds of heavy oils.

* During recent months the bore has been further deepened, and on 2nd July, 1917, was reported to be 5,014ft. deep. f During the past few months the Huiroa bore has been further deepened, and on 2nd May its depth was reported to be 4,921 ft.

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VI. STONE-QUARRIES. (1.) Quarrying Operations. For the closer inspection of those 283 quarries and places which come under the operations of the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, at which about 1,648 persons were ordinarily employed during the year, and from which 1,331,003 tons of crude stone was produced, the whole of the statutory quarryinspection has been transferred to the Inspectors of Mines ; and for North Island quarries an additional and special Inspector, Mr. J. F. Downey, has been appointed. The respective inspection districts are defined in the tabulated statement of output accompanying this report. For the bettor regulation, of the stone-quarries of the Dominion, amendment of the Stone-quarries Act appears desirable, so that quarries or places having a face exceeding 20 ft. deep, whether explosives are used thereat or not, shall come under the provisions of the Act; and, judging by the number of fatalities at Government quarries during 1915 and 1916 —viz., eleven, in comparison with four at all the other quarries in the Dominion—it also appears desirable that Government quarries shall be brought under the Act and receive independent inspection in the interests of safety, by persons other than officials in charge of and directing the operations, who at present act in a dual capacity and inspect their own work. It is also desirable that provision shall be made for annual returns from quarries, similar to those required from coal-mine owners and mining-claim holders. Owirg to there being no legal authority for the collection of returns of output, the following tabulated statement must be regarded as incomplete. The exportation of the produce of our quarries is not yet extensive. During 1916 email quantities of serpentine, lime, pumice-stone, and building-stone were exported, also 4,064 tons of pumicesand—value, £11,944 —mostly to Australia for use as insulation for cold storage and freezing-works.

Table showing the Number of Quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, also the Number of Persons ordinarily employed thereat, and the Annual Output of Crude Stone.

(2.) Quarry Accidents. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured during 1916 at stone-quarries and places within the operation of the Stone-quarries Act : —

Provincial District. Name and Address of Government Inspector of Stone-quarries. taDHH eg . aa sis B fcH *& "o ° >*. ft E2 31 - si S G?-ij 3 o ft ft rrH bO Pi SI. &- «s 2 o S3 03 -"5 gS|H O aj i © rP h -**. CO Output of a o Its I ■p Drude Stone during 1910. ,S oB s'i "H< rSo s si % S fc-C S OJ QJ . CD (- an ■» 8 ?, 3 5° «3 °_, Ph fCJ** v O en ** "5-5 « 3 o o 1-1 rH Q rH Auckland .. J. P. Downey, Mines Dept., Auckland M. Paul, Mines Dept., Waihi (Hauraki Mining District only) J. F. Downey, Minos Dept., Auckland 100 823 Tons. 500,016 Tons. 1.40,000 Tons. Tons. 3,000 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 59,000 II 77 61,871 109 Hawke's Bay 47 109 7,300 3,000 3,900 80 Taranaki Wellington Marlborough 44 28 2 123 148 7 42,600 44,250 7,200 0,000 7,800 1,200 Nelson T. O. Bishop, Mines Dept., Reef ton T. O. Bishop and J. Newton, Mines Dept., Westport (Buller County only) T. O. Bishop E. R. Green and A. Whitley, Mines Dept., Dunedin Ditto 1 = 40 21 10,000 57,690 1,500 31,000 Westland . . Canterbury.. 3 14 24 98 82,459 2,713 48,333 3,062 1,601 151* 1,474 Otago Southland .. 23 6 146 32 55,354 9,000 47,050 2,300 2,443 130 59,346 7,300 7,985 7,600 2,500 l,386f 100 7,600 2,500 Totals .. 1870,540 ! 1,537 283 1,048 12.50,590 7,844 [90,147 100,239 [7,600 |2,500 * S Serpent! inc. t Miscc) llaneous and unspecified.

Cause of Accident. Number o1 Accidents. Number oi f Sufferers. .Fatal. Serious. Killed. Seriously I Injured. Explosives Falls of ground Falling from face, or during ascent or descent Machinery Miscellaneous 1 1 i 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 Totals 2 4 2 4 The fatal accidents per 1,000 persons ordinarily employ of 1-23 deaths per 1,000 persons employed. During the previ killed. This may be regarded as a reasonably low proportio: ■ed at quar: !ous year tvties were 1 ro persons ;wo, being i also were a at the rate ccidentally n.

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The following is a brief description of fatal accidents during 1916 at quarries under the Quarries Act, 1910 :—

For the guidance of quarry managers and foremen the following particulars are furnished in connection with fatal accidents which occurred during 1916 at quarries and places which do not come under the operation of the Stone-quarries Act, and are therefore not inspected by officers of the Mines Department :• — Explosion at Ohakune Quarry. On the 15th May at about 5.30 p.m. a premature explosion of a 2,000 lb. charge of high explosive occurred at the Public Works Department ballast-quarry at Ohakune, by which six persons were killed and two injured. Those killed were G. H. J. Mellsop, Assistant Engineer; H. J. H. Larking, engineering cadet; Arthur Davis, overseer; L. J. Torrens, William McCord, and P. McGarry, labourers. Those injured were Michael Sheehy, quarry foreman, and G. E. Morgan, labourer. Three drives had been put into a nearly vertical face of scoria for simultaneous firing by electricity. In one of these — i.e., No. 3 drive—a mixed charge containing about 2,0001b. of cambrite, gelignite, and dynamite had been placed in position in the original cases, with only the lids removed, at the end of the drive ; an electric fuse with two detonators was connected with the charge, and by insulated cable carried along the roof of the drive about 60 ft. to two dry-cell red-seal (about 5 volts each) batteries placed within the drive at its mouth. To these batteries a Nobel's galvanometer and combined battery was connected. This battery was capable of generating 0-05 ampere :to explode a detonator 1-6 amperes is required. At the time of the explosion all the deceased were working within the drive, and the two injured men in proximity thereto outside. The charge was being built in. At the inquest held in connection with this disaster the evidence of Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, Chief Inspector of Explosives, appears to be conclusive as to its cause. Dr. Maclaurin stated that he found samples of the explosives in the quarry magazine in perfect order, and that the accident was not due to defective explosive, but in his opinion it was due to misadventure in testing the wires by Mr. Mellsop. The custom is to test the cables and fuse with a galvanometer and a small electric current to make sure they are in order, and such small current was available from the combined galvanometer. In this case two red-seal dry batteries had been found after the explosion, and Dr. Maclaurin assumed these had been then used in addition to the galvanometer battery. These batteries could be safely used for testing the cables, provided the current passed through the galvanometer, but their use was fraught with grave danger owing to liability of inadvertently touching the wires together, instead of touching the galvanometer-poles. Mr. R. W. Holmes, M.1.C.E., Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, agreed in the possibility of the above, and stated that, considering the nearness of the poles in the galvanometer, it was risky to use an outside cell. The Coroner's jury found that the accident was due to premature explosion of explosives placed in No. 3 drive. It was stated in evidence that explosive was kept in the engine-house at the quarry, a quite improper and illegal practice. This, however, had. no connection with the fatal explosion. On the 22nd June a fall of papa in the Okahukura Tunnel caused the death of Michael Joyce, miner. Deceased, under instruction from the shift boss, had gone in with a mate to work down some ground loosened by shots fired by the previous shift. While in the act of doing this a lump of papa weighing 5 cwt. to 6 cwt. fell from the side wall and struck deceased, breaking his neck and causing instantaneous death. The Coroner's jury found that the death was accidental, and no blame attachable to any one. (3.) Summary Report op Mr. J. F. Downey, Inspector of Stone-quarries for the North Island. I have the honour to present my report for 1916 on such quarries, tunnels, &c, as come under the operation of the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, in the whole of the North Island (excluding the Hauraki Mining District, which is included in the inspectorate of Inspector Paul).

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Date. Name and Situation of Quarry. Name, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Cause of Accident, Nature of Injuries, and Iteniarks. 31 Mar. Nihotupu Dam, Auckland William Wallace Langlands (53), one of the contractors for construction of the darn Ho was in his office at the works when a blast was fired at a spot 85 yards distant and 95 ft. higher. The blast consisted of a charge of ten sticks of gelignite in a hole 5 ft. deep. Warning was given of the intention to fire, but deceased apparently considered he was out of the dangerzone. A piece of flying rock from the blast fell through the office-roof, killing him by striking him on the head. Subsequent examination of the blast revealed a concealed joint in tho rock, which reduced the resistance to the blast, causing the debris to be precipitated a greater distance than anticipated. At the Coroner's inquest a verdict of " accidental death " was returned He was not at his proper working-place, but was gathering up tools to commence loading a dray when a piece of sandstone weighing about 4 cwt. fell from the face of the cutting and crushed him against the wheel of the dray. A shot had been fired about half an hour previously, and the ganger who fired the shot was barring down the loose ground at the time. Deceased was supposed to be working 14 ft. away to tho left. The place had been examined and was thought safe. Death resulted from shock due to fracture of the ribs and possibly other internal injuries. The Coroner's inquest found the death to be accidental. Jeremiah O'Donohne (58), labourer on works .0 April J e r m y n Street improvement scheme, Auckland

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Having only been for such a short portion of the year in the service of the Department, my report is naturally brief, and, as I have had no legalized power to collect data, the figures given in the attached table with regard to output are as correct as I could get them under the circumstances. The exceptionally severe weather conditions prevailing through a great portion of the year have materially affected quarrying-work. A shortage of suitable labour, tesulting from war conditions, has also greatly interfered with operations. Nevertheless, as will be seen from tho table, a large amount of work has been carried out, and considerable numbers of men have been employed. Since I entered on my duties on the Ist September, 1916, I have made a personal inspection of the greater proportion of the quarries. I found that, in general, the managers do not seem to be well acquainted with the provisions of the Act, and that the provisions have not been closely observed. In the working of the quarries there has been a great tendency to create high vertical and, in cases, overhanging faces. Most of the quarries are worked by contract parties, whose plan of action is to break out what stone they need as cheaply as possible, and without proper regard to safety. Stripping is evaded because it means delay and expense without apparent financial return, and benching is avoided by reason of the extra labour it entails. I found few quarries suitably benched, or with the tops cleared back sufficiently. In the handling of explosives considerable carelessness was evident, in some cases detonators being stored with explosives, and in many cases explosives were carried into the quarry either in the hand or in open packets instead of in covered cases or canisters. The proper observation of section 8, subsections (J) and (2), relating to the notification to an Inspector under the Act of the renewal or discontinuance of work, is not general. In the course of my inspection I found many quarries in which explosives are used, but which, owing to the face being below 20 ft. in height, do not come under the Stone-quarries Act, and have not been included in the number of quarries given in the table. One such quarry had fourteen men employed, and considerable blasting was done. I recommend that all such quarries be brought under the Act, so that the men employed in them may be protected. Many other places, such as scoria-pits, pebble-beds, and friable rock faces, at times greatly exceed 100 ft. in height, and are not worked in a satisfactory manner, but owing to the fact that explosives are not used in them they do not come under the Act. These quarries also, if they exceed' a certain height of face—say, 20 ft. —should, I consider, be brought under the Act. The use of water for laying dust arising from drilling or rock-crushing operations has only been adopted to a limited extent in quarries, but, I think, will gradually become more general. The dust in many cases must be very injurious to the workmen. Sufficient ropes have been provided in nearly all cases, but theflnanagors find it difficult to get the men to use them properly by securing them to their bodies when working on ledges. As will be seen from the table, the greater portion of the quarrying-woik has been in connection with the supply of road-metal and ballast. There has, however, been a considerable amount of harbour-work carried out, especially at Auckland. The agricultural-lime and the cement industries have been fairly active, and their output should materially increase in the future. No less than three operators supplying agricultural lime are installing new machinery, which will greatly increase their capacity; and at Mangapai, near Whangarei, the large mill of the Dominion Cement Company is nearing completion.

VII. STATE AID TO MINING. (.!.) Subsidized Prospecting. During the year ended 3.lst March, 1917, seventeen approved prospecting parties were granted subsidies amounting to £6,506 13s. 4d., of which £5,353 13s. 4d. was expended during that period. In addition to this, £1,419 9s. Id. granted during previous years was expended by twenty-four parties during the past financial year. The following statement shows the total expenditure during the year ended 31st March, 1.917, on authorities issued previous to that date, in subsidies to prospecting associations and parties of miners in the different counties :— Expenditure. £ s. d. Coromandel County .. .. .. .. .. .. 154 5 0 Ohinemuri County .. . . . . .. . . . . 43 5 0 Pelorus Road Board . . .. . . . . . . . . 368 10 0 Takaka County . . . . . . .. . . .. 78 0 0 Inangahua County .. .. .. .. .. .. 119 12 0 Murchison County . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 0 0 Buller County .. .. .. .. .. .. 163 6 8 Westland County . . . . .. . . . . .. 271 15 6 Ross Borough . . . . .. . . . . . . 3 0 0 Prospecting associations, &c. .. ~ .. .. .. 5,559 8 3 Total .. .. .. .. .. ~ 6,773 2 5 Upon the above operations and those previously subsidized, altogether twenty-two parties, employing sixty-seven persons, have during 1916 been engaged, but nothing of importance to the mining industry has been discovered; and I regret to report that with the solitary exception of the discovery of the Blackwatcr lode during 1905 by subsidized prospectors, I have not been able to record any discovery of importance as the result of subsidized prospecting.

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The following is a statement showing the number of subsidized prospectors, the amount of subsidy granted and paid, also the character and result of such prospecting operations, from the Ist April, 1916, to the 31st March, 1917 :—

-Name of Prospecting Party. Number of Prospectors. Locality of Operations. Amount of Subsidy granted. Amount of T»Nta.i>M> Subsidv instance Xature of claim, expended. anven. Character of Operations. Remarks. Northern Inspection District. Hauraki Prospecting Association — Tierney and Regan 2 £ s. d. Mahakirau, Coromandel .. £1,000, at £2 i 333 0 0 subsidy for I £1 s u b- j scribed Thames .. .. .. £166 13s. 4d., i Nil at 6s. 8d. per foot Coromandel .. .. £125, at 5s. 125 0 0 per foot . . £50, at 5s. per 50 0 0 foot Waitekauri .. .. £37 10s., at : Nil 7s. 6d. per foot May Bell Claim, Waitekauri £125 and £87 212 10 0 10s., at 5s. per foot £ s. d. Wakamarina .. .. 100 0 0 70 0 0 Ross .. .. .. 55 0 0 Wakamarina .. .. 166 13 4 166 13 4 100 0 0 Larrv"s Creek .. .. 66 13 4 20 0 0 Kanieri Forks .. 234 0 0 Hokitika .. .. 90 0 0 Kanieri .. .. .. 78 0 0 32 10 0 Ross .. .. .. 100 0 0 Wakamarina .. .. 78 0 0 45 10 0 .... 39 0 0 13 0 0 Reefton .. .. .. 41 13 4 Et. 300 Nil 500 200 Nil 850 210 500 00 Quartz Quartz Alluvial Quartz Alluvial Quartz Surface prospecting , ' So far nothing payable has been discovered. " Waitangi Gold-mining Company 7 6 Driving | Driving on 4 ft. lode, No. 2 level, hanging- wall portion carrying low values. Hauraki Reefs Gold-mining Com4 A short block of payable ore was opened up. pany P. Power and party 2 2 ft. lode intersected low-grade quartz. W. M. Wallnutt and party 2 Sinking To test lode exposed on surface in the vicinity of where good dish prospects can be obtained. Success Development Syndicate.. 2 Driving Driving still in progress, and although, according to survey, the distance has been driven, the main lode has not been cut. West Coast Inspection District. Mountain Camp partnership Allen and Roberts Deep Creek Syndicate Duffy and Pennington K. S. Hungerford G. W. Kellar.. Kulsen and Haviil Mount Greenland Syndicate M. and D. O'Keefe" .. Slattery 7 and Rasmussen Victoria Range Syndicate 4 2 6 4 2 6 2 2 5 2 2 4 Driving Driving Sinking Crosscut being driven to cut scheelite- bearing lode. No work started. Driving on reefs at Deep Creek, results poor. Work in progress, driving on two lodes. Driving in progress, on lode 3 ft. wide ; little gold. Thirty-two shafts sunk to date ; prospects payable. Work not started. Work in progress ; prospects good. Work in progress ; lode very patch} 7 . No results of value. Work abandoned, as lode cut out in winze. An increase of Is. 8d. per foot on remaining 500 ft. Driving Surface prospecting Sinking Southern Inspection District. Browne and party 7 2 Lawrence .. .. j 100 0 0 I 100 0 0 400 j Quartz Driving — ' A small leader showing coarse gold was found ■ when driven upon it cut out in all directions, and work was abandoned. Work in progress. Deep Dell Gold and Scheelite Mining Company Symes and party 2 2 Macrae's .. .. .. 120 0 0 11 0 8 Bald Hill Flat .. .. 92 0 0 92 0 0 Kawarau.. .. .. 87 10 0 52 0 0 34 210 Alluvial Surface prospecting and trenching Driving . . Work in progress. No discovery 7 of any value yet made. Prospecting for an auriferous lead on high-level terrace. Results unfavourable, and work abandoned Gordon and party 2

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(2.) Government Prospecting-drills.

Type of Drill. Name of DrUl Superintendent. To whom lent. .Mineral Total sought for. : Depth drilled. Diameter of Bores. Character of Country pierced. Average Cost per Foot. Remarks. Keystone No. 2 G. E. D. Seale .. 8 F. B. Powell, Rimu Flat, near Hokitika Boretz Prospecting Syndicate, near Hokitika Rimu Options (Limited), Rimu No. 3 Claim, Rimu Flat Rimu Options (Limited), No. 2 Claim, Rimu Flat Ditto Rimu No. 1 Dredging Company, Rimu Flat Batson and party 7 , Kanieri Wilkinson and Young. Hatters, Stafford Linklater and party, Hatters, Stafford Kaitoke Prospecting Company (Limited) Liverpool Colliery 7 , No. I Alluvial gold 5, Ft. 372 116 In. 6 6 s. d. Tight river-bed gravel and large 5 6 Ver} 7 satisfactory, stones . River silt . . .. .. 9 2 Nil. No. 2 2 No. 1 26 •>■> 1,235 1,050 365 206 257 76 80 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Tight river-bed gravel and other 10 6 Very satisfactory. fairly loose Tight river-bed gravel and large 10 3 „ stones Ditto .. .. 11 6 10 0 River-bed gravel and river silt 6 3 Fairly 7 satisfactory. River-bed gravel, tight, but not 37 6 Bore not completed. stoney Ditto .. .. .. 3 9 Poor. No. 2 ! 28 No. 3 No. 1 „ 8 5 No. 2 No. 3 „ 4 1 No. 3 1 Sullivan CN (diamond) W. Carter 1 Coal Coal Alluvial gold 111 424 80 174 390 2-5 2i 6 6 Country hard .. .. .. Country 7 not coal-bearing: drilling unwarranted; negative results. Sandstone, grit, and shaly mud- 5 5 Drilled for ventilators, very successful stone Shaly mudstone and sandstone 9 4 Hole abandoned : country faulted. Gravel and cement layers .. 18 4 Unsatisfactory; cost of transport very 7 heavy. ,, 9 10 Very satisfactory. Schramm- Harker (oildriven diamond drill) Ditto W. H. Warburton 2 Keystone Drill No. 3 » „ 1 4 Liverpool Colliery, No. 3a Section Malaya Tin Corporation Company (Limited) Rimu Options (Limited) I 9

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(3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. The following schedule shows the amounts expended by subsidies and direct grants out of the Public Works Fund, vote " Roads on Goldfields," in the different counties, &c, during the year ended 31st March, 1917 :— Direct Grants. Subsidies. £ s. d. £ s. d. Coi'omandel County .. .. .. .. 350 10 0 61 17 6 Thames County.. " .. . . .. .. 25 0 0 1.76 810 Ohinemuri County .. .. .. .. 1.,365 5 3 Pelorus Road Board .. . . . . .. 339 10 0. Collingwood County .. .. .. .. 14.7 18 10 Takaka County,. .. .. .. .. 100 0 0 Waimea County .. .. .. .. 13 10 7 Buller County .. .. .. .. .. 4,311 4 11. 133 0 8 Inangahua County .. .. .. ..3,730 10 11 79 1.7 1 Murchison County .. .. .. . 274 13 1. Westland County .. .. .. 1,064 16 0 Grey County '.. .. .. .. .. 2,716 0 8 50 0 0 Arrowtown Borough . . . . . . . . 49 19 6 Bruce County . . .. .. .. 300 0 0 Vincent County.. .. .. .. .. 192 0 0 Tuapeka County .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Lake Countv '.. .. . . 379 .1.9 1 Wallace County . . . . . 300 0 0 Southland County . .... 579 11 6 265 0 4 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. ... 41 5 6 Totals .. .. .. .. £16,031. 15 1.0 £1,066 10 5 During the year ended 31st March, 1916, the expenditure by way of direct grants wa* £23,662 Is. 5d., and by way of subsidies £769 19s. 2d. (1.) Government Water-races. The Waimea Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, which render possible hydraulic mining in the Kumara district, Westland, and the Naseby district, Central Otago, have during 1916 supplied seventy miners with water for sluicing, by which gold to the value of £14,683 was obtained. The cash received for water sold amounted to £2,609, and the expenditure on upkeep of the'races was £3,462. After deducting the price paid for Government water, the average earnings during the year by each person using such water was only £1.70, and from this must be subtracted the cost of plant and material, rent, and other incidental expenses.

VITI. SCHOOLS OF MINES. The following table shows the expenditure by the Government on schools of mines since their inception, exclusive of subsidies paid to the University of Otago towards the School of Minos in connection with that institution :—

Financial Years. Chemicals Subsidies towards and Apparatus, : Salftrieg of Teache the Erection of also Mmoralogical ocnoiar- rji r „ ve ij; nH . Schools of Mines, and Specimens ships. ' exDenses &c° Maintenance. supplied to Schools of Mines. Total Sum paid by the Department towards the Schools of Mines. j totals prior to 1916 .916-17 £ s. d. 33,965 13 3 1,133 14 11 I £ 3,103 6 s. d. 0 3 5 0 £ 2,429 £ s. 27,100 2 d. 1 £ s. d. 66,597 15 7 133 2,519 13 7 3,792 13 6 Totals 35,099 8 2 3,109 5 3 2,562 29,619 15 8 70,390 9 1 I

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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northern Inspection District. (Mr. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines.) Quartz-mining. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited)., —-No. 12 level (1,447! ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft) : The Dreadnought lode was intersected in the north-west crosscut at 86 ft. from No. 4 shaft. Width, 7 ft.; assay value, 13s. 6d. per ton. This lode was followed eastward for 132 ft., the width varying from 3 ft. to 7ft., and westward for 238 ft., tlie width varying from 3 ft. to a few inches. Commencing at 160 ft. west a crosscut is being driven direct to No. 2 shaft. At the end of the year there was still 230 ft. to drive to make the desired connection. A -south-east crosscut to intersect the Royal lode has been driven 348 ft. The lode should be cut in another 50 ft. to 70 ft. of driving. Owing to a very heavy influx of water this drive was suspended early in November. No. 11 level (1,301 ft. below the collar of No. 5 shaft) : The east drive on Empire lode was extended 400 ft., and is now close to the boundary. The width of the lode varies from 12 ft. to 30 ft., and payable ore was disclosed in various places along the drive. Some further work was done on the Martha lode, but no payable ore located. The south branch of the Dreadnought lode was followed east to 503 ft., and a long run. of good ore, averaging 10 ft. wide, opened up. The Royal lode was followed for 100 ft. from Princess south crosscut. The lode was \Z\ ft. wide <tnd of low value. The drive south on the Edward lode was extended 346 ft. in low-grade ore. Shafts: No. 2 shaft was sunk 107ft., and is now 1,373|ft. from the surface. No. 4 shaft was sunk 75| ft.; total depth, 1,546 ft. from surface. Waihi Grand Junction Gold Company (Limited). —No. 8 level (north-west crosscut) : The first 30 ft. is a mixture of quartz and country rock of no value; from 30 ft. to 46 ft. is quartz, low grade; from 46 ft. to 70 ft. is soft country rock. This level, is 1,320 ft. from surface. South-east crosscut, driven 175 ft. : At 116 ft. from the shaft a lode was struck, and from the above distance to 123 ft. is quartz, assay value of which is 19s. Bd. At 147 ft. quartz was again struck, and continued to 163H't. The first 4§ ft, assayed 2s. 10d., the next 4| ft. 195., the next 5 ft. 17s. 6d., next ft. £1 4s. 6d. Drive east was advanced 56 ft. from south-east crosscut; the average value for a width of 58 in. was 12s. 7d., tlie south wall being exposed. Lode cut at 147ft. (Empire footwall branch): Drive west was advanced 22ft. from crosscut; assays average £1 13s. 6d. for a width of 60 in.; south wall exposed. Drive east was advanced 6| ft. A rise was put up 28i] ft., and holed to a winze on the Empire footwall branch from No. 7 level. Assays averaged £2 12s. Id. for a width of 47 in.; south wall exposed. Total depth of main shaft, 1.346J ft. from surface. The Waihi Gold-mining Company recently decided to suspend development-work at and below No. 12 level, which is 98 ft. below tlie Grand Junction No. 8 level. It is intended by the Waihi Company to keep the water low enough not to interfere with development-work now in progress at No. 8 level, Waihi Grand Junction Mine. Thames County and Borough. —Owing to the mine-water rising to the surface all miningoperations below high-water mark have been suspended, and tho only work at present in progress within the borough is the Waiotahi Mine, and a few tribute parties on the north end of the field. In the Thames County the principal producing mines are the New Sylvia, Occidental, and Golden Belt Gold-mining Companies. The gold won, however, is only sufficient to cover working-expenses. Coromwndel. —ln this district, with the exception of a few prospectors, mining operations are confined to the Hauraki Reef's and Four-in-Hand Gold-mining Companies. Oil-wells. Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil-wells (Limited). —No new wells have been drilled during the past year, the drilling staff being engaged in recasing and deepening-No. 2 bore. This well is now 3,045 ft. in 8 in. casing, and at this depth the surface water is being cemented off; 10 in. casing was carried to a depth of 2,223 ft. The old well had only 5 in. casing at this depth. Depths of wells, No, 2, 3,045 ft.; No. 3, 4,019 ft.; No. 5, 2,950 ft.; Rotary, 2,494 ft: Crudeoil production, 1915-16, 121,000 gallons. Taranaki Oil Lands Acquisition and Development Company. —The Blenheim bore at the time of my visit (13th February, 1916) had reached a depth of 4,777 ft. A little petroleum is being obtained from 2,220 ft. This well is in good working-order. Consolidated Oil-fields of Taranaki. —Huiroa bore: This well on the 14th February, 1916, had reached a depth of 4,788 ft. The formation at bottom consists of heavy clay; pump shows strong gas-indications and brine water. For the whole distance this well is cased with 6 in. casing in movement. Fatal Accidents. William Irvine was killed on the 30th June, 1916, at the Victoria Mill. Waikino, by falling into a hopper, where he was suffocated.

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VENTILATION PLAN

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Matthew K. Hillhouse was killed on the 19th July, 1916, at the Talisman Mine by fallingdown an inclined shaft at the top of which he was working. Thomas F. Rowney was killed on the 11th August, 1916, at the Waihi Mine by a fall of ground in a stope. John. Mcintosh was killed on the 13th October, 1916, at the Waihi Mine by the criminally mischievous act of a person who put a, rail into a shaft in which deceased was being lowered in a cage, the rail knocking him out of the cage. Full details of these fatal accidents are contained in the tabulated remarks of the Inspecting Engineer. Non-fatal Accidents. H. Wroe : On the 17th July, Waihi Mine, Wroe was engaged blasting two boulders, using fuses 3 ft, 6 in. in length. Only one explosion took place. Wroe states that he waited twenty to thirty minutes, and on going back to relight the unexploded charge he reached a point a few feet from the boulder when it went off, peppering him in the legs with small, grit. Alfred Waite : On the 28th September, Waihi Mine, in a stope on the Martha lode, Waite and his brother were working down the loose ground when about half a ton of rubbly quartz suddenly came away, striking A. Waite on. the head and shoulders, injuring his back. Stope not more than 5 ft. in height where the accident occurred. William Strongman (Hauraki Reefs Mine, Coromandel) : On the 31st March, 1916, Strongman was engaged gadding a piece of reef down when a lump came away from the hanging-wall, breaking his right leg above the ankle. Alfred Briggs (New Zealand Crown Mines, Karangahake) : On the 25th July, 1916, Briggs, engaged tributing in (bis mine, went down to repair a pass by means of a rope; his candle went out, and when he got to the end of the rope, thinking himself only a few feet from the bottom, he let go and fell 20 ft, He suffered severe bruises about the body and legs, but escaped serious injury. There were numerous minor accidents during the year, but those quoted are the most serious. Cinnabar-mining. The following reference to the Whangarei. Cinnabar-mining Company is from the report of Mr. Boyd Bennie, Inspector of Mines :— During the whole of the year the mine of the Whangarei. Cinnabar-mining Company has been worked with from four- to six men. The main reef has been driven on for some length. The lode dips at an angle of about 10° north, is from 3 ft. to 4 ft, wide, and at one place there is a pipe formation or thickening of the lode where good assay values have been obtained. Three drives have cut into the lode, and samples of ore taken by me and assayed at the Dominion Laboratory gave very satisfactory percentages of mercury. I found the mining carried on in a satisfactory manner. The treatment-furnace, &c, erected some time past was found" to be unsatisfactory and the manager discontinued its use. The directors are making inquiries as to the best treatment plant and the probable cost; in. the meantime mining is carried on with a limited staff, and is mainly in the nature of prospecting the extent and value of the ore-deposit, Collins Bros, are preparing to work an alluvial flat for cinnabar-ore north-east of the Whangarei. Cinnabar-mining Company's claim. Dish prospects of fine ground cinnabar- from the washed dirt are very encouraging, but there cannot be a great area of deposit, Sufficient water is available to drive a primitive pug mill and for washing purposes. I could find no trace of any other mining being done by other claim-holders in the district, Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast Inspection District. (Mr. T. O. Bishop, Inspector of Mines.) Quartz-mining. MARLBOROUGH. Dominion Consolidated Mining a.nd Development Company (Limited). —Work has been steadily carried on at this company's mine throughout the year, but the returns of both gold and scheelite show a considerable falling-off as compared with those for 1915. Development of the mine has not opened up any further supplies of ore, and nothing of value has yet been found in the bottom level. A surface tramway about one mile and a half in length is being constructed round the hillside to the south of the present mine to enable stone from the Golden, Bar old levels to be conveyed to the mill. There is a fairly large ore-body in these levels, but the grade appears to be low, and there is some doubt as to its being payable. Deep Greek Gold-mining Syndicate has carried on prospecting-work during the year. Numerous outcrops of quartz have been found and have been tested by trenching and driving. Most of these appear to cut out very quickly in depth, and in nearly all of them values are very low. On the north side of Deep Creek there is one reef from 3 ft. to 5 ft. thick which shows gold, and this is being driven on at present, In some of the outcrops there are traces of scheelite, but so far I have seen nothing which would warrant the erection of even, a small battery. Alford and Party (Mountain Camp). —This party has discovered a small scheelite-bearing lode, and is at present driving a crosscut to intersect it about 80 ft, below the outcrop. Tlie country is very hard and flat, and it would have been much better prospecting to have sunk on the reef first. Ultimate results are doubtful. There has been a little prospecting for scheelite at Top Valley during the year, but no defined lode has been found. There is no other quartzmining in Marlborough.

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NELSON. Colossus Gold-mining and Development Company, of Napier, took over Messrs. Van Bell. Baiting, and Grace's prospecting-areas at Connor's Creek, Wangapeka, but after starting a long crosscut and driving it about 300ft, they abandoned the work, and are now preparing to further test Culliford's old reef at Blue Creek. Cold can be seen in one portion of the reef where it is exposed in the old drive, and it, is possible there may be something found here on further development. There is now no other quartz-inining in the Nelson District. LYELL. New Alpine Consols Company.— During the year the Alpine reef-line has been struck in the crosscut and it is now being driven on to the south. The channel is well defined with good walls, and little solid and uncrushed veins of quartz occur in the formation. Some of these show free gold. Nothing payable to work has been struck so far, but driving is being continued. OAPLESTON. Boatman's Consolidated Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The work at the Fiery Cross shaft has been carried on throughout the year, and the cleaning-out and repairing has been completed to tin- bottom—4so ft. A contract has been let for sinking, and the work commenced. The company's balance-sheet up till the 30th September, 1916, shows an expenditure of nearly £12,000. Work at the Golden Arch Mine was stopped early in the year, nothing of value having been found. reefton. Murray Creek Mines. —Mining and crushing were continued until August, £12,252 worth of gold being obtained from 3,183 tons treated; but, as it was then thought there was a considerable loss of gold in the milling process, the mine was closed while the mill and treatment plant were enlarged and rearranged. This work is still in progress. At the time of closing down the mine was looking very well. Energetic Extended. —Prospecting has been carried on with four men during the year. More than one reef-track has been explored by driving, and some crosscutting has also been done, but nothing of value has been found. Wealth of Nations and Energetic Mines. —Work has been carried on continuously throughout the year, the returns being somewhat smaller both as Io tonnage and value than for 1915. No important ore-bodies have been developed, but the blocks at the lowest level, No. 12 (2,019 ft,), are just as good as any in the mine. To maintain Ihe ore reserve further sinking of the main shaft is now a necessity. Keep-it-Dark Mine. —This obi mine has failed to pay working-expenses for some years past, and early in the year the company gave an option over the property to a Christchurch syndicate organized by the Rev. 11. Wilson. This syndicate, instead of vigorously prospecting with the object of locating a payable ore-body, continued mining the unprofitable stone worked by the company. Very little prospecting has been done, and the mine fell into such a state of disrepair that early in December it was necessary to withdraw the men and prohibit any work being done excepting that necessary to restore the airways and re-establish the ventilation. This work is still in progress, and it will be months before regular mining operations can be resumed. There are two reefs in this mine, the East and the West, The former in tin- upper levels gave very good results, but it has never been seen below No. 5 level, nor lias there been very much work done to find it. The West reef, which has been worked alone from No. 6 level down to No. 9, the present bottom level, has never been payable. The future prospects therefore appear to depend upon tlie finding of the East reef in the lower levels. Progress Mines. —This mine has bad a steady run for the year, but there has been a marked fall in the returns as compared with 1915, due chiefly to a shortage of men. The development of ore has been, on tin.- whole, satisfactory, anil the reserve must have been considerably increased. Cumberland Mines. —No work has been done during tho year New Big River Mine. —This mine has nearly doubled the previous year's returns, but cbieflv owing to shortage of labour it has again failed to show upon the dividend-list. No. 11 level has so far proved disappointing, and the reef is there seriously interrupted by faults. Probably further sinking will be required to get beyond the disturbance. North Blackwater Development Syndicate. —The sinking of the Prohibition shaft has been vigorously pushed on, and a depth of over 800ft. has now been reached. The reef should be struck some time this year. Blackwater Mines. —The returns from this mine are £30,000 loss than for- the previous year, partly due, no doubt, to shortage of labour, but also to some extent to a diminution in size of the reef having caused a smaller tonnage to be produced. Nos. 5, 6, and 7 levels all proved disappointing, the reef being much smaller and more broken than was the ease above. No. 8 level so far has been better, and it may prove to be below the region of the displacement; and at the present time (3rd March, 1917) the north faces of Nos. 6 and 7 levels are also looking much better than they have done for some time, as they are showing a good reef in nice solid country. This is favourable for the prospects of Blackwater North, as these latest developments are only about 500 ft. from the boundary. Blackwater South Mine : —Some further prospect inn- has been done here by continuing Absalom's tunnel, but nothing of value has been found.

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HOKITIKA AND ROSS. Mount Greenland Company has carried on work at Cedar Creek during the year, and a small battery has been erected and was started and run for a few weeks, but since dry weather set in there has been no water for power purposes, and no returns have been obtained. The two levels of the mine have been connected by an uprise, but no other development-work has been done. There are some rich patches in the reef, but as no systematic sampling has been done the average value is not known. General Remarks on Quartz-mining. In addition to the mines above mentioned there have been a few prospeeting-works in progress during the year, but nothing of value has been found, and there is now very little interest being taken in work of this kind. All the mines have been frequently visited, and the provisions of the Mining Act have been enforced in all cases. One mine-manager was prosecuted for failing to maintain proper sanitary arrangements, and was fined two guineas. Two miners were conviited of dry-boring at Blackwater Mine and fined. An official inquiry under section 266 of the Act was held before Warden Hutchison, and Messrs. T. Watson and W. Power, assessors, into a fa'ial accident at the Keep-it-Dark Mine. The Court decided that the manager was not guilty of negligence, though it held that the system of working at the time of the accident was faulty, an i recommended that the Act be amended so as to prevent a leading stope being worked within 20 ft. of any face being worked in the level below. With reference to the table of accidents herewilh, it will be seen that this one, by which T. O'Connor was killed at the Keep-it-Dark Mine, wag preventable, but the others come into the class of accidents which are not preventable by an y careful management or careful inspection, being caused directly by the negligence of the vi( tims themselves. The return-air shaft at the Progress Mines collapsed and rendered necessary the construction of new airways and installation of a fan, and this work was carried out without risk, all miningwork being suspended while it was done. The mechanical ventilation is now established and is sat isfactory. At the Keep-it-Dark Mine the return airways collapsed, and the men were withdrawn from the mine in December, and all work except that required for restoration of ventilation is now suspended. As regards ventilation generally in this district thero has been some improvement during tho year, and the installation of a mechanical system at the Progress Mine will, it is to be hoped, be followed by similar installations at other mines. Dredging. The dredging industry in this district has not been very successful during the year, there haring been considerable falling-off in the returns. Two companies have ceased operations—viz., Murray's Freehold and Red Jacks—while the Ahaura River has failed to pay expenses, and work han been suspended pending a reconstruction of the company. The Rimu No. 1 dredge is almost ready for work, and is expected to average over 100 oz. per week, when the claim is fully opened out, The test bores have given good results, but the dredge is on tho light side for the class of work she has to do, and the working-time may be considerably interrupted by breakages. Alluvial Mining. MARLBOROUGH. Alluvial mining in Marlborough has given a return of only 4 oz. for the year, but Larkin and party, at Enchanted Creek, who have been unable to clean up for want of water, write that a fair return is expected. COLLINGWOOD DISTRICT. Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company. —This claim has employed seven men during the year, chiefly upon non-remunerative work—construction of a long tail-race through worked ground to reach a new face ahead. The total return for the year was 52 oz. There are three other small claims working in the district, but returns are very poor. HOWARD DIGGINGS. This goldfield has given employment to about eighty men for the whole year, and as nearly as I can ascertain they have all made fairly good wages. A number of ordinary claims are held without being registered, and from these no returns are available. The small branches of Louis Creek are now practically worked out, but some claims in the main creek will last for another year. _ There has also been some work done in small creeks on the Gowan side of the watershed during the past year, but returns from this side have been poorer than from Louis Creek. No important finds have been ..made in the terraces, and it does not therefore appear that there will be any great extension of work in this locality. MURCIIISON. There are two parties ot three men each working at Upper Matakitaki and obtaining payable results—viz.. Messrs. Beilby and Richardson, and M. White and party. Taylor's Creek Company, with English and New Zealand capital, has proved another failure, and it should now be finally established that the Matakitaki is a working-man's field only, no less than five companies having come to grief.

