MINES STATEMENT BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE W. F. MASSEY, MINISTER OF MINES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1920 Session I, C-02

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MINES STATEMENT. CONTENTS. PAGE Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-8 Introduction .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 State Assistance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Mineral-production .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 2 Auriferous-quartz Mining .. . . .. . . . . .. .. 3 Alluvial and Dredge Mining . . .. .. . . .. .. .. 3 Tungsten-ore (Scheelite) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Petroleum . . .. . . . . , . . . . . . . . . 3 Kauri-gum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Cinnabar . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 4 Persons engaged in Mining . . .. . . . . . . .. . . 4 Stone-quarries .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Phosphate Rock .. .. . . .. . . . . .. . . 4 Coal-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Mining and Quarry Accidents .. . . .. .. .. 5 Geological Survey .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Schools of Mines . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 5 Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. . . (j Government Prospccting-drills .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 6 Roads and Tracks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 Government Water-races .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. 0 State Collieries . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . . (J -8 Output and Sales .. . . .. . . .. . . .. ~ 6 James Colliery .. .. .. .. .. . . , . .. 8 Mac Donald State Mine . . .. .. . . . . . . ~ 8 Items from Balance-sheet . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 8 Tables to accompany Mines Statement .. ~ .. .. .. .. 9-13 No. 1. Export of Minerals and Coal-output .. .. .. .. i) No. 2. Gold —Quantity and Value exported from New Zealand .. .. .. 10 No. 3. Gold- Production . . . . .. . . . . .. .. II No. 4. Coal—Output from different Fields .. .. .. .. .. . . II No. 5. Coal—Output of different Classes . . .. . . .. .. . . II No. 6. Coal and Oil-shale--Annual Production .. .. .. .. .. 12 No. 7. Coal —Imports and Exports .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 No. 8. Number of Persons employed in Mining .. .. .. .. .. 13 Appendices to the Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 14-80 Appendix A. —Reports relating to Metalliferous Mines and Stone-quarries .. .. 14—4-2 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. . . .. . . .. 14 I. Minerals entered for Exportation .. .. .. .. .. 15 11. Persons employed .. . . .. . . .. .. .. 15 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 IV. Gold-mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 1G (1.) Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 (2.) Dredge Mining .. .. . . . . .. .. 18 (3.) Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 V. Minerals other than Gold .. .. . . .. .. .. 20 Tungsten-ore . .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Petroleum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Cinnabar ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Kauri-gum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 VI. Stone-quarries . . . . . . . . .. .. . . 22 (1.) Quarrying Operations .. .. .. .. .. 22 (2.) Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. 23

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Appendices to the Mines Statement- continued. page .Appendix A coitiinued. Report by Inspecting Engineer- continued. VII. State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 (I.) Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. 2.'! (2.) Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. . . 27 (3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields .. .. .. . . 28 (4.) Government Water-races .. . . .. .. .. 28 VIII. Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Annexure A- Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines . . . . . . 29-38 Northern Inspection District .. . . .. .. .. .. 29 Quartz-mining .. . . .. .. .. .. . . 29 Accidents . . .. .. . . . . .. ~ .. 32 Quicksilver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast District .. .. .. .. 33 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. . . .. . . 33 Dredging .. . . .. . . .. .. . . .. 34 Alluvuil Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 35 Southern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Alluvial Mining .. .. • .. .. .. .. .. 36 Dredge Mining .. .. . . .. .. .. . . 37 . Minerals other than Gold .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Annexure B—Summary of Reports by Government Water-race Managers.. .. 38 Waimea-Kumara Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Mount Ida Water-race .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 39 Annexure C -Summary of Report of Inspector of Stone-quarries .. .. 39 Annexure I) -Mining Statistics .. .. .. .. .. .. 40-42 Table 1. Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained .. .. .. 40 41 Table 2. Bullion purchased by Banks .. .. .. .. .. 42 Appendix B Reports relating to the Inspection of Coal-mines .. .. .. 43-72 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 Section I. Output .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 Section 11. Persons employed .. .. .. .. .. .. II Section 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 Section IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act .. .. .. .. .. 19 (a.) Ventilation . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49 (b.) Inflammable Gas and Safety-lamps .. .. .. .. .. 52 (c.) Systematic Timbering .. .. .. .. .. .. 53 (d.) Permitted Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 (c.) Crushing of Coal Pillars and Sub-aqueous Mining ... .. .. 55 (/'.) Inspection of Old Workings .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 ((j.) Mine Rescue Work . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 (A.) Electricity at Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 Section V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining .. .. .. .. .. 57 Annexure A-Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 58 Northern District .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 58 West Coast District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 Southern District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Annexure B Colliery Statistics .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 Appendix 0— -Report of the Board of Examiners .. .. .. .. . . 73 80 Chairman's Report .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 73 List of Certificate-holders under the Mining Acts .. .. .. .. 74 List of Certificate-holders under the Coal-mines Act .. .. .. .. 77

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1920. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE W. F. MASSEY, MINISTER OF MINES.

Me. Speaker,— In presenting my first annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion it may at the outset be observed that such industry shows signs of revival. During the year inquiries have been received from many parts of the world for information bearing on our mineral resources, and every effort is being made by the staff of the Department to furnish those interested with full particulars. Early this year the Head Office of the Department was reorganized so as to more closely co-ordinate the activities of the several sections, and honourable members will be pleased to learn that the results already obtained have fully justified the changes made. In conformity with the announcement made by my predecessor in last year's Statement, the Inspecting Engineer of Metalliferous Mines was instructed to visit the United States of America, and for that purpose he left this Dominion on the 24th November, 1919, and after spending about six months in inspecting the prominent mines in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and other important mining districts, returned to New Zealand on the 23rd May last. From the valuable experience gained by that officer the mining community in the Dominion should benefit. STATE ASSISTANCE. As an aid towards the development of the mining industry the Government has recently authorized the rates hitherto paid for prospecting being increased by 30 per cent. This should encourage miners to continue and increase their efforts to locate and eventually win minerals. The terms and conditions subject to which prospecting-drills are hired have also recently been amended, and the Government now loans the drills free of rent, and in addition the services of an experienced drill superintendent, whose salary and expenses are paid by the Government, are provided. Subsidies up to £10,000, on a pound-for-pound basis, may also be paid for prospecting deep levels for gold-quartz lodes down to a depth of not less than 1,000 ft., or such less depth as the Minister of Mines may approve. Any person engaged in prospecting or pioneer mining may be paid a subsidy of not exceeding ss. for every £l expended by such person in prospecting or pioneer mining during the preceding twelve months. Any local body in a mining district may expend a portion of the revenues received by it from duty or goldfields revenue in prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, tin, or other metals, but I am sorry to say local bodies rarely grant any monetary assistance.

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Advances by way of loan of a stun not exceeding £20,000 may also be made by the Government to any company or person for carrying on mining operations, purchasing mining machinery, and for carrying on coal-mining, including the purchase of plant, and the construction, of roads and railway-lines thereto. In order to encourage the production of quicksilver the Government recently revived the offer of a bonus of 4d. per pound for the first 100,000 lb. of marketable retorted quicksilver free from impurities produced from any mine in New Zealand. It is hoped that with this assistance those engaged in mining for quicksilver will be able to produce a sufficient quantity of quicksilver to entitle them to payment of the bonus offered. In addition to granting assistance in the above directions, applications for remission or reduction in'rentals have been granted in all cases where, upon inquiry, it was found advisable in the public interest to grant such relief. Legislation will also be introduced this session reviving the bonus provisions of the Iron and Steel Industries Act, 1914. In addition to this, arrangements are being made to obtain 20 tons of ironsand from Taranaki and 20 tons of iron-ore from Parapara for the purpose of shipping the same to England, where a test will be made under a new process to determine whether or not it is possible to produce iron on a commercial scale in New Zealand. This test will be made under the oversight of one of the recognized iron and steel experts in England, who will be required in due course to report upon the results to the Government. Since the 19th September, 1919, the Government has been negotiating, through the High Commissioner, with the British Admiralty for the purpose of entering into an arrangement with the British Government in connection with the boring and development of mineral oil and other products in New Zealand, but up to the present time no agreement has been entered into. I have deemed it necessary to briefly refer to these matters, because it does not appear to be generally known what may be and is being done for the encouragement of mining in the Dominion. Honourable members will regret to learn that, owing to the scarcity of labour, to increased wages, and to the higher prices demanded for all plant and stores used in mining, there has been a decrease in the production of metals during the year 1919. The usual official and statistical information invariably contained in the Mines Statement is given hereunder : — MINERAL-PRODUCTION. The following table shows the quantity and value of gold, silver, and other minerals, coal, and kauri-gum exported during the years 1918 and 1919, also the quantity of native coal consumed in the Dominion for the same period :—

Year ended Product. 31st December, 1918. 31st December, 1919. Quantity. Value, Quantity. Value. £ £ Grold ... ... ... 11,987 oz. 42,391 320,210 oz. 1,334,405 3ilver ... ... ... ... 879,383 „ 171,456 453,567 „ 103,037 Quicksilver ... ... ... 1$ „ 2,122 8f tons 4,619 rungsten-ore ... ... ... 170 tons 37,922 131 „ 29,489 Mixed minerals ... ... ... 2,300 „ 5,882 1,091 „ 4,051 New Zealand coal exported ... ... ! 182,603 „ i 227,228 138,174 „ 201,383 New Zealand coal used in New Zealand '1,851,647 „ 12,303,449 1,709,674 „ 2,491,780 Kauri-gum ... ... ... 2,419 „ 157,313 j 4,128 „ 255,812 Doke ... ... 70 „ 146 , 45 „ 113 Total value for 1918 .. .. .. .. .. £2,947,909 Total value for 1919 .. .. .. .. .. £4,424,689 This increase is largely due to the fact that 157,(323 oz. of gold entered for export in 1918 was not exported till 1919, ex

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AURIFEROUS-QUARTZ MINING. The value of bullion obtained from quartz-mines during 1919 amounted to £573,662, obtained from treating 286,057 tons. Dividends paid amounted to £118,831, The following table shows the production from the most important mines ■ —

ALLUVIAL AND DREDGE MINING. The value of the production from alluvial claims amounted to £80,273, as compared with £78,895 for 1918, an increase of £1,378. There is a prospect of there being a further increase in production from alluvial mines in 1920, as one or two claims upon which a considerable capital has been expended in development are now commencing production. The dredging industry again shows a decline in production for the year, the value of bullion won for 1919 being £47,838, as compared with £63,691 for 1918 ; but it is interesting to record that an American company is now building a larger and more powerful dredge near Hokitika than lias ever been seen in New Zealand before, and if this company is successful it may mean a revival to some degree of dredge mining in other parts of the Dominion. TUNGSTEN-ORE (SCHEELITE). During the year the demand for scheebte for the English market, which had been steadily increasing during the war, practically ceased, and the price fell from 68s. to 30s. per unit ; consequently there was a marked decline in production. In 1918, 169J tons were exported, valued at £37,922 ; and in 1919, 131 tons, valued at £29,489 ; and there will probably be a still greater decline in 1920. PETROLEUM. Unfortunately petroleum has not yet been found in payable quantity in New Zealand, though several companies have carried on boring-work during the year. The Government has now under consideration a proposal for the development of our oil resources with the object of definitely proving whether they are of commercial value. The sum of £4,450 was paid in subsidies to oil-boring companies during the year. KAURI-GUM. The production of kauri-gum for 1919 was 4,128 tons, valued at £255,812, as compared with 2,419 tons, valued at £157,313, for 1.918. It is worthy of note that a company (Parenga Kauri Oils, Limited) having a capital of £200,000 has been formed to carry on the work of producing oil and gum from the large deposits of kauri peat. It is stated that the company has 6,500,000 cubic yards of peat on its properties, and that this will yield £l worth of line gum per yard. It is therefore probable that there will be a large production of kauri-gum from the swamps and peat-deposits hitherto not regarded as valuable.