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BULLEII VALLEY. Practically no work is now carried on in the Bullcr Valley. WESTPORT DISTRICT. Carthage Company has ceased operations, and a few old men who work intermittently on the beach have been the only producers of gold during the year. addison's flat. Working-parties are still making good wages at Addison's. Shamrock Claim is again being worked on behalf of English owners, brU the result of the year's work has been very poor. The claim is now known as the " Totara Mines." Addison Gold-mininq Company. —Development-work is still in progress at this claim (Carmody's), and somewhat slow progress has been made. Sluicing is expected to commence very early in the new year. CHARLESTON. There is nothing new to report from Charleston. Messrs. Powell Bros, and Buttcrworth and party have been working throughout the year and have bad satisfactory returns. GREY VALLEY. The miners in the Grey Valley are becoming fewer each year, and returns from this source are small. There has been nothing calling for comment during the year. Lake Hochstetter Company is still carrying on water-race construction, and lias been reconstructed during the year in order to provide sufficient capital to finish the work. BARRYTOWN. McKay and party continue to get payable returns, but no other claims are now at work. KUMARA DISTRICT. The number of working-miners between Greymouth and Hokitika has remained about the same as for the previous year. Golden Terrace Company, at Maori Cully, has employed seven men for a return of 76 oz. —a very disappointing result. Ilohonu Diamond Terrace Company has continued sluicing with the small water-supply available, and has obtained £622 worth of gold. No work has been done upon the larger water-race. HOKITIKA DISTRICT. , There has been a renewal of activity in mining matters in Hokitika this year, owing to Australian capitalists having carried on the prospecting of large areas of alluvial ground in the district. Rimu Flat has been proved by Keystone drilling to bo rich dredging ground, and one dredge is now about to start woik, while others will be built as soon as financial arrangements can be made under the War Regulations. At present tlie formation of new companies is scarcely possible. Brighton Terrace Sluicing Company. —This company is now preparing to sluice an area adjoining Rimu Flat and facing the Hokitika River, using electric power to pump water from the river for sluicing purposes. The power plant at Kanieri Forks installed by the Ross Goldfields Company is being used as a power source for this work, and the pump-station at Woodstock is nearing completion. If the ground in this claim proves as good as the trial bores indicate the work should prove remunerative even after paying for water. Mr. Powell and his principals deserve every encouragement, as they are really the pioneers in this method of mining so far as Westland is concerned. Other Prospecting. —Mr. K. S. Hungerford, representing the Malayan Dredging Corporation, has carried on extensive prospecting at Duke's Terrace, Kumara; at Pine Creek, near Rimu Flat; and in the neighbourhood of Lake Kanieri. At Duke's Terrace three bores were put down and several shafts were sunk, but values were too low to warrant further work. At Pine Creek eighteen shafts were sunk, the deepest being 50 ft, The leads of gold proved to be narrow, and the average value of the ground too low to be profitable for dredging. Near Lake Kanieri Mr. Hungerford is at. present prospecting, and reports that he has sunk twenty shafts, the deepest being 100 ft. The bottom has not been found. There are several rich runs of gold in the area, and there appears to bo every probability of this being a highly payable property. It is proposed to work by free sluicing, using Humphrey's Gully water for this purpose. ROSS. There is practically no mining now being carried on at Ross. The plant on the Ross Goldfields Mine has been nearly all removed. Southern Inspection District. (Mr. A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines.) Quartz-mining. Quartz-mining in Otago during the past year has been carried on chiefly for the production of scheelite, an ore of tungsten, which mineral occurs in quartz lodes in schist at Glenorchy, Macrae's, The Reefs, Waipori, and Bendigo. At Macrae's it is associated with gold in the lodes, but the latter metal is now looked upon as a seoondary product, I'm- owing to the war having created an increased value and demand for scheelite it has been found the most profitable to mine.

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GLENORCHY. Glenorchy Scheelite-mining Company. (Limited). —Operations have been carried on continuously throughout the year at the Glenorchy, Junction, and Mount Alfred mines. The Alaska and Mount Mcintosh mines, which arc situated at altitudes of over 5,000 ft. above sea-level, were closed down during the winter months, and work was not resumed owing to the scarcity of miners. The principal development-works carried out by the company are as follows : At the Glenorchy Mine a new level, No. la, was started 50 ft. below No. I level, and driven 330 ft., at which point the lode was cut, showing a width of 3 ft. of good-grade ore. At the Mount Alfred Mine three levels are being driven south on the lode. The lowest of these is situated 150 ft. below the crest of the ridge through which the lode runs, and is connected by tramway with the ore-dressing plant. Tho lode in the north end of the workings is from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in width, but going south it branches into small veins varying in width from a few inches up to 2 ft. Two of these veins in the east wall are being driven upon at No. 2 level. Plant installed during the year comprises ten head of stamps and magnetic separator at the Glenorchy mill; stone-breaker, screens, jigs, and Wilfley tables at Mount Alfred. Paulin and Tripp's Black, Peak and Temple, Peak Claims, and Birley and Party's Claim on Mount Larkins, which are situated between 5,000 ft. and 6,000 ft. above sea-level, were worked during the summer season for highly payable results. A number of small parties of two or three miners, working their own claims, are making good wages. Some of these dress their scheelite by hand to bring it up to the required standard; others dispose of the ore to the Glenorchy Scheelite Company. Macrae's. Golden, Point Mine was worked by D. Peddie and party up to August, when it was taken over by the Golden Point Cold and Scheelite Mining Company. Operations were confined to shallow surface levels. Scheelite was the principal product, the output amounting to .'l3 tons 13 cwt. Gold valued at £165 was also obtained. The company paid £2,450 in dividends as the result of five months' operations. Deep Dell Consolidated Scheelite, and Gold Mining Company. —The work of extending the adit level was suspended during the year, and operations were confined to mining scheelite from a small lode in the north-east section of the mine. Eraser and Gaytan. —This party discovered a lode carrying high-grade scheelite close to the main road from Dunback to Macrae's, and about two miles from the latter township. The work done, which comprises surface trenching and sinking a winze to a depth of 20 ft. on the lode, has given highly payable results. Marebum Gold and Scheelite Company (Uighlay). —One mile of incline tramway was laid down to connect the battery with Block 18, where a large lode carrying gold and scheelite is being mined by opencast method. New Zealand Gold and Tungsten Mining Company (Uighlay). —This company was formed during the year for the purpose of reopening and working the gold and tungsten mine formerly owned by Donaldson Bros. No. 3 level has been repaired and extended to open up a small block on the reef. Stoneburn Mining Company. —This company's operations have not proved successful. The ore mined during the year was low-grade. Golden Bar Gold-mining Company (Stoneburn). —This company has gone into liquidation. The mine and battery were sold to W. E. Griffin, of Macrae's. No mining was done during the year. A number of small parties of miners are profitably employed working the outcrops of scheelite lodes which occur within an area extending from Stoneburn in the south to Highlay in the north, having a width of about three miles by a length of eighteen miles. THE REEFS. H. S. Molineaux and A. C. Buekland are working the Barewood lode for scheelite. Rich pockets of the mineral are found in veins in the footwall. A lode carrying good scheelite was found about one mile south-west of the Barewood line of reef by Mr. A. Ewart. An option was taken over the find by a Dunedin syndicate, and development has commenced. The output of scheelite for the year from this part of the district amounted to a little over 6 tons. WAIPORI. Waipori Prospecting Company. —About 1,000 ft. of driving and crosscutting was done on the O.P.Q. lode without meeting with any blocks of payable quartz. Operations have been suspended. Cox's Reef. —A. Rodgers and party crushed 14 tons of quartz from the lode for a return of 12 oz. 12 dwt. gold. The reef is very small, and the return did not pay the cost of mining and treatment. Mr. T. Bertenshaw discovered a small scheelite vein in his alluvial claim at Lammerlaw Creek. About tons of scheelite were obtained from shallow surface workings. BALD HILL FLAT. R. Symes and party are carrying on mining operations on White's and the Excelsior reef's. No discovery of importance has been made during the year.

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BANNOOKBURN. Carrick Gold-mining Company. —The low-level tunnel was extended 104 ft. during the year. This tunnel was started for the purpose of developing the lodes on the Carrick Range at a low level, and the work was subsidized by the Mines Department at the rate of pound for pound up to £500. Although the work is important to the company and the district generally, no energy has been shown in carrying it out. Alluvial Mining. LAWRENCE. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company. —Sluicing and elevating the tailing-deposit from Blue Spur has been continued with payable results. The value of the gold won for the year amounted to £7,615, and dividends paid £3,760. Cornishman Claim. —A sluicing company has recently been formed to work the Cornishman Claim at Blue Spur formerly owned by Kitto and party. Since commencing operations several miles of water-race have been cleaned out and enlarged, and the pipe-line shifted to bring water on to the tailing-deposit in Munroe's Gully, which will be elevated. Golden Crescent Sluicing Company (W ether-stones). —An area of about 2 acres of low-grade cement was sluiced off to an average depth of 20 ft. preparatory to elevating the lower and richer part of the deposit resting on the schist rock. Water under an hydraulic head of about 700 ft. enables the company to deal effectively with the hardest of the cement, WAITAHDNA. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Com'pany. —New pipe has been laid down over a length of one mile and three-quarters, and water for sluicing and elevating is now delivered at the claim under an hydraulic head of 600 ft. The company is working auriferous cement similar to that at Blue Spur. Tho height of lift is 70 ft. Havelock Sluicing Company. —This company has had another successful year. Gold valued at £3,335 was obtained, and dividends paid amounted to £1,900. The ground being worked is river-flat, consisting of clay and gravel resting on a pipeclay bottom. WAIPORI. The principal alluvial claims in this part of tho district are Munroe and George, Post Office Creek; R, J. Cotton, Lammerlaw Creek; and Gare Bros., Pioneer Creek. These claims employ an average of four men each, and are giving payable returns. ROXBURGH. Teviot-Molyneux Gold-mining Company. —An area of about 12 acres was sluiced off to an average depth of 20 ft., and a paddock three-quarters of an acre in area sunk to a depth of 30 ft. To save the fine gold contained in the gravels the sluice-boxes are so arranged that the fine gravel, after passing over ripples, is discharged through perforated plate into a trough at the side of and below the boxes, from whence it is elevated and distributed over a set of tables having an area of 1,080 square feet lined with coconut matting. Numerous large schist boulders, which require to be broken up by explosives, occur in the upper gravels; to deal with these a jackhammer drilling plant has been installed on the claim. During the greater part of the year the plant has been employed stripping off overburden without attempting -to save any of the gold-contents. The claim is just entering the producing stage, and this year's operations will prove it definitely. Roxburgh Amalgamated, Gold-mining Company. —This company's new claim at Mervyn's Flat has been tested by boring, and the prospects were sufficiently encouraging to warrant the directors in recommending the incorporation of a new company to raise the capital required to take the water and plant on to the claim. The results obtained from tlie block of ground known as Louden's area have been disappointing. Ladysmith Gold-mining Company. —This company has had another successful year. Gold to -the value of £4,249 was won, and dividends amounting to £2,481 paid. The average height of lift is 50 ft. Most of the gold is obtained from a seam of tight stony wash about 6 ft. in thickness resting on the schist bottom. Commissioner's Flat. —Coulter and party brought water tor elevating purposes across the Clutha River from Manuel's water-race at Coal Creek Flat. The water is delivered at the elevator under a pressure of 150 lb. per square inch, and has enabled the party to work the deep ground. CROMWELL. Roaring Meg Sluicing Company. —After repeated efforts bottom was reached at a depth of 52 ft. in this company's claim, the prospects being valueless. The company is now in liquidation. Gordon and Party. —This party's efforts to locate a payable lead on a high-level terrace in the Kawarau Gorge resulted in failure. ARROW RIVER. Sluicing operations are being carried on by the Maeetown and Shamrock Sluicing Companies and Anderson and Son. Paterson Bros, failed to locate a payable lead in Billy Creek, and work has been suspended.

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SHOTOVER CREEK. Between twenty and thirty men are employed in the alluvial claims in this part of the district. The Klondyke, Sandhills, and New Skipper's claims, which are the most productive, are just paying a little over working-costs. MATAKANUI. Undaunted and Tinker's Gold-mining Companies have shifted their plants from the lead near the foothills where the overburden was becoming exceedingly heavy. Elevating is being carried on in blocks of unworked ground on the flat, which vary in depth from 40 ft. to 90 ft. The operations of both claims are considerably hampered owing to scarcity of water. A. combination of interests and water rights would bring about beneficial results. OPHIR. High Levels Sluicing Company. —This company commenced sluicing operations in tht latter part of the year. Water for sluicing is pumped to a height of 250 ft. The pumping plant comprises 85 h.p. Crossley gas-engine and generator, and high-speed turbine pump, 10 in. diameter. One and a half sluice-heads are delivered into a dam situated 140 ft. above the claim. Tho area available for working is small, and the quantity of water inadequate to satisfactorily deal with the wash. Unless the ground is exceptionally rich the company's operations will result in failure. ST. BATIIAN'S. Scandinavian Water-race Company. —Sluicing and elevating was resumed during the year. Operations are being carried on close to -the boundary of the United M. and E. Company's claim, where difficulty will be experienced in working without encroaching on the latter company's ground. To enable the work to be carried on with advantage the two claims should be amalgamated. The United M. and E., Vinegar Hill, Morgan's, and O'llara's claims continue to work on a small scale. NASEBY. All the available water from the Mount Ida race is used by the claim-holders working in Enterprise, Spec, and Main Gullies, most of whom are making good wages. PATEAROA. Three parties of miners are engaged in sluicing operations in the locality. The average depth of ground worked is 30 ft. MAEREWHENUA AND LIVINGSTONE. The deposit of auriferous greensand which has been worked in this district for many years is almost exhausted, and the number of miners employed gradually getting less. The- past year has not been favourable for continuous operations, a spell of dry weather in the early part causing a stoppage of all work for six weeks. WAIKAIA. Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company. —The water-race on the terrace leading from the siphon was extended 36 chains to command Maori Gully, where payable ground 8 ft. in depth was opened up. The shallow gullies running down from -the terrace are evidently the richest parts of the claim; most of these have been worked. There is still a large area of unworked ground on the terrace, but in places it has an overburden of clay and gravel up to 50 ft. in height which has to be sluiced away before the auriferous wash is reached. Gold to the value of £4,265 was produced for the year. Twenty-four men were employed. NOKOMAI. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —Two elevators have been kept almost constantly working throughout the year. No. 2 claim, in Victoria Gully, has given highly payable returns. The average depth of ground worked in this claim is 30 ft., and hydraulic head available for elevating 300 ft. No. 3 claim, in Nokomai Creek, has not given as good returns as No. 2 owing to its greater depth and the large quantity of non-auriferous gravel that has to be dealt with. Water from the Lion race is used for elevating under an- hydraulic head of 600 ft. The depth of ground worked averages 80 ft. NEVIS. Seven hydraulic elevating claims, employing twenty-nine men, are working in this part of the district. The heights of lift vary from 20 ft. to 40 ft., and pressure for elevating from 300 ft. to 400 ft. As the water-races are frozen up in the winter the sluicing season only lasts nine months. ROUND HILL AND OREPUKI. Round Hill Mining Company. —A flood in the Ourawera Stream on the 28th March swept away the protection bank above the No. 2 claim, filled the claim with water and debris, and completely buried the elevator and plant. Another pumping plant had to be procured for recovery purposes, which occupied four months, sluicing operations being considerably delayed thereby. No. 1 claim has been worked continuously for payable returns.

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Ourawera Gold-mining Company. —Elevating is being carried on in Italian Gully. Operations for the year have given a little profit over working-expenses. Twelve men find employment at sluicing around Orepuki. In most cases they are making a living-wage. Dredge Mining. Two dredges were dismantled during the year —viz., the Confidence, at Lowburn, and Bruce Syndicate, at Glenore. At Waikaka, McGeorge's Freehold No. 1 claim was worked out, and the dredge is to be dismantled. Paterson's Freehold No. 1 has changed ownership, having been purchased by J. Anderson. Two of the dredges operating in the gorges of the Clutha, Electric No. 2 and Manuherikia, got in a short run of about three weeks during midwinter. The others did not start owing to the unsettled state of the river. The Rise-and-Shiue dredges continue to be the most productive in the southern district. Dividends paid during the year amounted to £4,200. The Otakau dredge, operating in the Kyeburn, paid £1,350 in dividends for the year, and should continue to give good results in 1917. The Karanui, at Alexandra, was purchased from the company by a local syndicate, and dredging has been resumed by the new owners. Minerals other than Gold. Tungsten-ore. —The advance in price of scheelite has caused prospecting and consequent discoveries of new deposits and also increased development of known deposits, resulting in the output for 1916 being almost double that for 1915. Prospecting has been most actively carried on in Macrae's, Glenorchy, and Barewood districts. Tin. —The Stewart Island Tin and Wolfram Company's sluicing operations at Port Pegasus have given very disappointing results. The leturn of tin and wolfram concentrates obtained from six months' work only amounted to 2|cwt., of an estimated value of £12. No work has been done during the year to test the lode on the company's property. Copper. —A parcel of 3 tons of ore was mined from the lode at Moke Creek and shipped to Australia for treatment by Messrs. Paulin and Tripp. Assays of the ore gave results up. to 24 per cent, of copper. The lode is about 12 in. wide, and consists of rusty-coloured quartz containing small bunches of copper and iron-pyrites. Limestone. —The output of limestone from the Milburn Lime and Cement Company's quarries at Milburn and Dunback amounted to 51,428 tons. Marl. —The output of marl from the Milburn Limo and Cement Company's pit at Burnside amounted to 7,985 tons. Phosphates. —The Ewing Phosphate Company produced 7,600 tons of rock phosphate from the quarry at Milburn. . Accidents. Fatal. —28th August: Edwin Francis Parker, miner, aged forty-one years, was killed by a fall of earth while working in a tail-race in his own claim at Kyeburn diggings. Serious. —l9th October; Koputai dredge, Waikaia : Edward Sinclair sustained concussion of the brain. Accident caused by a wire rope breaking while the men were connecting up dredgebuckets.

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ANNEXURE B. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGERS. Waimea-Kumaka Watir-JUOIS, Wkstland. (Mr. James Rochford, Manager.) Waimea Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1917, was £600 l()s. lid., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £714 12s. lid., showing a debit balance of £111 2s. on the 3'ear's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was 21-08, a decrease of 3-67 on the previous year; and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 1,1600z., valued at £4,553, a decrease on that of last year of £1,519 6s. The sales of water amounted to £676 3s. Bd., a decrease of £257 12s. sd. on the previous year. Although the sales were Hie smallest for the past eight years, it does not by any means imply that the payable ground commanded by the Government water in the district is becomingworked out, but it can be accounted for to a great extent by the disastrous flood that occurred on the night of the 14th April (which has previously been fully reported on), which had the effect of materially reducing the ordinary supply of water for mining in the Callaghan's, Goldsborough, and Stafford districts for the first five months of the year. There was also a scarcity of labour owing to the number of young men that enlisted for the war or were drawn in the ballot, with the result that two claims at least in the Stafford section had to close down for lack of men for some months during the year, and certain other parties could not use as much water as last year owing to tho same reason. The cash received was £313 7s. Bd. less than the previous year, and the expenditure increased by £12 18s. lid., and the race is now in good order. Although the past year was the driest in the memory of the oldest inhabitants, the supply of water in the Waimea Race after repairs bad been completed at the end of August never fell below 29 or 30 heads of water, which was due to the additional supply from the newly constructed Waimea Branch Race from the Arahura, Wainihinihi. and Macpherson's Creeks, which supplied from 8 to 10 heads of water in the driest weather. K'tvmara Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1917. was £71 13s. id., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £349 13s. 9d., showing a debit balance of £278 os. Bd. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was 4'66, a decrease of 8'75 on the previous year; anil the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 220 oz., having a value of £863 10s., a decrease on last year of £1,679 6s. The sales of water amounted to £77 7s. lid., a decrease of £264 as compared with the previous year. The cash received was £143 os. lid. less than last year, and the expenditure was reduced by £125 16s. Id. Branch Race to Callaghan's and, Middle. Branch Flat. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1917, was £197 Bs. 4d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £380 lis. lid., showing a, debit balance of £183 3s. 7d. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was 4'75, a decrease of 2'19 on the previous year. The approximate amount of gold obtained was 344 oz., having a value of £1,350 45., a decrease of £767 10s. on last year. The sales of water amounted to £198 17s. 6d., a. decrease of £64 12s. Id. on the precedingyear. The cash received for sales of water was £87 1.55. less than for the previous year, and the expenditure was reduced by £48 6s. ltd. Kumara Trans-Tarama.kau Water-race Owing to the serious break which took place in the Taramakau pipe-line in the river-bed on the 20th November, 1915 (which was fully reported in my last annual report), water was supplied to the miners on the north bank of the river only during the last three weeks of the financial year. The Department called for tenders, which closed on the 31st May, 1916, for the construction of a pipe-bridge over the Taramakau River. The successful tenderer was Mr. H. J. Bignell, bridge contractor, of Greymouth, who started the construction-work on the 14th July, and the bridge was completed on the 20th December. The bridge is 328 ft. in length, and is a very strongstructure, consisting of eight piers of hardwood piles, seven piles to the pier, and a land pier of three piles. The superstructure for carrying the 30-in. pipe main is composed of steel girders 16 in. by 6 in. by 33 ft. in length. The work of restoration was not finally completed until the 16th March, and since that time everything has gone on satisfactorily, and the water has been running continuously through the pipes. During tlie last three weeks of the year four parties, comprising in all seventeen men, were engaged in sluicing operations on the north bank of the Taramakau River, and purchased water to the value of £22 lis. 10d., but of this amount £9 16s. was authorized free water for opening up new ground,

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The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1917, was £14 155., and the expenditure, on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £85 1.75. 6d., showing a debit balance of £71 2s. 6d. on the year's transactions. The number of miners supplied with water was seventeen, and the approximate amount of gold obtained was 47 oz., having a value of £184 9s. 6d., a decrease of £891 18s. 6d. on last year. The sales of water amounted to £12 15s. 10d., a decrease of £128 2s. 4d. on the previous year. The cash received was £143 9s. less than for the preceding year, and the expenditure decreased by £99 18b. 6d. , Erin-go-Bragh Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1917, was £398 ss. 7d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £309 10s. Id., showing a credit balance of £88 15s. 6d. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was 12*33, an increase of 0'33 on the previous year; and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 739 oz., having a value of £2,900 lis. 6d., a, decrease of £281 His. 6d. on the last year.' The sales of water amounted to £378 Bs., a decrease of £9 3s. Bd. on the previous year. The cash received showed an improvement of £50 13s. 5d., and the expenditure increased by £5 3s. 7d. as compared with the year previous. As anticipated in my last annual report, this race showed a fair profit on the year's transactions notwithstanding the reduction in the price of water from 4d. to 2Jd. per head per hour, which came into force on the Ist April, 1916. Wamihinihi Water-race. On the night of the 14th April, when the flood previously mentioned was at its highest, a large slip came down the side of the mountain between Caretaker Walker's hut and the intake of the race. The slip carried away a by-wash, broke down several timbered sets, and completely filled up a. portion of the race with broken rock and other debris. The same flood broke into the race at the Little Wainihinihi and filled up several chains of ditching, also carried away a portion of the new siphon and two intakes on the newly constructed Waimea Branch Race. These repairs were all completed by the end of August, 1916, and both races are now in good order. Waimea-Kumara Water-races. The following is a summary of the revenue and expenditure of these races for the year ended the 31st March, 1917 : Sales of water, £1,343 12s. lid.; cash received, £1,282 12s. lid.'; expenditure, £1,840 6s. 2d.; approximate value of gold obtained, £9,851 155.; average number of miners employed, 44'23. The sales of water showed a decrease of £723 10s. 6d., and the cash a decrease of £636 19s. 2d. In addition to the above sales, authorized free water to the value of £128 2s. 2d. was supplied to parties opening up new claims. The total expenditure on the combined races was £1,84-0 6s. 2d., as against £2,096 os. 2d. for the previous year, a decrease of £255 14s. Comparing the sales of water with the expenditure, the combined races show a loss of £496 13s. 3d. for the year. Owing to the break which occurred in the Kawhaka Race on the 20th March preventing the miners at Goldsborough and Stafford from washing up by the end of the financial year, the outstanding accounts show an increase of £39 3s. 9d., but £62 10s. 7d. of this amount was paid in after the Easter washings, and the true position shows a decrease of £23 6s. l.Od. for the year. Mount Ida Water-race, Central Otago. (Mr. J. C. Buchanan, Manager.; The total sales of water from the Mount Ida Water-race during the year amounted to £1,326 12s. 6d., an increase on that of last year of £140 16s. lid. The expenditure on maintenance, cleaning, and repairs for the same period amounted to £1,622 2s. lid., an increase on that of last year of £125 3s. 6d. The total cash received was £1,326 12s. 6d. Free water for washing up was supplied to the value of £1.04 Is. sd. Tho total value of water supplied from this race amounted to £1,430 13s. lid., an increase on that of last year of £124 Is. sd. The approximate quantity of gold obtained by parties using water from this race during the year was 1,255 oz., valued at £4,831 155., an increase on that of last year of £261 16s. The average number of men employed was 25'75. From the Ist April to the 30th September there was a fair supply of water, and the winter being an exceptionally mild one most of the claims were working steadily during this period The water becoming short, I started on the 2nd October with all the available men to clean and repair the race, and had the water on again on the Ist November. Owing to the scarcity of labour the work of cleaning and repairing the race took much longer than in former years. Good rams during November gave a plentiful supply of water, which also filled the Eweburn Reservoir. From the 27th November to the end of the year was one continuous drought, and the iMveburn Reservoir running out; on the 3rd February the supply from this date to the end of March became very short, at times being as low as 2£ heads. To cope with the demand for water I found it necessary at the time of cleaning and repairing the race to give it an extra good cleaning as far as Idaburn, a distance of about eighteen miles. I had also to enlarge and completely renew three short flumes, two of them on the west side of Main Gully, and one at the bend of the race in Home Gully. I also found it necessary to lay an additional 17 in. siphon alongside the siphons crossing Enterprise and Main Gullies, and strengthened the Eweburn tunnel witli eight new sets of timber. The race during the year was fairly free of mishaps. Two breaks occurred—viz., in Coalpit Gully, also between the East and West' Eweburns. The race at present is in good order, and the demand for water still equals the supply.

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ANNEXUBE C. REPORTS OF DIRECTORS OF SCHOOLS OF MINES. Mr. U. B. Inglis, A.0.5.M., Director of the Coromandel School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. g m Coromandel, Ist March, 1917. I have the honour to present my report on the work done at the Coromandel School of Mines for the year ended the 31st December, 1916. Attendance.— A total of twenty-three students attended the classes in one or more subjects during the year, showing an increase of three over last year's number. Instruction was given in thirteen subjects, two students taking the full course for the Mine-managers' Examination. Several students who attended the classes in theoretical and practical chemistry and other science subjects were unable to sit for the School of Mines examinations. One student, Mr. M. A. Macdonald, enlisted and went on active service towards the end of the year. Examinations. —At the annual Government examinations fifteen students presented themselves in theoretical subjects, and one student did two of the practical examinations. The certificates gained were five first class, six second class, and three third class. The students who take assaying, surveying, and electricity, and some of those who take chemistry and other subjects, at the Coromandel School do so purely for purposes connected with mining pursuits. Assays. —The number of ore-samples assayed and reported on in 1916 was 136, of which 128 were done for prospectors free of charge; also, seven samples of fish-manure, three of limestone, and ten of water were analysed at the scbool. In conclusion, I wish to express my hearty appreciation of the manner in which the officers and members of the Council have worked for the benefit of the school during the year. I have, &c, U. B. Inglis, Director. Mr. W. 11. Baker, B.Sc, Director of the Thames School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Thames, 26th April, 1917. I have the honour to present my annual report on the work done at the Thames School of Mines during the year 1916. Attendance. —Notwithstanding the large number of students who are in camp or at the front the attendance has kept up to the average, as shown in the following schedule : — First Second Third Term. Term. Term. Registered students ... ... ... ... 31 30 31 Class attendance of registered students ... ... 47 42 41 Elementary-science class ... ... ... ... 40 35 29 Teachers' science class ... ... ... ... 10 1.0 9 Total individual students ... ... ... ... 81 75 69 Examinations. —Forty-one students presented themselves for examination in one or more of fourteen subjects, and obtained fifty-nine first-class, four second-class, and three third-class certificates. Two students also passed the Senior Civil Service Examination in geology. One student completed the second-class Mine-managers' Examination. Sixteen passes were obtained in the practical examinations in chemistry and assaying. One student passed the second-class Engineers' Examination. Battery and Experimental Plant. —The details of the work in the battery have been embodied in a separate report. Thirteen parcels have been treated, of a total weight of 4'43 tons, for a bullion return of £1,401 18s. sd. In every case experiments are made to determine the condition in which the values exist, and a report made as to the probable best mode of treatment. One hundred and fourteen assays for gold and silver, thirty-five analyses for zinc, lead, antimony, and copper, fourteen estimations of mercury, and nine milk-tests were made during the year, besides the assays and analyses necessary for the ore-treatment in the battery. Gas-testing Plant. —Four certificates were granted during the year, making a total of thirty-two. General. —The school library has been augmented by the addition of several books that were purchased, and by the bulletins supplied by the Mining and Geological Survey Departments of Tasmania, Queensland, West Australia, Victoria, South Australia, and the United States. Several specimens have also been donated to the museum. In conclusion, 1 wish to express my appreciation of the work done by the school staff and of the unfailing interest of the President and Council in the welfare of the school. Experimental Plant. Twelve parcels of ore have been treated, ranging in weight from 281b. to 2 tons, and in value from Bs. per ton to £7,200. The total weight of ore treated was 9,927 lb. (dry weight), for a yield of gold and silver valued at £1,401 18s. sd. Almost the whole of this return was obtained from picked stone treated for the Occidental Gold-mining Company. In the treatment of this class of ore all the pulp after amalgamation is

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saved and assayed, and stored until sufficient slimes have accumulated to make a cyanide charge. Should these slimes belong to several owners the amount obtained is distributed proportionately, after deducting the school charges. With careful amalgamation ore that is worth roughly an ounce to the pound (approximately £2 15s. per pound) will, with Thames stone, yield tailings worth £75 per ton; with Coromandel ore, about £12 per ton. This difference in values is due almost invariably to the presence of pyrargyrite with the Thames gold and its intimate association with blende. Ordinary grinding is not sufficiently fine to liberate the gold from these mineral particles, and it is therefore found in the tailings. Cyanidatiou will not. extract more than 75 per cent, of the bullion from these tailings without further grinding. Three separate parcels of river-sands from the bed of the Ohinemuri River were I reated by concentration. These averaged a little over 1 dwt. of gold and 1 oz. of silver per ton. In every case concentration gave a product valued at from £4 to £7 per ton. The experiments showed that if these tailings could be cheaply lifted from the river-bed concentration would give a product from which the bullion could be obtained with comparatively low capital cost. Two parcels of slags, one bank smelting residues and the other cyanide bullion slags, were treated by amalgamation. One parcel of sand was treated by agitation with cyanide in B. and M. tanks, and a fair recovery obtained. Further treatment of this parcel will be made by amalgamation and cyanidation. One parcel of complex sulphide ore was treated in three lots, and a series of experiments made to determine the adaptability of the ore for amalgamation, concentration, sand treatment, and slime treatment, During the treatment of this parcel over eighty estimations of gold, silver, zinc, lead, and copper were made to determine the relative values of the various grades.

Table showing Parcels of Ore treated at Thames School of Mines Experimental Plant, 1916.

Notes on Treatment, Results. Parcel No. 254, river-sand from Waikino.—No. 1 : Net weight, 869 lb.; assay value, 1 dwt. 13 gr. gold, I oz. silver: value, Bs. per ton. 369 Ib. was washed through a 20-mesh screen and the undersize concentrated on a Wilfley table. 171b. of concentrate was obtained, assaying 1 oz. 7 dwt. gold and 5 oz. silver per ton. Value of concentrate, £7 18s. per ton. 5001b. was then concentrated without previous sizing, but, as expected, this treatment was not successful, a concentrate being obtained which contained much river-gravel. No. 2 was similar river-sand composed of a mixture of 79 lb. river-gravel and 97 lb. battery sand. Assay value, 2 dwt. gold and 1 oz. silver per ton. 121b. of concentrate was produced, containing 13 dwt. gold and 3 oz. 7 dwt. silver per ton. The latter was not a clean concentrate. From a metallurgical point of view there is no difficulty in treating these sands. The commercial value depends on the facilities for lifting them from the river-bed, and their quantity. The plant required would comprise lifting, sizing, and concentrating machinery. On account: of the high silver to gold proportions in the bullion the treatment of the sands, unless on a very large scale, would not pay : the economic value lies in the concentrates. Tho treatment of the concentrates would be either by tube-milling and cyaniding, or preferably roasting, amalgamation, and cyaniding. Parcel No. 255, river-sand from Paeroa.—Three parcels of 2 cwt. each. Each parcel was separately concentrated and the concentrate returned to owner. Assays of concentrates: No. 1, 1 oz. 1 dwt, gold, 4 oz. 10 dwt, silver, per ton; value, £6 13s. per ton. No. 2, 1.8 dwt, gold, 7 oz. 7 dwt. silver, per ton; value, £4 6s. 7d. per ton. No. 3, 12 dwt, 16 gr. gold. 5 oz. 3 dwt, silver, per ton ; value, £3 os, lid. per ton.

Locality. No. Weight of Ore or Material, in Pounds. Nature of Ore or Material. Value received from Bank. Thames Waikino .. Paeroa Thames Coromandel Thames >x • • 253 (254/1 1254/2 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 f262/l <\ 262/X [262/D 263 264 28 869 176 672 70 60 130 80 700 1,700 200 2,293 567 1,390 750 242 Silver residues River-sand ), Picked stone ,, XX Slags, ashes, &c. Cyanide slag Quartz £ s. d. 14 7 6 228 4 4 94 5 7 -100 3 4 9 4 47 10 0 33 0 10 9 2 0 Te Aroha .. Coromandel Thames xx • • Sulphide ore QuartsSands and slimes Picked stone • • xx • • 13 18 0 298 17 6 XX • • Totals .. 9,927 1,401 18 5

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Parcels Nos. 258 and 259, picked stone containing quartz, iron-pyrite, blende, and ruby silver. Parcel No. 261, slag from cyanide bullion from Waiorongomai. This slag contained too much copper to permit the evanidal ion of the residue. I'areel No. 262/l", X. D, three samples from Mount Zeehan, Thames. 262/1: Net weight, 2,293 Ib. of quartz with blende, galena, pyrile, and chalcopyrite. The ore was crushed and concentrated. Although fine gold was intermittently seen on the Wilfiey table practically no amalgamation took place on the plates on account of the heavily mineralized nature of the ore. The values of the various products were as below : —

The weight of concentrate saved was 12'25 per cent. About 60 per cent, of the gold, silver, and lead values arc in the concentrate. Parcel No. 262 X. —Net weight, 567 lb. of very heavily mineralized ore, chiefly galena, blende, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. The values of the products obtained after crushing were as under : —

The weight of concentrate saved was 43'7 per cent. It contained 75 per cent, of the original bullion and lead values. The high value of the slime was due to fine mineral, which could, however, be decreased by the use of a slime-table. Parcel No. 262/1). —Net weight, 1,390 Ib., consisting of mullocky quartz with the usual sulphide minerals. This parcel was crushed through a 25-mesh screen and concentrated and graded as in previous parcels.

The concentrate was 13'7 per cent, of the original, and contained 60 per cent, of total bullion values and only 30 per cent, of the lead. The low lead-extraction was due to the intimate mixture of galena with the quartz, and renders the further subdivision of the ore necessary. The sands from the three parcels aggregated 2,5711b., carrying 9 dwt. gold and 2 oz. of silver per ton. After treatment for four days with o'3-pcr-cent. solution of cyanide, 50 per cent, of the silver and 55 per cent, of the gold were extracted. After three more days' treatment the total silver-extraction was 55 per cent, and gold 61 per cent. The low extraction was due to the presence of sulphides in the sands. Gyanidation, of Slimes. —The slimes were agitated in a B.M. tank with air for forty-eight hours. Original assay of slimes: 16 dwt. gold, 4 oz. 6 dwt, silver, per ton, valued at £3 12s. 6d. per ton. The residue assayed 2 dwt. gold, 10 dwt. silver, per ton, giving an extraction of 87 per cent, of gold and 89 per cent, of the silver. Cyanide-consumption was 2 lb. per ton. Gyanidation of Concentrates. —loo lb. were slimed and agitated with o'4 per cent, cyanide. Original assay, 3 oz. 2 dwt. gold and 13 oz. silver per ton. After three days' agitation the residue assayed 5 dwt, gold and 10 oz. 5 dwt. silver per ton. This shows an extraction of 92 per cent. of the gold and only 20 per cent, of the silver. A stronger solution for a greater time results in a higher silver-extraction. Cyanide-consumption, 17 lb. per ton.

Sample. Gold, per Ton. Silver, per Ton. Value per Ton for Gold and Silver. Lead, por Cent. Zinc, per Cent. Copper, por Cent. Original Sand .. Concentrate Slime .. Overflow Oz. dwt. 1 6 0 9 6 15 0 9 J 0 7| Oz. dwt. 4 0 1 2 19 10 3 0 2 0 £ s. d. 5 12 0 1 18 1 28 19 0 2 4 0 1 14 0 2-40 0-68 8-97 0-77 0-38 2-82 1-14 13-38 2-62 1-97 0-76 0-19 3-61 0-38 0-37

Sample. Gold, per Ton. Silver, por Ton. Value per Ton for Gold and Silver-. Lead, per Cent. Zinc, per Cent. Copper, por Cent. Original Sand Concentrate Slime .. Oz. dwt. 4 10 1 7 7 18 1 15 Oz. dwt. 17 10 6 12 27 18 10 10 £ s. d. 19 15 0 (i 1 2 34 7 9 8 I 0 13-25 2-50 22-20 10-60 1648 10-20 22-13 12-71 2-78 1-47 4-93 2-31

Sample. Gold, per Ton. Silver, per Ton. Value por Ton for Gold and Silver. Lead, por Cent. Zinc, per Cent. Copper, per Cent. Original Sand Oz. dwt. 0 14 0 7 3 2 0 5 Oz. dwt. 3 10 2 2 13 0 1 14 £ s. d. 3 3 0 1 12 2 13 14 0 1 3 5 3-18 1-93 6-75 2-12 4-43 2-21 14-94 2-49 0-50 0-20 3-24 0-10 Concentrate Slime ..

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Summary. —The ore is easily crushed. As the chief values lie in gold, silver, and lead, it is economically preferable to disregard the other minerals at present, The zinc-residues could, be stacked, and if high prices continue could be re-treated by flotation. Concentration will recover 60 per cent, of the bullion and lead values in one-seventh of its bulk, and oyanidation, after tube-milling, will recover without difficulty a high percentage of the remaining gold-silver content. I have, &c, W. H. Baker, Director.

Mr. W. A. Given, M.A., A.0.5.M., Director of the Karangahake School of Mines, to the UnderSecretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Karangahake, 12th March, 1917. I have the honour to present my report on the work done at the above school of mines for the year ended December, 1916. Attendance. —Twenty students in all attended the school during the year, and instruction was given in all the school subjects. Notwithstanding the fact that several of our best and most promising students had enlisted for active service, the work done at the school compared favourably with that of previous years. Examinations. —Ten students sat at the annual examinations, obtaining eleven first-class, six second-class, and three third-class passes. Three students sat for the examination for battery superintendents, at which examination one student was successful, while one obtained a partial pass, having failed in one subject only. Open, Nights. —Two open nights were held during the year, one at Karangahake and one at Waikino. Short illustrated lectures were given by Mr. H. C. Tempest, electrical instructor, and myself, on " Electricity in respect to the War " and " Chlorine Gas " respectively. These lectures were well attended, and our efforts were thoroughly appreciated. School Equipment. —A late-pattern Braun pulverizer and a 2 horse-power Fairbanks-Morse oil-engine were recently installed in the assay department. The laying of the foundation and the setting-up of this plant were done by the voluntary efforts of the Council members themselves. During the year a large specimen-case was added to the geological-museum equipment, in order to hold a number of specimens kindly presented during the past few years. Public Assays. —ln all 117 public assays were made during the year, a decided increase on the last few years. A number of mineral determinations were also made. In conclusion, I desire to express my appreciation of the work done by the other members of the staff; also of the keen and active interest taken in the school affairs by the members of the Council. I have, &c, W. A. Given, Director. Mr. A. 11. V. Morgan, M.A., Director of the Waihi School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Waihi, 16th March, 1917. I have the honour to present the following report on the work of the school during 1916 :— Attendance. —The attendance for each of the three terms is shown in the following table:— Number of Class Student'. Attendance. First term ... ... ... ... ... ... 61 97 Second term ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 73 Third term ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 70 Average ... ... ... ... ... 53 80 This must be considered highly satisfactory, considering the large number of young men who are at present on active service. Examinations. —Thirty candidates presented themselves for the written examinations, sending in forty-two papers, of which twenty-six gained first-class, four second-class, and nine third-class certificates. In addition ten passes were recorded in the practical examinations. Advice has just been received also that Mr. C. Kingsford was successful in completing a pass for first-class metal-mine manager's certificate. Public Assays— -As in previous years, a large number of assays and analyses were made for the public. A considerable number of these were assays for gold and silver made for prospectors free of charge. Several analyses of mine-air were made also for the Inspector of Mines. Metallurgical, Plant. —At the close of the year an experimental flotation machine was procured and has been installed in the metallurgical building, which was extended to accommodate it, as well as any additional plant that it may be found advisable to obtain. We have now a convenient and up-to-date experimental plant, comprising machinery for grinding ore to any required degree of fineness, and apparatus for varying the treatment of the ore in any desired manner. The crushing machinery has also proved extremely useful in preparing samples for assay. The exhaust fan installed to carry off the dust does its work effectively. Library. —During the year a number of recent works was purchased in order to keep the library up to date. We are indebted also to Mr. Jarman for a gift of mining literature, as well as a considerable number of lantern-slides of mining subjects.

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Staff. —I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the work done by the members of the staff, especially Mr. Seelye, upon whom devolved a large amount of extra work on account of my absence. I wish also to thank" the Council for their generous action in granting me leave of absence in order to proceed on active service. I have, &c, A. H. V. Morgan, Director.

Mr. James Lamont, Director of the Huntly School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Huntly, 28th April, 1917. 1 have the honour to present my annual report on the work done at the Huntly School of Mines during the year 1916. Attendance. —The attendance was practically the same as the previous year. A number of students are at present serving in the Expeditionary Forces, but this is counterbalanced by new registrations. Since the inauguration of the school over three years ago the activity in the coalmining industry at Huntly has decreased considerably, otherwise the attendance would have been much higher. Examinations. —At the annual Government examinations eleven certificates were gained. At the mine-managers' examination one student was successful in gaining a second-class collierymanager's certificate, and at the underviewers' examination three candidates were successful. During the year I have examined candidates, and issued seven certificates for testing the correct percentage of gas in mine-air. Equipment. —A Hailwood's gas-testing machine has been installed, and is frequently made use of in demonstrating to students and in examining the ability of underground officials to detect the correct percentage of gas in air-mixture with a safety-lamp. The gas for use in the machine is conveyed from Auckland in steel cylinders. Surveying-instruments have been acquired, and students can now be taught practical field-work. Electric lighting has been installed, the current being taken from the town-supply mains. Library. —The stock of books in the library deals with all branches of engineering science, is kept well up to date, and is much appreciated by students and members. In conclusion, I have to acknowledge the assistance rendered me by the members of the Council, who maintain a keen interest in the welfare of the school. I have, &c., James Lamont, Director.

Mr. H. Loveld, A.0.5.M., Director of the Westport School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Westport, 4th April, 1917. 1 have the honour to present my report on the Westport School of Mines, and its branches at Ngakawau, Millerton, and Dcnniston, for the year ended 31st December, 1916. Attendance. —The average number of students attending the school was forty, with an average class attendance of eighty-three. This is rather less than last year, the average attendance being forty-two. Examinations. —Government certificates : At the examinations for Government certificates under the Coal-mines Act held in December last seven candidates presented themselves, with the following results: First-class mine-manager—W. Crowe, Ngakawau; partial pass, M. McClean, Ngakawau, and W. H. Hewitson, Denniston. Second-class mine-managers—F. Duffy, Denniston; partial pass, W. Lowden, Ngakawau. Underviewers and deputies: Two candidates sat for underviewers' and four for the deputies' examination, W. Manor passing in the former, while 11. Reid, B. Miles, and I. Pratt passed in the latter examination. T. Calder secured a partial pass in the deputies' examination. Assay Laboratory. —Thirty-two samples of ores and minerals were examined and reported on during the year. The majority of the samples consisted of quartz ores for assay. Library and Museum. —Again I have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of text-book, mining and geological literature from the Department. In conclusion, let me express my appreciation of the interest taken in the school's welfare by the members of the Council. I have, &c, H. LovELL, Director.

Mr. Sidney Fry, Director of the Reefton School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Reefton, 9th May, 1917. I have the honour to present my report on the work of the Reefton School of Mines for the year, ended the 31st December, 1916. Attendance. —The average attendance at classes during the year was —Reefton, ten students; Waiuta, eleven ; Greymouth, fifteen. Gas-testing. —Demonstrations and examinations were held monthly in the latter part of the year, and seven students gained certificates of competency.

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Assays. —Eighty-one assays were made during the year, and twenty-nine determinations of the value of specimens commercially. Examinations. —At the annual School of Mines Examinations students from I his school obtained the highest marks for the Dominion in five subjects. At the examinations for minemanagers three sat for metal-mine managers' certificates and two for coal-mine managers' certificates; of the latter two, one gained a pass and one a partial pass. The results for bullion-assaying have not come to hand. I have compiled the above information from notes left for me by my predecessor, Mr. J. 11. Williamson, whom I did not meet on my arrival here to take up my duties a few weeks ago. Notwithstanding these troublous times the educational facilities offered by this school of mines are being largely availed of, as the present attendance at the classes is forty-four students, and several more are enrolling this week. 1 have, &c, Sidney Fry, Director.

Professor James Park, Dean of the Mining Faculty, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Otago University, Dunedin, 15th May ; 1917. For the session 1916 there was an attendance of sixteen students taking the full diploma course, and of these four were returned soldiers. Before the end of the session two of the other twelve volunteered for active service, and were called up a few weeks before the final examinations began. Examinations. —Fourteen students sat for the annual examinations qualifying for the B.E. or A.O.S.M. couise, and all succeeded in passing. War passes were granted to the two students called up in the second term. Diplomas. —During the year the diploma as Associate in Mining was granted to three students, and the certificate of Land and Mine Surveyor to two students. War Service. —With the consent of the University Council Professor Waters volunteered for active service, and left New Zealand early in 1916 with the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps. Since then his lectures and laboratory-work have been carried on by the Director of the school. A considerable number of our graduates 'and undergraduates are associated with Captain Waters both as officers and tunnellers; and from the frequency of reference in general despatches of the good work of the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps in France we may gather that the men from the Otago University School of Mines are worthily upholding the best traditions of their alma mater. Old graduates of the school in considerable number made for London from all parts of the globe on the outbreak of. war, and most of them now hold commissions in the Royal Engineers. To the parents and relations of our old students who have fallen on active service or been wounded the Mining Faculty extends its warmest sympathy. Special sympathy is offered to the relations of Lieutenant W. M. Durant, A.0.5.M., and of Major D. M. Tomlinson, both killed on active service in France, and of Captain W. T. Tomlinson, of the Royal Engineers, who was dangerously wounded. All of these were gallant soldiers and promising mining engineers. Major Tomlinson and Captain Tomlinson surrendered lucrative mining appointments in Korea, and enlisted as privates in the Imperial Forces, London, at the beginning of the war. Changes in Staff. —At the end of the session Professor P. Marshall resigned the Chair of Geology, and in his place the University Council appointed Dr. Benson, D.Sc., who has already taken up his duties. Dr. Marshall was appointed as Lecturer in Geology in the School of Mines in 1900, and was raised to the status of professor in 1908. From the first he proved himself a keen and successful teacher, always unsparing of his time and vital energy in carrying out the work of his department. His successor, Dr. Benson, is a distinguished graduate of Sydney and Cambridge Universities, who, if we may judge by his record, should worthily maintain the high standard of work set by his predecessors. I have, drSO.j James Park, Dean of Mining Faculty.

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ANNEXURE D.

MINING STATISTICS.

Table 1. Statement showing Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

Average Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. "' Quartz crushed.' , Value. employed. Amalgam. Cyanide. Quartz crushed.* Gold ol Amalgam. itained. Value. Cyanide. Tiiamios County and Borough. ks County and Bo iOUGH. Tapu— Tons cwt. qr. Jb. (Iz. dwt. Oz. dwt. £ s. d Mahara Royal .. .. I Cleaning up mill 18016 .. 36013 1 Tararu— New Sylvia.. .. .. 46 5,910 0 0 0 .. 7,542 5 10,469 9 1 Watchman .. .. .. 22 2,400 0 0 0 718 9 1,438 7 3,959 14 i C. Berry .. .. .. I Sluicing Tararu 41 3 .. 110 9 * Kurunui— Creek Kurunui (Trilmtcrs) .. .. 2 80 0 0 0 40 0 .. 95 6 i J.P.Williams .. .. 2 Cleaning up mill 128 9 .. 377 16 t Moanataiari — Moanataiari (Tributers) .. 6 19 0 16 100 0 .. 249 0 ! Adelaide .. . . . . 3 4 0 0 2 2 8 .. 6 10 I Kurunui-Caledonian .. . . 4 53 1. 2 9 351 0 .. 791 17 A Waiotahi — Waiotahi . . .. .. 4 269 0 0 0 174 11 . . 451 5 f Cambria .. .. .. 6 20 0 0 0 22 0 .. 57 0 1 Nonpareil . . .. .. 3 40 0 1 12 79 6 .. 197 8 11 Golden Drop .. .. I 0 0 0 4 2 0 .. 4 5! Karaka— Occidental .. .'. .. 7 166 0 0 0 855 3 .. 2,302 5 £ Newcastle . . .. .. 2 3 0 1 23 35 0 .. 80 1 I Good Hope . . . . . . 4 16 0 0 0 53 0 . . 138 7 C North Star .. .. .. 1 0 0 0 12 9 0 .. 21 2 4 Labour Day.. .. .. 1 0 0 2 12 41. 1 .. 90 7 !. Golden Hills.. .. .. 4 655 0 0 0 924 0 .. 1,849 19 , Golden Belt.. .. .. 10 1,147 0 0 0 9,870 18 .. 11,580 4 7 Gumtown — Kapowai .. .. .. 2 50 0 0 0 36 4 .. 77 19 , Prospectors . . . . .. 3 0 0 0 15 11 0 .. 27. 5 0 Tons cwt. qr. lb. Cleaning up mill 5,910 0 0 0 2,400 0 (I 0 Sluicing Tararu Crock 80 0 0 0 Cleaning up mill 19 0 I 6 4 0 0 2 53 1. 2 9 269 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 40 0 1 12 0 0 (I 4 (iz. dwt. 180 16 '718 9 41 3 40 0 128 9 100 0 2 8 351 0 174 11 22 0 79 6 2 0 ()z. dwt. 7,542 5 1,438 7 £ 8, d. 360 18 1 10,469 9 1 3,959 14 8 110 9 5 95 6 2 377 16 8 249 (I 9 6 10 0 791 17 4 451 5 5 57 0 1 197 8 11 4 5 9 166 0 0 0 3 0 1 23 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 2 12 855 3 35 0 53 0 9 0 41 1 2,302 5 3 80 1 6 138 7 0 21 2 4 90 7 9 655 0 0 0 1,147 0 0 0 924 0 9,870 18 1,849 19 7 11,580 4 7 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 36 4 11 0 77 19 7 27. 5 0 Totals .. .. 141 10,832 3 2 11 13,675 8 8,980 12 33,298 9 11 141 10,832 3 2 11 13,675 8 8,980 12 33,298 9 11 Waihi Borough. Waihi— Waihi Gold-mining Company .. 687 173,420 0 0 0 .. 550,408 17 363,61119 6 Waihi Grand Junction Company 394 112,303 0 0 0 .. 205,413 3 211,107 13 0 Gladstone .. .. .'. 1 Cleaning up mill 45 15 .. 11 7 0 687 394 1 Waihi Borough. 173,420 0 0 0 112,303 0 0 0 Cleaning up mill 550,408 17 205,413 3 363,611 19 6 211,107 13 0 11 7 0 ' 45 15 Totals .. .. 1,082 285,723 0 0 0 45 15 755,822 0 574,731 0 0 • 1,082 285,723 0 0 0 45 15 755,822 0 574,731 0 0 -j- OrriNRMURi County. Owharoa — Rising Sun . .• . . ■ .. 22 2,370 0 0 0 4,947 14 989 10 11,877 3 1 Waitekauri — W G. 0. Nicho 1 .. .. I ('leaning ii]) mill 28 5 .. 48 18 6 Golden Cross .. .. 4 100 0 0 0 43 7 .. 41 10 4 Karangahake— Talisman .. .. 220 16,935 0 0 0 10,785 2 35,093 11 81,454 18 6 N.Z. Crown .. .. 27 886 0 0 0 3,408 3 .. 2,429 12 3 Paeroa — Waihi-Paeroa Gold - extraction 62 Re-treating tailings .. 93,198 17 43,950 0 0 Company K omata — Komata Reefs .. .. 10 693 0 0 0 .. 413 4 1,033 0 0 22 I 4 220 27 • t OlIINRMURI COUNI 2,370 0 0 0 (leaning lip mill ioo o o o 16,935 0 0 0 886 0 0 0 'Y. 4,947 14 28 5 43 7 10,785 2 3,408 3 989 1.0 35,093 11 11,877 3 1 48 18 6 41 10 4 81,454 18 6 2,429 12 3 62 Ro-treating tailings 93,198 17 43,950 0 0 10 693 0 0 0 413 4 1,033 0 0 Totals .. 346 20,984 0 0 0 19,212 11 129,695 2 140,835 2 8 346 20,984 0 0 0 19,212 11 129,695 2 140,835 2 8 Piako County. Waiorongomai—■ Hardy's Mines . . .. j 3 1 Re-treating s'ags I 208 II .. 68 2 3 » Ore treated given in " lung" tons. t 166,000 tons of tailing recovered from the Ohincmurr River (sludge-channel) were re-treated. This tonnage is not included in the above statement, having been recorded when the ore was originally crushed.

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Table 1— continued. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold 'obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1916— continued.

Average Locality and Name ol Mine. Quartz crushed.* employed. Goldr Amalgam. Gold obtained. obtai lined. Cyanide. Value. Coromandel. County. Coromandel CounTons cwt. qr. lb. 514 9 0 0 'Y. f. Waikoromika — Tons cwt. qr. lb. Pour-in-Hand .. .. 18 514 9 0 0 Tokatea —• Royal Oak . . . . .. 2 0 0 I 12 Lismore .. .. .. 1 0 2 0 0 Verdun .. .. .. 3 5 0 1 22 Luok-at-last.. .. .. 1 8 0 0 0 Mount Welcome .. .. 4 40 0 1 12 Marguerite .. .. .. I Tailings re-treated Kapanga — Coromandel Hydraulic Sluicing 4 Tailings re-treated Company Kapanga .. . . .. 1 Cleaning up mill Hauraki Blook— Hauraki Reefs .. .. 15 90 13 I 21 Kuaotunu— NewWaitaia .. .. 13 254 0 (I 0 Prospectors . . .. .. 2 0 0 2 4 Totals .. .. 65 912 6 0 15 0 0 I 12 I) 2 (I 0 5 0 1 22 8 0 0 0 40 0 1 12 Tailings re-treated Tailings re-treated Oz. dw 1,796 I 13 : 3 { 40 ( 7 : 62 { 15 If 62 1( 10 li 1,104 : 657 It 37 i 3,810 li Oz. dwt. 1,796 I 13 3 3 5 40 0 7 3 62 5 15 16 62 10 ft. 1 3 5 0 3 5 6 0 8 7 6 8 2 Oz. dw Oz. dwt. vt. £ I 5,042 : 33 : 9 109 18 : 175 43 241 28 3,151 1,902 94 10,849 £ s. d. 5,042 1 4 33 14 6 9 2 0 109 5 11 18 15 2 175 6 6 43 1 7 241 19 9 Cleaning up mill 10 18 28 0 6 90 13 I 21 I,104 7 3,151 14 5 254 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 657 16 37 8 1,902 8 9 94 5 7 65 912 6 0 15 3,810 12 10,849 16 0 Te Puke Tauranga County. To Puke Reefs .. . . I 3 1 4 15 3 (I 3 Tauranga County. I 4 15 3 0 1 13 I 13 0 °| —I— 20 26 11 6 SUMMARY. Thames County and Borough .. 141 10,832 3 2 11 Waihi Borough .. .. 1,082 285.723 0 0 0 Ohinemiiri County .. .. 340 20,984 0 0 0 Fiako County .. . . .. 3 Coromandel County . . .. 65 912 6 0 15 Tauranga County .. .. 3 4 15 3 0 141 1,082 340 3 65 3 SUMMARY. 10,832 3 2 11 285.723 0 0 0 20,984 0 0 0 13,075 : 45 1. 19,212 1 208 3,810 1 13 13,075 8 45 15 19,212 11 208 1 3,810 12 13 0 8 15 11 1 12 0 8,980 I 755,822 129,695 8,980 12 755,822 0 129,695 2 12 0 l 2 33,298 574,731 140,835 68 10,849 26 33,298 9 11 574,731 0 0 140,835 2 8 68 2 3 10,849 16 0 26 11 6 912"6 0 15 4 15 3 0 Totals, 1916 .. .. 1,640 318,456 5 126 Totals, 1915 .. .. 1,814 330,198 17 0 18 1,640 1,814 174 318,456 5 I 26 330,198 17 0 18 36,965 44,972 36,965 7 44,972 7 7 7 894,497 1 929,910 1 894,497 14 929,910 12 14 12 759,809 796,684 759,809 2 4 796,684 17 8 Decrease .. .. 174 11,742 11 2 20 11,742 11 2 20 8,007 i 8,007 0 0 35,412 I 35,412 18 18 36,875 36,875 15 4 * Ore treated given in " long" tons. During the year fifty-three men were employed on unproductive quar :tz-mining operations. Statement showing the Quantity op Quartz crushed and Gold i and Westland Districts for the Year ended 31st D: OBTAINED IN MARLBOROUGH 'ECEMBER, 1916. Locality and Namo of Mine. Average Number of Men employed. Quartz crushed. — Goldo Amalgamation. Gold obtained by olit Estimated Valrre. Cyanide. Marlbori IUGH. Wakamarina — Dominion Consolidated* ..-| 80 Tons. 15,550 ■ I Oz. dwt. gr. 1,855 19 0 Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d, 6,734 15 5 SO Inangahua County— Blackwater Progress Wealth of Nations New Big River Keep-it-Dark . . Murray Creek Progress Junction old tailings 176 117 102 47 40 50 1 176 117 102 47 40 50 1 Westl 40,247 26,780 24,186 5,548 5,617 3,138 t .nd. . 16,619 12 0 5,112 15 0 6,717 16 0 4,245 5 0 677 2 18 2,812 12 0 2,900 10 0 1,010 8 0 2,642 9 0 498 18 0 464 7 5 290 4 0 80 16 0 78,589 11 3 24,508 7 2 37,299 17 2 19,362 11 0 4,162 10 5 12,252 0 0 230 2 1 Totals 533 533 105,516 36,185 2 18 7,887 18 5 176,404 19 I Marlborough Westland 80 533 SUMMA] 15,550 ,Y. 1,855 19 0 6,734 15 5 105,516 36,185 2 18 7,887 18 5 176,404 19 I Totals, 1916 Totals, 1915 Increase 613 J 714 121,066 151,161 38,041 1 18 48,458 10 5 7,887 18 5 9,246 6 0 183,139 14 6 231,150 6 II Decrease 101 30,095 10,417 8 11. 1,358 7 19 48,010 12 5 * Also produced 07 tons of scheelite-ore, valus above statement, having been 11 corded when the on employed ou unproductive quartz-ruining operations. £11,849 4s. Ild. was originally en t 387 tons of old tai rshed. 1 In ar ilirrgs ; this tonnage is no ldrtion to whieli eiglity-e: it included In the ight persons were

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Table 1—continued 1 — continued. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

Table 2. Gross Totals and Value of Bullion purchased by Banks for the Year ended 31st December, 1916.

7—C. 2.

Average Locality and Maiiin of Mine Number of Quarts'. Gold Estimated locality ana mauieoi Mine. Men crushed. obtained. Value. employed. Vincent County. Bald Hill Flat — Tom. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. Advance .. .... .. .. | 2 50 38 0 0 j 145 16 0 £ s. rl. 145 16 0 Waihismo County. Macrae's — Golden Point .. .. .. .. I 7* 730 87 0 0 333 17 0 Deep Dell .. .. . . .. .. 3* 17 0 6 0 12 6 J.Evans .. .. .. .. .. 1 4 2 13 0 9 18 9 W. McGregor .. .. .. .. 3* 16 2 10 0 9 8 0 Stoneburn .. .. .. .. .. 0* 738 77 10 0 295 3 10 Mareburn .. .. .. .. .. 5* 1,010 79 8 15 \ 277 11 3 Gold and Tungsten .. .. .. .. 4 261 32 4 4 j 120 15 7 730 17 4 16 738 1,010 261 87 0 0 0 6 0 2 13 0 2 10 0 77 10 0 79 8 15 32 4 4 333 17 0 1 2 6 9 18 9 9 8 0 295 3 10 277 11 3 120 15 7 Totals .. .. .. .. | 29 2,776 281 11 19 1,047 16 11 29 2.776 281 11 19 1,047 16 11 Tuapkka County, Waipori-- - Cox's .. .. .. .. .. | 3 14 12 12 0 | 45 13 II II 12 12 0 45 13 II SUMMARY. Vincent County .. .. .. .. 2 50 38 0 0 145 10 0 50 38 0 0 145 16 0 Waihemo County ..... .. .. 29 2,776 281 11 19 1,047 10 11 2,776 281 11 19 1,047 16 11 Tuapeka County .. .. .. .. 3 14 12 12 0 45 13 1 1 14 12 12 0 45 13 11 Totals, 1916 .. .. .. .. 34 2,840 332 3 19 1,239 6 10 Totals, 1915 .. .. .. .. 25 3,269 728 9 18 2,689 6 6 Increase .. .. .. .. 9 Decrease .. .. .. .. .. 429 396 5 23 1,449 19 8 * Also employed at scheelite-mining during the year, but shown as quartz-miners in tho return of number of persons ordinarily employed at metal-mines. Seven men were employed at unproductive mining operations not included in this table. SthVtemknt of Value of Bullion won fkom Quartz crushed for all Districts for the Yeaks ended 31st December, 1915 and 1916. ... . j-.. . Year ended Year ended Mining District. ... , n , ,,,,,- o, . ,, , 1r >w 5 31st December, 1.915. 31st December, 191 (>. £ n, rl. £ s. d. Hauraki ... ... ... ... ... 796,(584 17 8 759,809 2 4 Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast ... ... 231,150 6 11 183,139 14 6 Otago and Southland... ... ... ... 2,689 6 6 1,239 6 10 Totals ... ... ... ... 1,030,524 11 1 944,188 3 8 944,188 3 8

Bank. Bullion purchased. Value. Hauraki Mining District (Northern Inspection District). Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. rl. ■ank of New Zealand ... ... ... 63,55110 0 238,766 2 7 ational Bank of New Zealand ... ... 153,376 17 9 139,314 7 9 216,928 7 9 378,080 10 4

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Table 2 continued. Gross Totals and Value of Bullion purchased by Banks for the Year ended 31st December, 1916 — continued.

Bank. Bullion purchased. Value. Marlborough, Karamea, and Westland Mining Districts (West Coast nspc.ction. District). Oz. dwt. gr. Bank of New Zealand ... ... ... 17,672 9 1 National Bank of New Zealand ... ... 47,716 10 23 Bank of New South Wales ... ... ... 5,292 17 7 Union Bank of Australia ... ... ... 553 0 7 Private buyers ... ... ... ... 1,483 17 0 72,718 14 14 £ s. d. 68,831 19 2 185,922 15 9 20,743 0 9 2,183 6 5 5,764 2 1 72,718 14 14 283,445 4 2 Otago Mining District, (Southern Inspection Distric t). tern Inspection Distric Bank of New Zealand ... ... ... I 31,719 14 21 Bank of New South Wales ... ... ... 5,998 0 1.4 National Bank of New Zealand ... ... 10,463 9 6 Union Bank of Australia ... *... ... 250 18 17 Bank of Australasia ... ... ... ... 48,432 3 10 31,719 14 21 5,998 0 1.4 10,463 9 6 250 18 17 48,432 3 10 _ 122,246 1 22,968 11 40,436 11 824 6 186,475 11 3 6 8 7 0 Totals, 1916 ... ... ... 338,079 5 9 338,079 5 9 848,001 5 6 Totals, 1915 ... ... ... 653,020 10 19 ■ 653,020 10 19 1,206,893 10 6

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Table 3. Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Companies Act, 1908.

Name of Company. Amount Value of Scrip Number *" Subscribed °' *T%L Amount paid Arrears of Share- *§£- capital. « wMcfnogash "aUotted? P« «-»• °< •-" paid up. paid. pra*»™. 2 ■8 n <J M nt, i y a -1 nd *H2 L To'"' To***! Amount fg| Oold and SUver produced E ditare Amount of of Debts || o smce Segrstratron. Dividends owing by 3 a j Registration. paid. Company. ft " Quantity. Value. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. £ £ Allu vial Claims (Limited) .. .. .. 24/10/16 1.200 600 Botha Gold-mines (Limited) .. .. .. 16/10/16 2,750 375 Cimia bar Mines of New Zealand .. .. 19/12/13 6.500 881 Four-in- Hand Mines (Limited) .. .. 24/8/14 3,627 586 Gallant Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 20/10/15 526 i 524 Golden Belt Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 22/12/11 23,451 ! 23,451 Good Hope Gold-mining' Company (No Liability) 10/11/10 12,975! 1,982 Great Northern Waihi Gold - mining Company 13/8/14 2,750 ; 2,750 (Limited) Hauraki Reefs (Limited) .. .. .. 28/4/10 17,500 10.816 Komata Reefs Gold-mining Company (Limited).. 16/10/00 40.000 Kuranui Gold-mining Companv (No Liability) .. 5/6/14 21.750 . 818 Maoriland Mines (Limited) .*. .. .. 4/8/13 442 ; 442 Mount Welcome Gold-mining Companv (Limited) 8/7/09 5,000 2.959 New Sylvia Gold-mining Company (Limited) . .1 2/10/05 30,000 27.542 New Waitaia Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 25/2/09 15,000 7.859 North Prince of Wales Consolidated Gold-mining 23/3/12 4,405 \ 3,957 Company (No Liability) Occidental Consolidated Gold-mining Company 3/8/09 5,397 I 4,033 (No Liability) Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines (Limited) .. 1/6/14 66,549! 4,535 Old Hauraki Gold-mines (Limited) .. .. 3/8/07! 18,003 11,252 Rising Sun Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. ! 1/10/08 16,500' 10,297 Saxon Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 2/12/07 j 35,000:20.590 Tairua Broken Hills Gold-mining Company (Li- 1/5/16 ! 6,000 | 2.562 mited) Te Puke Cold Reefs (Limited! .. .. 4/5/98 12.865 112,865 United Gold-mine (Limited) .. .. .. 17/7/15 j 15,132 2,318 Victoria Gold-mining Company (No Liability) .. 8/12/06 29,523 13,670 Waihi Extended Gold-mining Company (Limited) 12/8/95 149,967 1,346 Waihi-Paoroa Gold-extraction Company (Limited) 4/3/10 125,000 65.000 Waiotahi Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 28/7/71 18,000 16.000 Waitangi Consolidated Gold-mining Company (No 23/10/08 147,833 23.039 Liability) Waitawheta Gold-mining Company (No Liability) 22/7/14 9,698 383 Watchman Gold-mining Companv (Limited) .. ; 4/12/11 37,500 15,006 Zeehan Consolidated (Limited) ' .. .. | 23/10/10 15.000 2,825 £ £ s d. 600 36 25 0 0 1.250 55.000 0 0 3 4,063 13,000 0 1 6 1,250 73.918 0 0 3 2,125 21,210 0 2 6 17.027 117.255 0 4 0 1,622 j 129,746 0 0 7 24,000 I 68,000 0 2 0 5.083 | 175,000 0 2 0 : 217.800 0 1 0 87,000 0 0 3 105,800 0 0 1 458 100.000 0 0 8| 1,208 300.000 0 1 11 2.500 i 150.000 0 1 5 1.250 i 35.240 '* 94 3 293 129 15 43 23 75 47 116 74 154 400 375 44 98 50 340 135 24 5 2 19 29 5 13 42 1 Oz. 2,072 12,707 99 £ £ • 265 .. 187 596 5,979 6,938 538 14,620 15.095 277 ' 2.404 3.845 £ 921 " .. £ 124 2 1.084 95 11 19 104 101 441.579 580 6,483 8,850 20,249 ''■ 372,313 329,529 22 1,105 2,620 3.366 1,707 4,690 72,043 103,094 24,026 22.441 i 3.462 7,267 214 • 18 245 10 3.583 4 661 1,875 107.938 0 0 11 149 I 7 3,800 11.880 13.558 1,349 18 55.000 133.098 0 5 0 | 180,030 0 13 1 2,229 110.368 0 2 2 13.333 200.000 0 2 0 60,000 0 0 11 101.478 0 2 6 10.000 15.132 1 0 0 147.615 0 1 11 5.498 149.967 0 8 81 60.000 125.000 1 0 0 240.000 0 1 4 1,000 170.800 0 10 0 4.849 96.982 0 0 1 10.625 I 150.000 0 2 0 37.000 | 150.000 0 0 61 692 119 188 487 665 21 107 140 268 151 120 75 99 44 136 160 145 566 117 108 184 14 22 8 8 11 71 4 1 1 7 6,844 5.671 113 19 5,094 20,346 28,545 11.440 19.856 306 20,638 2,430 - 2,625 2,759 50 69 400 454 1.031 35,545 12,484 13,369 ; 4.142 2,886 14.029 17 56,308 202,711 279,375 677,783 280,843 3,152 36,972 479 26.211 41,560 3.060 4,545 •• 12.499 400,786 70 209 231 2,000 4,102 276 417

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Table 3— continued. Statement of affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Companies Act, 1908— continued.

Name of Company. i I HM I I Amount Value of Scrip ! Wmnll „ ° -o Quantity and Value of T „,„, t, ,„, , , 1&S& %*- \cA. ffi£ A J& |j| „*«„. tion. Caprtal. act £ ally which n0 Cash allotted. per Share. of Calls, holders at SS*S „ ?'" ce t . Dividends owing by paid ur> paid present. 3 S j Registration. pard. : Company. z; « Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. NELSON DISTRICT (INCLUDING WEST COAST). Addison's Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. j 28/5/15 Blackwater South Gold-mining Company (Limited) ! 2, 11/14 Dominion Consolidated Developing Company (Li- i 18/1/11 mited) Five-mile Beach Gold-extraction Company (Li- 16/6/13 mited) Mont d'Or Gold-mining and Water- race Company 5/7/82 (Limited) Mount Greenland Gold-quartz Mining Company 21/11/14 (Limited) Murray Creek Gold-mining Company (Limited).. 30/5/11 New Big River- Gold-mining Company 7 (Limited) 19/8/07 North Blackwater Development Syndicate (Li- 19/11/15 mited) Worksop Gold-dredging Company (Limited) . . 20/3/07 £ £ £ s. d. £ 7.000 5.029 35.000 ! 45.000 : 10 0 6.601 3,580 22,500 45,000 0 9 0 226 15.000 i 7,000 8,000 15,000 10 0 16.305 7,625 7.000 16,305 1 0 0 1,578 12,000 10,800 .. 12,000 ' 0 18 0 4,359 j 2.295 855 8,718 0 10 0 88 30.000 ! 26,117 2.000 45,000 10 0 718 6.000 600 .. 24,000 ; 0 0 6 20.000; 4.325 5,000 2.000 8 0 0 12.000! 10,500 1,500 i 12,000 1 0 0 37 137 47 75 43 50 122 62 30 88 Oz. £ 12 6 80 .. 83,454 3 38,964 150,037 5 50 6,118 26,907 38 60,642 235,744 20 13 24,031 i 93,413 11.908 ' 4,967 80,865 6,204 107,527 2,390 66.786 142,977 12.464 53.037 £ 3.750 57,000 91,200 i 43,350 j £ 2,377 90 268 2,472 214 2,816 425 245 2,027 Anzac Sluicing Company (Limited) .. .. 18/3/16 Bakery Flat Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 10/9/96 Deep Stream Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 19/11/06 Earnscleugh Gold-dredging Company (Limited). . 15/7/01 Electric Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. 2/9/99 Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 2/5/07 Golden Crescent Sluicing Company (Limited) . . 26/11/98 Good Chance Dredging Company (Limited) .. 24/3/09 Havelock Sluicing Company (Limited).. .. 3/3/08 High Level Sluicing Companv (Limited) .. 11/5/15 Island Block Gold-dredging and Sluicing Com- 26/2/00 pany (Limited) Khaki Dredging Company (Limitedl . . .. 27/7/15 Ladysmith Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. 19/4/00 Lower Nevis Dredging Company 7 (Limited) .. 29/9/06 Manila Gravel and Gold-dredging Company (Li- 24/9/13 mited) Mareburn Gold and Scheelite Mining Company 18/4/14 (Limited) Muddy Terrace Sluicing Companv 7 (Limited) . . 4 10 06 Nasebj 7 Dredging and Hy 7 draulic Sluicing Com- 16/10.97 pany (Limited) New Kohinoor Gold-dredging Companv 7 (Limited) 27 7 16 OTAGO DISTRICT (INCLUDING SOUTHLAND). 5.000 5.000 .. i 5,000! 10 0! 60 2.500 2.012 .. 2,500 ! 0 18 6 2.500 500 2,000 | 2,500 10 0, 8 8 | 10,992 : 11,000 10 0 26.000 .. 26.000 26.000 10 0 600 180 .. 600 0 6 0 3.500 3.500 ! .. 3.500 | 10 0: 1.250 779 .. 1.250 j 10 0 4.000 3,400 *600 4,000 10 0 4.390! 2,790 1.600 4.390 10 0: 24.030! 12,030 12,000 25,000 10 0 1.360 969 .. 1,360 1 0 0 53 12.000 3.964 3.000 14,500 1 0 10 0 600 ! 600 600 1,200 10 0 5.893 5,893 13.954 32.241 0 4 0 205 6.000 5,947 .. 6,000 j 1 0 0 52 14.400 j 14,400 5,550 19.950 10 0 5,000 ! 2,288 2,000 5,000 0 15 3 975 975 .. 975 10 0 20 25 7 17 267 10 23 52 12 49 111 23 80 51 8 126 23 13 9 110 ; 426 4.812 : 18.212 3 2,523 j 9,692 i 25 53,470 l 205.266 20 61.929 22 ! 9.023 34,866 7 9.172 : 35.735 8 2.258 I 10.017 5 i 6.817 26.149 6 4 8,092 31,540 9 8 | 12,487 48.121 7 ! 5,943 22.849 6 221 i 804 24 10,781 42,819 3 5,068 19.520 6 18 69 ' 1,582 20,482 9.138 178,928 113.829 29,974 : 26,946 10.076 20,837 3.232 41,701 35.821 21.072 ! 27.266 4.990 I ! 72.072 18,750 | 1.145 ' 1.063 2,000 30,250 133,892 9.095 11.375 625 9,300 2,403 16,376 2,970 4,750 358 20 404 419 189 187 343 1,560 |G 471 1,198 242 85 246 2,094 344 14,891 46 133

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Ngapapa Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. 9/9 11 Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) 26/3/98 Olrig Dredging Company (Limited) .. .. 13/3 99 Ourawera Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 23/5/95 Paterson's Freehold Gold-mining Company (Li- 15/7 99 mited) Phoenix Water-race Company (Limited) (Regd.) 12/10/67 Pukepouri Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 22/1/14 Rise-and-Shine Gold-dredging Company (Limited) 24/2/00 Rising Sun Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. 16/2/01 Roaring Meg Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 11/8/14 i Round Hill Mining Company ('Limited) .. 30/7/02 Sailor's Gully 7 (Waitahuna) Gold-mining Company 3/6/96 (Limited) Scandinavian Water-race Company (Limited) .. 10/12/07 Skipper's Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 20/11/11 Stoneburn Mining Company (Limited) .. 2/2/14 Success Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. 25/5/10 Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) 3/12/04 Teviot-Molyneux Gold-mining Company (Limited) 24/12. 09 Tinker's Gold-mining Company 7 (Limited) .. 29/10/10 United M. and E. Water- race Company (Regd.) - 1 03 /I /"2 1 Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Li- 23/9/00 mited) Waikaka Deep Lead Gold - dredging Company 16/6/13 (Limited) 24.000 9.955 3.000 12,000 1,500 2.500 10.000 8,000 3,100 28.245 8,400 3.450 4.000 10.000 1.200 35.000 11,500 7,600 6.000 7.000 8,955 3,000 8,000 1,500 1,667 9,746 5.500 1,540 6,753 200 7 345 3,625 8,000 1.200 25.000 11,500 7,600 6,000 6,000 2.400 17.000 2,000 4,000 2,000 2.500 1.300 21,492 8,200 9.t50 3,105 2,000 10.000 11,500 3,000 0 16 0 ■ 24.000 1 0 0 2.000 1 0 0 3,000 1 0 0 12,000 1 0 0 1,000 1 10 0 2,500 1 0 0 12.000 10 0 8,000 1 0 0 3,280 1 0 0 5,649 5 0 0 8.400 1 0 0 9.757 10 0 3,450 1 0 0 4,000 1 0 0 10.000 ' 10 0 12 100 0 0 35,000 *1 0 0 11.500 ! 10 0 152 50 0 0 6,000 1 0 0 6.000 : 10 0 441 254 6 200 10 70 70 17 32 19 24 152 79 33 180 24 20 30 12 127 9 23 20 8 13 13 9 5,659 36 42.891 8 144 9 13,635 20,702 1 182 19 45.412 10 22,847 24 43,784 8 5,789 8 ! 7.098 4 1,165 6 123 , 11 8.867 I 2 1.661 19 64 j 8 2,151 I 3 16,582 4 3,873 1 3,130 21,743 ! 160,407 566 54,399 82,816 "687 I 176,302 88.443 8s. 175.206 22.089 27,001 4,488 468 34,853 I 6,392 245 8,375 63,911 14,874 12.520 18,512 118.951 519 44,029 90,546 1,385 4,546 133.556 66.305 I 1.956 170,668 18,479 29.544 ! 4.551 3,042 38,794 7.625 42,778 10,131 70,076 13,700 20.320 3,525 48,084 300 14.215 22,200 9,312 51,900 23,600 12,287 5,000 3,500 1,380 467 3,078 1,050 300 j 184 389 20 20 20 1,726 1,089 236 69 1,200 987 6,562 157 675 141 190 26.749 1,739 357 231 2,250 FOREIGN M dTNING COMPANIES. Hohonu Diamond Terrace Gold-mining and Water- 1 race Company (Limited) I i 100.000 570 r I L 10 j 348 1,365 I 11.360 1 150 I * For 25,000.