Dividends paid. Name of Company. Quartz Value of treated. Bullion. m t i ± o i laia total to End lbla - of 1919. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company Talisman Consolidated Gold-mining Company Muir's Gold Reefs Blackwater Mines (Limited) New Big River Gold-mining Company .Progress Mines of Now Zealand (Limited) Murray Creek Gold-mining Company All other quartz-mines Tons. £ £ £ 160,511 303,586 99,181 5,338,057 55,442 i 97,899 .. 267,064 3,655 16,598 17.250 1.150,972 1.100 17,703 24.969 | 46,136 ! .. 174,994 4,254 13,198 2.1(H) 103.200 15.980 20,748 .. 326,562 4,512 -9,9-75 12,634 18,178 .. 21,727 Totals 286,057 574,021 118,831 '" 7,382,576* i I I * Does not include dividends paic by mines not now working.

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CINNABAR. The mining of cinnabar and production of quicksilver therefrom has been carried on by one company during the year, and 11,175 lb. of quicksilver was produced, worth £2,794. The Mines Department is assisting the company to further test the lode on its property by boring, and it is expected that this branch of the mining industry will show a considerable improvement in the near future. PERSONS ENGAGED IN MINING. The following table shows the number of miners in each inspection district, and the branch of mining in which they were engaged : —

The scarcity of coal-miners is severely felt on all the coalfields. Possibly with the recent considerable increase in wages some coal-miners who have given up that occupation, also some gold-miners, may go into the coal-pits. If this does not occur the scarcity of coal will continue, for at present there are quite a thousand coalminers too few to efficiently man our existing collieries and to supply our requirements. STONE-QUARRIES. It is satisfactory to note that there has been a large increase in the output of stone-quarries during the year, and that this industry is now of great importance to the Dominion. Until the Stone-quarries Act is amended it is impossible to ascertain the value of stone produced, as the Act does not at present require owners of quarries to furnish returns. PHOSPHATE ROCK. The quantity of phosphate rock quarried during the year was 4,000 tons, as against 5,000 tons for 1918 and 5,050 for 1917. The total quantity produced by the Ewing Phosphate Company to the end of 1919 is 116,522 tons. COAL-MINING. The output of coal during 1919 amounted to 1,847,848 tons, as compared with 2,034,250 tons during 1918, being a decrease of 186,402 tons. The following is a comparative statement of the coal and lignite raised during the years 1917, 1918, and 1919 :—

The decrease in the coal-production was due to organized restriction of work by miners on the Grey, Buller, and Waikato coalfields. By such policy the output per person employed below ground declined from 703 tons during 1918 to 64K tons during 1919 ; and a coal-famine was produced by which railway traffic was

Classification. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore Coal Jinnabar and asbestos Totals Inspection District. Northern. West Coast. Southern. 1919. _____ 1.153 589 443 2,185 .. ; 939 1,891 1,114 3,944 .. ; 14 2 .. 16 2,106 2,482 1,557 6,145 Inspection District. Totals. 1918. ; Decrease. ! 2,566 j 381 3,994 i 50 16 .. 6,576 | 431

Outwit for Output for ' l llcreilse j Outnut f,,. ' Increase or Dccreaso Inspection District. ,'-,„ .'{,.,. i or Decrease, .],._ between Years JJIh - i,nX 1919. 1 '"'- 1918 and 1917. 'I'ons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Northern.. .. ..! 549.778 511,451 38,327f 470.638 79.140* West Coast .. .. 997,089, 845,826 151,263f 1,146,778 149,689f Southern (Canterbury, Otago, 487,383 | 490,571 3,188* 451,003 36,380* and Southland) — ■ ■ , —• — Totals .. .. 2,034,250 1,847,848 186,402f 2,068,419) 34,I69f Inspection District. * Increase. •f Decrease.

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seriously curtailed, industries brought almost to a standstill, in addition to which severe hardship was suffered by many aged and infirm persons during an unusually severe winter. The comparative tonnage of the various classes of coal raised for the years lillS and 1919 is summarized as follows :

During the year no new collieries commenced mining operations. The quantity of coal imported into the Dominion was 391,434 tons, as against 255,332 tons during 1918 and 518,070 tons during 1914. MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. The deaths from accidents at coal-mines numbered ten, being 2-53 per thousand persons employed, or 5-41 per million tons of coal produced, which was slightly greater than during the previous year. For comparison it may be stated that the fatal-accident rate per million tons of coal produced in the United Kingdom for 1918 (the latest year for which statistics are available) was 5-86, which is 0-45 higher than in this Dominion during 1919. I have pleasure in stating, however, that since November last to this date there has not been any fatal colliery accident. As time passes the inspection of our collieries becomes more searching, and it is believed more efficient, as the result of improved laws and experience. The number of lives lost at metalliferous min.es during 1919 was four, the proportion of deaths per thousand persons employed being 1-82, and of these three were lost by the capsizing of a boat being used in connection with the dismantling of a dredge. There was thus only one fatality actually arising directly from mining-work. At stone-quarries which come under the provisions of the Act there was only one fatality during the year, or 0-71 deaths per thousand men employed. At quarries which do not come under the Act there were two fatalities, one due to a fall of ground and one due to careless handling of explosives. The inspection of mines and quarries continues to be effectively carried out, and the health and safety of workers are well looked after. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the past year the staff of the Geological Survey has been augmented by the appointment of a Geologist, two Assistant Geologists, and a Field Assistant. With a view of expediting the work it has now been decided to still further increase the staff. Since 1909 until this year the Geological Survey has never had more than two parties in the field at any one time, but during the latter part of the past season three field parties were employed, one in the Waikato district, one in the Whangarei district, and one in the Collingwood district. The area geographically surveyed comprised about 1,100 square miles. SCHOOLS OF MINES. The expenditure by the Department on the Schools of Mines at Coromandel, Thames, Ivarangahake, Waihi, and Iluntly in the North Island, and Westport, Reefton, and Dunedin in the South Island, lor the year ended 31st March, 1920, was £4,505.

Class. Output for 1919. Output for 1918. Decrease for 1919. Bituminous and semi-bituminous Brown coal Lignite Tons. 961,107 684,331 202,410 Tons. 1,122,308 705,773 206,169 Tons. 161,201 21.442 3.759 Totals I .817,848 2,034,250 186.402

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SUBSIDIZED PROSPECTING. During the year ended 31st March, 1920, thirty-eight approved prospectingparties were granted subsidies amounting to a total of £3,554 6s. 8d., of which sum £1,520 Is. 4d. was expended during the period. Under Part X of the Mining Act, which was amended last year so as to make more generous provision for the granting of loans to mining companies, several applications for loans have been received. One loan of £10,000 has been granted to a gold-mining company, and one of £5,000 to a coal-mining company ; four applications have been declined as the conditions were not complied with, and others are under consideration. GOVERNMENT PROSPECTING-DRILLS. Extensive use has been made of the Department's diamond and Keystone drills, and the regulations relating to the hiring of these have been so improved that the use of such drills may be in greater demand in the future. ROADS AND TRACKS. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £13,090, as compared with £4,185 for 1918 and £6,911 for 1917. WATER-RACES. The Kumara and Mount Ida water-races have been maintained during the year at a cost of £4,056. Thirty-seven miners were supplied with water, and gold won to the value of £8,180. Cash received from sales of water amounted to £1,398. STATE COLLIERIES. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended the 31st March, 1920, are briefly reviewed hereunder. Output and Sales. The gross output of the mines for the year was 156,228 tons, as compared with 214,919 tons for last year, a decrease of 58,691 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown below :—

Point Elizabeth Colliery produced 33,553 tons of marketable coal, a decrease of 48,499 tons on the production of last year. After allowing for stocks on hand and afloat at the beginning and end of the year the disposal was as under :

Output in Tons, 1919-20. Output in Tons, 1918-19. Mine. Gross. .Net. Oross. Net. Point Elizabeth .. 35,816 33.553 86,535 82.052 Liverpool .. .. 120,412 115,650 128,384 125,229 Point Elizabeth Liverpool 35,816 33.553 120,412 115,650 Totals .. 156,228 149,203 214,919 207.281 Totals 1.49,203 Note. —The difference between the gross and net output is the allowance, made for mine consumption and waste.

Supplier] to Screened. Unscreened. Smali. Totals. )epots Railways )fcher Government Departments Hher consumers ... Ihipping companies Tons. 883 2,680 45 5,644 Tons. 7,469 150 222 2,473 13,977 Tons. 1,059 74 j Tons. 8,352 2,830 267 9,176 14,051. Totals 9,252 24,291 1.133 34,676

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Liverpool Colliery produced 115,(550 tons of marketable coal, a decrease of 9,579 tons on the previous year's production. The disposal, allowing for stockon hand at beginning of year, was as follows :

The total sales for the year amounted to 149,850 tons, value £192,958, as compared with 202,755 tons, value £256,226, for last year, a decrease in quantity of 52,905 tons, and in value of £63,208. For the purpose of easy comparison the figures are restated below in tabulated form :—

Comparative Statement of Sales.