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ANNEXURE E. EXAMINATIONS POR MINE-MANAGERS AND BATTERY SUPERINTENDENTS. At the examinations held in December, 19.16, six candidates sat for first-class mine-managers' certificates, one for second-class mine-managers' certificates, and tli tee for battery-managers' certificates. The following were successful: First-class mine-manager-- -Charles Ringsford, "Waihi; second-class mine-manager—George Tilsley ; battery superintendent- E. D. White, Karangahake. One candidate for a battery-superintendent's certificate obtained a partial pass. In addition to the above a second-class service certificate' was granted to James Lynch, of Glenorchy, he having satisfied the Board of Examiners that, by virtue of the provisions of section 8 of the Mining Amendment Act, 1910, he was entitled to a service certificate. The Board of Examiners under the Mining Act as at 31st March, 1917, was constituted as follows : Messrs. Thomas Gilmour, H. A. Gordon, H. P. Hornibrooke, H. S. Molineaux, P. G. Morgan (Chairman), Frank Reed, and E. H. Wilmot. Since the above date vacancies have been created by the death of Mr. H. A. Gordon, who had been a member of the Board from its inception, and by the resignation of Mr. Thomas Gilmour. QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE EXAMINATION HELD DURING DECEMBER, 1916, FOR MANAGERS' FIKST AND SECOND CLASS CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY. UNDER, THE MINING ACT. Subject J.—Mining. 1. Describe and sketch the method of timbering a three-compartment rectangular shaft intended for a large output of ore, the first 50 ft. being soft wet country. Show how you would secure the sides and keep back the water. 2. State whether you would use planking or framed sets, giving your reasons, how far apart would you open the levels, and the height of chambers. 3. In driving a crosscut or level through soft country which is liable to swell, show how you would secure the drive with timber. 4. On stoping out a lode 7 ft. wide, how far apart would you place the ore-passes ? Describe how you would timber them, the class of timber you would use, and the size in the clear. 5. State where you would place the travelling or ladder road, and tho most convenient size for travelling in. 6. Describe how you would put up a rise 100 ft. in ordinary country with, safety to the miners working in it. 7. Describe the different methods of stoping and breaking out ore. State which method is the best in your opinion under existing circumstances. 8. Give a list of the different improvements which have been introduced in quartz-mines for breaking ore for the past forty years. State fully what you know about them. 9. In mining phraseology give the meaning of the following terms : " Horse," vug, rearing, stall, gad, and moil. 10. Show by sketch how you would construct a dam in a drive, 7 ft. high by 5 ft. wide, to keep waterback safely to a height of 150 ft. from bottom of level. Give the total pressure in tons on the structure when the dam is full. Give the mode of construction, the material you would use, and your reasons for same. 11. State what precaution you would take in driving near an abandoned mine where an accumulation of water was known to exist. 12. Give the comparative strength of dynamite, gelignite, and blasting-powder, and the class of country each is best adapted for. 13. Explain how you would fire a round of holes with safety fuse in a straight drive or stope where you would have to travel, say, 200 ft. to a place of safety. Subject II. — Mechanics. 1. Show by sketch the position of the valves, and the intake and outlet orifices, of a double-acting pump, clearly illustrating the course of the water. 2. A dam in a drive 8 ft. high by 6 ft. wide is required to withstand a head of water 150 ft. high : state how it should be constructed, and give the pressure in pounds in the face of the dam. 3. Describe the safety appliances attached to a steam-boiler to prevent accident or damage to the boiler through excessive steam-pressure or insufficient supply of water. 4. What are the essential requirements of a winding-rope ? State formula for calculating the working load of (a) flexible-steel ropes, (&) iron chains. 5. State fully the advantages and disadvantages of compressed air and electricity as a power for underground work.

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6. State the minimum grade at which a self-acting or incline tram 2,000 ft. in length can be satisfactorily worked with a full load of 4,000 lb., and the empty load 2,000 lb. 7. Explain the difference between direct-current and alternating-current generators, and state purposes for which tlie respective systems may be especially adapted. Subject 111.-— Ventilation: Ventilation of Mines and Knowledge of Mine Gases; Rescue Apparatus used in Mines; Methods of Dealing with Underground Fires. 1. What are the chemical composition and principal physical properties of marsh-gas, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide ? Write the formula which shows the chemical reaction which takes place when marsh-gas is burnt in oxygen. 2. Under what conditions are fumes or gases derived from nitro-glycerine compounds and from gunpowder ? What fumes or gases are so derived ? To become harmless to what proportion must they be reduced I 3. An electrically driven fan has been installed at an upcast shaft previously used as such, for natural ventilation ; to the fan-motor is attached measuring-instruments : describe how the efficiency of the fan may with, accuracy be ascertained. Give an example, with formula?, to illustrate your answer. 4. An air-course 14 ft. wide, 10 ft. high, and 3,000 ft. long is to be regulated to pass 28,000 cub. ft. per minute ; ventilating-pressure is equal to 1 in. water-gauge : find the area of the regulator. 5. Compare the area of equivalent orifice in the two following mines: (a) passes 250,000 cub. ft. per minute with 4 in. W.G. ; (b) 100,000 cub. ft. per minute with 2 in. W.G. 6. What is the object in splitting the air in mines ? To what general result is it conducive, and how is it effected ? Subject IV. — Arithmetic and Law. Arithmetic. 1. The cost of cementing the walls of a rectangular tank 21 ft. long, 15 ft. 9 in. wide, and 11 ft. 8 in. deep is £9 12s. 6d. : find the cost of cementing the floor at the same rate. 2. Two cog-wheels, one of 15 and the other of 28 teeth, work together : if the smaller makes 16 revolutions in 1| seconds, how many revolutions will the larger make in 21 seconds ? 3. Ten men begin a work which they could finish in 100 days, but at the end of every 10 days 10 additional men are put on : how long does the work take ? 4. Give the value of 1,875 oz. of bullion of 0-3675 in gold, it being alloyed with silver—taking pure gold at £4 4s. per ounce and pure silver at 2s. 4d. per ounce. ; 5. The distance driven on. two levels on a lode is 240 ft., the height of backs between, the levels is 1,000 ft. perpendicular, but the lode has an underlie of 23 degrees from vertical, and has an average width of 2 ft. 10 in. at one end and 5 ft. 8 in. at the other end. How many tons of ore is there between the two levels, taking 15 cubic feet to a ton ? 6. If you purchased 24 picks at 3s. 4£d. each, 48 shovels at 4s. 5-|d. each, and 1291b. of powder at B|d. per pound, state the total amount of purchase. Law. 1. State the requirements with regard to the use and storage of explosives in a quartz-mine. 2. What are the requirements with reference to permanent ladders for the ascent and descent of persons ? 3. What is required of the mine-manager with reference to safety appliances or gear ? 4. Can instantaneous fuse be used ?

Subject V. — Surveying.

1. The above diagram represents the position of an underground drive BC; the end of the drive C is 3283.3 links south and 217.0 links east from the corner of the claim A : how far will the drive have to be continued to meet the boundary at D? 2. A slope dips 1 ft. in 8 ft. for a distance of 504 ft. measured on the slope: what is the difference in elevation of the ends of the slope, and what is the horizontal distance between them?

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3. The above diagram shows the traverse of the boundaries of a mining claim. Compute and tabulate the co-ordinates of the stations (on the form provided), treating station (I) as zero or origin. The total distances on the meridian and perpendicular of all the other stations are to be given also with reference to station (I), so as to show the error of the traverse. Tho distances are given in links. 4. Describe the methods of transferring the true bearing from the surface to the underground workings of a mine when there is one shaft, and when there are two shafts, giving diagrams. Subject VI. — General and Applied Geology. 1. Define and illustrate by diagrams the following terms: Syncline, anticline, saddle-reef, strike> dip, unconformity. 2. Give a table showing the sequence of the geological formations in New Zealand ; or, as an alternative, in some other country with which you are acquainted. 3. Describe fully the action of running water in its threefold aspect- —erosion, transport, and deposition. 4. An area containing auriferous-quartz lodes is elevated and subjected to denudation on an extensive scale : describe carefully what changes are likely to take place as regards the distribution of gold in the lodes, and state also what will become of the eroded, quartz and its gold-content. 5. Give a full account of the auriferous-quartz lodes in any New Zealand or Australian goldfield. 6. Outline the various hypotheses known to you that are intended to explain the formation of auriferous-quartz lodes. 7. Where in New Zealand are found ores or minerals containing antimony, lead, mercury, copper, tungsten, iron, manganese ? 8. Give brief descriptions or definitions of any five of the following types of rock : Sandstone, limestone, argillite, greywacke, andesite, rbyolite, diorite, granite. 9. Discuss the question of increase of temperature with depth, and its cause or causes. State how this factor affects the problem of mining at great depths. 10. State what you know about the gases that may invade the workings of metalliferous mines from the enclosing rocks. In particular, state what is the origin or mode of formation of such gases. 11. Give a rule for the recovery of a lode lost by faulting. State clearly the condition necessary for this rule to apply. 12. Describe, with diagrams the various types of faults known to you

QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE EXAMINATION FOR BATTERY-SUPERINTENDENTS' CERTIFICATES OE COMPETENCY. Subject I -^Milling. 1. State the chief considerations in selecting a site for a stamp mill, and describe fully tho work of constructing foundations for a mortar-box. 2. Give the dimensions and tho weight of the several parts of a stamp weighing 1,2501b., and state the method by which those parts are usually attached. 3. Describe fully a Huntingdon mill, and state the means by which the feed is regulated. 4. State briefly the particular work for which Chilian mills, ball mills, and berdan pans are used. 5. It is required to elevate, to a height of 20 ft., 5 tons of tailings per hour : give descriptions of two suitable appliances.

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Subject 11.- — Amalgamation. 1. Sketch an amalgamating-table for 5 heads of stamps, giving all dimensions, and angle of inclination, also the area of copper plate. 2. Describe fully (a) the method of cleaning up a battery of 5 heads, (b) the treatment of amalgam, from. the time it is obtained from the plates and other sources until the mercury emerges from the retort. 3. State the quantity of water required for an amalgamating-table per ton of ore crushed. By what means would you ascertain that the proper quantity was being supplied ? 4. "What are the chief causes of flouring or sickening of mercury ? State how the mercury should be purified. 5. Describe the treatment of magnet iron for the purpose of separating the amalgam. Subject lll.— Cyanide, Chlorination, and other Chemical Processes. 1. A parcel of gold-bearing ore has been submitted you for treatment by the cyanide process : state how you would determine the best strength of solution to extract the largest percentage of gold with the smallest consumption of KCN. 2. State how much KCN of 98 per cent, strength should be added to 40 tons of 0-05 per cent, sump solution to bring the working-strength up to 0-25 per cent. 3. State how many tons of a 10-per-cent. solution of KCN should be added to a 0-08-per-cent. sump solution to make up 100 tons of working-solution of 0-25 per cent, strength. 4. State what class of gold-bearing ores are amenable to treatment by chlorination. 5. Describe fully the treatment of a gold-bearing pyritic ore by chlorination. 6. Describe a trustworthy method for the assay of a working cyanide solution (a) for gold, (6) for gold and silver. 7. State what remedies you would use in the event of a workman being overcome (a) by hydrocyanicacid gas, (b) by chlorine gas. Subject IV.— Sizing and Concentration. 1. By means of a flow-sheet describe fully the process of treatment of an ore containing gold and scheelite. 2. State the advantages of sizing the pulp as it comes from the stamps, and describe a machine suitable for this purpose. 3. A scheelite concentrate is found to contain a large percentage of iron-pyrites : state the means by which a separation can be effected. 4. Describe fully the Frue vanner, giving the amount of pulp it is capable of treating. 5. State conditions under which ore is suitable for concentration by jigging. Sketch a jig by which the concentrate and the gangue are automatically discharged. Subject V.-— Assaying and Elementary Chemistry. 1. State what charge of fluxes you would use for the 400-grain fire assay of (a) a clean quartzose goldbearing ore, (b) a gold-bearing ore containing 4 per cent, of iron-pyrites, (c) gold-bearing pyritic concentrates containing 65 per cent, of iron-pyrites. 2. Describe the separation of silver and lead in an aqueous solution of salts of these metals. 3. Give qualitative tests for sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid. 4. Complete the following chemical equations : — (a.) CaO + 2HCI = (b.) Zn +H 2 SO 4 = 5. A ton of finely pulverized gold-bearing ore has been submitted to you for valuation : describe fully what steps you would take to obtain an average sample for assay. Subject VI. — Arithmetic and Law. Arithmetic. 1. Calculate the number of tons of quartz in a heap 50 yd. 2 ft. long and 30 yd. 1 It. broad, the height of the heap being 10 yards from the ground, and the angle of the slope, or the batter of the heap, being 45 degrees. 2. Make up a pay-sheet for a fortnight's wages in connection with a 10-stamp battery which includes a cyanide plant. 3. Find tho square root of 258064. Divide 2-6289 by 306-5. 4. Find the weight of a wrought-iron shaft 15 ft. long. 6 in. diameter. (Wrought iron, cubic inches X -28 = lb.). 5. A log of timber measures 19 ft. in length, 16 ft. circumference at thicker end and 14 ft. circumference at small end : what is the content in cubic feet ? Law. 1. What are the requirements of the Mining Act as regards the owner of a machine with which it is • desired to work for the purpose of treating metals ? 2. State the information which is required to be entered in the Machine Register-book.

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LIST OF MINE - MANAGERS, BATTERY SUPERINTENDENTS, AND DREDGEMASTERS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES UNDER THE MINING ACTS. FIBST-CLASS MINE-MANAGFBRS' CERTIFICATES. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Act, 1886, without Examination. Adams, H. H., Waiorongomai. Hollis, W., Thames. Quinn, E., Te Aroha. Andrews, T., Thames. Hunter, R., Thames. Ralph, J. G., Thames. Barclay, T. H., Thames. James, F., Thames. Rasmussen, 0. P., Mokihinui. Bennett, J., Alexandra. Jamioson, A., Coromandel. Reid, P., Coromandel. Blaok, T., Waiomio. Jenkins, M., Wakatipu. Rooney, F., Reefton. Burch, W. H., Thames. Johnstone, H., Blueapur. Scott, T., Waiorongomai. Cameron, A., Macetown. Kelly, J., Lyell. Smith, J. E., Thames. Chapman, J. A., Dunedin. Kerr, J., Thames. Stone, F., Karangahake, Davis, J. E., Queenstown. McCulloogb, 8., Thames. Sturm, A., Waipori. Edwards, J., Skipper's. McGruer, G. N., Karangahake. Todd.C, Heriot. Elliott, J., Macetown. Mcintosh, D., Bluespur. Treloer, J. S., Reefton. Evans, J. H., Skipper's. McMaste::', J., Reefton. Watson, T., Reefton. Frowen, J. 8., Queenstown. Moore, H. W., Thames. Wearne, T., Endeavour Inlet. Gilbert, J., Reefton. Morrisby, A. A., Glenorchy. Williams, J., Skipper's. Gilmour, T., Thames. Newman, W., Naseby. Wylie, W., Ross. Glass, W. M., Naseby. Polton, A., Karangahake. Young, G., Skipper's. Harrison, R. H., Coromandel. Porter, J., Waipori. Issued after Examination tinder the Mining Act, 1886, and Amendment Acts. Adams, 8., Thames. Donaldson, W., Otago. Hosking, G. F., Auckland. Baker, W., Thames. Fleming, M., Thames. Kruizenza, W., Reefton. Cochrane, D. L., Reefton. Harris, W., Thames, Logan, H. F., Wellington. Colobrook, J. D., Coromandel. Horn, G. W., Thames. Mangan, T., Thames. Coombe, J., Reefton. Home, W., Coromandel. Mouat, W. G., Dunedin. Crawford, J. J., Thames. Horniok, M., Thames. Watkins, W. 8., Reefton. Issued on Production of Certificate from a Eecognized Authority outside the Dominion under the Mining Acts 1886, 1891, 1898, 1905, 1908, and 1913. Argall, W. H., Coromandel. Dodd, William, Milton. Hall, E. K., Reefton Beokwith, L. H., Wellington. Evans, A. W., Reefton. McKenna, Thomas, Dunedin. Brook, R. H. T., Reefton. Griffiths, A. P., Auckland. Molineaux, H. S., Gore. "Cook, J., jun., Ross. Griffiths, H. P., Auckland. Rich, F. A., Auckland. Cock, W., Waiomio. Hailey, R. C, Dunedin. Williams, W. H., Auckland. Datson, J., Manaia. Issued after Examination under the Mining Act, 1891. Agnew, J. A., Thames. Lawn, C. H., Capleston. Robertson, D. 8., Stafford. Annear, William, Reefton. Linck, F. W., Thames. Ross, Richard, Thames. Arscott, R., Waihi. Morrison, R., Thames. Russell, Murray, Dunedin. Bennett, E. P., Thames. McDermott, J., Thames. Shepherd, H. F., Thames. Boydell, PI. C, Coromandel. McDermott, G., Thames. Stanford, W. J., Macetown. Bradley, R. J. H., Te Puke. McDermott, W., Thames. Tierney, R., Thames. Carroll, J., Lyell. McGregor, W. T., Thames. Vialoux, F., Coromandel. Cartwright, E., Thames. McKenzie, H. J., Coromandel. Warne, George, Thames. Crabb, J., Reefton. McPeake, J., Thames. Waters, D. 8., Skipper's. Evans, H. A., Wellington. O'Keoffe, M. D., Thames. White, G. H., Thames. Gilmour, J. L., Thames. Paul, Matthew, Thames. Whitley, A., Thames. Hodge, J. H., Thames. Paltridge, Henry, Thames. Williams, C, Caploston. Keam, P. E., Thames. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 190.5, and 1908. Allen, Henry, Waihi. . George, M. T., Waihi. Morgan, William, Waihi. Autridge, L. E., Thames. Goldsworthy, C, Karangahake. Morrison, William, Waihi. Baker, S. G., Thames. Goldswort.hy, W., Coromandel. Moye, Michael, Reefton. Barker, 8., Thames. Gordon, J. A., Thames. Oats, John, Black's Point, Reefton. Barrance, K. M., Karangahake. Grayden, P., Thames. O'Shea, J., Reefton. Bell, 0., Waihi. Greening, W., Karangahake. O'Sullivan, J. W., Thames. Bennie, Boyd, Waihi. Gudgeon, 0. W., Macrae's. Rimmer, J. C, Helonsville. Bishop, Thomas Otto, Skipper's, Otago.Hitoncook, W. E., Barewood. Rodden, John, Reefton. Blenkhorn, C, Coromandel. Hooker, John, Coromandel. Ruffin, R. C, Reefton. Bolitho, Joseph, Reefton. Irwin, Samuel, Waihi. Saunders, W. H., Reefton. Bower, J. W., Coromandel. Jackson, G. T,, Waihi. Sooble, E, J., Waihi. Broad, R., Waihi. Johnson, J. H.. Coromandel. Sheehan, D., Karangahake. Buddie, Frank, Coromandel. Kingsford, C, Waihi. Smith, Walter, Karangahake. Bull, C. W., Waihi. Langdon, H., Waihi. Spearing, J. R., Waihi. Caisley, John, Karangahake. Langford, G. S., Waihi. Stewart, F., Waihi. Carroll, A. M.,Roefton. Lautour, H. A. de, Waihi. Stewart, R. A., Reefton. Carroll, John, Kuaotunu. Lawn, Nicholas, Reefton. Sullivan, T., Reefton, Garter, R, P., Waihi. Lewis, Ralph Reginald, Waihi. Thomson, J. R., Waihi. Clouston, R. E., Kaitangata. Mackie, Portland George A,, Waihi. Thomson, Thomas, Waihi. Collier, E., Reefton, McGonaohie, W., jun., Waihi. Thorne, G. M., Waihi. Cooper, J. H., Thames. McDonald, R. M., Table Hill. Tucker, E. S., Coromandel. Cooper, Thornhill, Waihi. MacDuff, R. B , Thames. Turner, G. W. E., Reefton. Cordes, F. M., Karangahake. McGruer, A., Karangahake. Turnbull, E. V., Coromandel. Cornes, J. G., Waihi. MaoLaron, J. A. J., Coromandel. Turner, C. E., Murohison. Dooherty, W. H., Coromandel. MoMahon, J. H., Reefton. Ulrioh, G. A. C, Waihi. Downey, J. F., Reefton. McMahon, T., Raefion, Walker, A. J., Waihi. Dutton, W. F., Waihi. McMillan, T., Waihi. Watson, J. L., Thames. Ellery, John, Reef.on. Mitchell, William J., Barewood. Wood, P. H., Roofton. Fry, S., Waimangaroa. Moore, L. 0., Waihi. Wolherspoon, James, Waihi. Evered, N. J., Waihi. * Alluvial.

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First-class Mine-managers' CERTIFICATES— continued. Issued under Section 313 of the Mining Act, 1891. Hornibrooke, H. P., Coromandel. Snow, Thomas, Huntly. Williams, John, Kuaotunu. Martin, James, Reefton. Thomas, James, Thames. White, John S., Karangahake. Rickard, John, Thameß. Trelease, J. H., Thames. Certificates of Competency granted to Holders of Provisional Warrants under Section 32 of the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896. Alexander, Thomas, Deep Creek. Harvey, A. G., Coromandel. Moorecraft, Walter, Coromandel. Argall, A. E., Coromandel. James, Robert, Thames. Morgan, William, Owharoa. Battens, H., Coromandel. Jamieson, John, Reefton. Moyle, Thomas, Thames. Bunney, Joseph, Waihi. Johns, Thomas, Waihi. Patton, William, Macetown. Campbell, Alexander, Cullensville. Konnorloy, W. H., Thames. Pearce, Francis, Reefton. Carlyon, Samuel, Coromandel. McOombie, John. Karangahake. Potter, William H., Thames. Oornes, C. A., jun., Karangahake. MacDonald, H., Coromandel. Rillstone, Charles, Waipori. Daldy, Edward Arthur, Coromandel. McEnteor, James, Tararu. Somervell, John, Thames. Draf&n, Samuel, Waitekauri, McLean, Benjamin J., Waitekauri. Thomas, Archelaus, Tapu, Thames. Farmer, C. S., Waitekauri. McLean, Charles, Thames. Turnbull, Thomas A,, Whangamata. Goldsworthy, William, Karangahake. Meehan, James, Westport. Issued to Inspectors of Mines by virtue of Office under the Mining Acts, 1886, 1891, and 1898. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. Green, E. R., Dunedin. McLaren, J. M., Thames. Cochrane, N. D., Westport. Hayes, J., Dunedin. Tennent, 11., Westport. SiacoND-CLASs Mine-managers' Certificates. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Act, 1891. Adams, W. J., Thames. Gribble, James, Norsewood. McNeill, George, Upper Kuaotunu. Agnew, J. A., Coromandel. Grimmond, Joseph, Ross, Meagher, John, Karangahake. Argall, A. E., Coromandel. Guthrie, John, Wellington. Morgan, William, Upper Thames. Blair, Thomas, Kuaotunu. Hardman, James Edward, Thames. Moyle, Thomas, Thames. Bolitho, James, Reefton. Hetherington, William, Thames. Newdick, Alfred, Thames. Bone, William, Reefton. Hil), Alexander Grey, Waikakaho. O'Keefe, M. W. D., Thames. Bremner, John, Coromandel. Hollis, Frederick J., Waihi. Page, John, Lyell. Brokonshiro, James, Thames. Hore, John, Wellington. Pcoblos, Alexander, Kuaotunu. Brown, John, Macrae's. Hornibrooke, H. P., Kuaotunu. Pettigrew, Robert, Sydney. Bunny, Joseph, Thames, Jamieson, John, Reefton. Potts, W. H., Thames. Byrne, John, Karangahake. Jobe, James, Thames. Primrose, J., Kuaotunu. Comer, W. W., Thames. Johns, Thomas, Thames. Reid, Thomas Groat, Thames. Comer, George, Thames. Johnstone, William, Collingwood. Rickard, John, Thames. Corbett, T., Paeroa. Kerr, George, Kamo. Richards, A. H., Kuaotunu. Crabb, Thomas, Reofton. Kirker, Thomas, Thames. Rogers, William Henry, Kumara. Daniel, P. F., Greymouth. Laughlin, David, Thames. Shaw, James, Karangahake. Dobson, John Allen, Kuaotunu. Law, John, Thames, Sligo, Alexander, Nenthorn. Edwards, George, Westport. Loughlin, S., Thames. Thomas, James, Thames. Ellery, John, Reefton. Mackay, William, Nenthorn. Thomas, A., Thames, Foster, Thomas, Wellington. Martin, David, Black's Point. Thomson, John, Dunedin. Gemmings, Charles, Thames. Martin, James, Reefton. Williams, James, Thames. Gill, George, Thames, Mayn, John, Coromandel. Williams, John, Thames. Goldsworthy, Henry, Thames. McCombie, John, Karangahake. Wilson, J. G., Thames. Goldsworthy, William, Mauku, Auck- McEwen, James, Reefton. White, John S., Karangahake. land. McLean, Charles, Thames. Worth, Robert, Waihi. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1891, 1898,' and 1908. Benney, J., jun., Paeroa. Draffin, S., Waitekauri. McNeil, A. H., Coromandel. Bennie, Boyd, Coromandel. Dunkin, T., Coromandel. Tilsloy, G., Thames. Oahill, T. M., Upper Kuaotunu. Evans, H. A., Skipper's. White, F. H., Kuaotunu. Carroll, John, Upper Kuaotunu. Mathewson, A., Hyde. White, G. H., Thames. Christie, William, Waitekauri. Issued under Section 313 of the Mining Act, 1891. Connon, William, Thames. Edwards, E., Coromandel. McOormick, W. J., Waitekauri. Certificates of Competency granted to Holders of Provisional Warrants under Section 32 of the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896. Allen, W. J., Coromandel. Davis, James, Coromandel. Martin, William, Tararu, Thames. Barney, Montague T., Waitekauri. Gardner, James, Waimangaroa. Murphy, Joseph, Coromandel. Brownlee, Henry, Thames. Howe, Albion S., Waitekauri. O'Brien, John, Westport. Collins, Charles, Waitekauri. Johnson, Frank H., Collingwood. Prescott, Arthur J., Coromandel. Curtis, Charles, Taylorville. Kirwan, William, Reefton. Ruffin, Richard, Manaia, Coromandel. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Amendment Act, 1910. Adams, Albert Augustine, Thames. Hansen, Charles Hans, Puketui. McKenzie, D., Georgetown. Adams, R. W,, Thames. Hayes, James, Thames. Reid, George, Glenorohy. Barker, J. W., Coromandel. Hill, Harrold Alexander, Thames. Reynolds, Edmond Francis, CoromanBrabyn, John, Clarendon. Hyde, Henry John, Karangahake. del. Butcher, F. J., Waitekauri. lies, E. J., Bannockburn. Sheehan, James, Thames. Donaldson, George, Macrae's Flat. Inglis, Robert, Kuaotunu. Tallentire, John, Waiorongomai. Gillan, Thomas, Thames. Kell, Arthur, Karangahake. Williams, John Paul, Puriri. Grace, Pierce, Waitekauri. Lynch, James, Glenorchy. Battery Superintendents' Certificates. Issued under the Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894, without undergoing Examination. Adams, H. H., Waihi. Hope, John S., Waitekauri. Park, James, Thames. Aitken, R. M., Reefton, Hutchison, William, Karangahake. Shepherd, Henry Franklin, Waihi, Banks, Edwin Gripper, Waihi. Margetts, Frederick Ernest, Kuao-. Sims, C. F., Tararu. Barry, Hubert Percy, Waihi. tunu, ~...; ... ~ Walker, James A., Kuaotunu. Goldsworthy, Henry, Kuaotunu. MoKenna, T. N., Tararu. Wilson, Arthur E., Waihi. Goldsworthy, John, Kuaotunu. McLellan, William, Waitokauri. . . Wilson, James Kitchener, Auckland. Greenway, H. Howard, Auckland. Noble, James R., Karangahake.

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Battery Superintendents' Certificates— continued. Issued after Examination under the Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894. Adams, A. A., Thames. Fuller, J. P., Kuaotunu. Morgan, P. G., Thames. Allen, F. 8., Thames. Gray, J. W., Waihi. Morrin, W. S., Thames. Allom, H. 0., Thames. Hayward, F. W., Komata. Noakes, H. L., Waihi. Ansley, Cornyn, Paeroa. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Raithby, R. W., Reefton. Ansley, Walter, Thames. Jackson, J. 11., Paeroa. Robinson, J. R., Waitekauri. Banks, J. H., Waihi. Jones, Achison, Waihi. Stafford, B. H., Waihi. Bowers, W., Thames. Kidd, F. D., Thames. Taylor, C. H., Tararu. Brown, A. E., Thames. Laurie, D. 8., Karangahake. Thorpe, A. H., Thames. Clarke, J. L., Thames. Lee, J. W., Reefton. Vercoo, R. 8., Thames. Clarke, R., Waitekauri. Maedonald, W.. Waihi. Wingate, H. M.. Maratoto. Clarke, W. J., Waihi. McKenzie, H. J., Thames. Winslow, G., Thames. Day, A. T., Thames. McMicken, S. D., Thames. Williams, A. G. R,, Thames. Dixon, Clement, Waihi. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 1905, and 1908. Adams, J. H., Coromandel. Eaton - Turner, Geoffrey William, MoEwin, J. A., Reefton. Adams, Richard W., Tararu, Thames. Waihi. McKinlay, John, Waihi. Adams, J. H., Thames. Ellis, L. L., Waitekauri. McNeil, A. R., Karangahake. Airey, Hubert, Karangahake. Empson, J. 8., Karangahake, McPadden, J., Coromandel. Aitken, Alexander Hugh, Waihi. Evans, G. C, Waihi. Melrose, P., Waibi. Allen, D. V., Thames. Evans, J., Waihi. Montgomery, A. E., Opitonui. Allen, H. E., Wellington. Evans, W. 8., Reefton. Morgan, Robert James, Waihi. Anderson, David, Waihi. Ewen, H. F., Auckland. Motherwell, William, Waihi. Androws, T. T., Waihi. Fletcher, H. T., Katikati. Moyle, W. T., Upper Tairua. Auld, J. 8., Crushington. Fry, Sidney, Westport. Orbell, G. S., Waikouaiti. Baker, W. H., Thames. Fuller, John P., Kuaotunu. Orr, F. S., Waiuta. Banks, C. A., Waihi. Fyfe, A., Dunedin. Paltridge, F., Thames. Banks, E. J., Thames. Gardner, E. A., Reefton. Pond, H. C, Auckland. Barranoe, K. McK., Karangahake. Gibson, William, Waihi. Quick, J. N., Thames. Barrett, J. J., Karangahake. Gilpin, J., Waihi. Reid, J. E., Great Barrier. Barron, William E., Waikino. Gow, E. A., Crushington. Reynolds, E. A., Auckland. Baskett, E. G., Karangahake. Grayden, J., Waitekauri. Roberts, H. C, Waihi. Bell, L. M., Waihi. Grayden, Peter, Thames. Hodden, William, Lyell. Bidlake, A. E., Waiomo. Grumitt, P. H., Thames. Rosewarne, R. H., Thames. Bird, A. W., Thames. Gwilliam, Benjamin, Karangahake. Royse, W. G., Reefton. Bishop, T. 0., Reefton. Halliwell, L. V., Karangahake. Sanford, A. G., Waihi. Blackadder, William, Crushington. Hargraves, E. P., Waihi. Shaw, D. S., Waikino. Bradley, R. J. H., Karangahake. Hay, Adam, Karangahake. Shaw, L. J., Waikino. Browne, E., Waitekauri. Harsant, C, Puketui. Stephens, H., Dunedin. Brown, F. M., Karangahake. Hazard, T. R. C, Waitekauri. Sutherland, J. A., Reefton. Brown, J. E., Komata. Hitchoock, W. E., Barewood. Thomson, G. W., Beudigo. Brown, W. E., Reefton. Hogg, 8., Karangahake. Thurlow, J. R., Coromandel. Burns, William, Waiomio. Hogg, T. R., Karangahake. Tomlinson, A., Karangahake. Bush, E. F., Parawai. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Tomlinson, David Mitchell, Barewood. Bush, George Arthur, Karangahake. Gillooly, T., Roxburgh. Tomlinson, W. F., Dunedin. Bush, H. R., Thames. Gillstrom, Carl A., Berlin's. Turnbull, E. V., Waihi. Campbell, Colin. Thames. Flutchison, R. M., Karangahake. Ulrich, G. A. C, Komata. Carpenter, W. E., Karangahake. Johnson, Edward, Waihi. Ulrich, Herstall, Whaneapoua. Carless, Noel, Waihi. Jones, R. D., Karangahake. Walker, Alfred James Dickson, Waihi Garter, S., Waihi. Kidd, R. 8., Waitekauri. Waters, D. 8., Waihi. Carroll, John, Kuaotunu. Kingsford, A., Karangahake. Watson, A. 8., Waitekauri. Chappell, G. A., Karangahake. Kingsford, C, Waihi. Watßon, A. P., Crushington. Clark, John L., Waihi. Langford, G. S., Waikino. Watson, J. R., Reefton. Clarko, Thomas, Waihi. Launder, G. H., Waitekauri. Watson, J. P., Reefton. Goote, J. M., Thames. Lawless, L. J., Paeroa. Watson, W. A., Crushington. Couper, J., Thames. Lawn, H., Reefton. Wearne, W., Reefton. Cowles, R. K., Crushington. Littlejohn, W. D., Karangahake. White, A. S. H., Karangahake. Crawford, H., Macrae's. Lovelock, J. E., Crushington. White, E. D. Karangahake. Crompton, H., Maratoto. Maekay, John, Crushington. Williams, A. C, Waihi. Oroucher, Herbert, Waihi. Maltman, A., Reefton. Williams, James, Reefton. Dawson, 8., Ellerslie. Mann, C, Westport. Williams, Joseph, Reefton. Donnelly, Thomas, Waihi. Matheson, A. M., Barewood. Williams, William Eustaoe, Waihi. Donovan, Willie, Waikino. Maxwell, W. L., Waihi. Wilson, A. P., Crushington. Draffin, Eugene, Kuaotunu. McDonall, P. H., Waihi. Dredgemastebs' Certificates. Issued without Examination under the Mining Act, 1898, and Amendment Acts, 1901 and 1902. Allen, Charles, Alexandra. Clarke, Pldward, Port Chalmers. Herbert, J., Beaumont. Anderson, L. C., Alexandra. Compton, Albert, Dobson. Hewitt, James, Clyde. Andrews, Ralph, Canvastown. Cormack, W., Greymouth. Hogg, Thomas, Cromwell. Baker, J. R., Alexandra. Cornish, J. T., Miller's Flat. Hoskins, Thomas, Maori Point. Ballantyne, D., Miller's Flat. Coutts, Henry, Miller's Flat. Hoy, Samuel, Alexandra. Barnes, T. J., Beaumont. Cowan, Alexander, Stillwater. Inwood, W. J., Rocklands Beaoh. Barry, Thomas, Clyde. Cowan, James, Nelson Creek. Johns-ton, E. A., Alexandra. Bradley, Noil, Alexandra. Orookston, W. L., Tnree-channel Flat. Johnstone, Alexander, Cromwell. Bennett, George, Gore. dimming, J. C. Beaumont. Keen, Thomas, Clyde. Bennett, James, Kumara. Curtis, Charles, Stillwater. Kennedy, Angus, Alexandra. Blue, G. P., Alexandra. Cutten, W. H., Dunedin. Kitto, Edward T., Miller's Flat. Brand, Peter, Waikaka. Deniston, R. A., Cromwell. Kitto, Francis, Lowburn. Brennan, Philip, Palmerston S. Dewar, John, Alexandra. Kitto, J., Lowburn Ferry. Bremner, A. P., Ijower Shotovor. Donaldson, J. G. A., Greenstone. Kitto, John F., Miller's Flat. Brice, William H., Cromwell. Faithful, William, Greymouth. Kitto, W. H., Cromwell. Bringans, D., Alexandra. Foohy, J. M., Alexandra. Kloogh, N. P., Lowburn Ferry. Brown, T. G., Ahaura. Gibb, William, Croydon Siding, Lawson, Edward, Dunedin. Bunting, James, Murchison. Gibson, A., Island Block. Ledingham, J., Bannockbnrn. Busbridge, P., Gore. Graham, J. M., Gore. Lee, George, Collingwood. Butler, Ewen, Roxburgh. Grogan, William A., Miller's Flat. Lidicoat, R. H., Fern Flat. Butler, M. J., Kanieri. Hay, Jamos, Dunedin. Louden, Alexander, Clyde. Cameron, Samuel, Alexandra. Hedley, A., Cromwell. Luke, S. J., Alexandra.