The average price per ton realized on the total sales for the year was £l ss. 9-04 d., an increase of 5-75 d. on last year's average. The sales of coal, &c, through the medium of the depots totalled 40,157 tons, value £80,083, as against 46,721 tons, value £85,200, for last year. As will be seen, there was a decreased output of marketable coal from the Point Elizabeth and Liverpool Collieries, aggregating to 58,579 tons. This was mainly due to the operation of an organized " go-slow " policy by the miners from about the Ist September, 1919, to the 13th March, 1920, to the exhaustion of the Point Elizabeth Colliery, and also partly to the number of miners being slightly fewer than were employed during the preceding year. The diminished output by the hewers employed amounted to 13,104 tons, while their reduced earnings aggregated to £2,790. The Point Elizabeth Colliery was finally closed on the 20th March last, having yielded since its inception a total gross output of 2,453,884 tons. The whole of the supplies now coming to hand are being won from the Liverpool Colliery, and further supplies will not be available until the new James Mine is opened. There was a profit of £5,787 made on winning coal at the mines, and after deducting the losses sustained by the depots, amounting to £5,766, there remained a credit balance of £21 on the year's operations. Since the close of the last financial year and shortly before the termination thereof, increased hewing-rates, increased wages, increased freights, and increased cost of handling the coal until it reaches the consumers have from time to time been paid. In view of this it will be necessary to increase the selling-prices of coal, which have remained stationary since the Ist July, 1916 ; otherwise there will be a substantial loss to the faced at the end of the current financial year. Before resigning his portfolio as Minister of Mines my predecessor, with a view of making the conditions of the employees of the State collieries more congenial, authorized substantial sums for improving the recreation-ground at Runanga, and for the laying-out and levelling of suitable grounds for a bowling-green and tenniscourts. Authority was also conveyed for the erection of a suitable building to enable the men after ceasing their day's work to enjoy a cup of tea.

Supplied to Screened. Unseroened. Small. Totals. Depots ... Railways 3ther Government Departments Shipping companies _as companies Dther consumers ... j Tons. Tons. 5,691 5,957 15,127 7,638 617 52 .1,840 404 30,550 2,106 8,768 Tons. 2,505 "so 13,626 17,791 452 Tons. 14,153 22,765 667 17,518 48,745 11,326 I . Totals 23,380 57,370 I 34,424 115,174

Total Sales, 1919-20. Total Sales, 1918-19. Mine. Point Elizabeth Liverpool Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Tons cwt. qr. £ s. d. Tons cwt. qr. I £ s. d. 34.676 3 3 33,750 14 3 80,286 I 1 88,493 9 2 115.174 3 I 159,207 15 8 122,469 9 2 167,732 11 10 149,850 7 0 192,958 9 11 202,755 1.0 3 256,226 1 0 Totals

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NEW JAMES COLLIERY. Development works have been carried out during the year, and the Public Works Department has for some time past been carrying out railway-formation works. If the construction of the railway is completed within eighteen months the Mines Department will then be in a position to win coal from this colliery. MacDONALD STATE MINE. Arrangements have been made to purchase the plant required for running this colliery. Roadworks have also been, and are still being, carried out to give access thereto. The railway-line has been finally located, and the Public Works Department will at the earliest possible date make a commencement with the construction works. [TE MS FE() M BA LANCE-8118 ET. The following items taken from the balance-sheet will prove of interest as indicating the more important items of expenditure, and for reference in respect to the position of Capital Account, reserve funds, and other accounts shown therein :— £ The total amount paid as war bonus was .. .. .. .. 15,574 The amount written off for depreciation for the year was .. .. 11,472 The payments for interest totalled .. .. .. .. .. 8,933 The payments for sea carriage of coal amounted to .. .. .. 54.844 The cost of railway haulage amounted to .. .. .. 16.862 The total wages paid for coal-winning was .. .. .. .. 72.162 The amount paid for management and office salaries (Head Office and mines) totalled .. .. .. .. .. .. 3.588 The gross capital expenditure on the whole undertaking to 31 si March last was .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 446.700 The total depreciation written oft' to date (equal to 51-78 per cent, on the gross capital expenditure) amounts to .. .. .. .. 231,340 The debenture and loan capital stands at .. .. .. .. 227,601 The sinking fund is in credit .. .. .. .. .. 13,200 The reserve fund stands at .. .. .. 5,884 The amount at credit of Profit and Loss is (last year £38,650) .. .. 38,670 The cash in hand and in the Public Account at 31st March last was (last year £119,843) .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,000 The present net book value of permanent or fixed assets is .. .. 209.106 TABLES AND REPOBTS. The usual statistical tables and departmental reports are appended.

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TABLES TO ACCOMPANY THE MINKS STATEMENT

No. 1. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold and other Minerals exported during the Years ended the 31st December, 1918 and 1919, and the Total Value since the 1st January, 1853. The Coal-output is also included

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Name of Metal or Mineral. For Year ended the 31st December, 1919. For Year ended the , t ,^1? 31st December, 1918 ■om the 1853, to the nber, 1919. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 'recious metalsGold Silver Oz. 320,210 453,567 £ 1,334,405 103,037 Ox. £ Ox. 11,987 42,391 li, 378,532 979,383 171,456 22,247,479 £ 88,128,359 2,561,285 Total gold and silver 773,777 1,437,442 891,370 213,847 44,626,011 90,689,644 klineral produce, including kauri-gum— Copper-ore Chrome-ore Antimony-ore Manganese-ore Haematite ore Tungsten-ore Quicksilver 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. 6 1,504 5,869 13 104 3,781 19,364 77 169 \ I 37,922 2,294 \ J 4J 2,122 13 T V 4,927 2,286} 5,772 57,049 2 », 182,603 227,228 5,033,017 70 146 16,798 1,851,647 2,303,149 45,007,671 £ 19,390 38,002 55,045 61,905 469 297,933 6,741 13,241 241,367 4,858,053 25,625 25,426,593 12 'l30& 29,489 4 ,619 1.089JJ 138,174 45 1,709,674 4,039 201,383 113 2,491,780 4,128 255,812 14,444 2,111) 157,313 360,420 7,236 18,581,064 Total quantity and value of minerals Value of gold and silver, as above.. 1,853,2504 2,987,247 1,437,442 2,089,212J| 2,734,062 50,527,2 213,647 49,632,664 90,689,644 Total value of minerals produced, including gold and silver 4,424,689 2,947,909 2,947,909 140,322,308 i,33 tons; also dressed marble nnd pum Iso dressed nil 4 Including lime, 19;*! tons; piimice-saud, 1,1 weight unspecified by the Customs Department. ,037 tons ; bi Liitding-stone i, 33 tons ; lice-stone of

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No. 2. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold exported from New Zealand for the Years ended the 31st December, 1917, 1918, and 1919, and the Total Quantity and Value from 1857 to the 31st December, 1919.

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ending Year ending Year Bmber, 1917. 31st December, 1918. 31st Decs I Year 31st, Deci rending ember, 1919. iTotal Quantity and Value from January, 1857, to 31st December, 1119. District n nd County or Borough. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value, Quantity. Value. Auckland— County of Coromandel County of Thames County of Ohinemuri County of Piako Borough of Thames Great Barrier Island Borough of Waihi Oz. £ Oz. £ Oz. £ Oz. ! 1,206 2,542 38,234 49 1,689 5,112 .. .. 283 10,717 28 112 3,651 161,853 ' 568 : 1,987 53,742 194 | .. | 50 6,154 i 479 1,516 ' 873 1,195 15,347 227,124 214 3,552 110,517 134,237 888 ', 208 189 725 187,507 567,238 1,264 4,340 246,106 1,039,437 : 6,724,619 |25,927,954 Wellington I 188 706 = = Mahlborough— County of Marlborough 4,473 1,159 2,194 8,437 102,654 399,586 •■ Nklson — County of Waimea County of Collingwood County of Takaka County of Murchison 1,161 64 4 1,192 4,645 257 16 4,775 8 143 3 2,559 32 577 12 10,390 2,421 9,693 2,713 11,011 S 1,739,102 ; 6,895,408 West Coast — County of Bulier County of Inangahua County of Grey County of Westland Hokitika Borough Ross Borough 1,681 45,776 1,840 4,551 483 1,892 „ . 6,111 178,132 7,391 18,634 1,935 7,757 3,707 9,474 993 36,123 542 1 3,371 3,890 139,647 2,200 13,676 503 2^010 56,223 219,960 3,707 9,474 41,532 161,423 6,189,509 24,566,234 Canterbury— County of Selwyn .. 2 9 118 467 ITAOO— 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 Olutha .. 88 2,789 8,753 1,305 221 72 278 1,820 1,215 7,705 1 373 41 11,625 1,035 36,038 2,205 5,478 , 497 878 I 300 ' 141 1,166 7,556 396 5,538 117 170 43 4,222 4,156 8,926 9,610 2,029 1,754 27 582 j 425 1 20 1,586 703 489 2,922 3 9,005 7,821 166 16,635 39,518 7,184 103 1,783 110 2,847 12,265 12 32,375 32,242 2,*205 2 i 112,998 : i 7,617,534 30,819,791 24,247 101,196 6,637 27,009 27,384 nknown .. 335 1,319 379 1,568 281 1,099 4,808 18,213 Totals .. 218,624 903,888 1 11,987 42,391 '320,210 1,334,405 22,378,532 88,128,359

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No. 3. GOLD PRODUCED, 1857 to 1919. Table showing the Total Quantity and Value of Gold exported from the 1st January, 1857, to the 31st December, 1919. (This Return shows the Output exported from 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."

No. 4. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Coalfields, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1918 and 1919, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.