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Drf.dgemasters' Certificates— continued. Issued without Examination under the Mining Act, 1898, and Amendment Acts, 1901 and 1902— continued. Magnus, A., Roxburgh. Neilson, S., Miller's Flat. Shore, T. M., Queenstown. Magnus, Olaf, Box 130a, Christchurch. Nioholson, W. E., Alexandra. Shore, William, Gore. Mailer, John, Stillwater. O'Leary, D., Waiau. Simonsen, Charles, Alexandra. Maitland, A. E., Miller's Flat. Olsen, Charles, Roxburgh. Skilton, A. G., Old Diggings. McClure, F. C, Rongahere. Parsons, J. D., jun., Clyde. Sligo, N. K., Ahaura. McDonnell, J., Cromwell. Peroy, John, Clyde. Smith, Alfred, Inangahua Junction. McCormack, D., Kanieri. Perkins, A. 0., Dunedin. Steel, Archibald, Kawarau Gorge. McDonald, E. A., Waitiri. Pettigrew, George, Nelson Creek. Steel, Thomas, Dunedin. McDonald, J.,Sofala. Poulter, G. W., Alexandra. Templeton, Ivio, Rongahere. McDonald, John, Cromwell. Pringle, John, Miller's Flat. Thompson, T., Miller's Flat. MoGeorge, J., Dunedin. Ray, J. C, TotaraFlat. Tough, John, Miller's Flat. McGeorge, Alexander, Dunedin. Reeder, Philip, Bald Hill Flat. Troy, G. C, Cromwell. McGregor, D., Kanieri. Rennie, Andrew, Roxburgh. Turnbull, W. D., Canvastown. McGrogor, G. R., Alexandra. Ross, Alexander, Cromwell. Tyson, John, Rongahere. Mcintosh, D. J., Lowburn Ferry. Ross, Robert, Alexandra. Von Haast, J. H., Clyde. McLean, D., Waitiri. Riohmond, J., Gibbston. Wallace, John A., Miller's Flat. McMath, D. C, Ross. Ritohie, J. S., Waitiri, Weaver, Charles, Alexandra. McMath, Thomas, Alexandra. Sanders, H. P., Clyde. Williamson, R., Miller's Flat. Mills, Edward, Murchison. Sanders, John, Cromwell. Williamson, Walter, Miller's Flat. Mitchell, D. A., Dunedin. Sanders, Thomas, Alexandra. Wilson, S. W., Waikaka Valley. Morel, C. G., Inangahua Junction. Schaumann, H., Alexandra. Wood, R. M., Cromwell. Morris, G. S., Cromwell. Scott, M. G., Alexandra. Woodhouse, W. S., Roxburgh. Murray, D., Clyde. Scott, Robert, Capleston. Young, Andrew, jun., Roxburgh. Murray, Madgefc, Cromwell. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 1901, 1902, 1905, and 1908. Anderson, Andrew, Alexandra South. Hewetson, Sydney, Nelson Creek. Nicholson, Charles S. G., Mataura. Anderson, Bertram, Maori Point. Hogg, J., Nevis. Noble, William, Alexandra. Anderson, G. 8., Roxburgh. Holden, Charles, jun., Cromwell. Olsen, Hans, Alexandra. Archer, D. J., Ngakawau. Holden, John, Cromwell. Omond, Thomas, Nevis. Baird, William G., Clyde. Hepburn, D. 0., Alexandra. Orkney, H. E., Cromwell. Bardsley, John James, Cromwell. Hughes, John L., Miller's Flat. Orr, H. T., Cromwell. Bate, H. T. G., Greymouth. Johnston, John, Maori Gully. Orr, William W., Cromwell. Bishop, Hugh Arthur, Collingwood. Johnston, Louis, Beaumont. Parker, P. R., Roxburgh. Blair, G., Abbotsford. Jones, David Rowland, Island Block. Paterson, J. 8., Miller's Flat. Borthwick, Robert, Alexandra. Jones, T. R., Miller's Flat. Patterson, J., Clyde. Bourke, John, Clyde. Junker, Frank J., Berlin's. Plumb, E. H., Maori Point. Brent, C. D., Cromwell. Kano, William, Clyde. Poppelwell, William, Alexandra. Briggans, Thomas, Alexandra. Kean, F. F., Waikaka. Rait, Hume, Albertown. Briggans, William, Alexandra. Kellett, C. H., Dunedin. Ray, J. F., Bannockburn. Broderick, T., Lyell. Kennedy, A., Ophir. Ray, Robert Marshall, Bannockburn. Bruce, J. A., Kawarau Gorge. Kitto, Henry, Alexandra South. Reiderer, Kdward, Cromwell. Burley, J. P., Westport. Kitto, John, Clyde. Reynolds, T., Greymouth. Burnside, Walter, Alexandra. Linney, William, Island Block. Ritchie, William John, Cromwell. Burton, A. P., Miller's Flat. Livingstone, D., Alexandra. Roberts, G., Three-channel Flat. Callaghan, E., Throe channel Flat. Lloyd, Arthur, Inangahua Junction. Robertson, D. J., Alexandra. Campbell, G. W. T., Alexandra. Lloyd, Hubert, Lyell. Robertson, W. R., Alexandra. Oarnegy, A., Three-channel Flat. MacDonald, C. J., Cromwell. Rooney, J. 8., Roxburgh. Carr, W., Alexandra. MacGinnis, J. A., Cromwell. Rumble, Charles, Ngahere. Carter, W. W., Sandy Point. MacGinnis, M. P., Alexandra. Rumble, Joseph, Miller's Flat. Chapman, Robert, Maori Point. MacLaren, John, Alexandra. Sanders, W. J., Ahaura. Clark, D., Callaghan's Creek. Marklund, C. 0., Lowburn E'erry. Saunders, C. E., Cromwell. Clarke, R. S. 8., Alexandra S. Mathews, James Halbert, Miller's Sawle, J., Cromwell. Coup, George, Albertown. Flat. Sawyer, J. F., Alexandra. Cox, R. D., Alexandra. Matthews, A. A., Three-channel Flat. Sherwood, T. W., Greymouth. Craig, D. A., Shag Point. Mayne, W. C, Nelson Creek. Simpson, Edward Robert, Cromwell. Croawell, James, Three-channel Flat. McDonald, C. J., Waitere. Sparrow, J. A., Upper Nevis. Curno, C. 8., Alexandra. McDonald, G., Alexandra. Spooner, A. E., Alexandra. Dalton, J. R., Three-channel Flat. McCallum, W. S,, Alexandra. Steele, Thomas, Alexandra. Dalzell, T. L., Cromwell. McGregor, Dougald S., Alexandra. Steele, W. H., Miller's Flat. Donaldson, John, Lawrence. McKenzie, John, Roxburgh. Taylor, Alexander, Alexandra. Downie, Henry, Totara Flat. MoKinnon, John, Alexandra. Taylor, J. T., Dunedin. Eaton, Edgar W., Alexandra. McLean, John. Roxburgh. Theyers, 0., Aloxandra. Elder, D. D., Roxburgh. Melvin, J. R., Roxburgh. Theyers, J. W., Alexandra. Fache, S. C, Gore. Merchant, Isaiah, Clyde. Turner, T. F., Moonlight. Faithful, Alfred, Bannockburn. Milne, John A., Roxburgh. Vickerman, E. M., Cromwell. Farmer, Nathan C, Miller's Flat. Moffitt, R. W., Miller's Flat. Walker, J. J., Alexandra South Farquharson, George, Alexandra. Mollison, William, Stillwater. Wasserbrenner, M., Alexandra. Findley, David, Dunedin. Moncrieff, Henry, Miller's Flat. Wathen, James, Miller's Flat. Fisher, Hurtle, Miller's Flat. Monson, C. H., Miller's Flat. Watson, E. H., Collingwood. Filippi, S. de, Westport. Morel, A. E., Noble's. Weaver, P., Alexandra. Foley, S., Lowburn Ferry. Morel, L. H., Inangahua Junction. Weir, R., Gore. Forno, D., Inangahua Junction. Morgan, Harold, Roxburgh. Weir, T. R., Cromwell. Fraser, W. J., Roxburgh. Morgan, John, Alexandra. Weir, W., Nevis. French, T. E. K., Three-channel Flat. Morris, V., Cromwell. Wescombe, Alfred L., Island Blook. Gibson, William H., Cromwell. Mouat, W. G., Greymouth. Westcott, P. A., Miller's Flat. Graham, Thomas Arthur, Gore. Munro, C. T., Waitiri. Williams, Frederick, Alexandra. Gunion, R. A., Alexandra. Munro, Hugh, Alexandra South. Wilson, George, Marsden. Gunn, W. E., Beaumont. Munro, R. F., Ross. Wilson, Stephen L., Inangahua Juno Guy, Donald, Cobden. Murray, H. 8., Cromwell. tion. Guyton, James, Dunedin. Murray, Robert John, Canvastown, Wood, W. W., Cromwell. Hanning, C. J., Clyde. Nelson, Edgar, Brunnerton. Woodhouse, F., Bannockburn. Hansen, H. C, Three-channel Flat. Nelson, George L., Brunnorton. Woodhouse, G. G., Waitiri. Harden, J., Stafford. Newiok, Albion Edgar Charles Ban- Wylde, G. R., Inangahua Junction. Harliwiok, Matthew, Roxburgh. nookbum.

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APPENDIX B. BEPOIvTS BELATINO TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. Tlie Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mtnes. g IR _ Wellington, 26th March, 1917. 1 have the honour to present my annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to the coal-mines of the Dominion, for the year ended 31st December, 1916. The report is divided into the following sections : — I. Output of Mineral. • 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. General Remarks — (a.) Mining Operations. (b.) Ventilation. (c.) Eye Accidents to Coal-hewers from Flying Coal. (d.) Systematic Timbering. Annexures— A. Summary of Annual Reports by Inspectors of Mines. 15. Report on tlie Brunner Fireclay-deposits by Inspectors of Mines, T. O. Bishop and James Newton. C. Statistics of Workings in Collieries. D. Examination of Colliery Officials, and List of Certificate-holders.

SECTION I.—OUTPUT. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows: —

Output of Coal during 1916. Total riiitniit. Total uutpul Class of Coal. to the Northern West Coast Southern T . , End of 1916. Distriot. Distriot. Distriot. i I i Total Output to the End of 1916. Total. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bitu- 126,536 1,285,538 ... 1,422,074 28,800,708 minous* Tons. Tons. 1,422,074 Tons. 28,800,708 Brown... ... ... 359,578 97 294,223 653,898 13,145,210 Lignite ... 181,163 181,163 2,144,253 294,223 181,163 653,898 181,163 13,145,210 2,144,253 Totals for 1916 ... 486,114 j 1,295,635 475,386 2,257,135 44,090,171 486,H4 I 1,295,635 2,257,135 44,090,171 Totals for 1915 ... 460,415 1,278,994 469,215 2,208,624 41,833,036 - I * Including coal formerly classified as "pitch " coal. The output for 1916 is, with the exception of 1914, the highest yet attained in the Dominion, but the average output for each person employed underground—viz., 750 tons—constitutes a record for New Zealand, and has only been exceeded in Australia on one occasion—viz., during

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1912, when the New South Wales average was 751 tons. These remarkable averages, which greatly exceed those attained in other parts of the Empire, are due to the unusual thickness of the coalseams generally, which is favourable to coal-mining. An analysis of the total output for 1916 shows that whereas there has been an increase of 10'21 per cent, in tonnage, the number of persons employed at collieries has declined 4 per cent. The increase in tonnage may be attributed to more regular work at the collieries. The decline in the number of miners is due to voluntary enlistment. The quantity of coal imported into New Zealand during 1916 was 293,956 tons, as compared with 353,471 tons for 1915. During 1916 no new collieries entered upon the production stage, but preparations to lay down one small colliery were commenced near A.voca, on the Christchurch - Arthur's Pass Railway, a distance of sixty miles by rail from the former, and at an altitude of about 1,800 ft. or more above sea-level. This proposed colliery is the property of a newly formed English company named Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited). The coal to be worked is a brown coal. At the following collieries operations ceased during the year owing either to exhaustion or the unprofitable nature of the operations: Ralph's, Mangapapa (Mokau), Springfield, and Allandale. The output of coal from each coalfield is as follows : —

The production from, and the number of persons employed at, the principal collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

Coalfield. Output during 1916. Total Output to End of 1916. r North Auckland Waikato (including Mokau) Nelson Buller Tons. 126,506 359,608 26,147 714,015 11,402 544,071 19,465 281,552 174,369 Tons. 3,512,634 4,560,665 308,671 14,401,071 264,509 8,710,458 718,597 8,853,137 2,760,429 Inangahua .. Grey Canterbury Otago Southland Totals 2,257,135 44,090,171

Name of Colliery. Locality. Class ol Coal. i for Total Output , to 31st December, 1916. Total Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Northern District. Hikurangi ... Hikurangi... Tons. Semi-bitu- 65,525 minous Tons. 65,522 Tons. 1,068,014 110 Taupiri Extended and Balph's Pukemiro ... ... ... Waipa ... Huntly Pukemiro... Glen Massey Brown ... 186,62c 81,585 qq mt 186,623 81,582 88,105 3,358,212 92,59-1 237,981! 386 122 108 88,10£ West Coast District. Millerton ... Deunisfcon Mangatini Dunollie ... Bituminous 274,785 274,782 245,659 189,430 140,917 4,972,665 ! 7,400,638 1,036,370 2,186,306 424 480 230 215 Coalbrookdale 245,655 1 on a o( Westport-Stockton I Point Elizabeth... State Coal-mines - (Liverpool Blackball Bewanui ... Blackball ... 189,43( Semi-bitu- 140, ■91'i minous Bituminous 136,921: flAO or i 136,928 203,811 243 325 326,615 2,455,865 203,81] Southern District. Kaitangata Nightcaps... Kaitangata and Castle Hill Nightcaps Brown ... 119,04* 119,045 84,166 3,400,221 1,181,011 325 113 84,16( Other New Zealand collieries All coalfields Various ... 440,56* 440,565 16,333,682 907 Totals 2,257,13! 2,257,135! 44,090,171 3,988

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SECTION II.-PERSONS EMPLOYED.

SECTION 111. -ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of coal-mining accidents during 1916, with their causes : —

The death-rate from accidents was 1"50 per 1,000 persons employed, or one death per 376,189 tons of coal produced and per 665 persons employed. This compares favourably with other countries where mining is also safeguarded by the law. Of the six fatal accidents four were due to falls of bituminous coal at West Coast collieries, and possibly three of these would not have occurred if greater care had been shown by the sufferers themselves. The fatal accidents to J. Robinson and E. Dando, however, appear to have been unavoidable by ordinary precautions, being incident to the hazard of the industry. In the description of these accidents following it will be seen that timber was used in proximity to all the places where fatalities occurred, but it failed to support the ground which fell. The extremely treacherous nature of the West Coast bituminous coal owing to absence of adhesion to the roof and frequency of coal-joints or sooty backs is not sufficiently realized by many miners, for although the law provides for systematic timbering, yet upon inspection cases are found at almost every mine where the specified distance between props and the face is exceeded, for which the miners are generally responsible; it is impracticable for deputies'or Inspectors to be übiquitous, There appears, therefore, small prospect of improvement unless miners are more appreciative of the danger. The only other fatality occurred to an aged man, H. Holmes, who inadvertently walked in front of a slowly moving railway-wagon under a coal-bin, and was run over. At North Tsland collieries, all of which are included in the inspection district of Mr. Boyd Bennie, no fatal accident occurred during 1916. It is also gratifying for me to record that during the past three years and a half there has not been a single fatal accident at the collieries of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, at which nearly a thousand persons are employed. This is a remarkable record, and is greatly to the credit of the colliery officials and to Mr. E. R. Creen, Inspector of Mines for those provincial districts which comprise the southern inspectorate.

I Averago Number of Persons employed nnber of Persons employed during .1916. , „. . during .1916. Inspection District, Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Below Ground. Total. Northern ... ... ... ... ... 209 629 838 West Coast ... ... ... ... ... 5.1.0 1,711 2,221 Southern ... ... ... ... ... 269 660 929 Totals, 1916 ... 988 3,000 3,988 Totals, 1915 ... ... ... 1,050 3,106 4,156 629 838 1,711 2,221 660 929 988 3,000 3,988 The annual decrease in the number of persons employed amounts to 4 per cent., whereas during he previous year it amounted to 13 per cent. Coal-miners are now exempted from compulsory military service if their appeal is supported jj the manager of the collier) 7 at which they are employed.

Fatal Ac icidonts. Serious Non[atal Accidents. i Number of Separate Fatal Aocidents. Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. Number ol Persons injured, including those injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coaldust Falls of ground Explosives... Haulage Miscellaneous —Underground... On surface ... 5 5 7 2 4 2 8 2 4 2 1 1 Totals 6 6 15 16

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Tlie following statement shows the tons of coal ami shale raised, persons employed, lives lost, &c, from 1878 to 1916: —

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Year. Output. Persons empi iyod. ed. Tons raised per each Person emTotal, ployed Underground. Tons raised por Life lost. Persons omployed per Life lost. Lives lost per Thousand Persons employed. Number of Deaths. Above. Below. Prior 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 709,931 162,218 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 480,831 511,063 534,353 558,620 613,895 586,445 637,397 668,794 673,315 691,548 719,546 726,654 792,851 840,713 907,033 975,234 1,093,990 1,239,686 1,365,040 1,420,229 1,537,838 1,585,756 1,729,536 1,831,009 1,860,975 1,911,247 2,197,362 2,066,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614 2,208,624 2,257,135 147 361 393 338 392 388 414 466 512 416 485 590 506 525 590 531 556 554 617 688 803 717 763 833 1,174 1,143 992 1,159 1,136 1,365 1,130 1,053 1, 176 1,050 988 366 888 890 1,145 1,213 1,111 1,275 1,251 1,334 1,277 1,196 L,298 1,393 1,274 1,347 1,381 1,447 1,599 1,843 2,066 2,082 2,135 2,525 2,436 2,518 2,767 2,902 3,032 3,463 2,925 3,198 3,197 3,558 3,106 3,000 513 443 802 1,038 963 1,043 1.249 475 1,283 540 1,483 456 1,605 440 1,499 503 1,689 481 1,717 468 1,84.6 477 1,693 523 1,681 563 1,888 533 1,899 516 1,799 618 1,937 588 1,912 609 2,003 627 2,153 609 2,460 593 2,754 600 2,885 655 2,852 665 3,288 609 3,269 651 3,692. 687 3,910 662 3,894 641 4,191 633 4,599 634 4,290 706 4,328 681 4.250 590 4,734 639 4,156 711 3,988 750 4,635 149,961 337,262 189,136 210,882 160,277 170,354 * 139,655 153,474 146,611 79,674 167 ,198 673,315 138,309 119,924 145,331 12,013 210,178 907,033 325,078 273,497 413,228 682,520 355,057 384,459 264,293 288,256 152,584 372,195 273,035 137,335 147,577 241,975 314,667 46,441 245,403 376,189 23 519 963 521 624 421 494 375 422 313 231 423 1,681 377 316 360 29 478 2,003 717 615 918 1,443 713 822 546 615 326 778 599 283 306 355 708 96* 462 665 41-00 1-92 1-04 1-91 1-60 234 2-01 2-66 2-36 2-37 4-33 2-36 0-66 2 64 3-16 3-33 34-07 2-09 0-49 1-39 1-62 1-09 0-69 1-40 1-21 1-83 1-62 3-07 1-28 1-79 3-55 3-26 2-08 1-38 10-35 2-16 1-50 0 35 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 0 4 4 4 8 4 1 5 6 5 66 } 4 1 3 4 3 2 4 4 6 6 12 5 7 16 14 9 6 49§ 9 6 Totals... 44,104,614 325 ♦No life 1 ixplosion. rat. t Year o: Kaitangi ,ta explosr m. { Ye; ir of Brun: ier explosion. § Year of Ralph's (Huntly)

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The following is a brief description of fatal accidents in connection with coal-mining operations during 1916 :—

Date. Name and Situation of Mine. Xanie, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Cause of Accident, Nature of Injuries, and Remarks. 12 Jan. .. Big River Coal-mine, near Reefton George William Scott (32), miner His skull was fractured by a fall of coal and stone from the roof while he was picking down soft loose coal in a place that was very well timbered, but from which he had unwisely removed the top laths to facilitate getting the coal. Falls occurred when he was underneath the unprotected coal. His skull was fractured by a piece of coal weighing about 2 ewt. or 3 cwt. falling upon him while he was trimming down loose coal after a shot had been fired. In trying to escape he slipped and fell, the coal falling upon him. The coal was hard, and the place well supported by props. This appears to be an accident of the unpreventable class. He and his brother were winning 4 ft. of top coal overlying timber-sets in a bord about 18 ft. wide. A timber-set swung and carried with it the two adjacent sets, spaced approximately 3 ft. apart. The coal and roof-clay fell, immediately burying deceased and crushing him to death. There was no evidence to indicate what caused the timber to collapse, but it is surmised that it was loosened by blasting ; it was properly erected in the opinion of deceased's brother and the colliery officials. Immediately before the accident deceased had warned his brother that if he heard any noise from the roof or timber to get back quick ; he then said, " Listen ! get back quick " ; they both jumped away, but too late to save themselves from being buried ; the brother was not seriously hurt. He and his mate were working in a bord widening a face from 16 ft. to 18 ft. The bord was excellently timbered with sets, but the rib being widened was overhanging and had no sprag. He was standing between the timber and the rib side when a fall of about 10 cwt. of coal occurred without warning, striking him on the head, causing his death two days later. After the fail a well-defined " sooty back " was exposed. About two hours and a half before the accident a deputy had examined the place and considered it safe. This fatahty would not have occurred if the overhanging coal had been properly spragged. No reliance can be placed on so-called " arching " of top coal when the roof is of claystone or sandstone as at the West Coast collieries ; bituminous coal is most treacherous. The usual blame is attached to " sooty " and other " backs," when it should be placed on those responsible for adequate support of the coal. While crossing one of the railway 7 -wagon lines under the coal-storage bins in the afternoon, presumably on his way to the mine office with the time-book, he was knocked down and run over by an approaching wagon, his thighs being broken ; he subsequently stated that he saw the wagon approaching. He died from shock the same evening. No blame appears to be attachable to any one ; the deceased, owing to his age, was not active, and misjudged his ability to avoid the wagon. John Hart, a shiftman, was putting up a new bar to supplement another that gave signs of breaking, in a level at the corner of a pillar which was being extracted. At about noon deceased, who was working at his place about 20 y 7 ards away, came to Hart, and with a deputy rendered assistance by steadying the props while the bar was being wedged to the roof ; without warning a large splintered stone, which had been held up by 7 a lath, fell from the roof on to deceased, causing internal injuries from which he died that night. The shiftman and the examining deputy stated at the inquest that there was no indication of danger prior to the fall. The Inspector of Mines had found during recent inspections the locality to be well timbered. The spUntering and fall of rock was probably due to " bumping " of the roof as a result of the pillar-extraction. 13 Jan. .. Millerton Colliery, Millerton I Joseph Robinson (44), miner 8 Mar. .. Blackball Colliery, Blackball Albert Grindle (30), miner 13 Sept. .. Blackball Colliery, Blackball John William Hartman (47), miner 17 Nov. .. Denniston Colliery, Denniston .. 4 Dec. .. Brunner Colliery 7 , Brunnerton Hugh Holmes (70), foreman at screens Edward Da-ndo (41), miner I

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SECTION IV.—GENERAL REMARKS. (a.) Mining Operations. North Auckland Goalfield. No new collieries have been laid down on this coalfield during the year, and those in operation are not extensive. The workable coal-deposits have proved small in area, and this necessitates mining operations in several separate sections at the principal mines near Hikurangi. Uikurangi ColUery.— Thexe has been a small decline in the annual output. Owing to flooding by surface water collected in swamps, considerable inconvenience has been experienced in the deep workings in tlie vicinity of the limestone rocks; ventilation also has been impaired. The area remaining unworked does not appear extensive. Northern Golliery. —The Northern Coal Company has obtained output from three sections— viz., the Northern, the Waro, and the Crown Lease sections. At the Northern section the available coal is being rapidly removed by pillar-extraction, and this section will be exhausted very shortly. The Crown Lease has been let on contract, and has produced a small output. At the Waro section operations have been suspended awaiting the installation of pumps. Waikato Goalfield. Ralph's Golliery. —Since the explosion in 1914 at (his colliery a large sum of money has been expended on the restoration of the mine and improvement in the ventilating plant and system, and it is to be regretted that, owing to the unprofitable nature of the operations, after an active life of twenty-five years, the mine has now been closed. During this period about 275 acres of coal has been worked by bords, but owing to surface water and the indifferent cover the pillars have not been extracted. A total output of 1,368,236 tons had been obtained at the end of 1916. Towards the close of operations the area of unworked coal had become restricted. To the northward the mine was bounded by the Taupiri Extended Colliery barrier; to the southward by faulting and erosion of the fireclay cover and by overlying water; to the northward the coal-seam outcropped under pumice sand which in places was waterlogged; to the southward under Lake Waahi the seam thinned. The remaining coal to the southward may be more advantageously worked from the Taupiri Extended Colliery. Before ceasing operations a strong rectangular reinforced-concrete dam was constructed in coal in the single heading connecting the Ralph's and Taupiri West shafts, at a point about 39 chains north-east from Taupiri West shaft; this dam should effectively isolate the workings of Ralph's Colliery from the unworked coal area under Lake Waahi, which is necessary, as falls of cover in Ralph's Colliery have been frequent and have required constant attention; now this attention has ceased, it is therefore only a question of time when the mine-workings will become connected with the River Waikato or its ramifications, and permanent flooding of the workings will result. Taupiri Extended Golliery. —At this, the most productive colliery of the North Island, there has been a considerable decline in output, possibly owing to shortage of hewers. The mineworkings are now being carried on at a distance of about a mile to the north and west of the shafts and to the dip of the coal-seam; the cost of haulage has become considerable. Towards the end of the year the seventeen dams referred to in my last annual report were completed. Instead of spherical dams of kauri as originally planned, Mr. James Bishop, the General Manager of the company, constructed rectangular dams of reinforced concrete, well rammed into approved sites excavated in sound brown coal. After the concrete had set, by means of perforated pipe built into the structure at its juncture with the coal-seam, Portland cement was forced at a pressure of about 300 lb. per square inch into any interstices which might exist. These dams have been constructed in accordance with (lie most modern principles, and in my opinion may be thoroughly relied upon to protect the mine in case of irruption of water in the zone now isolated by them. The ventilation of this colliery has attained a high degree of excellence, and is referred to in detail in my remarks on ventilation contained in this report. By the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), the owners of the Extended and Ralph's Collieries, a new mine is being laid down at A.waroa, on the foothills, about 70 chains to the south of the Huntly to Pukemiro Railway, and at a, distance of about six miles from Huntly. An extensive area of brown coal has been proved by outcrops and drilling, the coal-seam varying between 7 ft. and 14 ft. in thickness. A short branch railway line and sidings to connect the proposed mine with the Government railways is being constructed; other preliminary works are also being carried out. Mining operations on this coal area, being on elevated ground, will not be inconvenienced by surface water, as experienced at the other collieries of this company, and pillars may therefore be extracted. At Waipa Golliery the output has declined. Underground development has proved a formidable north and south fault with an upthrow of 160 ft. to the west, at which the mine-workings in the two principal adit sections are now standing, but by means of an inclined surface tramway and short stone drive the coal behind the fault will be worked. Pukemiro Golliery has considerably increased its annual output. At this colliery the surface arrangements and method of mining adopted are up to date both as regards economy and safely. A new section is being developed across the valley where there is evidence of the existence of a considerable area of unfaulted ground. Puller Goalfield. Goalbrookdale Golliery (Denniston). —The annual output continues to decline ax (he distance oi haulage increases, in addition to which shortage of miners has contributed (o the decrease. The principal operations are being carried out in the Cascade dip and No. S sections, where the

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mining is confined to pillar-extraction, and in the Wareatea section, where solid work — i.e., the driving of bords -is in progress. In the last-named section the coal is considerably fractured, and "sooty backs" occur frequently; for this reason it is advisable that props and bars shall be more extensively used in preference to props and cap-pieces. Iron Bridge Golliery (Denniston). —Development has proved a considerable area of workable coal on the northern side of the Waimangaroa River towards the old Koranui Mine, also in the direction of Mount William. Pillars are being extracted in the older sections of this mine. There still remains a huge quantity oi' high-quality bituminous coal at the Denniston collieries. Millerlon Golliery. —Operations at this, the most productive colliery in the Dominion, have been chiefly carried on at the Old Dip, No. 4 west and No. G pillars, and Mangatini sections. Tlie coal reserves on this property are extensive. West port-Stockton Golliery. —There has been a large increase in the coal-output, due to a better market for the soft pillar coal contained in the first-worked area adjoining the tunnels in the electric haulage-road. Development in the new eastern area has been fairly satisfactory. Seddonville State Golliery Reserve. —For the purpose of testing the quality of the coal proved by boring near Charming Creek during 1911 and 1912 (a plan of which accompanies my annual report for 1911), two shafts have recently been sunk to the floor of the coal-seam at sites immediately adjoining boreholes No. 5 and No. 10, 40 chains apart, between Muir Brook and Frank Brook, tributaries of Charming Creek. The first of these shafts entered the coal-seam at a depth of 76 ft., and the thickness of the seam (including an irregular stone bund of about 5 in. at 11 ft. from the roof) is 20 ft. 6 in. The coal was hard throughout. Aboul 1,300 gallons of water per hour was encountered in the No. 5 shaft (of 6 ft. by 3 ft. dimensions). In the second shaft, near No. 10 bore (which is 7 ft. by 3 ft.), at a depth of 115 ft., the coal-seam was found to be 20 ft. in thickness, a clay band \ in. in thickness occurring II ft. from the roof. The coal was hard and clean throughout. About 800 gallons of water per hour percolated into the shaft from the sandstone penetrated. The Dominion Analyst has made the following analyses of coal from the shaft near No. 5 bore : —

About 200 acres of workable coal lias been proved by systematic boring in the Charming Creek basin, and between one and a. half to two million tons are obtainable therefrom. It remains to be proved whether the exploitation of this area for a State colliery is warranted. Grey Goalfield. Liverpool Stale Colliery, —Three separate sections are being worked in proximity to the main endless-rope haulage incline. At No. I mine, situated at the top of the incline, two coalseams are being worked, both friable and in places soft. The upper seam probably does not exceed 70 acres in extent, most of which is now standing on pillars, a few having been extracted. The lower, or "Morgan " seam, entered by a cross-measure drift from the upper seam, is of greater extent, about 100 acres having been proved by boreholes and outcrops. This seam averages about 17 ft. in thickness and contains a thick band of stone; mining operations on it have but recently commenced. No. 3a section is but a small development, about one mil • and a quarter south of No. 1 section, on a thin seam of limited extent. No. 3 section, near the coal-storage and screening plant at the bottom of the incline near Rewanui, has produced coal of greater hardness than that of the other sections of the Liverpool Mine. It showed prospects of developing into a good mine when, during 1916, operations to the north-westward encountered a formidable downthrow fault which reduces the area, over which profitable coal was expected. In. equipment and mining methods (his is the most up-to-date colliery in the Dominion if not in Australasia. Electrical power drives all machinery. Imperial-permitted explosives and electric miners' lamps only are used. Modern bathhouses with warm-water showers to the British standard are installed at both Nos. 1 and 3 sections. Ventilation is adduced by fans of Sirocco type, with self-recording water-gauges, at every section.

Top Coal. Bottom Coal. General Sample. Fixed carbon Volatile hydrocarbons Water Ash' .. 56-32 40-34 2-04 1-30 54-14 13-10 143 1-03 54-65 42-23 1-37 1-75 100*00 100-00 100-00 Sulphur, per cent. Specific gravity Calories, per gramme B.T.U., por pound Calculated evaporative power per pound .. Practical evaporative power, assuming 60 per cent, efficiency 4-720 1-280 5-350 1-285 5-070 1-275 7,858 14,144 14-66 8-80

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Point Elizabeth Stale Golliery. —This profitable old colliery is in the last stages of pillarextraction, and but little coal remains to be won; within a year in all probability the mine will be exhausted of coal. It is gratifying to report thai there has not been a fatal accident at any State colliery since l!)L2, notwithstanding that an average of about 450 persons have been ordinarily employed. 1 have always found the ventilation, both as regards quantity and distribution, excellent. Blackball Golliery. —A small decline in annual output has been experienced. Development has been extended both. Io the rise and dip of the mine. Water in considerable quantity has hindered mining in No. 2 section. There has been i rouble from spontaneous heating, but by the panel system here adopted affected areas have been stopped off and thus isolated. A commodious bathhouse was erected at this colliery during the year. No other coal-mining of much importance was carried on during 1916 at West Coast collieries. Broken Eiver Goalfield, Canterbury. At Broken River, near Avooa Railway-station, on the Mast and West Coast Railway, sixty miles north-west from Christchurch, the Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited), an English company, is laying down a colliery to work the brown-coal seam of from 5 ft. to 13 ft. in thickness, for many years known to exist on Cloudesley's freehold which, with other land, has been acquired by the company. A surface haulage tramway three miles and a quarter in length from the mine at Broken River to Avoca Station lias been partly constructed. This will consist of four sections, as follows : From tin; mine for half a mile down the river-bank, locomotive traction, gradient about I in 80 ; thence up an incline 30 chains in length to Avoca. Flat, having a gradient of about' I. in 2|, rope-haulage by steam power; thence across Avoca Flal by locomotive traction for about (wo miles, gradient about 1 in 71; and from thence for 30 chains by endless-rope, self-acting, to the railway-sidings at Avoca Station. The railway-sidings, screening, and power plant have not yet been commenced. The plant is being laid down to handle an output of about 400 tons per day. The above operations are being carried out for the owners by Mr. J. A. C. Bayne, mining engineer, of Roa, Westland. Otago Coalfields. Kaitangata No. 1 Colliery.- The principal colliery of the group of three collieries, the property of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, is Kaitangata No. I, where the mine is worked in three sections on the panel system, owing to the great liability to spontaneous heating. The claystone floor of tlie coal-seam, owing to creep, is a great and constant hindrance to profitable mining. This being the most gaseous colliery in the Dominion, British-permitted explosives and safety-lamps only are used. The coal is of superior quality, and the demand for it greatly exceeds the output. Shortage of miners is a serious problem here. The ventilation at this colliery has greatly improved of late, especially as regards distribution. In the past there seems to have existed a vague opinion that by increasing the air-current fires would be created, whereas the reverse is the case, for the greater the volume of air passing over the exposed coal-surfaces the lower will be the temperature of such surfaces. Kaitangata No. '2 and Castle Hill Collieries are smaller mines worked in. a similar manner to No. 1, but less gaseous. At the former colliery heating of coal frequently occurs with consequent reduction of oxygen in the mine-air, in addition lo a very bad creep, (liese being the chief obstacles here contended with. At the Kaitangata collieries the main haulage-roads are lined when passing through heated coal or fire-zones with steel plates lagged with timber slabs supported on frames of heavy steel rails. This steel lining of haulage-roads has proved effective in cases where many thicknesses of brick arching had previously failed; the construction of the latter is therefore now discontinued. Electricity at Collieries. During 1916 (here has been practically no increase in the number or capacity of electrical installations. The following is a summary of the annual returns in accordance with Regulation 160 (c), regarding electrical apparatus at collieries : — Number of collieries at which electrical apparatus is installed ... 13 ~ continuous-current installations ... ... ... 10 ~ alternating-current installations ... ... ... 2 ~ collieries electrically lighted ... ... ... ... 12 ~ collieries using electrical ventilating-machines ... ... 7 ~ ~ pumping plants • ... ... 5 !> ~ haulage plants ... ... 7 ~ screening plants ... ... 2 miscellaneous plants ... ... 3 >. ~ locomotives ... ... ... 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface ... ... ... 1,740 »> ~ underground ... ... 671 (b.) Ventilation. The ventilation of New Zealand collieries has attained a high standard. The results shown by the accompanying tabulated analyses of the state of ventilation and contents of the mine-air at the two most f u ;lsi; <>us mines in the Dominion, is of considerable interest which all concerned may justly take credit for. At Taupiri Extended Colliery, Huntly, in the Auckland Provincial District, fire-damp was detected by safety-lamp and reported by examining officials on thirty-three days during 1916, the largest quantity found at one place being 200 cubic feet of gaseous mixture. The method of mining is bord and pillar; there is no goaf.

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At the adjoining Ralph's Colliery a disastrous explosion occurred during 1914 (when naked lights were in use), originating from gas from a blower in an old standing pillar area. A few days after the explosion I measured an accumulation of 350,000 cubic feet of explosive mixture, and took several samples in duplicate therefrom, using an electric safety-lamp for a Light. The richest sample contained—.Methane, 48'1 per cent.; oxygen, 10'10 per cent. At, Kaitangata No. I Colliery, in the Otago Provincial District, tire-damp was detected by safety-lamp and reported by examining officials on forty-four days during 1916, the largest quantity found at one place being 250 cubic feet of gaseous mixture. With falling barometer there occurs an efflux of gas from goaf; there is also apparent liberation of occluded gas at the coal-faces. Bord and pillar on the panel system is here adopted. During 1879, when naked lights were in use, a disastrous explosion occurred at this colliery by reason of a naked light being carried into unexamined old workings, as at Ralph's during 1914, before mentioned. _ The brown coal mined in the Waikato and Kaitangata districts has the following composition : — Taupiri Kaitangata Extended. No. 1. Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... 44'23 38'00 Hydrocarbon ... ... ... ... ... 41'07 39-90 Water ... ... ... ... ... ... 13-14 18-22 Ash ... ... ... ... ... ... 1-56 3'82 Sulphur, per cent. ... ... ... ... ... 0'32 5'40 The quantity of air circulating was measured by me by means of two new anemometers of Biram-Davis type; the temperature was taken with the Davis miners' hygrometer. The analyses of mine-air are by J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc, F.C.H., Dominion Analyst.' In these investigations 1 received valuable assistance from Inspectors Boyd Bennie ami E. 'li. Green in their respective districts.

Analyses of Ventilation and of Mine-air.

•Name of Colliery and of Ventilating Distriot. I ' A I r n I 1) r IV vmin-iTT\ -n i-v /"I *-*■■- w ■!■ ■ ■— - Quantity of Number of Q , u . 1 ?.'' ty In Degrees I 1 . Analysis of Boturn Air. Air Persons ptJJ-J, _ circulating in ° on Minute. UiStllCt ' MiLtc.. ™ CII 4 . CO, Oxyge CO 2 . Oxygen. Tacpiri Extended Colliery. (28/2/17, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.) North side, No. 5 lovol east (tail-rope soction) North side, No. 5 level west Iacpiri Extended Colliery. (28/2/17, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.) h side, No. 5 lovol east (tail-rope section h side, No. 5 level wost U ,,:,!.. AT,, tx 1 1 j. Por Per Cub. Ft. Cub. Ft. Deg. Deg. Per Cent. Cent. Cent i) 11,328 41 276 67-5 68*5 0'02 0'10 20'7 8,096 14 578 66 67 loss than 0'08 20'8 0-02 Cub. Ft. 11,328 8,096 Per Cent. 0-10 0-08 Per Cent. 20-73 20-82 41 14 North side, No. 6 level east North side, No. 6 dip west .h side, No. 6 level east .li side, No. 6 dip west t side, No. 4 dip t sido, No. 4 level 3,502 10 350 68 69 5,971 43 139 69 70 less than 0'10 20'7 0-02 16,308 ' 45 . 362 68 69 Ditto 0'10 20'8 9,243 36 229 70 71 „ 0'05 20-8 3.502 5,971 10 43 o-io 20-75 West side, No. 4 dip Wost side, No. 4 level 16,308 i 9,243 45 36 o-io 0-05 20-80 20-86 Total effective in all ventilating districts Scaling and leakage .1 ollooti vo in all ventilating districts nxr anil lpn.lcn.o-r> 54,448 .. .. ..- QO QfCO CtA 54,448 32,852 I 24 ng anu leakage 32,852 24 Main return at upcast shaft Remarks. —Barometer, 30'10", rising. Thermomotor in shade at surface, 4 p.m. : Wet bulb, 60-5"; dry bulb, 69°. Sirocco fan. Watergauge, 1-2". R.P.M. 280. r return at upcast shaft 87,300 .. .. 69 69-5 .. 009 20-6 87,300 0-09 20-04 Kaitanqata No. 1 Colliery. (16/1/17, 9 a.m. to noon.) Main-seam district | 0-18 1 0-20 I 0-44 I 0-40 0-28 0-30 0-22 0-22 20-68 20-64 20-50 20-53 5,906 j 6 984 Extension district 5,751 13 442 No. 6 and Mundy's distriot 11,521 31 (and 2 horses) 332 Total effective in all ventilating districts Sealing and leakage 23,178 9,309 20 (and 9 horses) 195 Main return at upcast shaft 32,487 f 0-43 1 0-40 0-30 0-32 20-46 20-48 Remarks.— Barometer, 30'25",steady. Sirocco fan. Water-gauge, P3". Kaitangata No. 2 Colliery. (17/1/17, 9 a.m. to noon.) Main-workings district Six-foot-seam district 8,679 3,040 32 5 (and 1 horse) 271 488 Total effoctivo in all ventilating districts Scaling and leakage 11,719 5,451 8 (and 2 horses) 531 Main return at fan drift Remarks. —Barometer, 29-84", falling. Sirocco fan. Heating of coal-seam in evidence. 17,170 j 0-22 1 0-25 0-48 0-48 20-17 20-09 * Where horses were employed, a deduction of (JOU cubic feet rro leen computed. r horse por rinute has leell iiihi le befon tho miani ;ity per lurson has

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From a consideration of the foregoing results the following deductions may be made : — 1. That no quantity standard —viz., a minimum of a certain quantity of air per man per minute—is applicable to all mines or lo all the ventilating districts of one mine, for it will be seen that in the case of Taupiri Extended No. C dip west there was the least air circulating per man per minute in any of the mines—viz., 139 ft.—of all the measurements taken, yet the oxygencontents of the return air were 20'75 per cent., almost the highest in the series. Obviously any standard should be in the oxygen-contents — i.e., a quality standard. 2. That the New Zealand law (copied from the British law) that no lamp or light other than a locked safety-lamp shall be allowed or used in any seam where the air-current in any return airway from the ventilating district is found normally to contain \ per centum of inflammable gas is entirely too lax as a qualification for the installation of safety-lamps. It will be seen that in no case at either colliery did the return air contain that quantity of inflammable gas, yet the conditions necessary for a disastrous explosion have occurred at Kaitangata and Ralph's (adjoining the. Extended). The statutory provision appears to overlook the possibility of blowers and accumulations of gas in old workings therefrom, and that the contents of the mine-air vary greatly. I generally find an appreciable increase in return air from occluded gas towards the, end of a shift— i.e., if much coal has been broken during the shift. 3. The air throughout the Taupiri Extended Colliery is permanently saturated to the extent of at least 94 per cent.*, and the coal contains water to the extent of 13'14 per cent., yet notwithstanding this the dust contained in the mine is so highly inflammable and combustible that after the Ralph's explosion, in which the dust was proved to have taken a very considerable part, without the aid of a microscope it was impossible to find the least trace of charred particles in the mine. Experiments by Dr. Maclaurin to determine the inflammability of Ralph's (and Taupiri Extended) cosil proved that the relative distances to which flame was projected by such coaldust in comparison with dust from some other mines were as follows : — Ralph's or Taupiri Extended (brown coal) ... ... ... ... 20 Westport-Stockton, New Zealand (bituminous) ... "... ... 16 Aberdare, New South Wales (bituminous) ... ... ... ... 13 Wales (anthracite) ... ... ... ... ... ... 2J The sample of the first-named contained 13'14 per cent, water and T56 per cent. ash. Notwithstanding the humidity of the mine-air and the hydrous nature of the coal at Ralph's colliery, the subsequent dust-explosion was of great violence, nearly every one of the forty-three bodies recovered being mutilated. These facts may be of interest as serving to prevent undue importance being attached (in England especially) to the alleged advantage of humidity in mine-air as an allayer of coaldust and preventive more or less of coaldust-ignition. (c.) Eye Accidents to Coal-hewebs owing to Flying Fragments of Coal. During 1902 attention was first officially drawn to the prevalence of eye accidents by Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines for the Southern District, who reported that during 1899, 1900, and 1901 twenty-two coal-miners met with accidents to the eyes, principally resulting in ulceration of the cornea, the eyesight being badly affected in six cases, while in four others the sight of one eye was lost. At that time shields constructed of wire gauze, Bby 8 mesh (to an inch), and about 5 in. by 3 in., the edges being bound by leather, were occasionally worn by hewers at Kaitangata when flying coal was expected. On the recommendation of Inspector Green a notice re eye accidents was printed on calico and exhibited at most of the New Zealand collieries. This notice was drafted by Dr. James Fitzgerald, eye specialist, of Dunedin. Extracts therefrom accompany this report.

The following is a summary of eye accidents owing to flying coal during 1915 and 1916 :—

Number of Eyo Acoi- I XT ' _, r „ dents causing Loss of ! Number of Days off Work. Work * Inspection Distriot. Maximum ! . 1915. 1916. for any Average Case. | Case. )f Eyo Acoi- j sing Loss of I brk. 1916. Maximum for any Case. Number c W< >f Days off irk. Average per Case. Northern (North Island) .. .. .. .. 38 32 171 18-13 West Coast (Nelson and Westland) .. .. .. ? 8 7 140 26-46 Southern (Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) .. .. 12 10 118 33-36 32 7 10 171 1.40 118 18-13 26-46 33-36 Totals .. .... .. 58 49 58 49 In some cases the total loss of an eye was suffered. In the Northern District the eye accidents amounted to 17*71 per cent, of all accidents at coal-mines during 1915 and 1916. * The relative humidity of the mine-air is not appreciably due to artificial methods of watering to allay coaldust, the haulage-roads and travolling-roads being only occasionally watered.

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The following is a list of the collieries where such accidents occurred during 1915 and 1916 :—

It will be observed that collieries at which brown coal is mined are those at which eye accidents are most frequent. Sufferers by eye accidents are entitled under the Workers' Compensation Act to receive, while off work, one-half their average wage (assessed on the twelve months prior to the accident), and if an eye is lost the compensation payable is 30 per cent, of the .£SOO maximum. In addition, 12s. 6d. per week is paid from the Coal-miners' Relief Fund; also, if the sufferer is a member of a registered benefit society a, further payment of 12s. 6d. per week from such society. At the above rates then- has been received by sufferers from eye accidents during 191.5 and 1916 compensation or relief te the amount of .£1,400; but no money payment can compensate for the loss of eyesight, and preventive measures in the form of a gauze shield arc necessary. In mines where safety-lamps are required to be used a better light might be obtained if miners' electric lamps were installed. The wearing of such shields is far an inconvenience than the compulsory (and absolutely necessary) use of water-jets or sprays at metal-mines when maehinedrilling in rods. For breaches of this regulation miners have been heavily fined, anil the regulation was proposed by the union officials themselves. At th<' West Coast collieries, the lignite-pits of Otago and Southland, and at the Hikurangi collieries, eye accidents are so few that any regulation which may be decided upon need not have application at those places. The following is an extract from the official notice re "Eye Accidents," by Dr. James Fitzgerald, of Dunedin :— I'veuentive Measures. 1. Tho wearing of goggles or a shield of wire gauze in places where there is a likelihood of meeting " proud coal." Note. —A shield of gauze 61 in. by 5 in., 64-mesh (i.e., 8 by 8) to the square inch, is generally more suitable than goggles. They can be made, bound with a piece of soft leather for the forehead, with tapes fur tying, at a cost of about 9d. each. 2. As soon as eye accident received, report to manager, and proceed to nearest medical man at mice. Do not say it is trivial, but look on it as a serious affair. There is danger in delay. Do not wait until the shift is over. Do not hesitate, if working on night shift, to knock up the doctor. The doctor would prefer to attend to the case at once rather than have an anxious attendance of weeks on the case if patient delays seeking aid. Do not allow any "handy man" about the pit to use penknives, needles, pins, <fcc., trying to extract bits of coal, fires from pick-point, &c. These knives, eve., as a rule, arc unclean anil dangerous, and apt to set up mischief in themselves.. Avoid the "handy man " and proceed to the surgery at once. In cases where no medical: man is available report at once to the manager of mine. The manager should have by him the following : (a) Boracic-acid lotion (saturated—that is, 1 part to 20); (b) perchloride-of-mercury solution (strength, 1 to 4,000); (c) solution of hydrochlorate of cocaine, 5 per cent. ; (d) a dropping-pipette; (e) plain absorbent cotton-wool. The eye should be well bathed with warm solutions of boracic-acid or perchloride-of-mercurv solutions. Manner of bathing ■ Soak some cotton-wool in lotion and allow the solution to drip into eye, separating the eyelids to allow of this. This should be done frequently, and will ease pain as well as go far to ward off subsequent inflammation. If much pain experienced with a "pipette," drop one drop of cocaine solution into the eye, and repeat the operation in five minutes, and again in ten minutes. If no medical man available manager should send patient to the nearest hospital at once. (d.) Systematic Timbering.' The most prolific cause of fatal colliery accidents is fall of ground, especial]-.' of top coal containing "sooty backs" or other concealed joints. To prevent such accidents systematic

Northern District. West Coast District. Southern Distri ict. Colliery. Number of Eyo Accidents. I Number of Colliery. Eye Accidents. Colliery. Number of Eye Accidents. Ralph's and Extended. .. Pukemiro Co-operative (Hikurangi) Waipa Hikurangi 54: 6 ] 9 1 Millerton Point Elizabeth Liverpool North Cape Stockton Blackball Denniston 4 1 1 1 4 1 3 Kaitangata Nightcaps Small pits 5 2 14 Total Total 71 Total 15 21

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timbering is now required by the law. The recommendation contained, on page 10 of the Report of the Royal, Commission on Mines, 1911, that the members of the Commission "are of opinion that provisions similar to those of the British Coal-mines Act, 1911, on systematic support of roof and sides should be incorporated in the Coal-mines Act of this Dominion'.' was unanimously endorsed at a conference of all Inspectors of Mines held in Wellington during November, 1914; and after discussion and examination of witnesses by the parliamentary Mines Committee, 1914, the British law regarding systematic timbering was adopted verbatim and became law in regulation 56 under the Coal-mines Ad, with an extra clause that an Additional Rules Committee, if set up by the Minister, might have power to vary the regulation, which now provides that where timber is used to support the roof at the working-face, and all parts of a, roadway the roof or sides of which require support, shall be systematically and adequately supported at such regular intervals and in such manner as shall he specified in a notice by the mine-manager. It is also provided that if -the Inspector considers the system of supporting the roof and sides adopted in any part of a mine is unsatisfactory he may require tlie manager to fix some less distance or otherwise modify the system, and tlie manager shall comply with the requisition. If complied with conscientiously the regulation regarding systematic timbering is probably one of the most satisfactory measures ever introduced in this Dominion for the safety of persons employed in our coal-mines. Inspection shows, however, that miners on the West Coast frequently neglect to erect timber within the specified distance of the working-face, with the result that lives are being lost chiefly through the carelessness of the sufferers. Hitherto there has not been any appeal by miners to an Additional Rules Committee to vary the specification regarding the maximum interval and manner of timbering notified by the manager and approved by the Inspector. The following are the maximum intervals allowed at the principal collieries : —

The distance between holing props or sprags, also between faee-sprags, is 5 ft. in accordance with Special Rule .'l6. The penalty for breaches of the regulations shall for a first offence not exceed .£5, and for a second or subsequent offence shall not exceed £10. I have, &o, Frank Reed, Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Mines.

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line of "olliery. Systematic Timbering. « s (Vide Regulation 58.) e S 1! a Ft. in. Between each row of props .. 6 0 Between adjacent props in the 0 0 same row Between the front row of props 7 0 and the face +H Hi JJ +j ej a>S OJr/j is ■5 Hi cj es s OJ.Jh hh. res _cj S3 o o fl <v ii S3 O *5 & dn aj & cs o c o ft S o 1=1 <JE a XH zs -HI a 5 * ix i i a & CJ2 u 3 .5 *£ 5« S g u i° «rji ;" ih P ft \4 ftx P* Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft, in. 5 0 4 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 6 0 6 0 4 0 0 0 6 0 8 0 Ft. in. 6 0 (i 0 Ft. in. 6 0 6 0 Ft. in. 6 0 6 0 Ft. in. 4 0 4 0 Ft. in. 6 0 Ft. in. 3 6 3 6 Ft. in. 0 0 6 0 Ft. in. 4 0 r, o 7 6 7 6 7 8 7 6 4 6 0 0 5 o

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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northern Inspection District. (Mr. Boyd Bbnnie, Inspector.) Taupiri Extended Mine. —The main workings are located in the south-west and north-west dip sections. The bords are 12 ft. to 16 ft. high, with 5 ft. to 6 ft. of coal left on the roof as a protection against falls. The general working-conditions of the mine are satisfactory. • As a result of the arbitration case. Inspector of Mines -v. Taupiri Collieries, of November, 1915, and a conference held on the 25th March between the directors and management of the colliery, the Miners' Union representatives, and myself, seventeen concrete dams reinforced with steel rails were built in drives. These dams were completed in December, 191.6, and shut off all the disused old workings east of the shafts, including the drives underlying Lake Hakanoa and those adjacent thereto, and including the site of the subsidence under Onslow Street and a triangular section lying under the Waikato River abutting on to the Great North Road, and the Barrier coal, pillar between this and Ralph's Mine. These dams have been well constructed, and I am of opinion that they are sufficiently strong for the purpose for which they were built. At one place known as the "Iron Pillars" the drives have been filled with fine coal previously heated so that the danger from spontaneous combustion and noxious gases has been eliminated. The drives adjacent to the subsidence of July, 1915, have also been filled in the same manner. The numbers of prosecutions of miners and workmen for taking smoking material or matchss into the mine has been considerably reduced, and is now almost a negligible quantity. It is a pleasing feature that no fatal accidents occurred during 1916. The official reports at the mine show that gas has been found in small quantities, principally in the disused old workings, and has always been removed immediately after its discovery. Ealph's Colliery. —This colliery was worked with a limited number of men. Early in the year the management decided to discontinue mining at the Ralph's and Taupiri West shafts, believing that the remaining available coal could be more .conveniently worked through the Extended Mine or possibly through new shafts. With that end in view work was carried on at the sections known as Bond's Dip on the north side of the mine abutting the Extended coal pillar, and also at the south side (Big Jig), and at the back of a fault-line from No. 3 level. At the latter place, at No. 6 jig, there were met two upthrow faults, and although there is a thick cover overlying the coal-seam, the nature of the rock was such as to be dangerous to work tho coal lying beyond the faults and abutting on to the western bank of the Waikato River. The coal lying west of No. 6 level and under Bake Waahi can be worked from Taupiri West shaft or a new shaft adjacent to that pit. In view of the suspension of work at Ralph's Mine a reinforced-concrete dam has been erected in the heading connecting Ralph's and Taupiri West shafts, and, there being no other connectingdrives, the dam will separate those mines one from the other, and in any future operations southwest of Ralph's Mine dam the Taupiri W x est shaft may be made use of. The said dam is strongly built, is let into the sides and roof and floor of the drive, and is all in coal. The concrete is 15 ft. wide by 8 ft. high. In December ihe rails, pumps, &c, were withdrawn and the mine closed. No fatal or serious accidents occurred at this mine during 1916. Gas has been found in the old workings on several occasions during the year. Huntly Brick and Fireclay Company (Limited). —This company is mining coal by open cut on its freehold property for use at the brickworks, no coal being sold. The coal is worked from pillars left in by a former mining company. Waipa Railway and Colliery Company (Limited). —Nos. 1 and 2 adit levels are worked and well ventilated jointly, while No. 3 level is separate from the others, and is working the coal lying beyond the big upthrow fault. At Nos. I and 2 levels most of the first working up to the upthrow fault has been completed and a section of pillar coal extracted. The seam is from 6 ft. to 12 ft. thick, 2 ft. to 3 ft. of coal being left on the roof as a protection against falls. There was a serious accident in the mine during the year, two men being hurt. I attributed the accident to the bords being driven too wide, and in consequence of the friable coal and roof rock I ordered the width of bords to be reduced and systematic timbering to be adopted, the timbers to be set closer in the rows and the rows to be set closer to each other. Generally I found the mine safely worked. Pukemiro Golliery. —This mine has worked continuously during the year. I have found the mine safe and well ventilated. The coal is of a hard and good quality, bords being driven 14 ft. wide and from 10 ft. to 16 ft. high, 2 ft. to 4 ft. of coal being left on the roof of the bords as a protection against falls of roof, which is friable clay. No pillar coal has yet been mined. The mine is opening out very favourably. Eight-yard pillars are left, and the mine is beingopened in panel sections, which will tend to safety and greatly assist in efficiency of ventilation, which has been good. Electrically driven endless-rope haulage is installed from the screening plant into No. 2 section, improved rope-clips being in use. Mine-pumps, haulage-winch, and ventilation-fan are electrically driven, the cables being well protected. No serious accidents occurred in the mine during the year, but one serious accident occurred at the screening plant, when a man named H. Magnall was crushed between two trucks.

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Waikato Extended Mine. —This is a small mine being opened on the western bank of the Waikato River, adjacent to the old Waikato Mines. An adit level has been driven and the coal cut into, being from 7 ft. to 8 ft. thick. A ground tram has been constructed half a mile in length from the mine to the wharf on the river-bank. The area of coal available is very small. During the year I visited the mine several times and found the mining and works carried on with care. Aria Survey District — New Find of Goal. —A short time ago a settler named Morgan discovered an outcrop of coal on his farm three miles from Aria Township. On the 10th January, 1917, I visited the district and examined the coal outcropping at a recent landslip. The coal is apparently of the same age as that found at Mokau. The seam is disturbed by the slip, but it appears to be from 10 ft. to 12 ft. thick, separated into two parts by a band of stone 6 in. thick. The coal is of good quality, and will be a great boon to the district. The settlers and the butterfactory will be able to get their supplies at a reasonable rate. There is a formed road from the township to Mr. Morgan's homestead, but half a mile of new road will have to be made to connect with the proposed mine. The coal-consumption will be very small per annum. Mangapapa Coal-mine (Mokau). —As a result of heavy rains early in 1916, logs were deposited in the Mokau River and steamers were unable to reach the mine, consequently no- mining has been done during the year. Hikurangi Coal Company (Limited). —The mines have worked continuously during the year. Great inconvenience has been experienced in draining the mine-workings of water from the Hikurangi Swamp owing to limestone boulders overlying the coal-scam, and as a consequence the mines are flooded to an inconvenient degree after heavy rains. During the greater part of the year the deepest workings have been almost continuously flooded. It is unfortunate that in the laying-out of the mine-work no provision was made to effectively deal with the drainage. The class of pump installed was too small, and the corrosive acids in the mine-water have been very destructive to the pumps and pipe-lines. Another feature is that there is a great extent of partly worked pillar coal in the deepest area, and it is almost continuously flooded, and of a necessity the coal more to the rise has been worked first, thus breaking the surface by mine-falls, which allow heavy deposits of surface water to enter the mine. Effective drainage is an urgent problem at this mine. The mine-ventilation has at times been fair, but not up to the usual standard of efficiency maintained at other mines in my district. Too great an area of open workings and openings to the surface have made it difficult to obtain efficient results from the mechanical ventilating machinery installed, which is a small mine-fan. The section known as M 39, Block XVI, is now almost exhausted, and from that area a substantial tonnage of the year's output has been mined. Northern Coal Company's Northern Mine. —This section of the company's mines has been worked continuously during the year. The coal mined is pillar coal, and is almost exhausted. Three months will completely finish mining here. The company has let to contractors a small section of coal to be mined on Section 24, Tauranga, abutting on to Section 39 N.E., Block XVI, from which a small quantity of coal has been mined by Wallace and party, six men being employed. Northern Goal Company's Crown Lease. —(Section 2, Block XVI; Little and party, contractors.) Men are employed mining coal beyond the company's Northern Mine workings. The coal-seam is 10 ft. to 1.2 ft. thick, but the area is limited, and pillar coal is being mined. The mine is carefully worked. There is another small area adjacent in which the coal occurs, being separated from Little's mine by a downthrow fault. A surface tram is being constructed to work this coal, which is estimated to yield 30,000 tons. Northern Goal Company's Waro Section. —This mine is still closed awaiting the arrival of suitable pumping and haulage machinery, which will be electrically driven. Northern Coal Company's Kiripaka Section. —During 1915 the company acquired a lease of Crown land adjacent to the mine, which has been bored, and the coal-seam located at a depth of about 100 ft., the coal-seam being from 8 ft. to 10 ft. thick. A dip incline tunnel was driven into the coal. This mine worked from September, 1915, to the beginning of October, 1916, when it was temporarily closed. During the period it was worked '13,164 tons of coal was mined, and an average of forty-two men employed. 1 visited the mine several times during the year, and found the work carefully carried on, ventilation being satisfactory. The coal-measures at this mine are disturbed by faulting, first by a downthrow fault and later by a sharp upthrow fault. The mine was opened on the upper edge of the coal-deposit, the area being very small, besides being faulted, the coal itself being of poor quality intersected by bands and segregations of stone and inferior coal. Kerr and Wyatt. —(Crown lease, Section 39 N.E., Block XVI.) —The coal-seam is thin and an irregular deposit. Of the 515 tons of coal mined during 1916, at least 50 per cent, of it was mined by open cut. The mine-drives into the coal show that the coal on this section is only the edge of the thicker coal-deposit on Section M 39, the freehold property of the Hikurangi Mining Company, where the coal was from 12 ft. to 14 ft. thick. I have noticed that the coal has been carefully worked, there being a very small percentage of loss. Co-operative Colliery. —(Cunningham and Hamilton's Crown lease.) This company's No. 2 mine, on Section 48 N.E., Block XVI, where mining has been carried on during the year, is now nearing exhaustion. The area of coal was small, but it was of good quality, and from 10 ft. to 14 ft. thick. The coal was carefully mined, and the percentage lost in working was very small. I found the mine carefully worked and ventilation good. A good supply of timber was always on hand. North New Zealand Coal and Cement Company's Mine. —This mine has worked continuously during the year with a small number of men. The workings are to the dip of the main shaft, and as a result the mine-drainage has been expensive and has retarded development. Ap attempt was made to extend the main dip heading into what is believed to be a better coal-deposit, but

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the pumps are too small, and with the corrosive acids in the water they soon perish, and it has been found to be impossible, with the present appliances, to extend the main dip heading. The pumps are steam-clriven, and, through the steam-pipe lines being in the intake airway, the air along the drive is saturated with moisture and at a disagreeably high temperature. In view of the applicability of compressed air and electricity to pumps and hauling-engiues in mines, I think steps should betaken to prevent the use of steam in coal-mine workings. The coal being worked is pillar coal, and as a result heavy falls of roof rock occur after mining, and the result is more water to pump. With the small output of coal the result financially must be on the wrong side. I found the mine worked carefully and the ventilation satisfactory Accidents. If is pleasing to record that no fatal accidents occurred in my inspection district during the year 1916. Only four accidents which may be classed as serious occurred during 1916. Ou the 12th June a miner named Charles Westfield, working in. the Waipa Colliery, received a broken leg through a fall of roof rock. H. Muir was also severely bruised as a result of the same fall, and was off work for thirty-eight days. On the 13th September a man named William Grant, employed in the Taupiri Extended Mine as a lamp-relighter, was struck by a runaway truck on the main haulage-way and received rather severe injuries. On the 14th December a clipper names James Gibson, employed in the Taupiri Extended Mine, was crushed between two full skips on the main haulage-road, receiving severe crush wounds about the shoulders and body.

West Coast Inspection District. (Mr. James Newton, Inspector.) New Zealand State, Coal-mines. Liverpool Colliery. —No. 1 Mine : Development in a north-easterly direction has proceeded during the year in tlie area lying to the east of the Seven-mile Creek. The seam is gradually thinning in the east winning-places, whilst to the west it outcrops into the Seven-mile Creek escarpment. The coal has somewhat improved in hardness going north. On the west side of Sevenmile Creek output has to be won from pillar-extraction, owing to the seam being confined to a narrow strip proceeding north, together with the fact that it thins to- an unpayable thickness going west. The Morgan Seam.: This seam was reached by a cross-measure drift approximately 9 chains long. Very little development has taken place during the year. The seam, which is a thick one, is exceedingly friable, and on the eastern side of the drift is split by a thick band of stone. Safety-lamps for lighting purposes have been installed to replace naked lights owing to a trace of fire-damp having been met with. Blasting is done with permitted explosives. No. 3a Mine : This area is proving disappointing. The seam, as it is being driven upon, is thinning considerably, and unless a change takes place will soon have thinned to such an extent as to be unprofitable. The coal is of good quality and medium hard, and is covered by an excellent hard sandstone roof. No. 3 Mine : This mine has proved itself to be the best area opened out in the Liverpool Colliery, and at present is producing good hard coal. There is evidence, however, that this portion will in the near future be somewhat crippled by faultings and thinning. The area is cut into two separate workings by two closely adjoining faults running almost due east and west. These have been pierced and a considerable area opened on the north side; the western level, however, is limited in distance by a fault cutting north-east, and probably is a branch of the previous faults mentioned, and should this fault live it will gradually cut all winning-heading to the rise. The eastern workings in this area are in low coal. Two new Sirocco fans have been installed during the year, one at No. 1 and the other at No. 3 Mine. Each fan is capable of producing more than sufficient ventilation to efficiently keep the air clear of noxious gases and in a healthy condition. No. 1 fan is electrically driven ; No. 3 is steam-driven. One bathhouse has been completed and another is under construction. The workmen appreciate and make use of them almost to the fullest extent. Point, Elizabeth Golliery. —The output from both sections, Nos. 1 and 2, has been won exclusively from pillar-extraction, and, excluding the area that has been sealed owing to fire, the percentage of coal won has been satisfactory. The fire area has not given a great deal of trouble beyond the fact that it has been found impossible to win the few pillars sealed off. This area was opened some few months back, but owing to excessive heat it had to be again scaled up. The life of this colliery cannot, I think, be prolonged more than a year. No fatalities have occurred at the State collieries during the year under review. The output from Liverpool Colliery shows an increase compared with previous year of 57,465 tons, and Point Elizabeth an increase of 11,290 tons. Other Mines. Paparoa Golliery. —Development, which has mostly been in a westerly, north, and northeasterly direction, has now almost ceased, the coal having almost wholly given place to dirt going north-east, and outcropped going west; the coal has shown no improvement during the year, and remains soft and friable. A commencement to win pillars back from the escarpment will be necessary shortly in order to obtain an output. A block of coal lying to the south-east has yet to be exploited. No fatalities have occurred during the year.

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Blackball Golliery. —Development of this colliery has been steadily pursued both to the rise and dip. No further development in the direction of dip in No. 2 has been done owing to difficulties with water. The eastern level, however, is si ill being driven; the coal here has proved to be somewhat softer than in the other areas. No. 9 dip is opening up in excellent hard coal, and has been driven about 12 chains. Unless prevented by water it is proposed to drive back at a lower level than No. 5 area and the western level of No. 2 dip, which had to be abandoned owing to water, for the purpose of winning the coal lying to the dip of these areas. During the year a new bathhouse has been built. A considerable amount of spontaneous heating has occurred, but in all cases the areas have been sealed off before actual fire broke out. Two fatalities occurred during the year. North Brunner. —The output from this colliery is being entirely won from pillar-extraction. This mine is gradually'being worked out. No development-work is being undertaken at present. The only future prospect, I think, for (his colliery is a, small area lying to the south and dip of the present upper workings. A. fair amount of fireclay has been won, and is being utilized for the making of bricks, the necessary equipment having been provided for this purpose, and. is situated close to coal-storage bins at Stillwater. Brunner Mine. —No development has been done during the year, the whole of the output having been won from pillar-extraction. There is no hope of further development in the area at present being worked, and it is the intention of the company to try and reach some of the coal left in former years in the old portion of the colliery. The coal mined is almost exclusively used for making coke and gas-production. Reefton Mines. There is very little of importance to report with reference to the mines in this district. For the most part only two or three men arc employed in each mine, and the output is consumed locally, being used exclusively for household and steam-raising purposes. The output for the year, 11,499 tons, shows a decrease of 738 tons compared with last year. A. good deal of soft coal is to be met with in these mines, besides which the areas operated on have proved the scams to be a good deal faulted. A fatality happened at the Big River Mine during the year. Westport District. , Goalbrookdale Golliery. —Wareatea section : Driving in this area has proved the existence of a large quantity of excellent coal. The seam in places is faulted, small displacements and splitting being observable. Cascade clip : This area is extensively faulted. The coal, however, is hard throughout. Development in this area has practically ceased, and the output is being won from pillars. No. 8 section. Cascade: No further progress is possible in this area owing to the coal outcropping, and all output is being won from pillars. Iron Bridge Colliery. —A large area of coal awaits exploitation on the north side of the Waimangaroa, and the requirements for the extension of the necessary haulage arrangements are practically completed, hut owing to labour being unobtainable development of this area is slow. Towards Mount William operations have steadily advanced, though minor faulting has been met with. The outlook for a steady output from this colliery is assured. Westport Goal Company (Limited): Millerton Golliery. —This colliery has the largest daily output in the inspection district. Development has steadily proceeded in the various areas, and there yet remains large areas of workable coal. The South Mangatina heading has been driven through barren country for a distance exceeding 20 chains, and still has several chains to go before reaching the coal. Good coal of medium hardness is being won along the eastern boundary of the lease. This area (Mangatina) has been considerably denuded by streams. The coal from this colliery is mostly of a soft nature. In the lower section (dip) a good deal of faulting exists. Westport-Stoohtcm Colliery. —Old mine: New work has been confined to a small area situated on the left-hand side of Ihe main endless-haulage road and going east. The seam here thins considerably, and Ihe coal varies in quality. There still remains a considerable area to be proved. Development has proceeded southward along the western boundary of the D tunnel. The largest amount of output has been won from pillars from the several tunnels. There still remains a few years' work in these tunnels at (he present output. New mine (E section): Development in this area is proceeding in a south-westerly direction, and is opening up, generally, satisfactory hard coal of good quality, which is being met with especially in the No. 4 winning-headings, after crossing an upthrow fault cutting the country in an east-and-west direction. There yet remains a large tract of country to be worked in this portion of the colliery. A few pillars have been won skirting the eastern outcrop. Co-operative Mine — No. 1/ Old Cardiff, Seddonville. —The seam, which is of varying thickness, is being driven upon around the outskirts of the old workings, and shows an improvement towards Chasm Creek. Only two miners arc employed winning coal. Coal Greek Mine, Mokihinui. —The coal is mostly very soft and dirty. Ventilation has been effected by connecting to the surface with small shafts. This mine is being worked by a small co-operative party. Collingwood District. Fuponga Golliery. —Development has proceeded slowly in an easterly direction through the medium of a crosscut dip and level therefrom, the seam here being about 9 ft. thick, a section of which shows excellent hard coal 7 fl. thick, underlain by a 5 in. band of stone, then 10 in. of coal, and 9 in. of coal and soft dirt resting on the floor. Before development can be proceeded with to the dip it will be necessary to provide additional power on_the surface for pumping. North Gape Goal-mine. —Development has been confined to the dip workings, and all available coal above free drainage has been won. The seam where cut is approximately 5 ft. thick, but

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gradually thins towards the dip until about 3 ft. The levels going west, which have been driven a distance of approximately 20 chains, have also gradually thinned until the seam has become unprofitable to work (20 in.). On the east side of dip the coal thins rapidly to unprofitable thickness, consequently, appearances point in the direction of the property having a short life. A Sirocco fan has been installed to provide ventilation, and compressing plant to provide pumping-powcr, besides which a direct-haulage equipment has been installed. i ■.... Fatalities. Fatalities to workmen during the year number six, five of which occurred underground. Falls were responsible in each case. One occurred above ground, the result of being run over by a railway-wagon. Reports dealing with the above fatalities have already been forwarded. Non-fatal (Serious) Accidents. Point Elizabeth State Colliery (4/4/16): W. Cleave, fracture of both bones in lower leg, caused by fall of coal at working-face. Paparoa Colliery (4/7/16): .1. Muir, fracture of ankle whilst employed jigging timber up an incline on the surface for the purpose of building manager's house. The jig-prop gave way, and the injured man in trying to get clear got his foot down through a hole in the gangway and fell, causing tlie injury. Westport-Stockton (1.3/9/16): J. W after son, broken leg and ribs, caused by being run over by loco, brake-car whilst training coal. Millerton Colliery (16/11/16) : Mr. Boswell, fractured thigh, caused by fall of coal from roof. Denniston Iron Bridge Colliery : T. Robinson, fractured skull, caused by being struck with prop, it being knocked out by a piece of coal falling from the face. Besides the above there have been quite a number of simple fractures, all of which have occurred at the working-face. Ventilation. The mines without exception have been found adequately ventilated. New fans have been installed at Liverpool and North Cape Collieries. * Southern Inspection District. (Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector.) Canterbury. Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited), Avoca. —A roadway has been constructed from Avoca Railway-station to the mine, a distance of three miles and a half. The haulage tram-line, two miles and a half, lias been surveyed and pegged off, and construction with, men available just begun. Materials, rails, rope, &c, are on tlie job and sleepers in transit. Hauling-eiigines, steam, boilers, and machinery arranged for. Manager's residence and workman's cottage are up, and two more cottages are being erected. Bush Gully Coal-mine, Coalgate. — Mine in good order. Ladders and platforms in position in steep seam travelling-way. Steam jet inadequate for induction of air to workmen in upperlevels. Steam-driven fan to be utilized, and mine-manager to write when installed and report result. Magazines (two) approved for storage of explosives used in the mine. (Since this visit the mine-manager reports fan installed and ventilation satisfactory.) St. Helens Golliery, Whitechffs. —The new dip will take some three months to complete. Tripp's Coal-mine, Mount Somers. —Work was commenced on the sth October. The minemouth required attention for safety; also new second outlet to be provided at earliest opportunity. Albury Coal-mine, Albury. —Dip extended and rise places driven therefrom in coal of good average quality. Roof good and ventilation adequate. Allanholme Goal-mine, Waihao. —New mine recently opened at Stony Creek on Mainholme Settlement. Shallow workings in good order. Second outlet provided and ventilation good. . Dalgety's Coal-mine, Hakataramea. —A privately owned mine with a very small output. W, J. and S. J. Carle/on, Methven. —Coal lease. No work done other than a little prospecting on an adjoining section at a cost of less than £5. Te Moana Coal-mine. —A small privately owned mine with a nominal output. George Bland, Mount Somers. —Prospecting on small grazing-run. Drive, 100 ft. Scam, 5 ft. in thickness; quality, brown coal, same as Mount Somers coal. North Otago. St. Andrew's Coal-mine. Papakaio. —Drawing pillars outward. Soine trouble caused by heating in waste had been overcome by building sand stoppings, which were cool at the time of visit. Ventilation good. Prince Alfred Goal-mine, Papakaio. — Air good, no gases. Workings in good order. Ngapara Coal-mine, Ngapara. —Ventilation good. Magazine approved for storage of 375 lb. of blasting-powder. Shag Point Coal-mine, Shag Point. —Seam, 2 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. Roof ripped makes for room on roadway, and convenient stone packing on low sides. Stentons driven for ventilation required to be closer up, as pointed out to the manager. Shag Point, Coal Proprietary Coal-mine. —Mine in good order. Timber systematically used. Seam, 5 ft. to 7 ft. in thickness. Rules posted; required to be renewed owing to weatherdefacement.

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South Otago. Fernhill Coal-mine, Abbotsford. —Nominal output only on a small scale. Brick-burning and building-sand production forming chief source of supply. Freeman's Colliery, Abbotsford. —Mine in good working-order. Owing to spontaneous fire the dip portion had been sealed off with brick stoppings, which were well attended to. Heaving bottom, due to creep, continues, consequently roadways low in places. Fan ventilation well conducted to working-faces. Green Island Colliery, Green Island. —Air brattice required in rise places for clearing powdersmoke, which had been lying an undue time. Otherwise mine in good condition. Jubilee Colliery, Saddle Hill, —Magazine well stocked with blasting-powder; extra supply said to be a final consignment for some time. Ventilation good; places in safe working-order in solid, and roof-break in pillar and robbing places well up to working-faces. Christie's Saddle, Hill No.l and, No. 2 Mines. —These mines are connected underground, and through ventilation from No. 2 Mine to No. 1 Mine furnace shaft is in vogue. Drew manager's attention to necessity for closer attention of air-circulation around working-faces for dissemination of powder-smoke after blasting. Brattice should be kept closer up and kept tight. Pillarrobbing places in safe working-order. Blasting-powder safely handled. East Taieri Coal-mine, Mosgiel. —Air dull with black-damp from old workings, owing to, as stated, unfavourable condition of the atmosphere—adverse wind and low barometer. The air, although imperfect, was not bad enough to have the men withdrawn. Fumes from the oilengine (kerosene) underground used for dip pumping and haulage permeated the air at near the engine, but a canary kept near by exhibited no symptoms of uneasiness. The permit-holder informed me that the men were withdrawn on the few occasions that the air was unfit to work in. This mine is owned by a party of experienced coal-miners. Creep has begun in the dip, and may be expected to communicate rapidly with other parts of the mine. Although the exhaust from the oil-engine is piped to the return airway, a nuisance is created by the rank smell in the vicinity of the engine. I shall not again willingly consent to the use of an oil-engine underground in a coal-mine. Brighton Coal-mine, Brighton. —Only a small local trade conducted. Waronui Coal-mine, Milton. —Mine in good working-order. North side pillars finished and stopped off. Dip workings being developed. Rise pillars being drawn safely. Fire stoppings to gob receiving close attention; one rather warm one had been doubled since my last visit. A larger and more powerful electrical plant for pumping and hauling is being erected. McGilp's Coal-mine, Milton. —Output continues, but not at work when last visited. Taratu Colliery, Lovell's Flat. —Ventilation, 14,000 cubic feet per minute. Wincling-ropes tested Bth July and following quarters. Manager reports slight bulge in shaft near the bottom owing to earth-movement : not detrimental to winding. Incipient fire from lower-seam workings being attended to. Hawthomden Coal-mine, Kaitangata. —Small mine worked for local supply. Longridge Coal-mine, Kaitangata. —Small mine worked for local supply. Kaitangata, No. 1 Mine, Kaitangata. —On the 27th November eight men were withdrawn from rise places in Mundy's dip on account of gas in the air. The shift next day went to work as usual, the places having cleared meanwhile. The barometer had been heavily depressed. The previous withdrawal of men was recorded on the 15th September, 1915. Ventilation was well directed to working-places, and there were no high pillar places. Had to draw attention to brattice being deficient in two places, including Penman's (formerly Bennie and Pilling), and reported same to Mr. Carson on the 6th December, 1916. Mr. Carson subsequently wrote me under date the 22nd that special officials had been detailed to attend to bratticing, and hoping that there would be no cause for future complaint. No. 21 dip "on last legs " —pillar-extraction being safely conducted. Prospecting in old No. 18 and No. 11 dip sections pillar-workings. Kaitanga,ta, No. 2 Mine, Kaitangata. —Ventilation at intake, 21,51)0 cubic feet per minute; 8 ft. seam; new airway made to main return. Ring-tubbing at bottom of haulage-way completed. Stone drift, cross-measures drive for air-return in 100 ft. Door between intake and return between rings No. 1 winch scaling too much air, as also brattice-cloths between Nos. 1 and 2 winch dip. Overcast presumably losing air, too. Recommended that these receive attention for supply of better quality and quantity air to working-faces. Both rats and mice were seen in this mine when visited. Assistant manager Newburn subsequently reported that the overcast screens and door had been attended to, and that an appreciable improvement had been effected in the air-circulation at the working-faces. Castle Hill Coal-mine, Kaitangata. —Visited workings in Jordan's and Carson's seams. Brattice kept well up to working-faces. No gas found. North level to No. 7 dip dry and dusty in places. Report-book showed that dust is filled away on occasions, and the underviewer said that a lot of attention was paid to this matter; also that they had to be careful about watering the roadways on account of " creep," to which their steep seams were liable. Benhar Coal-mine, Stirling. —Ventilation good; air well conducted by brattice to workingplaces. Seam, 20ft. in thickness; Bft. worked meanwhile. Roof good and timbered where necessary. Fuse regular, 1 yard run in ninety-five seconds. Mount Wallace Coal-mine, Stirling. —Not at work on date visited; expected to resume at early date if workmen available, being scarce at present. Mainholme Coal-pit, Pomahaka. —Well stripped ahead of working-face; about to be closed on account of rising bottom and seam thinning to outcrop in all directions. Fuse regular, 1 yard run out in 89-J seconds. Lessee complained that loose blasting-powder appeared to have lost its usual strength. Work at this mine has lately been suspended.