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Auc] Year. Oz. ;land. Nelson. Marlborough. West Coast. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Prior to 1914 .. 5,823,841 1914.. .. 115,814 1915.. .. 214,772 1916.. .. 188,585 1917.. .. j 134,237 1918.. .. i 1,264 1919.. .. 246,106 g 22,203,539 455,877 803,556 793,967 567,238 4,340 1,039,437 £ 310,983 1,229,258 895 3,581 497 2,010 2,174 8,698 2,421 9,693 £ 92,330 359,612 930 3,611 3,568 13,864 2,319 9,012 1,1.59 I 4,473 £ 7,259,953 28,841,373 61,393 236,776 121,082 479,965 65,192 248,997 56,223 219,960 3,707 9,474 41,532 101,423 11,011 1 2,194 8,437 1.02,500 899,009 Totals .. | 6,724,619 25,927 ,954 319,683 . 1,264,251 II 7,609,082 30,197.968 Oti igo. Wellington. Cantej 'bury. Grand Totals. Year. — Value. I O/.. Value. Oz. Value. Oz O/.. Value. Prior to 1914 .. 7,396,809 1914 .. .. 48,922 1915 .. .. 82,893 1916 .. .. 34,346 1917 .. .. 24,582 1.918 .. .. 7,016 1919 .. .. 27,665 £ 29,423,234 195,522 385,100 138,519 102,515 28,577 114,097 £ 273 1,044 123 13 4 •2 £ 483 52 19 9 £ 20,884,312 82,058,543 227,954 895,367 422,825 1,691,553 292,620 1,199,212 218,624 903,888 11,987 12,391 320,210 1,334,405 Totals " 7,622,233 30,337,570 273 1,041 142 563 22,378,532 88,128,359 i

Name of Coalfield. Increase. Decrease. 1919. 1918. I 1919. Output. 1918. Increase. Decrease. ■ .'I.I I UU.JIU. I. up to 31st December. Approximate Total Output up to 31st December, 1919. iyiy. laio. 1919. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. North Auckland .. .. .. 115,390 125,349 .. 9,959 Waikato (including Mokau) .. 396,061 424,429 .. 28,368 S'elson .. .. .. .. 12,037 13,954 .. 1,917 Buller .. .. .. .. 506,314 580,796 .. 74,482 Inangahua .. .. .. 20,006 16,237 3,769 31rey .. .. .. .. 307,469 386,102 .. 78,633 Canterbury .. .. .. 36,004 20,475 15,529 3tago .. .. .. .. 285,010 316,449 .. 31,409 Southland .. .. .. 169,527 150,459 19,068 Tons. 115,390 396,061 12,037 506,314 20,006 307,469 36,004 285,040 169,527 Tons. I 125,349 424,429 13,954 580,796 I 16,237 I 386,102 20,475 I 316,449 150,459 Tons. 3,769 15,529 19,068 3,769 Tons. 9,959 28,368 1,917 74,482 78,633 31,409 Tons. 3,854,693 5,750,473 354,278 16,140,364 315,518 9,864,242 793,139 9,728,932 3,239,049 Tons. 3,854,693 5,750,473 354,278 16,140,364 315,518 9,864,242 793,139 9,728,932 3,239,049 15,529 19,068 Totals .. .. .. 1,847,848 2,034,250 .. 186,402 i 50,040,688 i No. 5. TABLE SHOWING THE OUTPUT OP DIFFERENT CLASSES OF COAL. Output. Class of Coal. Inercasc. Decrease. 1919. 1918. Approximate Total Output to the 31st December, 1910. lituminous and semi-bituminous Irown .. .. lignite Tons. 961,107 684,331 202,410 Tons. 1,122,308 705,773 206,169 Tons. Tons. 161,201 21,442 3,759 . .; i Tons. 32,132,112 15,164,488 2,741,088 Totals 1,847,848 1,847,848 2,034,250 2,034,250 186,402 50,040,688

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No. 6. 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. 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, 1919.

Coal and Shale raised in the Dominion. Coal imported. Year. Tons Increase over Preceding Year. ... Yearly Increase 1 " Uh - or Deorease. Deon asc 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 1916 1917 1918 1919 I I 709,931 162,218 231,218 Inc. 69,000 299,923 „ 68,705 337,262 „ 37,339 378,272 , 41,010 421,764 „ 43,492 480,831 „ 59,069 511,063 „ 30,232 534,353 „ 23,290 558,620 , 24,267 613,895 , 55,275 586,445 Dec. 27,450 637,397 Inc. 50,952 668,794 „ 31,397 673,315 „ 4,521 691,548 „ 18,233 719,546 . 27,998 726,654 „ 7,108 792,851 . 66,197 840,713 „ 47,862 907,033 „ 66,320 975,234 „ 68,201 1,093,990 . 118,756 1,239,686 „ 145,696 1,365,040 „ 125,354 1,420,229 „ 55,189 1,537,838 „ 117,609 1,585,756 „ 47,918 1,729,536 „ 143,780 1,831,009 , 101,473 1,860,975 » 29,966 1,911,247 „ 50,272 2,197,362 „ 286,115 2.066,073 Dec. 131,289 2,177,615 Inc. 111,512 1,888,005 Dec. 289,610 2,275,614 Inc. 387,609 2,208,624 Dec. 66,990 2,257,135 Inc. 48,511 2,068,419 Dec 188,716 2,034,250 „ 34,169 1,847,848 „ 186,402 174,148 158,076 123,298 129,962 129,582 123,540 148,444 130,202 119,873 107,230 101,341 128,063 110,939 125,318 125,453 117,444 112,961 108,198 101,756 110,907 115,427 99,655 124,033 149,764 127,853 163,923 147,196 169,046 207,567 220,749 287,808 258,185 232,378 188,068 364,359 468,940 518,070 353,471 293,956 2 11,597 255,332 391,434 6,664 24,904 26,722 14,379 135 9,151 4,520 24,378 25,371 36,070 38,521 13,182 67,059 176,291 104,581 49,130 136,102 16,072 33,778 380 6,042 18,242 10,329 12,643 5,889 17,124 8,009 4,483 4,763 6,442 15,772 21,911 16,727 29,623 25,807 44,310 164,599 59,515 2,359 36,265

Country. I Quantity. Imports.* Exports.! Value. Quantity. Value. ' United Kingdom Canada, via west coast Australia Fiji Gilbert and BUice Islands Italy Chile United States of America, via east coast United States of America, via west coast Western Samoa Guam Society Islands Tonga Tuamobi Archipelago Tons. 155 351,005 £ 341 325,739 Tons. 85,299 5,947 26,496 6,109 300 54 247 Tons. 85,299 5,947 26,496 6,109 300 54 247 £ 137,341 10,703 32,595 7,939 600 100 401 40,257 15 55,881 50 I 12,486 12,486 17,301 2 5 555 3,125 7,094 678 1,903 555 3,125 7,094 678 1,903 899 3,302 11,764 1,108 3,455 Totals 391,434 382,016 150,293 227,568 . * Countries whence imported. t All coal included, In inkers and cargo, an coal mined in othei r countries as well m in Now Zealand, 1'jxports of Coal not New Zealand produoi - 12,119 tons, i fc26,185.

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No. 8. Number of Persons ordinarily employed at or about Mines other than Coal-mines during the Year ended 31st December, 1919.

Summary of Persons ordinarily employed, in or about New Zealand Mines during 1919 and 1918.

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Number of Persons ordinarily employed at County or Borough. Gold-quartz j Gold Gold- Miues otlior than Mines. Alluvial Mines. dredges. Gold and Goal. Toi i J919, ;al. 1918. Northern Inspection District. County and Borough of Thames .. 59 County of Ohinemuri .. .. 147 ,, Coromandel .. .. 25 ,, Piako .. .. .. 6 Borough of Waihi .. .. .. 866 Tauranga district .. .. .. 50 Puhipuhi district .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Great Barrier Island 59 147 25 6 866 60 14 74 254 17 4 887 25 13 3 West Coast Inspection District. ( ounty of Marlborough .. .. 36 6 ,, Waimea .. .. .. 7 ,, Collingwood .. .. .. 1 .. 2 ,, Murchison .. .. .. 14 Buller .. .. .. 12 26 Inangahua .. .. 321 7 2 Grey .. .. .. 5 35 2 Westland.. .. .. 16 72 27 Borough of Ross 42 7 3 14 38 330 42 115 68 22 23 29 403 65 139 14 Southern Inspection District. County of Taieri .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 ,, Tuapeka .. .. .. I .. 84 .. I Vincent .. .. .. 11 31 71 ,, Maniototo .. .... 44 7 ,, Waihemo .. .. 8 .. .. 15 Waitaki .. .. .. I .. 13 Lake .. .. .. ! 4 17 .. 24 Wallace .. .. .. .. 28 ,, Bruce .. .. .. .. 1 „ Southland .. ., .. 53 29 Mewart Island 2 85 113 51 23 13 45 28 1 82 14 92 125 50 54 15 80 32 *80 Totals .. .. .. 1,573 432 138 58 2 1,573 432 138 58 2,201 2,201 2,582

1919. 1918. [norease or Decrease. lold, silver, and gold-scheelite mines Ither metalliferous mines, including those worked for scheelito alone ioal-niines 2,143 58 2,458 124 Dec. 315 „ 66 3,944 3,994 „ 50 Totals Dec. 431 6,145 6,576

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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT. APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Metalliferous Minks to the Under-Secretary of Minus. Sir, — Wellington, Ist June, 1920. 1 have the honour to present the: annual report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries, together with annexures and statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1919. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure on roads, bridges, traoks, prospecting operations, Ac., are for the period oovered by the financial year —viz., from the Ist April, 1919, to the 31st March, 1920. The reports, &c, arc divided into the following sections: — I, Minerals entered for Exportation. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Cold-mining. (1.) Quartz-mining. (2.) Dredge Mining. (3.) Alluvial Mining. V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarries. (1.) Quarry Inspection and Statistics. (2.) Accidents. 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.) Summary of Reports by Water-race Managers. (C.) Summary of Report by the Inspector of Stone-quarries for the North Island (D.) Mining Statistics.

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I. MINERALS ENTERED FOR EXPORTATION. The following statement shows the value of minerals entered for exportation from metalmines, quarries, and kauri-gum fields from the Ist January, 1853 to the 31st December, j.919 :

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 : —

[11. ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured in metalliferous mines during 1919 : —

The proportion of fatalities per 1,000 persons employed is TB2, but of the four fatalities included really only one occurred in or about a metal-mine. The accidental upturning of a boat belonging to a gold-dredge which was being dismantled accounted for three lives, and as dredging operations are controlled by the Mining Act these fatalities have been included among mining accidents,

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Classification. Gold Silver Quicksilver Tungsten-ore Other minerals Kauri-gum... Increase Total from the 1918. 1919. or 1st January, 1853, to the Decrease, 31st December, 1919. £ £ £ £ 782,650- 923,095 jInc. 140,445 \ 88,457,308* 171,456 103,037 ! Dec. 68,419 2,561,285 2,122 4,619 Inc. 2.497 6,741 37,922 29,489 Dec. 8,433 297,933 . ' 5,882 4,039 „ 1,843 429,407 157,313 255,812 Inc. 98,499 18,581,064 I I ■ * Kntered for export, but not all exported.