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Central Otago. Coal Creek Coal-mine, Goal Greek Flat. —New drive in from opencast. Mine in good order. McPherson's Coal-mine. Coal Creel,- Flat. —The new proprietor is displaying more energy than the prior tenant. The lire in the hill-face has been suppressed by water laid on. Perseverance Mine, Coal Greek Flat. —Opencast working at present. New inlet will soon be made for haulage convenience, but quite near the creek alongside. Alexandra, Coal-mine, Alexandra South. —The seam northward having improved in quality and extent, application being made for an extended area of 60 acres, at the same time applying for surrender of worked ground, on which reported W'arden not aware of any objections from a. mining point of view. Cambrian Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Opencast; in good order; stripping under water-pressure. Laudervale Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Workings inoperative on account of indisposition of lessee. St, Bathan's Coal-mine, St. Bathan's. —Lessee and two youths working under an overhanging face. Warned them of dangerous system, and recommended driving underground. Rough Ridge Coal-mine, OI urehua. —Opencast working; stripping kept, well ahead of working-face. Magazine approved for storage of 801b. blasting-powder. Idaburn Coal-pit, Oturehua. —Opencast pit, in good order. Seam dipping, and pumping heavy. Magazine approved for storage of 80 lb. blasting-powder. Oturehua Goal-mine, Oturehua. —Opencast; pit flooded. No output recently. Gimmerburn Goal-pit, Gimmerburn. —Private coal-pit. Shepherd's Creel- Mine, Bannockburn. —Only a small output now. Over-cast in disrepair; required attention. Cairmuir Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —Ventilation good. Ladders required on steep places on airway. Ranfurly Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —The place where formerly heating now cool. Mineworkings in good order. Cardrona Goal-jnt, Gardrona. —Opencast. Deep stripping from mountain-side sluiced away by water, and kept well in advance of the several thin seams, which it is a wonder how it pays to work at this altitude (3,500 ft.), and several miles from the nearest habitation. The market is limited, but withoui this supply residents of Cardrona would reqtiire to go twenty or thirty miles or more further for their coal. Gibbston Coal-pit, Gibhston. —Pillaring outward ; substantial fire stoppings in against the waste. Nevis Coal-mine, Nevis (per Inspector Whitley).—This mine has been purchased by the Lower Nevis Gold-dredging Company. R. Tom and another have been employed getting coal for the dredge, which uses about 3 tons a day. When visited coal was being mined from a drive 100 ft. from the surface. There was no permit-holder in charge, also no lamp at the mine for gas-testing, and the report-book had not been kept up. R. Thomson, former permit-holder for this mine, was to resume work on the 7th December. Nevis Grossing Coal-mine (per Inspector Whitley).—Two men employed. The seam has been followed on the dip to a depth of 20 ft. below free-drainage level, and a hydraulic pump installed for dealing with the incoming water. From the bottom of the dip a drive 12 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in. has been driven south on the seam a distance of 50 ft. Timber is used where required. Rules posted and report-book kept. This mine supplies the Nevis Crossing dredge with about 3 tons of coal per day, and also produces most of the coal for household requirements in the district. Clarke's Coal-mine, Nevis Crossing (per Inspector Whitley).—North side of Galvin's Gully. A seam of crushed coal was followed on the dip to a depth of 15 ft., when a heavy flow of water was met and operations ceased. Mr. Ritchie informed me that he did not intend to resume work. Dillon's Coal-mine, lilackstone Hill. —A private mine. Output for year only 10 tons. The New Zealand, Gold and Tungsten Mining Company, Mount Uighlay (per Inspector Whitley).—One man is employed in the company's lignite-pit. Owing to increasing depth of clay overburden and poor quality of the upper part of the seam the opencast method of working has been abandoned, and the lower part of the seam is being driven out. The dimensions of the drive are 6 ft. by 4 ft. in the clear of timber. It had been driven 20 ft. at, date of visit, and was securely timbered. Southland. Fukerau Coal-mine, Pnkerau. —Only a small local trade. Whiterigg Coal-mine, Fast Gore. —Mine in good order. Magazine approved for storage of 200 lb. blasting-powder. Green's Coal-mine, Gore. —Fan ventilation; places in good working-order. Weather favoui*able on clay of visit to ventilation ; return visit to be paid in dull weather to observe clearance of powder-smoke. Bitsliy Park Mine, Gore. —Small local mine. Bnrnwell Goal-mine, North Chatton. —Work recently resumed after being suspended for winter months. Seam strong and over 30 ft. in thickness. Ramsay's Goal-mine, North Chatton. —Seam thick and strong. The fire in old opencast workings now out. Water raised by the dam extinguished the remnants of the fire. Springfield, Coal-mine, Waikaka, Valley. —Set of timber required at mine-mouth I'm- greater security; also attention to brattice for conduct of air in the mine. Edge's Coal-mine, Waikaka. —Work now suspended and plant withdrawn. Rossvale Coal-mine, Waikaia. —Driving to northern boundary. Some bratticing was necessary for circulation of air to the woi-king-places. Magazine approved for storage of 6001b. of explosives used in blasting coal.

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Mataura Collieries, Mataura. —Places and stentons bratticed, but some powder-smoke hanging. Mataura Lignite-pit, Mataura. —Machine-stripping in advance of opencast working. Underground mining recently begun; parallel drives are in a short distance. Nightcaps Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —Atmospheric depression prevailing; four men hate been withdrawn from No. 2 dip lower seam on account of black-damp in air. In another place air dull on account of workmen having left air-door open, causing short circuit. Mine-manager said, to complain would mean the men leaving their work, which he could not afford, as they were short-handed, also short of output. As it. was, one trucker, having given the underviewer cheek," had been made to apologize, with fear and trembling on the boss's side in case hewould not do it. Laying tram, 40 chains, to " Coolgardie," and extension, 40 chains, to new lease, area 200 acres, on School Commissioners' land. Miss-fire shots reported more than usually frequent; Viking used; plugs varied in substance, being hard or soft, or viscous and irregular. Ventilating-fans (two) started at 0 a.m., two hours before workmen enter the mine. New Brighton Goal-mine, Wairio. —Subleased by S. McMillan. Prospecting now. Thistle Goal-mine, Nightcaps. —Working backward on pillar and head coal. Wairio Coal-mine, Wairio. — Workings in good order. Roof, which is bad in places, supported by timber, and care of workmen attended to. Wairio Railway and Coal Company's Mine, Wairio. —Prospecting with more or less success — chiefly less. Bea,umont Coal-mine, Nightcaps.- —Opencast stripping becoming too heavy, and will soon have to resort to underground mining. Linton Coal-mine, Nightcaps. — Opencast; seam 20ft. Coal superior brown in quality. Tram-line laid to main road for land-sale pending extension of Nightcaps Railway now being contemplated. Beattie's Coal-pit, Nightcaps. —Small opencast pit, troubled with water-inflow. A. A. Townsend, Morley Village, Nightcaps. —Lignite license. Operations newly begun. Black, Diamond, Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —New pit, opencast. Loading-stage erected and small area stripped. Seam lying near the surface. Waikaia Coal-mine, Waikaia,. —Resumed recently. Driving for air-return. Nightcaps Coal Company, Wairio. —New mine. No output yet The following other small mines have also been visited during the year : Argyle Coal-mine, Waikaia; Waimea Coal-mine, Kingston Crossing (work suspended); Princhester Creek Mine, The Key; Wairnumu Coal-mine, Mataura; Heatherlee Coal-mine, Waimuniu; Ota Creek Mine, Wyndham; Clarke's Coal-mine, Wyndham; Glenham Mine, Wyndham; Wairaki Coal-mine, Nightcaps (work suspended pending railway-extension); Mossbank Coal-mine, Nightcaps (work suspended); Burrell's Opencast Pit, Nightcaps (closed); Mount Linton Coal-mine, Nightcaps (work suspended); Otto Voight's coal lease, Nightcaps; D. McKenzie's mine, Nightcaps (suspended); Muddy Terrace Shale-mine, Waikaia (work suspended). Accidents. The year 1916 was again clear of fatalities in the Southern District. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Ranfurly Coal-mine, Bannockburn (7/2/16): George Crabbe, 36, miner, injury to back, caused by fall of coal. Still off work. Springfield Colliery, Waikaka (14/4/16): John Duncan, miner, broken arm, fracture of upper arm and ribs (two). Right side struck by coal flying from a light shot ignited at the face, having returned too soon, as stated. Wairio Coal-mine, Wairio (22/5/16): William Buchanan, miner, bruised back and legs. Struck by piece of coal which fell from face. Still off work. Brighton Coal-mine, Brighton (9/5/16): Nelson McColl, 26, miner, injury to back. Struck by small piece of coal which fell from low roof. Still off work. Nightcaps Coal-mine, Nightcaps (29/8/16): Morris Jones, 64, miner, injury to right hand, jammed between two boxes. Still off work. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine, Kaitangata (19/9/16): John Devine, 31, miner, strain of back. While lifting a lump of coal into box, foot slipped. Still off work. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata (24/11/16): Robert Burgess, miner, fractured rib and bruised back, caused by blow from empty box. The number of accidents reported for 191-6, mainly for the purpose of the Coal-miners' Relief Fund, totalled 117, as against 144 for 1915 and' 143 for 1914. Of that number, three claims were disallowed on account of insufficient proof.

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ANNEXURE B. BRUNNER FIRECLAY-DEPOSITS. Report by T. 0. Bishop and James Newton, Inspectors of Mines. We beg to present the following report upon the fireclay-deposits at Brunner. For the information contained herein we arc largely indebted to R. Alison, Esq., manager of the Brunner Mine, and to A. P. Harper, Esq., attorney, and J. Armstrong, Esq., manager of the North Brunner Coal Company, who assisted us most courteously. Distribution and Thickness of Deposits. —To arrive at the probable quantity of fireclay in the Brunner district is a difficult matter, as no search for it outside of the existing coal-mines has been made, and there may be extensive deposits apart from the coal, of which nothing is now known. Our sole reliable sources of information are the mines, and we are therefore able to state only approximate available tonnages in the Brunner coal lease and in the Xorlh Brunner leases. The Brunner Lease, —The fireclay left in the old workings of the Brunner Mines must be left out of all calculations of available tonnage, since the cost of obtaining it would be prohibitive, and the work would probably not be permitted by the Inspector of Mines on the grounds of safety. Two boreholes have been put down to test the measures below the coal-seam, and these have shown tlie existence of two workable seams of fireclay at depths of 80 ft. and 100 ft. The upper seam is 4 ft. 6 in. and the lower 7 ft. 3 in. thick. From the position of these bores and the regularity of the measures we think it safe to say that these seams will extend over an area of 10 acres, and that the available clay at Brunner is therefore 284,350 tons. An incline is now being driven to develop these seams. The, North Brunner Leases. —ln the North Brunner Mine the average thickness of the clay underlying the coal-seam is 18 in. The clay in sight in present workings is 5,500 tons; the clay proved under coal to the dip, 13,600 tons; the clay mined and stacked at surface, 6.000 tons : total, 25,100 tons.' In the coal area partly proved to the east there is probably 50,000 tons of fireclay underlying the coal, and extending to the west as far as the old Brunner workings there is an area of 400 acres which contains clay, and possibly thousands of tons. Composition. —The following analysis by the Dominion Analyst of shaly fireclay from the St. Kilda section, Brunner Mine, is given in Geological Survey Bulletin No. 13 (1911), page 96 : — Silica... ... ... ... ... ... 47'22 Alumina ... ' ... ... ... ... ... ... 36'68 Ferric oxide ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I'2o Lime ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... o'os Magnesia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nil Alkalies ... ... ... .. ... 3'22 Water and organic matter ... ... ... ... ... 11*63 ieo'oo Samples forwarded from the Tyneside Proprietary (Brunner) in 1915 to the Dominion Analyst upon analysis gave the following results : — (1.) (2.) (li.) Silica ... ... ... ... 66-19 68-07 64'12 Alumina ...- ... ... ... ... 2131 2006 21'53 Iron oxide ... ... ... ... ... 112 1-92 LB4 Lime ... ... ... ... ... 0"10 016 Nil Magnesia ... ... ... ... ... 0-23 o'7B 0"26 Water at 100° C. ... ... ... ... 0-46 0"78 0'59 Combined water and organic matter ... ... B'2l 5-82 B'4o Alkalies ... ... ... ... ... 2-38 2-95 3-26 100-00 100-00 100-00 The plasticity of sample 2 is good, while that of 1 and 3 is fair, and each is of light colour when burned. Although the percentage of alkalies is rather high, the lime and iron oxide are low, and these may be regarded as fireclays of fair quality. (Forty-ninth Annual Report of the Dominion Laboratory, 1915, page 18.) Method of Mining. —As above stated, -the Brunner Mines Company is now opening up a mine for fireclay only, but up till now the clay has been mined only in conjunction with the coal. The method has been to work the coal first for 6 ft. ahead, and then lift the clay from the bottom before laying the rails. Out put. —The output of fireclay for 1916 was, from North Brunner Mine, 3,893 tons; from Brunner Mine, 2,000 tons; total, 5,893 tons, The tota] output to date is approximately 100,000 tons,

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Cost of Mining. —The cost of clay delivered at the works is stated as, at the Brunner Mine, 7s. per ton; North Brunner Mine, Bs. 3d. per ton. Number of Men employed. —There are no men employed underground in producing fireclay alone, as it is mined by the colliers with the coal and handled by the coal-truckers. The work done underground, however, is equivalent to the work of six men at North Brunner Mine, and four men at Brunner Mine. The men employed on the surface are, at North Brunner, nine; at Brunner, eleven. Method of 'Treatment. —The fireclay on coming from the mine is stacked at the surface and exposed to the weather until it begins to crumble, when it is said to be tempered. It is then crushed under heavy rollers and passed through fine screens. The crushed clay passes into a pug-mill, where it is mixed with water to the necessary consistency for moulding. The moulded bricks or other articles are placed on a heated floor to dry, and when dried they are stacked in kilns and burnt hard. Classes of Brick, &c, manufactured. —Firebricks are made in all required shapes, also tiles, locomotive-blocks, air-pit fire-grates, flue-covers, &c. Any article required in fireclay can be made. Plant in Commission. —The plant in use at each mine consists of a set of steam-driven roll screens, elevator and pug-mill, drying-sheds, and kilns. Moulding is at present done by hand. Estimated Life of the Industry.- —The present output of clay from the mines is about 6,000 tons per annum, and if that rate of consumption be maintained there is enough clay proved to last for, say, fifty years; but this will depend upon whether the demand becomes greater or less than at. present, and also upon whether the cost of mining clay apart from the coal will prove low enough to enable the industry to be carried on after coal-mining ceases. If our anticipations regarding probable clay be realized the supply of raw. material will last for several generations.

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ANNEXURE C.

STATISTICS OF WORKINGS IN COAL-MINES, 1916.

Same of Mine and Locality. IName of Manager. >x as ft Qualitv of Coal. a "3-3 .. cj ft Thickness of Seams. Thickness worked. System of Underground working. CQ CJ oj "ft Total Output for 1916. Xuniber of Men Approximate Approximate ordinarilv employed. Total Total Output to Output to 31st December, 31st December, 1915. 1916. > * - S -H HH Means of entilation. OJ **J* HH EH NORTHER? INSPECTIC iN DISTRICT. North Auckland Coalfields. Whangarei J. Cadnian Semi - bituminous 3' 9" to 8' 8' I I _ _ _ Bord and 2 pillar Tons. 2,756 Tons. ! Tons. 15,069 17,825 I 3 10 13 Natural. Northern Coal Company (Ltd.)^Northern Leasehold Kiripaka Co-operative.. Kerr and Wyatt's leasehold Hikurangi E. Nelson Ci. Doel E. W. Tattley J. Bovd .. F. H. Kells A. H. Taylor 19 1 Ditto ■1 3' to 6' 5' to 10' 4' to 8' 11' 3' to 8' 12' to 14' 6' 10' 8' 10' 8' 12' Ditto .. .. .. .. .. "„ '.. i Bord and pillar Ditto .. 4 „ .. 2 28,154 8,111 12,043 9,405 515 65,522 569,429 597.583 10 8,111 1 292,662 304,705 17 9,912 19.317 1 1,469 1,984 : 1 1,002,519 1.068.041 i 30 18 25 8 2 80 28 i Fan. 10 Natural. 42 Fan. 9 i Natural. 3 110 j Fan. •• Waikato Coalfield. Waipa T. Thomson Brown 11' 6" 9' 88,105 149,876 237.981 ] 22 j 86 . 108 Fan. Taupiri Coal Mines (Limited) — Taupiri, Ralph's Taupiri Extended Pukemiro Huntly Brick Company Waikato Extended A. Penman W. Wood A. Burt .. R. Greenwell D. Nicholson 25 28 4 jj • • »» * ' 10' to 60' 10' to 34' 16' to 18' 15' 7' 20' 20' 6' to 14' 15' 7' Opencut Bord and pillar 54,048 132,575 81,582 3,268 30 13,171,589 3,358,212 | j ?g 11.009 92.591 32 10.418 13,686 3 30 1 85 213 90 114 272 122 3 Natural. 4 "3 Output of mines included in previ >us Statements at whiel oper •ations are sus] I ier« led or abando ied .. I I ..I 2,353,253 I 2,353,253 ] .-. Nelson Coalfield. Puponga Colliery A. Morris Bituminous iVEST COAS * INSPECT!! 3N DISTRICT ex. 16,125 191,843 207,968 20 50 Mechanical. 13 i 9' Full height Bord and pillar I Ditto .... 20 30 50 North Cape Colliery Job Hughes 6 jj i 3' 6" to 5' 6" 10,022 32,544 42.566 33 33 16 49 Natural. 49 Duller Coalfield. Co-operative Mine H. Chester (P.) .. >j 10' 7' Bord and pillar Ditto .. .. 1,570 1,403 2,973 2 2 Natural. 2 2 Coal Creek Mine Westport-Stockton Colliery W. McGuire (P.) .. 1 A. K. Broadhead .. 1 8 »j . 6' 8'to 24' Full height 4'to 16' 2,477 189,430 2,477 2 846,940 1,036,370 100 2 100 5 130 230 Mechanical. 7 230 i I „ •■ I ..

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West-port Coal Companv- (Ltd.) — Millerton Collierv .. .. I W. McCormack and W. Pearson G. Smith N. Milligan J. P. Burley (P.) .. 25 I 25 36 15 | Bituminous 1 4'to 40' 12' Bord and pillar Ditto .. 274,782 | 4,697,883 I 4,972,665 84 340 I 424 Mechanical. 1 220 243 230 247 2 2 Iron Bridge Colliery Coalbrookdale Colliery Rocklands Mine 2 3' to 30' Full height 1 4' to 20' 1 16' to 20' 9' 2 1 1 I 245,659 j 7,154,979 7,400,638 f 23 I 17 Brown 97 I 6,859 6,956 Natural. Inangahua Coalfield. Cogklan's freehold J. Coghlan (P.) Semi - bituminous Ditto 1 10' Full height Bord and pillar Ditto .. 324 5.514 5,838 1 1 i 2 20 1 Archer's freehold Waitahu Mine Burke's Creek Mine Deep Creek Mine Phcenix and Venus Mine Watson and Moyle's Mine Lankey's Creek Mine Loughnan's Mine Big River Mine Murray Creek Mine J. W. Archer (P.) .. I. Rhodes (P.) A. Thompson F. Lockington (P.) W. Knight (P.) .. G. Ward (P.) F. Knight (P.) R, L. Kearns (P.) .. W. Kirwin (P.) C, A. Svensen(R).. 21 14 15 15 35 8 14 11 3 3 •JS * • )** • • 1 10' 1 14' 8' 1 12' to 15' 10' 1 12' Full height 2 25' to 30' 10' 1 12' Full height 1 8' 1 6' 1 Variable .. 8' 1 „ .. Full height 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 „ •• | 710 17,856 114 4,545 2,701 25,565 227 3,155 1,020 33,735 1,316 8.082 1.876 21,307 1.911 11,315 855 1,852 348 1,125 18,566 4,659 28.266 3.382 34,755 9,398 23.183 13.226 2,707 1.473 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 6 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 Furnace. Natural. J) ■ • „ . . Grey Valley Coalfield. Paparoa Collier} 7 H. Talbot Bituminous 1 8' to 25' Full height Bord and pillar Ditto .. 30,215 I 196,899 227,114 10 50 60 Mechanical. 8 Blackball Colliery 7 North Brunner Colliery Brunner Colliery N.Z. State CollieriesPoint Elizabeth J. Watson J. Armstrong R. Allison 26 7 52 2 15' I 3'to 12' 1 12' } 203,811 2,252,054 21,248 66,076 10,952 2,388,364 140,917 1,995,389 136,928 189,687 2,124,369 2,455.865 87,324 2,399,316 2,136,306 326,615 2,124,369 57 14 19 268 ] 325 40 54 20 j 39 3> J.|Coulthard 12i Semi - bituminous Bituminous 2 4'to 12' 61 154 215 Liverpool Colliery, No. 1 Section Liverpool Colliery 7 , No. 3 Section Output of mines included in previc W. Parsonage G. Duggan •us Statements at whicl 4 i ations have 1 3 I 3'to 16' I ..j .. I ieen abandoned or suspended 60 . ... 183 243 opei I Canterbury. Bush Gully 7 , Coalgate J. Gillick.. Brown SOUTHERN INSPECTIO: J DISTRIC 15,904 13,014 28,918 5'steam- driver disc fan. Exhaust stean from pump. Natural. i. 2 7', 5' 7', 5' Bord and pillar Ditto .. 1 11 23 34 3 2 St. Helens, Whitecliffs J. Sutherland 35 3 6', 5', 3' 5' 3 783 24,347 25,130 Tripp's, Mount Somers Albury, Albury 7 Allanholme, Waihao Forks Dalgety, Hakataramea J. McCliniont (P.) H. A. Holmes (P.).. Alex. Todd 0. W. Ensor 50 25 1 35 ?-*> • ■ 1 40' 15' 1 12' 8' 1 15' 8' 1 30' 15' 1 1 1 1 1 1,511 64,607 762 14,201 411 92 3,478 66,118 14,963 411 3.570 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 1 Te Moana G. D. Macfarlane .. 2 JS> • ■ ii • • 1 5' 5' 1 Semi-verti-cal levels Bord and pillar 2 142 144 North Otago. St. Andrew's, Papakaio T. Nimmo (P.) Brown 1 7' 6' Bord and pillar Ditto .-. 1,476 53,390 54,866 1 4 5 Furnace. 38 1 1 Prince Alfred, Papakaio Ngapara, Ngapara Old Shag Point, Shag Point Shag Point Proprietary, Shag Point A, Beardsmore (P.) W. Nimmo (P.) .. W. Hunt (P.) C. E. Twining 47 38 2 8 s> • ■ 1 9' 7' 1 25' 8' 1 4' All 1 5' 1 1 1 1 jj • ■ Longwall 1 1 1 1 1,054 59,969 547 30,102 1,831 406,833 9,363 12,705 61,023 30,649 408,664 22,068 1 1 1 12 2 1 7 17 3 2 8 29 Natural. •>■> * ■ Furnace. »» - • i

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STATISTICS OF WORKINGS IN COAL-MINES, 1916— continued.

Name of Mine and Locality. Xarrre of Manager. s- CJ "*j* 5 ft Quality of Coal. -****•" ft Thickness of Seams. Thickness worked. CC System of 2 Underground ° working. Z fl a ft Total Output for 1916. Approximate Approximate Total Total Output to Output to 31st December. 31st December, 1915. 1916. JN"umber of Men ordinarily employed. Mean;! of Ventilation. ci c o iOU' 'HERN INS! ■ECTION DISTRICT— c< •ii\ :ued. Central Otago. Coal Creek, Roxburgh J. Barber 46 Lignite .. 1 I 20' 7' Bord and piUar All Open .. 25' Bord and pillar 7' Ditto .. AU Open .. Tons. 476 Tons. 59,955 Tons. 60,431 l 1 2 Natural. McPherson's, Coal Creek Flat .. Perseverance, Coal Creek Flat .. J. Weatherall (P.) .. J. Craig (P.) 46 29 ii • ■ 1 I 1 60' 75' 1,834 783 67,084 59,618 68,918 60,401 2 2 2 2 4 jj Alexandra, Alexandra Cambrian, Cambrian Laudervale, St. Bathan's St. Bathan's, St. Bathan's Rough Ridge, Oturehua Ida burn, Oturehua Oturehua, Oturehua Gimmerbum, Gimmerbum Shepherd's Creek, Bannockbum A. W. Whittlestone M. J. Miller J. Enright J. Beck (P.) J. White (P.) R. Thomas C. Dougherty W. R. Parcell 35 55 12 19 30 46 24 60 39 14 32 30 9' 30' 12' 20' 20' 20' 7' 12' 8' 15' ", . '. AU 1 3,938 285 141 552 680 210 24 755 85,769 48,467 1,225 5,916 29,277 44,737 2,129 3,205 82,510 j 89.707 48,752 1,225 6,057 29,829 45,417 2,339 3,229 83,265 1 1 1 1 2 1 8 1 9 1 1 2 2 1 Exhaust steam. 7' Bord and pillar 10' Ditto .. AU Levels .. „ Open .. 10' Bord and pillar All Semi-verti-cal levels 16' Open .. 9' „ .. 1 S 4 Private. Exhaust steam. Cairnmuir, Bannockbum Ranfurly, Bannockbum Cardrona, Cardrona Gibbston, Gibbston H. C. Russell (P.) .. J. Hodson, jun. (P.) R. McDougaU (P.).. John Hodson 1 1 1 1 12' 10' 10' 15' 2,994 2,350 153 545 36,998 5,775 25,627 22,167 39.992 8,125 25,780 22,712 1 1 2 1 6 3 2 7 4 2 3 Natural. Nevis, Nevis R. Thomson 16 1 20' 279 5,809 6,088 1 1 2 Nevis Crossing, Nevis Clarke's, Nevis Crossing, Nevis.. Dillon's, Blackstone Hill Mt. Highlay (late Gold and Scheelite Mining Company (Ltd.)), Macrae's R. Ritchie (P.) J. Ritchie J. Dillon .. H. P. Gray 13 2 19 10 a ■ * 1 1 1 1 16' 9' 12' 10' 6' Tunnel 843 250 10 80 12,128 180 264 2,816 12,971 430 274 2.896 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 XX Private. South Otago. Fernhill, Abbotsford James Gray 39 Lignite .. 15' 12' Bord and pillar AU Ditto .. 1,293 155,844 157,137 Natural. 39 1 1 4 4 1 8 Freeman's Coal Company, Abbotsford Green Island, Green Island Jubilee, Saddle Hill Saddle HiU (No. 1), Saddle Hill Saddle Hill (No. 2), Saddle Hill East Taieri, Saddle Hill Brighton, Brighton J. Sneddon T. Barclay, jun. T. Barclaj 7 , sen. Robert Hill Robert Hill W. Coulter (P.) .. N. McColl(P.) 36 36 29 19 44 15 5 1 29 in it ■ • a • • 1 7' to 14' 10' 8' to 18' 20' 22' 10' 6' 8' „ All „ .. 2 1 2 1 1 1 13,278 5,180 21,532 6,666 15,434 3,210 252 532,529 121,849 300,653 227,593 217,020 8,771 3,207 545,807 127,029 322,185 . 234,259 232,454 11,981 3,459 4 3 7 3 6 1 1 21 5 21 7 19 6 2 25 28 10 25 7 3 Fan. Furnace. Fan" »» • ■ J> • • 7' „ .. Natural. 99 * * I .. I

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Waronui, Milton McGiip's, Milton Tarato, Lovell's Flat Mahara (late Hawthorn Den), Kaitangata Longridge, Kaitangata N.Z. Oil and Coal Company (Limited) — Kaitangata No. 1 Kaitangata No. 2 .. Castle HiU, Kaitangata Benhar, Stirling J. Carruthers .. 12 Brown J. J. Cooper (P.) ..12 Thomas Shore .. 15 Lignite .. J. Davis (P.) .. 8 Brown .. N. MacJrie(P.) ..8 1 1 1 1 18' 22' 20' 9' 8' Bord and pillar 15' Ditto .. 12' to 15' 7' „ .. 18,242 5,610 32,969 331 166,335 26,933 227,970 970 184,577 32,543 260,939 1,301 19 20 1 4 15 42 1 2 39 5 57 3 Fan. Natural. Fan. Natural. 1 " 1 4' ... All 318 I 3,308 3,626 | 2 2 A. S. Gillanders .. 40 W. Carson .. 4 ,, W. Carson .. 23 J. Walls (P.) .. 53 Lignite .. 1 1 1 1 30' 30' 30' 25' ■ .. 1 1 1 1 Y J 119.045 5.096 3,281,176 158,175 3,400,221 163,271 67 258 1 6 325 Fan. 12' to 16' "„ 7 Exhaust stean from pump. I 1 1,643 66,780 68.423 2 2 Mainholme, Pomahaka J. G. Drummond(P.)j 31 j 20' Al! Open .. Southland. Pukerau, Pukerau F. A. Junker (P.) .. 36 Lignite .. 16' _ . . 9' I Bord and pillar 12' Ditto .. 758 40,627 41,385 1 j 1 Natural. 1 2 Whiterigg (late Heffernan's), East Gore Green's, Gore Bushy Park, Croydon Bumwell, North Chatton W. C. Johnston (P.) 38 1 20' 2,457 11,839 585 1,877 7.791 6.259 970 161 62,040 166,225 21,683 36,880 72,861 49.573 I 14.361 I 44,400 i 64.497 178.064 22.268 38,757 80.652 55,832 15,331 44.561 _ 1 2 2 7 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 3 r 1 1 1 17' 20' 20' 1 9 1 2 Fan. J. Mason, sen. .. 28 ,, J. Wilson .. 11 W. Melvor (P.) ..17 ... 12' „ .. All Open .. 12' Bord and pillar 15' Ditto .. 10' All Open .. 12' Bord and pillar 8' ' Ditto .. All Open .. ,, Bord and pillar Open .. 12' j Bord and pillar All Open .. 7' „ 8' ., All 24' Bord and pillar 12' I Ditto .. 9' r, :: eeting Natural. Ramsay's, North Chatton Springfield, Waikaka Valley Glenlee, Waikaka Edge's, Waikaka J. Broome .. '■ 13 ,, N. Fletcher (P.) .. i 23 D. T. McGilKP.) .. I 23 A. A. Edge (P.) ..17 1 1 1 1 20' 17' 14' 16' 1 4 5 2 2 Natural. Rossvale, Waikaia Argyle, Waikaia Waimea and Lyneh's, Kingston Crossing Princhester Creek, The Key Mataura Collieries, Mataura R. Craig (P.) .. ! 13 H. C. Hutton(P.) ..25 J. E. Johnston (P.) 8 1 1 1 10' 20' 6' 1 2,065 574 1.016 115 6,425 34.762 4.720 7,586 1.498 173,378 36.827 5,294 8,602 1,613 179,803 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 4 4 1 2 W. O. Kcmpthorne j 14 Brown A. E. Barnes .. j 20 Lignite .. 1 1 6' 17' 1 1 Mataura Lignite Pit, Mataura .. Waimumu. Mataura Heatherlee, Waimumu Ota Creek, Wyndham 'Clarke's, Wyndham Nightcaps, Nightcaps W. Coster (P.) ..40 G. W. Williams .. 17 F. Barber .. 5 „ E Genge(P.) ..36 P. Farrington .. 9 ,, William Barclay .. 35 Brown 2 18' 9' 10' 6' 12' 26' in aggregate 12' to 20' 9' 17' 10,602 19 123 1.030 578 84,166 7 2,086 25.125 183 147,950 30,713 j 355 I 18,921 ] 13,471 1,096,845 44,049 2,152 25,883 972 158,552 30,732 478 19,951 14,049 1,181,011 44,056 4,238 51,008 1,155 8 1 1 1 1 2 22 j 91 2 I 1 5 6 22 2 8 1 1 2 2 113 1 Two fans. New Brighton. Nightcaps Thistle Coal Company, Nightcaps Wairio, Nightcaps Wairio Rail and Coal Companv 7 (Limited), Wairio Wairaki, Nightcaps A. Cain (P.) ..10 A. Ferguson (P.) .. 3 „ C. R. Heyoock .. 11 C. R. Heyeock .. 2 1 1 1 1 2 6 28 2 Natural. Prosp W. Excell .. 3 1 9' 7' j Bord and pillar 15' ' Open .. 2,578 350 9,006 350 11,584 1 6 1 Natural. Beaumont. Nightcaps.. William Kyle .. 8 ' 1 20' 6

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STATISTICS OF WORKINGS IN COAL-MINES, 1916— continued.

Nanie of Mine and Locality. Name of Manager. "li, ~ CJ ft Quality of Coal. CQ "o _j Thickness of s-o Seams. fl^ ft Thickness worked. System of Underground working. CC O fl I Total Output for 1916. Approximate Total Output to 31st December. 1915. Number of Men Approximate ordinarily employed. Total Output to — j 31st December, 1916. g is -i < n h Means of Ventilation. rsuu. OUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT— cc >nti; ,ued. Southland —continued. Mossbank, Nightcaps .. .. William Kyle .. 2 Brown .. 1 1 9' 7' Bord and pillar 1 20' 15' Open .. 1 20' 15' 1 10' Ail 1 9' „ „ .. 1 32' „ „ .. 1 T jj ,, ■ ■ 1 T ,, ,, . ■ Tons. Tons. 765 Tons. 765 Mt. Linton, Nightcaps .. [ W. J. McGregor .. 22 Linton Coal-mine, Nightcaps .. J. Duncan .. 1 BirreU's, Nightcaps .. .. I J. Phillips (P.) .. 2 Beattie's, Nightcaps .. .. G. Beattie .. 2 Diamond 'Lignite, Seaward Bush J. Peterson (P.) .. 14 Lynwood Colliery, Te Anau . . N.Z. Tourist Dept. 16 WeUward Park, Pukerau .. A. M. Mason .. 15 Otikerama Station, Pukerau .. VV. J. Voight .. 19 Riverview, Gore .. J. Nichol Pinnacle Hill, Gore .. .. S. Woodiield Glenham. Wyndham .. .. N McEvvan Black Diamond, Nightcaps .. G. Tinker .. .. j Waikaia Coal-mine, Waikaia .. J.Johnstone .. : .. Output of mines included in previous Statements at which opei • ■ 1 1 2,312 354 15 1,533 115 30 12 32 40 339 138 60 3,314 3,314 2,312 858 34 14,075 2,284 349 312 1,933 40 339 138 14,501 2,728,042 6 2 1 2 1 /? -• 1 1 ..1 Lignite .. 1 l 504 19 12,542 2,169 319 300 1,901 6 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 •• I 1 1 1 .. 1 .. 1 " 14,441 2,728,042 .. ■ations are suspend I lended or abaadoned •• ■• Totals, Southern District, South Island Totals, West Coast District, South Island Totals, North Island .. 475,386 1,295,635 11,669,134 22,279,340 12,144,520 23.574,975 269 660 510 1,711 929 2,221 929 221 ■• -- -- I 486,114 7,587,205 8,073,319 209 629 838 838 .. „ .... Grand totals .. .. | .. i .. 2,257,135 41.535,679 : 43,792,814 988 3,000 3,988 j 988 I i Output of mines included in Statement for 1890, but whose oj again included in body of Statement —namely 7 , Hill's Creel total, 3,090 tons) Output of mines included in former Statements, but whose opei Output of Waikaka, Adam's Flat, and Waimea Mines, inserted Shale exported, 1914 •■ ** I rerations were susj c, 779 tons ; Lovel I I I suspended prior to 1890 (less three, which a rivell's Flat, 323 tons ; Wyndham, 1,988 toil I are 132.732 | •• is: rations were suspei twice in Statemen spended prior to 1889 nent for 1891 172.529 6.518 21 " ** ■• ! 44,104,614* * This total includes 14,-143 tons of oil-shale mined prior to 1914.