Classification. Northern. 1,153 14 Inspection District. West Coast. .089 2 Southern. 443 Total. 1919. 2,185 14 2 'iold, silver, and tungsten Oinnabar Asbestos Totals for 1919 Totals for 1918 1,167 1,277 591 763 591 763 443 542 443 542 2,201 2,582 2,201 2,582

Explosives. I Fall Gro' 3 °j In S. und. Miscellaneafts. ous Underground. About Dredges. Tol Sun :aoe, ;al. Inspection District. ' >"B ' *•■» CO OH •0 0 a — 2.2, — 'E '5* V 9 * OJ o s 2 C .3 4> O t S c 3 'E '5* co M CO a 0,0 'E '5* CQ £•0*. 13 JS"d «1 oi o .0, V o 11 HH S9 Northern West Coast Southern 2 j ... ... ; l I 3 !.'.' 4 2 2 1 "a 2 Totals i 2 i 3 ... 4 4

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The following is a description of fatal accidents reported under the Mining Act during 1919 : —

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:—

ii.it,. Name and Situation ''"''-• lot Mine or Operations. Name, Age, and Occupation ol Person killed. Value, Age, and Occupation ol Person killed. Description ol! Accident, and Remarks. 1919. 23 April : Westland Prospecting Syndicate's dredge, Ahaura River John Brosnahan (39), dredge hand William Crysell (50), dredge hand Thomas Reynolds (43), dredge hand John Brosnahan (39), dredge hand William Crysell (50), dredge hand Thomas Reynolds (43), dredge hand Leonard S. Humphries (16). mine contractor This dredge had suspended gold-dredging operations at Ahaura River, and had recently been acquired by the West land Prospecting Syndicate for- its property on the Arahura Kivcr. On this date the new owners were engaged shifting the dredge down-stream to a more convenient site for dismantling purposes. After- lunch three of the dredge hands appear to have got into one of the boats, probably to return a coil of wire rope which was known to be there. The river was in flood at the time, and by some means the boat was overturned. No one saw how the accident actually happened, 'but it was probably caused by a submerged log coming down the flooded river and striking the boat. A cry was heard by those on the dredge, and they saw the men struggling in the water. The second boat was got out, but the unfortunate men disappeared before they could be reached. John Brosnahan e body was recovered a week later, and an inquest hold, at which a verdict was returned that " The deceased mot his death by drowning through the. capsizing of a boat, but there was no evidence to show how the boat was capsized." The bodies of Crysell and Reynolds were recovered one month and nine months later respectively, and ai. formal inquiries held verdicts wen; returned in accordance with the inquest, on Brosnahan. Humphries and his mate on the early part of the shift were engaged cleaning down the face of a rise from a stope above an adit level. Afterwards they went outside and commenced working a hole through from the surface, as the rise was expected to break through at this point. Humphries left his mate working and returned to the rise, probably to knock to him from below. Two hours or so later his mate found the deceased's body half-way down the rise, with his head caught behind a lath on the footwall. At the inquest held a verdict was returned that deceased met his death at Wakamarina through having his neck broken. At a subsequent inquiry held at Blenheim on the 23rd February, 1920, upon the application oi the Inspector of Mines (under section 266 of the Mining Act, 1908) the Board found that the minemanager had not caused the rise to be, timbered securely as required by the Mining Act, and that his negligence in that respect was the cause of the fatality. His certificate was suspended for three months, and on proceedings being taken against him under seotion 254, subsection (11), he was lined £5. 14 Dee. Dominion Consolidated Mining and Development Company, Wakamarina

i) „j„ 1.1 i , Dividends raid, Production of ! Q1( ' ' Bullion, 1919.* lTJ _ . , „ (All Mines.) (By Registered Comx ' parnes only.) £ £ Quartz-mining ... ... 574,021 118,831 Dredge miningf ... ... 47,838 2,845 Alluvial mining!: ... 80,273 2,068 Totals, 1919 ... 702,132 123,744 Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Number of Productive Quartz mines, Alluvial Mines, and Dredges, 1919. 1,423 138 432 37 19 131 123,744 1,993 187 * In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obt is used in preference to "gold." -|- The bullion production is from nineteen dredges, b;.t the dividends perty of registered companies. The profits of privately owned dredges ani statement incomplete. J The bullion-production is from 131 alluvial claims, but the dividend are the property of registered companies, 1-mines. silver was obte .incd from them, hence the word " bullion " ges, b;.t the dividends lely owned dredges and given are only from four of these, the promines are unobtainable, which renders this tims, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that

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(1.) QUAHTZ-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 1919, 1918, and 1917 :—

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1919 amounted to .£2 os. Id. The following is a statement of the production, dividends declared, and the number of persons employed by the principal gold-quartz mining companies during 1919: —

The following is a brief summary of the operations at the principal mines during the year; more detailed references are contained in the reports of the Inspectors of Mines appearing in Annexure A accompanying this report. Northern Inspection District. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). —There has been no development carried out at the low level (No. 12) since March, 1917, but late in the year it was unwatered, and driving east on the Dreadnought lode has just been resumed. At No. 11 level a large chamber (120 ft. by 20 ft. by 1 i ft. high) has been cut out, in which is to be installed the powerful electric turbine pumps expected to arrive this year from England. The directors' annual report states that the long-deferred delivery of these pumps and the shortage of labour and coal has accounted for the delay in unwatering the low level to resume driving. The ore reserves have been further drawn upon during the year, and are now estimated at about 1,000,000 tons of a grade lower by ss. 6d. per ton than the estimate of the preceding year. During the present year, owing to the increased price of supplies and higher wages of employees, the cost of production will be raised by ss. per ton, so that a large quantity of ore previously considered payable at pre-war prices for gold and silver is now unpayable. Whilst greatly increased prices for gold and silver compensated the higher costs at the mine, any reduction of these prices during the present would seriously affect the company's operations. Early in the year the fine hydro-electric power station at Horahora was purchased by the Government, but the company retained the right of an annual supply of 2,500 kilowatts at an agreed price per unit. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Until the low level of the Waihi Mine had been unwatered very little development could be undertaken below No. 8 level, with the result that, the ore reserves on (he Empire and Royal lodes had been greatly diminished. During the year the two companies met in conference and an arrangement for the next three

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Statute Tons of Ore treated. 1919. 1918. 1917. V 1919. /aliu io of IJul 1918. lliou ;1. 1917. I Value of Bullion, Dividends paid (by Registered Companies only). Inspection District. 1919. 1918. 1917. lorthern Vest Coast .. lOuthern 226,614 58,937 506 259,103 298,396 86,495 105,539 1,690 5,381 £ 475,999 97,712 310 I £ £ £ £ 615,064 751,974 116,431 178,369 127,846 158,007 2,400 15,150 821 1,818 743,731 911,799 118,831 193,519 £ 195,619 7,450 Totals 286,057 347,288 409,316 574,021 203,069

Name of Company. Quantity Value Avcrag6 Qnnrtr °' Valuo ffied, Bo,llo »- I* r Ton. During 1919. Dividends paid. .,•, ]3 o'S&S Total "2 § | » , „, n i to End of § g „ .9 19W- December, fcg=3 1919. fMa 10 p Northern District— Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. Talisman Consolidated (Limited) Muir's Gold Reefs (Limited) West Coast District— Blackwater Mines (Limited) Now Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited) Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) Murray Creek Gold-mining Company .. Other quartz-mines throughout Now Zealand Statute Tons. 160,511 55,442 3,655 4,100 £ 303,586 97,899 46,698* 17,703 £ s. d. 1 17 9 1 15 3 12 15 0 4 6 4 £ 99,181 17,250 £ 5,338,057 207,064 1,150,972 578 285 89 50 24,969 4,254 15,980 4,512 12,634 46,136 13,198 20,748 9,975 18,178 1 16 11 3 2 6 1 6 0 2 4 3 1 8 9 2,400! 174,994 103,200 326,562 113 37 70 40 161 21,727 Totals 280,057 574,021 2 0 1 118,831 7,382,576 1,423 * The final return on ceasing milling o aerations is included in this >tal.

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years was arrived at, under which the Grand Junction undertakes to pay an increased proportion i *T- P um P ln "- ex P enses - Several winzes have been commenced on these two lodes, and the main shaft is down 90 ft, below No. 8 level, so that, the opening-up of another level is well in hand. An important discovery was made by this company on extending No. 5 level on the Mary lo.le north into the property recently acquired from 'the Waihi Extended. The lode matter changed from low-grade quartz with bunches of mineral to a regular mineralized ore-body about .iit wide: containing payable values. This improvement of the lode has been followed for 400 ft at JNo. 5 level, and has been found to extend up to No. .'! level. Work is now in progress to test the reef at No. 6 level. The extension of these drives still farther north on the Mary lode— which probably corresponds to the north footwall branch of the Martha lode in the Waihi' Minewill be interesting, as they will be penetrating a class of andesite which on the surface is favourable, and an area upon which no great amount of prospecting has as yet been attempted. lahsman Consolidated (Limited).— This company allowed the water to rise at No. 16 level and have confined their attention to the extension south of No. 15 level. Apart from a short length of payable values extending over 50 ft. nothing favourable was encountered, and driving was suspended when broken and soft country was entered in the Dubbo section of the mine. A rise was started where the improvement had taken place in the reef, and this disclosed values going up for 80 ft. Immediately under this rise No. 16 winze was commenced, and this showed that the reef maintained its width and carried high-grade mineralized ore for some considerable distance, but at its present depth (166 ft.) it is narrow and unpayable. The extent and value of this development, some 400 ft. south of the abandoned face of No. 16 level, cannot very well be estimated until driving north and south from the bottom of the winze is in progress. Diamond drilling operations in the neighbourhood of Nos. 6 and 12 winzes at No. 15 level are in progress. As the ore reserves had become exhausted, milling operations were suspended last October, and will not be again commenced unless the development work undertaken by the company justifies resumption. Muir's Gold Beefs. —This company, which commenced milling operations during April, treated 4,100 tons of quartz for a return of bullion valued at £17,70.1. Apart from the quartz won from development this ore was drawn from the slopes above the upper level. The upper and lower levels, which are 200 ft. apart, are connected by a main rise, and from this an intermediate has been commenced. This intermediate has recently been connected to the surface, and two rises have been started to cut the ore-body above the' low level into stoping-blocks. A well-defined reef opening out to about 8 ft. wide has been followed for over 100 ft, al Hie low level, and there is every appearance of this size being maintained on the farther extension south of the present face. The company was unfortunale in having a portion of its small milling and treatment plant destroyed by fire last January. The erection of a 20-stamp battery and four tube mills is now proceeding, and alterations and additions to the existing cyanide plant are contemplated. West Coast Inspection District. Higher prices for supplies, increased wages, and shortage of suitable labour has already seriously affected mining operations in this district. To some small extent the increased costs have been compensated by a slightly higher price for the gold won during the last few months. A return to the former price, with the present conditions prevailing, will necessarily lead to a further reduction in the number of producing mines. Slackwater Mines. —This company has carried the main shaft down some 300 ft, below No. 8 level and is preparing to open out at Nos. 9 and 10 levels. The discovery of a payable shoot of ore in the southern section of the reef was recorded last year, and subsequent driving to the south at Nos. 6, 7, and 8 levels has added a considerable tonnage to the ore reserves. The ore won from the last three levels on the original pay-shoot in this mine, which has a decided pitch to the northern boundary, has fallen off both in quantity and grade. This change in the reef-contents has possibly arisen from the intersection of known fault fissures at this horizon, and may reasonably be expected to be only a local disturbance. Blachwater Mines North. —This company has recently been formed to take over the interests of the North Blackwator Development Syndicate. Arrangements are now proceeding to obtain the necessary capital to further develop the mine and erect a crushing and treatment plant, No work was carried out underground during the year. Ni'in Big River Gold-mining Company. -This company treated a slightly reduced tonnage during the year, and the grade of ore declined ss. 6d. per ton. Owing to shortage of labour stoping operations were curtailed and very little development attempted. Murray Creed,; Gold-mining Company. —The mine was closed down during the latter pari of the year, but recently underground development was resumed with a reduced staff. The company's operations arc now confined to sinking two winzes below the stoping-blook at No. 4 level in the southern section of the mine. At this level the reef was small and not. well defined, so that the present work was necessary to disclose the vertical extent of this disturbance. Southern Inspection District. In Otago and Southland gold-quartz mining operations were unimportant. (2.) Dredge Mining. On the west coast of the South Island four dredges produced gold, but of these only two were in active commission throughout the year. At Knmara the dredge owned by the Kapitca Goldfields (Limited) treated 400,000 cubic yards of material, averaging 2|d. per cubic yard, and showed a slight profit. The Chambers Reward dredge, formerly known as Worksop No. 2, which started work in April treated 202,000 cubic yards, averaging 3jd. per cubic yard. Owing

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to the heavy nature of the wash necessitating alteration to the plant, and to the loss of time in removing buried timber, the returns so far from this dredge have not been payable. At the present time one of the Government Keystone drills is employed drilling immediately in front of the dredge, with a view of confining operations to that portion of the Arahura Valley in which the gold contents are highest. The further testing of the Kiinu Flat by Keystone drilling was completed by the late A. E. Gregory early in the year, and a company witli headquarters in New York lias now purchased the property from the Rimu Options and riimu No. I Dredging Companies. Mr. R. E. Cranston has been appointed engineer, and a dredge of the Californian type —more powerful than anything ever before seen in the Dominion—is being built to work the claim. Particulars of this dredge' are as follows : —Pontoons : Length, 11 G ft.; width, 50 ft. ; depth, 11 ft.; freeboard, 3 ft.; draught, 8 ft. Shafting: Upper tumbler shaft, 21 in. diameter; lower tumbler shaft, 14 in. in diameter; main-drive pulley shaft, 6 J in. in diameter. Buckets: There will be seventy-three buckets in the digging-line. These buckets are each one solid manganese-steel casting with a replaceable lip. They are 10 cubic feet capacity, and have a pitch of 30 in. The speed of the bucket-line will be about twenty buckets per minute. The bucket-pins are G in. in diameter. Horsepower : The horse-power of the dredge is 550, and power is supplied from a hydro-electric plant. Capacity : It is estimated that in the ground to be worked the dredge will handle a maximum of 200,000 cubic yards per month. Gold-saving tables : There is an area of 4,400 square feet of gold-saving tables on the dredge. . This is a most importani event in the history of New Zealand mining, for, although the dredging industry was born here and was very successful in its early years, it has not kept pace, as regards the machinery used, with (ho developments in other countries. It will now be proved whether these developments applied here will lead to a revival of the industry. It is important also in that it is the first time a strong American company has acquired a mining property in New Zealand, and because the company is prepared to finance much more extensive undertakings if this one is profitable. In Otago and Southland fifteen dredges were in commission, producing gold valued at £39,501, or an average of .£2,633 per dredge. Compared with last year, when twenty-one dredges produced or an average of .£3,033, there is a marked shrinkage in the output of this class of mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket golddredges during 1919. (Note. —The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)

Name of Dredge. Locality. i.2 HH°3 So «*H —' c - TS-Shh- * H S o en tn o M-a <-- Si o w . is o> ill r-l O a I .0 p. 13 00 . .£ cl art tn O tt,%t HH HH rj H II II II II CC -1 m cu jz, 0-3 bli2 * 2 H O 41 M ■4 9 Sf W 3 HH-^ During 1919. Dividends declared. Total. Otago and Southland. Rise and Shine No. 1 Rise and Shine No. 2 Rising Sun Perry (private.) Electric No. 1 . . Karnsclcugh No. 3 Karnscleugh No. 5 Cromwell . . 5* 5J 7 5 7 6 5 4 H 44 a 64 10 10 10 1U 10 12 13 10J 11 10 12 11 9 20 20 25 16 16 150 150 16 12 12 70* 12 16 S S s s s E i-: s 8 S SG S S Ft, 40 40 45 40 35 50 35 30 10 10 Hi 16 14 £ 4,210 1,176 4,650 2,538 2,835 5,053 456 735 792 1,738 2,630 1,603 1,380 £ ) £ 53,100 24,000 Alexandra.. 1 30,250 Ngapara Lower Nevis Nevis Crossing (private) . . Otakau Lady Florence (private) . . McGeorge's Freehold No. 2 (private) McGeorge's Freehold No. 3 (private) ECura (private) Nevis 225 5.175 2,970 Kyeburn .. Waikaka Valley 300 3,225 oi 9 20 S 35 3,705 Waikaia .. 3i 9 16 S 30 0,000 1,820 6,347 West Coast. Kumara .. Arahura Valley Nelson Creek Capleston .. 5 8 10 15 16 20 s s s s 20 15 4,355 3,465 215 301 500 2,000 Kapitea Chambers Reward Pactolus Hessey, Cameron, and Tacon 7' 11 20 30 6,480 Totals, 1919 Totals, 1918 Totals, 1917 47,838 63,691 91,666 2,845 4,925 4,800 Unknown >> • I Irak 'm liorse-i lower.

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(3.) Alluvial Mining. There were 432 men employed on 131 alluvial claims during the year. The total output was valued at £80,273, which is slightly in excess of that of the preceding year. A large number of these claims are worked by their owners, and the returns from this class of mining show that on an average each man won gold to the value of £3 10s. per week. Messrs. Morgan Bros.' claim at Cambrian, Otago, worked by three men, furnished the highest output for the year —viz., 1,655 oz., valued at £6,620. The position of working operations at the various alluvial mines is commented upon by the District Inspectors of Mines in Annexure A accompanying this report. The following is a table showing the value of production of alluvial gold-mines and the dividends paid by the principal companies during 1919 :—

V. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. TIFNGSTEN-OKE. The quantity of tungsten-ore exported during the year amounted to 131 tons, valued at £29,489, as compared with IC9J tons, valued at £37,922, in 1919. The following statement shows the quantity and value of ore exported : —

The quantity of tungsten concentrate obtained during the year was 122-f tons, as compared with 143 tons for the previous year and tons during 1917 During the war period the Imperial Government bought the whole of the output of tungstenore in the Empire, and the price eventually rose to £3 Bs. per unit, on a basis of 65 per cent. WO 3. After the Armistice the demand for this ore ceased, and stocks began to accumulate to such an extent that further supplies after the 30th April were refused. Owners of producing mines, and even of claims which had not yet reached the productive stage, were subsequently adequately compensated for any loss they might have been put to by the termination of their contract at an earlier date than was anticipated. As the price of tungsten-ore has now fallen to £1 10s. per unit production during the latter part of the year has been curtailed, and until a more favourable market offers there is little likelihood of any great activity in the development of scheclite deposits unless warranted by their gold contents.

Name of Company. Value of Gold produced. Divider During 1919. Dividends declared. nds c declared. Total to end of 1919. Otago and Southland. United M. & 13. Water-race Company Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company .. Mighty-two other claims £ 1,041 4,661 53,497 £ 228 1,840 * £ 3,534 14,295 * Nelson and Westland. Forty-seven claims 21,074 * * Totals, 1919 Totals, 1918 Totals, 1917 80,273 78,895 89,941 2,068 4,953 5,710 * * * * The profits from these claims, which are mostly privately owned, arc unobtaini ,ble.

Year. Quantity. Value. Year. Quantity. Value. 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 Tons. 32 54 2 39 42 17 28 55 137 68 58 143 £ 2,788 2,635 83 1,200 1,439 791 1,848 3,407 15,486 6,055 4,263 15,070 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915.. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. Tons. 138 135 221 204 194 266 161 169| 131 £ 11,853 13,347 22,933 21,498 27,784 49,070 28,972 37,922 29,489 Totals 2,294! 297,933

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The following is a table showing the quantity of quartz crushed and scheelite concentrates obtained for the year ended 31st December, 1919 :—

Certain of the above mines also produced gold as follows: Dominion Consolidated, £4,485; Golden Point, £23; Deep Dell, £3. Petroleum. Oil-boring operations have continued at New Plymouth, Waipatiki, and Chertsey, but in several instances progress has been retarded through the delay in receiving new cables ordered or mishaps to the existing casing. No development of commercial value occurred as the result of oil-prospecting operations, and none of the existing bores yielded oil in payable quantity. Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil-wells (Limited). —In the early part of the year the company dismantled its refinery plant which had been acquired for re-erection in Persia. Operations at No. 5 bore were confined to drilling through some cement which had been placed inside the 8 in. casing to shut off the water, and lo relining the borehole with in. casing. Difficulties were still being experienced with the escaping sand and gas cutting through the inner casing when operations ceased through lack of funds. Early this year advice was received from London that the company had gone into liquidation. Blenheim Oil-wells (Idmited). —Much time was lost during the year in waiting the arrival of drilling-cable from England. In the interval the company lost its staff of expert Galician drillers, who had carried the borehole down successfully from the commencement. The well has now attained a deptli of 5,534 ft., and is penetrating a dark calcareous mudstonc from which ihere are strong gas-emissions. A small flow of petroleum occurs at 2,200 ft., and during the year 7,485 gallons of oil were collected. British Petroleum Development Company. —This new company was formed late in the year to sink a borehole at Patch's farm, which is about seven miles from New Plymouth along the Carrington Road. It is anticipated that oil will be struck at about 2,500 ft., and operations so far have consisted in the erection of a derrick and installing the necessary machinery. Waipatiki Oil-wells ('Limited,). —This company, which acquired the interests at Hawke's Bay of the Kotuku Oil-wells Syndicate, has continued boring operations during the year, but work has been delayed first through the casing breaking and afterwards by the late arrival of a new drilling-cable. There have been strong emissions of gas and a small quantity of oil from this borehole, but so far the formations penetrated have not been such as would contain an extensive oil-pool. The borehole is now down 3,600 ft. Canterbury Petroleum, Prospecting Company. —This company's borehole is still penetrating the alluvial deposits of gravel and conglomerate which form the Canterbury Plains, and has now attained a deptli of 2,140 ft.