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ANNEXURE D. EXAMINATIONS POR COLLIERY MINE-MANAGERS AND OTHER MINE OFFICIALS. At the examinations held in December, 1916, twelve candidates sat for first-class coal-mine managers' certificates and six for second - class certificates. The following were successful : First-class—William Crowe (Ngakawau), 0. J. Davis (Runanga), and J. T. Mosley (Kaitangata). Second-class—W. C. Davies (Huntly), Frank Duffy (Burnett's Face), and G. F. Whittlestone (Abbotsford). Four candidates for first-class coal-mine managers' certificates and three candidates for secondclass coal-mine managers' certificates obtained partial passes. During the twelve months ended 31st March, 1917, a large number of candidates for certificates as underviewers and as firemen and deputies were examined at the various coal-mining centres. Those successful in obtaining certificates of competency as underviewers were : William Ainscough, John Dymond, John Hadcroft, T. G. Hughes, T. H. King, William Lowden, William Maher, John MoKernan, Malcolm McLean, Samuel Pendleton, Isaac Powell, James Rodgers, James Thomson, W. R. Williamson, and Joseph Young. The, successful candidates for firemen and deputies' certificates were : George Dinsdale, R. W. Fairhurst, Thomas Hall, E. E. Hill, T. N. Martin, E. McGuinncss, David Melvor, B. E. Miles, J..T. Pearson, Alexander Pratt, Henry Reid (Millerton), Henry Reid (Huntly), W. Richardson, A. G. Rogers, W. R. Rutherford, James Scott, J. R. Sharp, W. M. Shore, C. B. Smith, A. G. Tunstall, F. Turner, James Unwin. The Board of Examiners under the Coal-mines Act as at the 31st March, 1917, was constituted as follows : Messrs. James Bishop, J. C. Brown, Robert Duncan, H. A. Gordon, P. G. Morgan (Chairman), Frank Reed, and E. H. Wilmot. Since the above date a vacancy has been created by the death of Mr. H. A. Gordon. QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE EXAMINATIONS HELD DURING DECEMBER, 1916, FOR MANAGERS' FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY UNDER THE COAL-MINES ACT. Subject 1. — Mining: Opening out a Colliery; Working Goal; limbering; Boring. 1. Assume that you are required to undertake the development of a colliery in a new field, the seams being overlaid by several hundred feet of cover : give full particulars of the preliminary work you would consider necessary to — (a.) Prove depth and character of coal-seams ; and (b.) To ascertain the position at which shafts should be sunk ; and (c.) The general conditions which would influence your judgment in favour of or against the opening of a colliery as assumed. 2. Describe how you would sink a shaft through a depth of 70 ft. of running sand or other loose material; the shaft to be rectangular, and the work to be done without iron casing. 3. Suppose a pair of shafts to be sunk 1,200 ft. deep to a seam of coal 8 ft. thick ; angle of inclination 10°, line of cleavage at right angles to line of strike, good roof, soft floor: show by sketches what in your opinion is the proper relative position of the shaft, mode of working you would adopt, and size of pillars you would leave for support of the shafts ; position of doors between upcast and downcast; stating fully the reasons guiding you. 4. Assuming coal-seam described in preceding question gives ofi fire-damp freely, how would you ventilate during the time men are holing round shaft-pillars ; and what special precautions would you take to prevent accident ? 5. State generally your experience of sinking and opening-out of mines, with conditions under which experience gained ; also duties and responsibilities of a chargeman of a shaft during sinking. 6. Describe and give sketches showing plan of longwall workings ; also section through working-face showing how timbering is done. Assume seam i ft. thick, with strong roof and fireclay floor. 7. In working a pitching seam on bord-and-pillar system, in what relative positions would you keep the pillar and solid-coal workings in order to prevent accumulation of gas in the goaf being forced on to the workmen in the solid coal ? 8. In pillar-extraction would you have props drawn as coal removed ? If so, state the means you would adopt to prevent roof breaking over the working-places, and precautions to be observed by workmen engaged in drawing timber. 9. The roof of a haulage level putting heavy weight on timber, breaking the bars and redxicing the width and height to 8 ft. and if- ft. respectively, show in detail (by sketches) how you would enlarge the drive to 12 ft. wide and 7 ft. high, and how you would protect the workmen during the operation ; traffic to be worked on the road by single line for eight hours each day. 10. Give particulars describing fully any branch of mining-work, including precautions for safety, to which you have given special study.

12—C. 2.

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Subject 2. — Mechanics: Pumping-appliances and Mine-drainage,; Tapping Water and Dam-con-struction, in Mines; Winding in Shafts ; Hauling on Underground Planes; Compressed-air and Steam-power Plants; Strength of Materials; Elementary Electricity. 1. Give sketch of general arrangement of appliances required for the installation of endless-rope haulage, showing driving-gear, tension arrangement, and clips. Assume quantity of coal to be hauled at 600 tons per shift, length of line 1,000 yards, and grade 1 in 10 against the load. 2. Describe and show by sketches the class of steam-boiler you consider most suitable for collierywork. State reasons for. preference. 3. What class of pump would you prefer to install to raise 600 gallons of water per minute from the dip-workings of a colliery ? Give detailed description of pump, the driving-medium you would adopt and power required, allowing you obtain 60 per cent, efficiency; the pump to be placed underground one mile from the shaft, the head to be 500 ft. 4. Give sketch showing how a siphon should be erected. Stale the law which governs the working of this appliance, and advantages derivable from the working of same. 5. If required to transmit energy for application underground, state whether you would prefer electricity or compressed air, reasons for preference, and under what conditions you would install either of these forms of energy in preference to the other. 6. If required to build a dam or dams for resisting water-pressure of 100 lb. per square inch, show by sketch the foim of dam, and give description of material and its application to the work. All dimensions to be assumed by candidate. 7. What are the terms applied by electricians to indicate (a) electrical pressure, (b) electrical quantity, and (c) electrical resistance ? 8. Having to install a 25 horse-power electric motor (continuous current) at a point in the underground workings If miles from the generating-station, where the voltage is 480, and the line consists of No. 2 standard wire gauge, copper, the total length being 3 miles, what would the drop in voltage be, for what voltage should the motor be constructed, and what power would be required at the generating-station, assuming 60 per cent, efficiency ? Subject 3.— Ventilation: Ventilation oj Mines and Knowledge oj- Mine-gases; Spontaneous Combustion oj Coal, and Methods oj Dealing with Underground Fires ; Rescue Apparatus ; Practical Knowledge oj Gas-testing with a Safety-lamp. 1. Explain the theory of ventilation of mines, and why artificial ventilation is more reliable than natural. 2. Give rules which should be followed in splitting air, and state what is the practical limit to the number of splits, and why. 3. In what velocities of an explosive mixture are certain forms of safety-lamps unsafe ? 4. Describe the conditions requiring mines to be worked with locked safety-lamps, and state provision. 5. What means would you adopt to secure the best possible results from a fan of limited capacity and on which the demand is dangerously near the limit ? 6. What are the factors determining the quantity of air passing in a mine at any given time ? 7. State how you would guard against underground fires, and, the means you would adopt in dealing with same, having special regard to the safety of persons employed in connection with the work required to be done. 8. If 20,000 cubic feet of air be produced in an airway 3,000 ft. long, 8 ft. wide, and 5 ft. high, how many feet would be produced if the air was split in three splits, the first airway being as above, the second 3,500 ft. long by 9 ft. wide and 5 ft. high, the third. 4,000 ft. by 10 ft. wide and 6 ft. high, the power being unchanged ? 9. If water-gauge shows a depression of 3 in. and an anemometer reading taken in main intake, which is 12 ft. by 7 ft., shows a velocity of 985 ft. per minute, what is the horse-power of the ventilat-ing-current ? 10. Having si current of 96,000 cubic feet of air circulating in .a mine, the water-gauge being 1-2 in., what will be the water-gauge if current increased to 130,000 cubic feet per minute ?' Subject 4.— Arithmetic and Law: A Knowledge of Mine Accounts; Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Square Root, Area oj Rectangle, Trapezoid, Circle, &c.; Measurement oj Timber; Calculation oj Workable Coal in a Mine, &c.; a Knowledge oj the Coal-mines Act and Amendments. 1. What are the contents in tons in an area of 20 acres, the seam lying flat and 5 ft. thick ; specific gravity, 1-5. 2. Taking the output of a colliery at 9,000 tons per fortnight, of which 15 per cent, is unsaleable, the cost per ton of the gross quantity is ss. 3-sd. : what is the cost of the net disposable quantity, and what should be the selling-price to return a gain of 12f per cent. ? 3. If pillars are 22 yards by 13 yards, bords 6 yards wide, and, headings 4 yards wide, what percentage of the coal is being won in the solid workings ? 4. Find the length of a circular fence to enclose 10 acres. 5. Write such a report as may be considered necessary from the manager of a mine to his directors at the end of each fortnight, dealing with the pay-sheets and such features connected with the mine-workings as are, in your opinion, essentia] for the information of a board of directors.

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6. State briefly the requirements of the Coal-mines Act and amendments re- — (a.) Ventilation of mines and quantity of air. (6.) Examination of mines before miners enter workings, (c.) The first duty of miners on entering their working-places. (d.) The provisions for minimizing the danger from ignition of coaldust owing to blasting or other cause, (e.) Give brief general outline of duties and responsibilities devolving on the managers of coal-mines and subordinate officers. In answering the above the numbers of section in the Act, special rules or regulations applicable, to be given.

Subject V.— Surveying.

1. Tlie above diagram shows a traverse survey to fix the position of the boundary-lines AB and BC, with offset to the corner B : compute the bearings and lengths of the boundary-lines AB and BC. (The distances are given in links.) 2. The angles of elevation from A to E and E to C on the above diagram, allowing for height of instrument and signals, are 3° 25' and 4° 10' respectively : what is the difference of elevation between the stations A and C in feet ?

3. The above diagram shows the survey of a mining claim : compute the area of the claim by the simplest and shortest method known to you. (The distances are given in links.) 4. Describe the methods of transferring the true bearing from the surface to the underground workings of a mine when there is one shaft, and when there are two shafts, giving diagrams. Subject Vl.—General and Applied Geology. 1. Define the following terms : Syncline, anticline, unconformity, strike, dip, sedimentary rock, igneous rock. Illustrate your answer- by diagrams in the case of the first five terms. 2. Briefly describe the geology of any coalfield with which you are familiar. In your answer give a table showing all the geological formations of the district in proper sequence. 3. Define the various kinds of rock mentioned in your answer to question No. 2. 4. Describe fully the action of running water in its threefold aspect —erosion, transport, and deposition. 5. Explain how strata which have originally been deposited in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position may become tilted, folded, or faulted. 6. Give your views concerning the origin and formation of coal. Illustrate your answer by reference to New Zealand or other coalfields. 7. An area of 980 acres has been shown by boring to contain a horizontal coal-seam, with an average thickness of 10 ft. : calculate the amount of coal in the ground on the basis of 1 cubic foot of coal weighing 80 lb.

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8. Coal outcrops at intervals in two New Zealand valleys a mile apart; the overlying strata, sandstone and limestone, appear to be continuous between the two valleys ; the outcrops seen are from 6 ft. to 20 ft. thick, with an average of, say, 12 ft. : would you be justified in assuming that workable coal extends through the ground between the valleys ? Explain the reasons for your answer, and state what exploration you would undertake before advising a mining company to begin active development. QUESTIONS POR MANAGERS' SECOND-CLASS CERTIFICATES OP COMPETENCY. Subject 1.- — Mining : Opening out a Colliery; Working Coal; Timbering ; Boring. 1. Give sketch of a small section of long wall workings, and of bord-and-pillar workings, showing intake and return air in each. 2. Describe the various forms of timbering used in mines, giving sketches of suitable sets for— (a.) Places with good roof and soft floor ; (6.) Floor hard, roof and sides weak; (c.) Show how timber should be set in highly inclined seam. 3. If required to drive towards old workings known to contain water under pressure, describe and show by sketches how you would proceed, giving details of appliances to be used and requirements of the Coal-mines Act. 4. Sketch what in your opinion would be a convenient arrangement of shaft-bottom to deal with 600 tons daily output. 5. On what system would you work a seam of coal 15 ft. thick with tender roof ? Explain fully the precautions you would adopt to safeguard the men. 6. What size pillars would you leave to support a shaft 200 yards deep with seam pitching at an angle of 15 degrees ? 7. What are the precautions necessary to prevent blown-out shots, and what dangers are to be feared from such occurrences ? 8. Do pillar workings demand more attention by mine officials than places advancing in the solid coal, and, if so, why ? 9. Under what conditions would you consider coaldust dangerous in mines ? Subject 2.— Mechanics: Pumping-appliances and Mine-drainage; Tapping Water and Dam-con-struction in Mines; Winding in Sliajts; Hauling on Underground Planes; Compressed-air and Steam-power Plants; Strength oj Materials; Elementary Electricity. 1. What system of haulage do you consider most efficient where large output of coal is required '(■ Give reasons for your preference. 2. What power would be required to haul 500 tons daily over an incline plane 800 yards long with grade against the load of 1 in 6 ? 3. If required to raise 300 gallons of water per minute to a height of 500 ft., what horse-power would be required, allowing for 65 per cent, efficiency ? 4. What are the terms applied to indicate (a) electric pressure, (b) electric quantity, (c) electric resistance ? What do you understand is meant by " insulation "in connection with electric plants ? 5. What terms are used to indicate the commercial unit of electrical energy ? 6. Under what conditions would you consider the installation of electrical power in the underground workings of a coal-mine dangerous ? 7. Give your experience in connection with the erection and working of pumping-appliances placed underground. 8. Give sketch of what you consider a useful form of drum for lowering coal on a self-acting incline_ 20 chains long. Assume suitable grade, and give your estimate of quantity which could be lowered by the arrangement per eight-hours shift. Subject 3.— Ventilation: Ventilation oj Mines and Knowledge oj Mine-gases; Spontaneous Combustion oj Coal, and Methods oj Dealing with Underground Fires; Rescue Apparatus; Practical Knowledge oj Gas-testing with a Safety-lamp. 1. Indicate briefly the object aimed at in splitting the air in mines. 2. Describe the chemical composition and properties of the various gases met with in coal-mines. 3. What are the chief impediments to the passage of air in mines, and how they can best be removed ? What parts of a mine-workings are most easily ventilated ? 4. What experience have you had in dealing with mine-fires ? Describe how you would deal with an outbreak of this kind, having special regard to the safety of employees. 5. What oil-burning safety-lamps do you consider the best, and state whether in your opinion the electric lamp for miners is in all essentials a safety-lamp ? 6. Should the foreman report dangerous conditions owing to gas and dust in a portion of the mine, what precautions should be taken by the manager and underviewer to prevent accident to employees ? 7. Why are permitted explosives safer than the usual blasting-powders ? 8. Give your experience of the use of blasting-materials, and fully describe the working of the electric system of shot-firing.

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Subject 4.— Arithmetic and Law : A Knowledge oj Mine Accounts; Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Square Root, Area of Rectangle, Trapezoid, Circle, &c.; Measurement oj Timber; Calculation oj Worlcable Coal in a Mine, &c.; a Knowledge of the Coal-mines Act and Amendments. 1. The area of a square being 35-500 square feet, what is the length of its sides ? 2. How much would a miner earn for 11 days' work, filling on an average 4| tons per day, at 2s. 4|d. per ton ? 3. Multiply I of 37 by § of 86. 4. In driving a heading 6 ft. 6 in. by 6 ft. by 120 yards long, the men to be paid at 9s. 6d. per cubic yard, how much will the work cost ? 5. How many square yards in a quadrilateral piece of land, one side being 40 yards long, parallel side 60 yards, the sides being 10 yards apart ? Knowledge oj Coal-mines Act. 1. State briefly the provisions of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, and amendments, relating to — (a.) Ventilation. (&.) Examination before men enter workings, (c.) Safety-lamps and their treatment. (d.) Minimizing dangers from ignition of fire-damp and coaldust. In answering above, quote numbers of section or rule referred to.

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LIST OF PERSONS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES UNDER THE COALMINES ACTS. FIBST-CLASS MINE-MANAGMKS' CeBTIFIOAI'KS. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886 and 1891, Aitkeii, T., Wondon. Kerr, G., Kamo. Shore, T., Orepuki. Alexander, T., Brunnorton. Lloyd, J., Invercargill. Smith, A. E., Nelson. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. Love, A., Whangarei. Smith, T. F., Nelson. Bishop, J., Brunnerton. Mason, J., Nightcaps. Sneddon, J., Mosgiel. Cameron, J., Denniston. May, J., Greymouth. Swinbanks, J., Kawakawa. Cochrane, N. D., Dunedin. Moody, T. P., Kawakawa. Taylor, E. 8., Huntly. Collins, W., Taupiri. Moore, W. J., Springfield. Thompson, A., White Cliffs. Dando, M., Brunnerton. Ord, J., Huntly. Walker, J., Collingwood. Gray, J., Abbotsford. Reed, F., Westport. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886, 1891, 1905, and 1908, after Examination. Armitage, F. W., Auckland. Fleming, J., Kaitangata. McGeachie, J., Mokau. Armstrong, J., Brunnerton. Fletcher, James, Granity. Milligan, J., Denniston. Barclay, T., Kaitangata. Fox, R. A., Denniston. Milligan, N., Westport. Barclay, W., Kaitangata. Fry, Sydney, Waimangaroa. Morgan, William, Waihi. Bennie, Boyd, Waihi. Gibson, John, Westport. Mosloy, J. T., Kaitangata. Bishop, T. 0., Reefton. Gillanders, A., Shag Point. Murray, T., Westport. Brown, J. C, Denniston. Green, E. R., Abbotsford. Newton, James, Brunnerton. Burt, A., Waihi. Green, J., Brunnerton, Parsonage, W., Runanga. Campbell, Petor, Fairfield. Hamilton, J. S., Burnett's Face. Pearson, W., Waihi. Carruthers, J., Shag Point. Herd, J., Brunnerton. Penman, A., Huntly. Carson, W., Kaitangata. Heycook, C. R., Nightcaps. Scoble, E. J., Waihi. Coombe, J., Waihi. Hill, Robert, Abbotsford. Smith, George, Fairfield. Crockett, S., Millerton. Hosking, G. F., Auckland. Sowerby, H., Denniston. Crowe, W., Ngakawau. Hughes, Job, Puponga. Talbot, H., Brunnerton. Davis, 0. J., Runanga. Jebson, D., Canterbury. Tattley, E. W., Huntly. Dixon, C. W., Granity. Jones, T., Kimihia. Tattley, F. J., Mercer.' Dixon, W., jun., Kaitangata. Leitch, J., Blackball. Taylor, A. H., Waikato. Duggan, George, Burnett's Face. Leitch, W., Blackball. Thomson, Thomas, Denniston. Dunn, Andrew, Denniston. Marshall, A. G., Denniston. Turner, G. F., Shag Point. Dunn, W., Brunnerton. McCaffrey, Patrick, Perntown. Westfield, C. H., Fairfield. Dunn, W. R., Thames. McCormack, W., Denniston. Young, James H., Waimangaroa. Elliott, R., jun., Denniston. McEwan, Robert, Coromandel. Issued under the Coal-mines Act, 1886, on Production of English Certificate. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. Cater, T., Auckland. Hodgson, J. W., Ross. Black, T. H., Waipori. Cochrane, N. D., Dunedin. Reed, F., Wellington. Broome, G. H., Ngakawau. Hayes, J., Kaitangata. Tattley, W., Auckland. Issued to Inspectors of Mines by virtue of Office, under the Coal-mines Acts of 1886 and 1891. McLaren, J. M., Thames. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts of 1891, 1905, and 1908, on Production of Certificate from a recognised Authority outside the Dominion. Alison, J., Mangatini. Goold, A. L., Auokland. Morris, A., Huntly. Alison, R., Greymouth. Irvine, James, Dunedin. Nelson, E., Hikurangi. Bayne, J. A. O, Roa. James, Isaac Angelo, Westport. Tennent, R., Brunnerton. Clark, W., Blackball. Kane, D., Denniston. Twining, C. E., Dunedin. Davidson, Gavin, Blackball. Kirkwood, D., Coromandel. Watson, James, Greymouth. Davies, D. J., Ngakawau. Jjamont, J,, Devonport. Watson, John, Blackball. Fletcher, George, Westport. Lewis, W., Blackball. Wight, E. S., Auckland. Frame, Joseph, Kaitangata. Mark, W. S., Kaitangata. Woods, William, Mokihinui. Gillick, J., Kaitangata. McAvoy, H., Christohuroh. Skcond-olass Mine-managebs' Cebtifioates. Issued under the Coal-mines Act, 1891. Collier, Levi, Kamo. Lobb, Joseph, Mokau Smith, Charles, Whangarei. Clarke, Edward, Shag Point. Mcintosh, Allan, Shag Point. Thomas, James, Springfield. Elliot, Joseph, Coal Greek. McLaren, J. M., Thames. Wallace, William, Huntly. Harris, John, Denniston. Murray, Thomas, Denniston. Willetts, John Morris, Papakaio. Herd, Joseph, Brunnerton. Radcliffe, William, Reefton. Young, William, Waimangaroa. Howie, James, Kaitangata. Sara, James, Reefton. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886, 1891, 1905, and 1908, after Examination. Allan, J., Brunner. Duncan, James, Kaitangata. Mills, Walter, Huntly. Austin, W. 8., Sheffield. Duncan, J. E., Kaitangata. Morganty, Louis, Ngakawau, Ball, A., Kimihia. Duncan, John, Lovell's Plat. Mosley, J. T., Stirling. Barber, John, Shag Point. Ferguson, A., Kaitangata. Neilson, J., Runanga. Barclay, T., Kaitangata. Ferguson, G., Roa. Neilson, Moffat, Abbotsford. Barclay, T., jun., Kaitangata. Fox, R. A., Blackball. Newburn, S., Kaitangata. Barolay, William, Kaitangata. Harris, A., Saddle Hill. Ogilvie, W. W., Saddle Hill. Barnes, A. E., Shag Point. Hewitson, W. E. G., Burnett's Face. Orr, Hugh, Fairfield. Broome, J., jun., Gore. Heyes, T., Kaitangata. Parcell, W., jun., Bannockburn. Brown, Robert, Kaitangata. Heyoock, C. R., Nightcaps. Penman, C. P., Kaitangata. Cadman, J., Hikurangi. Hill, R., Abbotsford. Price, P. J., Burnett's Face. Campbell, Peter, Fairfield. Hodson, John, Kaitangata. Scoble, E. J., Blaokball. Carruthers, J., jun., Nightcaps. Hughes, Job, Roa. Snow, T., Mercer. Charles, E., Glentunnel. Hunter, A., Southland. Tattley, F. J., Mercer. Oherrie, R. C, Mokau. Kells, P. H., Denniston. Taylor, Joseph, Collingwood. Christie, James, Saddle Hill. Lewis, David, Puponga. Thompson, Joseph, Blackball. Olemo, G., Whangarei. Lewis, J., Nightcaps. Thomson, James, Nightcaps. Craig, John, Coal Creek Plat. Lindsay, J. 8., Orepuki. Todd, T., Nightcaps. Crookett, S., Millerton. MoAllister, Neil, Kaitangata. Waldie, A. 8., Mokau. Dale, E. G., Kaitangata. McLelland, J., Kaitangata. Watson, A., Soldier's Creek. Davies, W. C, Huntly. McLelland, A. C, Kaitangata. Westfield, C, Fairfield, Otago. Dixon, W., jun., Kaitangata. McNeill, D., Fairfield. Whittlestone, A. W., Shag Point. Doel, G., Lovell's Flat. Milligan, J., Denniston. Whittlestone, G. F., Abbotsford, Duffy, Frank, Burnett's Face.

C—2

Second-class Mine-managebs' Ceetificates — continued. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts of 1891, 1905, and 1908, on Production of Certificate from a recognized Authority outside the Dominion. Arundel, W., Hikurangi. Inglis, A., Huntly. Molony, C V. P., Auokland. Baxendale, J., Mine Creek. Jones, T., Kimihia. Newburn, F., Roa. Black, J., Granity. Kerr, D., Collingwood. Parsonage, W., Dunollie. Boyd, J., Hikurangi. Lennox, W., Springfield. Penman, A., Huntly. Brownlie, T., Huntly. Little, W., Wellington. Provan, P., Runanga. Burt, A., Huntly. Littlewood, G. G., Denniston. Robertson, R., Roa. Clarkson, S., Kaitangata. Longstaff, H. C, Kaitangata. Sneddon, J., Blackball. Cross, G., Hikurangi. McCall, John, Wellington. Strachan, J., Dunedin. Dickinson, W., Gore. . McGoachie, J., jun., Mokau. Tennant, D., Paparoa. Eyeington, G., Huntly. MeGuire, P., Mount Somers. Talbot, H., Huntly. Greenwell, R., Huntly. MeGuire, William, Seddonville. Webb, T. E., Huntly. Grenall, S., Granity. MoHardy, A. J., Ferntown. Undebviewees' Cebtipicates. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909. Allan, James, Puponga. Hawthorn, James, Puponga. Newlands, George, Brunnerton. Attrill, Charles Waterford, Meroer. Hunter, Peter, Ngakawau. Niinmo, Thomas, Papakaio. Berry, A. H., Huntly. Johnston, William Crowan, Gore. Nimmo, William, Ngapara, Bond, John, Waikaia. Johnstone, Thomas, Denniston. Penman, John, Denniston. Boustrage, T. Hubert, Brunnerton. Levick, Harry, White Cliffs. Proctor, William, Kaitangata. Broome, James, Gore. Marsh, Charles George, Glentunnel. Robertson, William, Mosgiel. Clough, Henry, Millerton. Muncaster, William, Runanga. Todd, Thomas, Nightcaps. Davidson, William, Mine Creek. McAlister, Robert, Kaitangata. Walker, John, Blackball. Davis, William, Runanga. MoGrana, Reginald, Seddonville. Williams, William, Kaitangata. Donaldson, James, Kaitangata. McKenzie, David, Nightcaps. Wilson, Daniel, Kaitangata. Flynn, John, Bannockburn. MoNeill, William, Fairfield. Winter, John, Denniston. Green, Richard, Abbotsford. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909, after Examination. Ainscough, William, Huntly. Jack, W., Millerton. Pendleton, Samuel, Blackball. Atkinson, John, Puponga. Johnston, C. M., Seddonville. Powell, Isaao, Rewanui. Bashall, J., Puponga. King, T. H., Granity. Rogers, James, Ngakawau. Berry, A. H., Huntly. Lowden, William, Millerton. Strongman, C. J., Cobden. Boddy, A. J., Rewanui. Maher, William, Denniston. Sweeney, J. L., State Collieries. Brown, Charles Henry, Denniston. McDonald, Thomas, Ngakawau. Thomson, James, Huntly. Carson, F. Kaitangata. McKernm, John, Millerton. Tucker, J., Kaitangata. Clark, W. S., State Collieries. McLean, Malcolm, Granity. Turnbull, E. V., Thames. Duffy, F., Burnett's Face. MoLeod, J. G., Millerton. Turner, Alfred, Kiripaka. Dymond, John, Mine Creek. Morganty, L., Stockton. Turton, J., Huntly. Griffen, j., Kaitangata. Mosley, J. T., Denniston. White, Edward, Ngaruawahia. Hadcroft, John, Dunollie. Nicholson, D., Huntly. Whittlestone, G. F., Abbotsford. Hewitson, W. E. G., Burnett's Faoe. O'Brien, D. Q., Mangatini. Williamson, W. R., Rewanui. Hughes, T. G., Huntly. Peacock, Thomas, Denniston. Young, Joseph, Huntly. Hunter, Peter, Stockton. Pearson, William, Burnett's Face. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1910. Beardsmore, E., Denniston. Jones, Eavid, Nightcaps. Mason, Edward, Kingston Crossing. Guthbertson, Robert, Fairfield. Jones, Morris, Nightcaps. Mitchell, Alexander, Runanga. Evans, William, Abbotsford. Jones, W., Waikaka Valley. McCaughern, John, Kaitangata. Fisher, T., Wostport. Kitto, Richard, Kaitangata. Neill, S., Kawakawa. Gibson, M., Abbotsford. Manderson, P., Runanga. Newburn, S., Kaitangata. Greene, M., Kaitangata. Mann, D., Granity. Statham, Robert, Kaitangata. Hadcroft, J., Runanga. Marshall, J. W., Westport. Walker, J. R., Brighton. Hunt, W., Shag Point. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1914, on Production of Certificate of Corresponding Class granted in any British Possession or Foreign Country. Martin, Elias, Ngakawau. Middleton, Robert, Runanga. Fibemen and Deputies' Cebtifioates. Issued under the Goal-mines Amendment Act, 1909. Aitken, George, Glentunnel. Dillon, Lawrence M., Nightcaps. Jackson, Samuel, Millerton. Allan, A. George, Abbotsford. Duncan, Frank, Huntly. Jarvie,William Marshall, Kaitangata. Allan, Charles, Brunnerton. Duncan, Hugh, Kaitangata. Jaspers, George F., Denniston. Beardsmore, Edward, Denniston. Evans, John, Granity. Jenkins, James, Ngakawau. Berry, Albert Henry, Huntly. Evans, William, Abbotsford, Johnston, C. Mountier, Seddonville. Blaney, James, sen., Kaitangata. Findlav, Charles, Denniston. Jones, David, Nightcaps. Boyd, Robert, Waronui. Foot, Frederick Ernest, Denniston. Kaye, Charles, Runanga. Bradley, Robert, Denniston. Gibson, Matthew, Abbotsford. Kitto, Richard, Kaitangata. Buchols, Joseph, Waikaka. Gibson, Robert, Millerton. Leeming, J. T., South Malvern. Burgess, William Charles, E. Gore. Gilmour, William, Millerton. Lutton, William, Millerton. Callaghan, Frederick, Kiripaka. Glover, Richard, Runanga. Mann, Duncan, Millerton. Campbell, Samuel, Millerton. Gray, Thomas, Abbotsford. Mason, William, Denniston. Chamley, William, Millerton. Gribhen, John, Kaitangata. Mears, Andrew David, Runanga. Clausen, EmilP.,c/o J. Worthington, Headcroft, James, Runanga. Monorieff, Thomas, Nightcaps. 33 Hiropi Street, Newtown, Wei- Hamilton, John, Hikurangi. Moore, Thomas, Mangatini. lington. Hargrea?es, Charles, Millerton. Morganty, Charles, Ngakawau. Connelly, Michael, Denniston. Harris, John, Reefton. Murdoch, Colin McColl, Stirling. Connew, John, Puponga. Harris, Joseph T., Saddle Hill. McCaffrey, James, Seddonville. Coppersmith, John, Donniston. Hartley, John, Denniston. McCaughern, John, Kaitangata. Coulthard, Thomas, Brunnerton. Hay, James, Denniston. McDonald, John T., Millerton. Cowan, Robert Black, Gibbston. Heron, Ralph, Kimihia. McGarry, Isaac, Millerton. Cuthbertson, Robert, Fairfield. Higgins, Thomas James, Denniston. McGhee, William, Kaitangata. Davis, Evan, Denniston. Hislop, William, Denniston. McGill, Douglas Thomas, Waikaka. Deeming, William, Hikurangi. Holden, Samuel, Granity. MoGill, John, Huntly. Dellaway, Archibald, Denniston. Housley, Benjamin, Huntly. McKenzie, James, Nightcaps. Dickson, Richard, Hikurangi. Howe, George Charles, Shag Point. Newburn, Robert, Kaitangata.

C—2

Fibemen and Deputies' Cebtifioates— continued. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909 —continued. Newburn, Samuel, Kaitangata. Soott, Charles, Nevis. Travis, James, Alexandra South. Nicholas, William, Kaitangata. Scott, John, Runanga. Tripp, Albert, Kaitangata. Oliver, William, Kaitangata. Smith, William, Seddonville. Wallace, John, Mataura. Parcell, Henry Clyde, Bannockburn. Sneddon, James, Blackball. Wardrope; Francis, Hikurangi. Park, Francis, Stirling. Southward, John, Runanga. Watson, Andrew, Roa. Penman, Robert, Kaitangata. Statham, Robert, Kaitangata. West, George Thomas, Waronui. Riohards, James, Brunnerton. Taylor, David, Roa. White, James, Roa. Rodgers, Edwin, Kaitangata. Taylor, James, Springfield. Wilson, Walter William, Springfield. Sanderson, John, Kurow. Thin, William, White Cliffs. Young, Thomas Gardner, Waikaia. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909, after Examination. Allan, George, Huntly. Hicks, J. R., Kiripaka. Ponton, F., Millerton. Allan, James, Brunnerton. Hill, E. E., Brunnerton. Powell, J., Dunollie. Anderson, Walter, Blackball. Hilton, Thomas, Denniston. Pratt, Alexander, Millerton. Armstrong, V., Runanga. Honey, Archibald John, Denniston. Ralph, J., Huntly. Atkinson, J., Puponga. Hopkinson, Joseph, Seddonville. Ramsay, J. McK., Kaitangata. Baddeley, Jesse, Dunollie. Hughes, T. E., Huntly. Reed, W. H., Hikurangi. Ball, A., Kimihia. Innes, Andrew, Runanga. Reid, Henry, Millerton. Birchall, J., Burnett's Face. Isherwood, T., Runanga. Reid, Henry, Huntly. Blair, Peter, Huntly. James, F. T., Seddonville. Richardson, W., Dunollie. Boddy, Archibald John, Runanga. Johnson, J. H., Hikurangi. Robson, W., State Collieries. Bond, W. T., Huntly. Johnson, Thomas, Huntly. Rodgers, J., Ngakawau. Brennen, J., Kaitangata. Jones, 8., Millerton. Rogers, A. G., Kaitangata. Broadbent, Samuel, Huntly. Jones, J., Hikurangi. Rowse, J., Runanga. Brown, J., jun., Denniston. Jones, J., Kimihia. Ruston, Edwin Walter, Huntly Buchanan, William, Millerton. King, Thomas Henry, Granity. Rutherford, W. R., Kaitangata. Burdon, George, Denniston. Lauder, Matt Currie, Runanga. Soott, James, Blackball. Burt, T., Huntly. Lowden, W., Millerton. Seddon, William, Huntly. Callaghan, M., Blackball. McAuley, P., Ngakawau. Sharp, J. R., Kaitangata. Campbell, J. C, Glentunnel. MoAvoy, William, Ngakawau. Shore, W. M., Taratu. Carson, Frederick. McDonald, J., Ngakawau. Smith, C. 8., Dunollie. Chadwick, A., Millerton. McDonald, Thomas, Burnett's Face. Smith, J. A., Seddonville. Chapman, A. E., Kaitangata. McGuinness, E., Runanga. Smith, Thomas W., Millerton. Chippendale, J., Millerton. Melvor, David, Runanga. Smith, W. A., Denniston. Clark, W. S., Dunollie. McKenty, H, Denniston. Snell, J., Kaitangata. Clarke, S., Roa. McKernan, John, Millerton. Southward, William, Runanga. Cleveland, F. L., Kaitangata. McLaughlin, J. W., Huntly. Strongman, Charles James, Cobden. Connolly, John, Runanga. McMillan, John, Huntly. Sutherland, J., Millerton. Connolly, John Joseph, Runanga. McMillan, John, Kaitangata. Sweeney, John Lewis, Runanga. Cowan, J., Millerton. Maekinson, Job, Hikurangi. Tate, Anthony, Seddonville. Curragh, A., Burnett's Face. Maddison, W., Huntly. Taylor, Christopher, Millerton. Curran, James, Ngakawau. Maher, W., Denniston. Thawley, William, Denniston. Outhbertson, John, Glentunnel. Makepeace, Henry, Runanga. Thomson, J., Huntly. Danks, Peter, Millerton. Martin, T. N., Huntly. Thomson, Thomas, Mine Creek. Darby, W., Huntly. Miles, B. C, Millerton. Throp, J., Kaiiangata. Davidson, Thomas, Mine Creek. Mitchell, A., Seddonville. Tipler, J. H., Blackball. Davis, Oliver James, Runanga. Morganti, Louis, Millerton. Tunstall, A. G., Hikurangi. Delaney, J. E., Puponga. Morelaud, S., Hikurangi. Tunstall, W., Hikurangi. Dinsdale, George, Rewanui. Mosloy, J. T., Denniston. Turner, F., Kiripaka. Dowgray, John, Millerton. Moye, John Patrick, Denniston. Turton, John, Huntly. Dowries, William Norbury, Cobden. Myers, Richard, Millerton. Unwin, James, Runanga. Duggan, Francis, Runanga. Nicholson, David, Huntly. Veitch, D., Blackball. Dutton, John, Granity. Nicholson, J., State Collieries. Vurlow, Frederick Alexander, DenDymond, J., Millerton. Niven, Peter, Ngakawau. niston. Fairhurst, R. W., Huntly. Nolan, John, Granity. Walker, W. J., Granity. Fannigan, P., Ngakawau. O'Brien, Denis Quinsin, Millerton. Wallwork, Moses, Runanga. Ferguson, A., Kaitangata. O'Brien, Martin, Millerton. Wear, Daniel, Huntly. Forrest, John, Runanga. O'Fee, J., Kaitangata. Webster, Oliver, Huntly. Gox, Henry John, Blackball. Parker, Andrew, Greymouth. White, Edward, Granity. Gilligan, H., Runanga. Parr, Joseph, Burnett's Face. Williamson, W. R., Rewanui, Green, T., Kaitangata. Parrott, W., Waiuta. Wilson, J. T., Kamo. Griffon, James, Kaitangata. Paul, James, Seddonville. Wilson, W., Shag Point. Hall, R. H, Huntly. Pearson, James Thomas, Mataura. Woods, A., Millerton. Hall, Thomas, Kaitangata. Pearson, Samuel George, Bumott's Wood, W., Huntly. Hardie, J., Millerton. Pace. Worthington, T., Millerton. Harvey, D., Huntly. Pearson, William, Burnett's Faoe. Young, Joseph, Huntly. Hawkins, Joseph, Burnett's Faoe. Pendleton, S., Blackball. Young, Thomas, Granity. Hendry, John, Millerton. Phillips, J., Puponga. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1910. Broadfoot, W., Millerton. Halsey, W. J., Saddle Hill. Molntosh, A. S., Shag Point. Burgess, R. S., Waikaka. Hartßhorne, W. C, Brunnerton. Melvor, W., Waikaka. Cain, Alexander, Waikaia. Hodgetts, 1., Burnett's Face. Nelson, J. H, Pukerau. Cameron, D., North Chatton. Hunt, William, Shag Point. Ramsey, George, Waikaka. Churchill, S. G., Alexandra South. Junker, F. A., Waikaia. Robinton, R., Ngakawau. Clasen, Charles, Shag Point. Kidd, G. C, Albury. Russell, H. C, Bannockburn. Crabbe, George, Alexandra South. King, J., Granity. Saunders, W., Denniston. Cumming, J. S., Denniston. Lee, S., Nightcaps. Stevenson, J., Shag Point. Cunningham, Thomas, Kaitangata. Mackie, N., Kaitangata. Thomas, 8., Denniston. Dixon, A., Nightcaps. MoAuley, John, Kaitangata. Tinker, G., Nightoaps. Garrey, W., Kaitangata. MoClimont, John, Mount Somers. Whittlestone, G. F., Abbotsford. Gray, Hugh, Dunedm. McDowell, R., Nightcaps. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1914, on Production of Certificate of Corresponding Class granted in any British Possession or Foreign Country. Barr, T., Coalgate. Davies, W. C, Huntly. Quinlan, A. E., . Coan, R., Huntly. Malcolm, A., Nightoaps. Tuoker, J., Kaitangata.

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MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. D. S. MacDONALD, MINISTER OF MINES., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, C-02

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MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. D. S. MacDONALD, MINISTER OF MINES. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, C-02

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