Name of Mine or Company. | Reality. *■* Scheelite Concentrates obtained. Value. Marlborough — Dominion Consolidated Comborough — minion Consolidated Con )any Tons, n- Wakamarina .. .. 8,443 Tons. 8,443 Tons. cwt. qr. lb. 21 0 1 0 £ * pany J. M. Cadigan — —j M. Cadigan ,, .. .. Concen' trates Concentrates 11 0 0 0 f750 0 0 Otago and Southland — Glenorchy Company, and eight parties of miners J. It. Tripp C. E. G. Paulin .. Sutherland and Hood Black and McPherson Grant and Sinclair J. J. Hall Callery and Donoghue E. Gaytan Gaytan and Innes Deep Dell Mining Company .. H. Fraser Donaldson and Ellis Cockerell and Randall J. Donaldson A. A. Cockerell J. H. Evans D. Peddie F. A. Smith G. Bertenshaw C. G. White Pukerangi Mining Company .. and Southland — norohyJScheelite Compan) nd eight parties of miners R. Tripp tf. a Punii,, Hi. tf. Taulin . M (lfl 'I Tll-J '1 YMfA l-l /w\/l norland, and. Hood lAr nnrl M.,Pli,,. m ,. ck and McPherson jit and Sinclair .. r 1-r.iii i. Hall .. lery and Donoghue ( 4o \rhan tfaytan.. jt-'A 11 Hull Innou ftan and Innes . . ,,, lb,li Miv,;„„ ru.v, y, Glenorchy, Lake County 271 II 51 20 J) j) • • •• ,, 6 >) si • • .. Macrae's, Waihemo County 20 K R ■ • >! >> « QA .. „ 30 271 20 6 20 5 30 H 4 2 20 1 3 65 4 0 22 2 9 0 21 3 6 3 16 1 3 2 14 2 12 2 18 0 7 0 26 0 5 2 15 5 4 1 15 0 19 2 18 2 1 3 20 0 16 2 24 0 9 0 1 0 3 2 0 2 2 3 2 0 4 1 12 0 15 2 19 0 5 2 10 0 7 0 23 0 16 3 14 0 5 15 0 8 1 21 0 5 2 18 15,146 14 7 572 8 8 740 7 1 278 15 5 563 14 8 86 19 4 64 6 8 1,222 2 3 241 15 10 505 3 0 203 .14 11 103 7 10 43 8 8 469 18 5 47 18 8 177 3 11 61 19 7 74 9 1 196 13 11 65 15 2 98 0 9 63 18 6 sp Hell Mining Company . Fvuaaii •• ... „ 4 if raser . . i i, ! osvn .i iwl li' 11... •• „ 4 laldson and Ilillis .IrOIUlll n„A P„„,l n ll •• ,. ,. 2 ikercll and Randall h m .u.^ .. „ 20 uonaldson •• ,, J A. Uockerell PI lll.rana • • „ „ 3 H. Ilivans p,wi,i;„ * • t> 3? • • Peddie .. A Smllli A. Smith Bertenshaw G. White ■ • ,. ,. io Waipori, Tuapeka County The Reefs, Taieri County 15 10 15 ; 35 terangi Mining Company . ,, ,, 35 Totals, 1919 Totals, 1918 Totals, 1919 .. 8,889; 8,889| 15,098 122 16 143 6 2 26 0 17 21,770 16 11 31,279 0 0 Totals, 1918 .. 15,098 Decrease Decrease 6,208; 6.208J 20 9 1 19 9,508 3 1 t Only 5 tons sold. * Ou' ;put still on hand.

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CINNABAE. The New Zealand Quicksilver-mines (Limited), who are engaged in mining a lode containing cinnabar at Puliipuhi, North Auckland, have continued sloping the block of ore which they disclosed in their development operations about two years ago. During 1019 the company mined and retorted 650 tons of ore for a return of 11,1751b. of quicksilver, valued at £2,794. The Customs' returns for the same period show that 8| tons (19,2641b.) of quicksilver, valued at £4,619, were entered for exportation. Development of the mine has recently been resumed, and the low level, which had to bo retimbered, has been further advanced. The lode now showing in the face is about 2 ft. wide and contains a fair percentage of cinnabar. The company at an early date anticipate boring a number of holes from the surface with a diamond drill in order to determine the extent and value of this lode at a greater depth. Kauri-gum. During 1919 4,128 tons of kauri-gum, valued at £255,812, were exported, the total quantity and value of gum exported to the end of this year being 360,420 tons, valued at £18,581,064. This industry is now controlled by an officer of the Lands Department, and detailed information is published in that Department's reports. H.—STONE-QUARRIES. (1.) QuAiumNG Operations. several years past it has been the custom to point out that the inspection and statistical information concerning quarries in the Dominion are not as complete as they should be. Under the Stone-quarries Act, 1910, inspection is only required of places where the rock-faces exceed 20 ft. in height and explosives are used in the quarrying operations. There is little doubt that there is an equal amount of danger in handling explosives whether the rock-face is over or under 20 ft., and, again, for the safety of the worker certain quarries, whether explosives are used or not, should be under the Inspector's supervision. During the year two fatal accidents occurred in the Auckland district in quarries to which the Act does not apply. In one case at Morrinsville A. Parkinson was undercutting the face of a gravel-pit when the overburden fell in and entombed him. At the Eauroa quarry, near Raglan, where the rock-face was 18 ft. deep, T. G. Dunlop was killed by an explosion whilst forcibly recharging a hole in which a niissfirc had occurred. Unlike the Coal-mines and Mining Acts the Quarries Act does not compel the owner to furnish complete annual returns. The information which is tabulated below deals only with quarries visited by the Inspectors in the course of their duties, and was courteously supplied at their request by the several owners or managers. No returns are to hand from a number of producing quarries whose operations are such that they do not require inspection. With the information available, which is of course incomplete, it will be seen that the quarrying industry is steadily increasing. The production of 219 stone-quarries amounted to 1,056,329 tons, and required the services of 1,409 persons. The production of building-stone amounted to 27,051 tons, and limestone for agriculture and cement-manufacture to 245,192 tons, both products showing a considerable increase on the returns of last year. The products from the quarries in the Dominion have not yet found an extensive outside market. During 1919 these exports, which consisted of small quantities of lime, serpentine, dressed marble, building-stone, and pumice sand, were valued at £4,039, of which total 1,037 tons of pumice sand, valued at £2,840, was the chief item.

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 during, 1919.

Provincial District. Nana; and Address of Government Inspector of Stone-quarries. *■§ »H 3 o si ■ aw fc 1 si a-g fc -H fcfj °S . a «H h2£S f/5 o h a W Outpi 1 o ai bD .a s '3 it of Orudi 5 U.S a a Hi c Stone. K °: a 9 ti H 01 0 -Oh5 h5 •C •■3» <2« «» «3 SS m« >£ o ft ° bo <u a m ■«M .a s ° Ah Ph «i Auckland .. James Newton, Mines Dopt., Auckland M. Paul, Mines Dopt., Waihi (Hauraki Mining District only) James Newton, Mines Dopt., Auckland Ditto .. Tons. Tons. 250,195 41,786 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 21,318 23,270 104,480 Tons. 23,270 Tons. 104,480 Tons. Tons. Tons. 87 510 11 01 37,109 1,730 Hawke's Ray 21 108 27,425 65,397 .. 21,000 21,000 Taranaki Wellington .. Ot. Duggan, Mines Dept., Greymouth J. F. Downey, Minos Dept., Reefton 14 37 2 (IS 163 15 22,830 28,960 77,989 3,794 5,852 .. 10,700 10,700 Nelson Westland li ( l0 24 115 16 4 88 227 : 34 2,500 375 794 .. 15,579 973 70 4,000 36,627 5,370 15,579 97.1 Canterbury ) Otago > Southland I E. R. Green and A. Whitley, Minos Dopt., Dunedin 83,325 IS,07!) 78,879 2,332 7,274 15,900 70 1,100 4,000 2,000 2,109 36,627 21,123 4,000 r. ')-A 2,000 21,123 4,000 2,500 6 685 5,370 Totals 1919 Totals 1918 219 247 1,409 1,453 587,901 183,000 611,169 90,061 27,051 |l02,010 143,182 4,000 4,197 86,807 36,507 5,000 j 102,010 I 80,807 143,182 36,507 4,000 5,000 2,500 2,500 6,685 6,186 Further particulars regarding tained in the annual report by J report. the inspec ames Newl tion of stone-qu ton, appearing tarries in the North Island in Annexure C accompair are ■ing :onthis

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(2.) Quarry Accidents. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured during 1919 at stonequarries and places within the operation of the Stone-quarries'Act':—

The fatal accidents were in the proportion of o'7l per .1,000 persons employed. The nonfatal accidents were only five in number, two of which were occasioned by a splinter of rock injuring the eye of the worker whilst engaged in spawling. In the case of two serious accidents —one at Karaka Bay, St. Heliers, Auckland, and the other at Mount Somers, Canterbury—proceedings were taken by the Inspector for a breach of the law. In both instances the owners were fined for employing a foreman without a permit, and in the former case the man acting as foreman was fined for carrying on without a permit as well as for failing to notify the Inspector of an accident. Nominal penalties were asked for in each case, the main object of the prosecutions being to bring before private owners the requirements of the law. The following is a description of the fatal accident during 1919 at a quarry which is under the Stone-quarries Act: —

VII.—STATE All) TO MINING. (I.) Subsidized Prospecting. During the year ended 31st March, 1920, thirty-eight approved prospecting parties were granted subsidies amounting to £3,554 (is. Bd., of which £1,520 Is. 4d. was expended during that period,. In addition to this, £985 4s. 2d. granted during previous years was expended by five parties during the past financial year The following statement shows the total expenditure during the year ended :!lst March, 1920 :— £ s. d. Coromandel County ... ... ... .. ... 170 13 4 Thames County ... ... ... ... 292 0 0 Ohinemuri County ... ... ... ... ... 156 13 4 Wairau Road District ... ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 Takaka County ... ... ... ... ... ... 64 10 0 Buller County ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 13 4 Westland County ... ... ... ... ... ... 158 16 4 Lake County ... ... ... ... ... ... 76 10 0 Prospecting associations, &o. ... ... ... ... 1,434 9 2 Total ... ... ... ... ...£2,505 5 6

Cause of Accidont. Number ol Fatal. Accidents. Number o: Serious. Killed. Sufforors. Seriously Injured. Explosives .. Falls of ground Falling from face, or during ascent or descent Miscellaneous 1 2 1 2 1 2 I 2 Totals I 5 I 5

. „.. ,. I lame, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Date. Name and Situation of Quarry. Description of Accident, and Remarks. 1919. Oct. 6.. Harbour Board's Quarry, Rangit o t o Island, Auckland J a m c s Arrol (29), labourer Stone from this quarry was loaded into a box which was lifted by a hand-winch. The jib which carried the haulingpujley was stayed by one end of the radius-chain to a vertical post. On taking the weight one of the links of the radius-chain broke, allowing the jib to fall on this man, who had been engaged loading the box. The Board's Engineer stated that this chain had been regarded as a tie and had not been regularly annealed, although inspected daily when the pulley was oiled. At the, inquest a verdict was returned that deceased met his death through an injury to his skull caused by a falling derrick, and that there was not sufficient evidence to show how or when the flaw was occasioned in the link of the supporting chain.

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In several cases, although no discovery of commercial importance has been made by the subsidized prospector, the Department's knowledge of particular localities has become more complete and the results obtained have been recorded for future reference. In other cases, where assistance has been granted to small companies carrying out systematic prospecting under capable management, the work undertaken has disclosed some promising results, and further work may enhance the value of the discovery made. In one instance the oxidized low-grade outcrop of a reef, containing a fair percentage of manganese oxides, was intersected lower down the hill by a subsidized crosscut 600 ft. long. The reef here was 24 ft. wide, but the payable portion was confined to a 6 in. seam showing distinct silver sulphide veins. This discover}' is important, as the thickening of the pay-streak either laterally or at greater depth would turn a promising development into one of commercial value. Altogether during the year thirty-five parties employing 115 persons were assisted. The work carried out was inspected from time to time by the Inspectors of Mines, who have supplied details for the table giving particulars of the assistance granted and the results achieved. In addition to the grants of money given to prospectors and to mining companies the Department has this year attempted to render assistance to the mining industry by employing Professor Waters, of Otago University, to investigate the treatment of concentrates at the Reefton mines, with the object of evolving a process by which gold may be extracted locally, thus preventing the necessity of shipping the concentrates to Australia. Professor Waters's report, which is a very valuable one. unfortunately cannot be printed here in full owing to the shortage of paper and the necessity for reducing the size of this publication as much as possible. The following brief summary of his conclusions is, however, of great interest : —

Table showing Results of suggested Local Treatment compared with Shipping.

The conclusions arrived at from the investigations made are : — (1.) That local treatment is feasible and advisable from an economic point of view. (2.) That roasting followed by treatment with alkaline cyanide solutions by percolation, followed probably by grinding and amalgamation, is the most suitable treatment under present conditions. (3.) That the roasting must be carried out mechanically. (4.) That an extraction of SO per cent, of the gold contents is certain, and this may be expected to amount to 85 per cent., which will show better results than those given in the table above. (5.) That under present conditions the most suitable place for a plant is at the Progress Mill, and operated by the Progress Mines Company. (6.) That the saving of arsenic should be left in abeyance in the meantime, but should be considered later when general mining conditions improve and the process develops. (7.) That the Mines Department shou'd arrange to continue investigative work with a view to (a) improving the gold-extraction, and (b) the utilization of the residues after treatment, in which direction economic results of great value are likely to be obtained.

Cone :entrates per Ton. m*. Mine. I n Charges. Not Re Local Advantages per Ton. Healizatioi eturns. Gross Value. [ Local. Shipping. Local. Shipping. i Jlackwater few Big River 'rogress Vealth of Nations . . few Kcep-it-Dark . . /[urray Creek £ s. d. 12 1 11 19 15 1 14 4 3 9 17 7 9 7 0 16 9 10 £ s. d. 9 0 5 11 7 9 8 11 3 8 6 11 8 6 5 9 10 0 £ s. d. 6 16 0 9 13 0 4 17 0 4 2 0 4 0 0 6 13 0 £ s. d. 3 16 7 17 4 5 13 0 1 10 8 1 1 5 6 19 10 £ s. d. 5 5 11 10 2 1 9 7 3 5 15 7 5 7 10 9 16 10 £ s. d. 2 4 5 2 4 9 3 14 3 4 4 11 4 6 5 2 17 0

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Number of Subsidized Prospectors, Amount of Subsidy granted and paid, also the Character and Result of such Prospecting Operations from the 1st April, 1919, to 31st March, 1920.

I > Name of Prospecting Party. .Number Amount of nistanee uf Pro- Locality of Operations. Amount of Subsidy granted. Subsidv Nature of Claim, specters. expended. driven. Number :rl j Amount of ~ ....... I rNarae of Prospecting Party. i si .> umoer of Protectors. ir | ■ | Locality of Operations. Amount of Subsidy granted. Amount oi j-. Subsidy " "SKS? laim. Character of Operations. Remarks. ' jMictors. " expended. Q ! |_ _ • ._ ! I I .j. Northern Inspection District. Waititngi Gold-mining Company C. Wells and G. Riythe John Anderson and Son J. McClair and mate C. and J. Ca rroll Lindsiy and Strongman Glass and Calder A. and H. McNeil Regan and Sullivan Madill and Andrews Campbell Bros. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines Wilson and Sadgrove Kuranui Gold-mining Company .. Rising Sun Gold-mining Company 12 4 4 12 Thames .. £166 13s. 4d., at 6s. 8d. per foot Cabbage Bay .. £39, at £1 10s. a week eich for three months Waikoromiko .. £36, at £1 10s. a week each for three months Thames .. £66 13s. 4d., on 200 ft. \ driving at 6s. 8d. Kuaotunu .. £39, at £1 10s. a week ereb for three months Matawai .. £33 6s. 8d., on 100 ft. driving at fis. 8d. Taupo .. .. : £51, at £1 10s. a week each for four months ('(iromandel .. £66 13s. 4d., on 200ft. driving at 6s. 8d. Tokatea .. £50, on 150 ft. driving at 6s. 8d. Miihakirau .. £39, at £1 10s. a week each for three months I'uru .. £39, at £1 10s. a week each for thrpe months Maratoto .. £100, on 300 ft. driving at 6s. 8d. W'ailaia.. .. j £39, at £1 10s. a week each for three months Tararu .. .. £166 13s. 4d., on 500 ft. driving at 6s. 8d. .. £100, on 300 ft. driving at 6s. 8d. Owharoa .. £100, on 300 ft. driving at 6s. 8d. £ s. d. 100 0 0 (i 0 0 36 (I 0 13 6 S 12 0 0 10 0 0 24 0 0 13 (i 8 16 li 8 27 0 0 12 0 0 100 0 0 166 13 4 56 13 4 Ft. 300 Quartz 40 Quartz 30 Quartz 40 Quartz 300 Quartz 500 Quartz 170 Driving . .. j Driving on 4ft. lode. Average assay value, £1 per ton. Surface prospecting Several lodes intersected. Picked samples assayed £3 per ton. „ l Nothing payable discovered. Driving .. Driving crosscut to intersect lode. Work in progress. Surface prospecting After working one month operations suspended. Driving .. Small lode intersected. Gold freely seen in quartz broken. Surface prospecting Work in progress. Driving .. Lode intersected. Values low „ . . Work in progress. No discovery of importance made. Surface prospecting Work in progress. Nothing payable discovered ,, Several reefs located, some giving high assay values. Crosscutting .. Reef 24 ft. wide intersected. For average assay value see Inspector's report, Annexure A. Surface prospecting Work in progress. Driving .. Lode intersected. Cold frequently seen. No important discovery made ,, In progress. ,, .. Crosscutting for lode. Work in progress. West Coast Inspection District. Alpine Consols P. J. Larkin and party Rlackwater Miners' Association .. H. F. Chaffey.. Fiddes and Doolan Howat and Hyndman 4 3 6 2 £ s. d. Lyell .. Enchanted Creek.. 100 0 0 Waiuta .. .. 200 0 0 Takaka .. .. 100 0 0 Ahaura . . .. 48 0 0 Woodstock .. 100 0 0 51 13 4 100 0 0 63 0 0 12 0 0 42 15 0 155 Quartz Alluvial Quartz Asbestos Quartz 342 Alluvial Driving .. Driving low-level tunnel on reef-track. Nothing of value found. Surface prospecting Prospecting to develop a sluicing claim. ,, General prospecting. No discovery of any value. ,, : Prospecting for asbestos. „ General prospecting. Number of small reefs located ; none of special value. Driving .. ■ Driving preparatory to blocking out ground at ■ Brighton Terrace.

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Number of Subsidized Prospectors, Amount of Subsidy granted and paid, also the Character and Result of such Prospecting Operations from the 1st April, 1919, to 31st March, 1920—continued.

Name of Prospecting Party. Number Amount of Distance of Pro- Locality of Operations. Amount of Subsidy granted. ■ Subsidy driven Mature of Claim. Character of Operations, spectors. expended. Eemarks. West Coast Inspection District —ctd. Jones and Burrows Kulsen and party E. Kean Mount Greenland Extended Syndicate H. F. Porter and party 7 J. Reardon and party 9 2 I 9 3 4 Hokitika Kanieri Greenstone Ross Wangapeka Anatoki.. 75 0 0 60 0 0 132 0 0 100 0 0 117 0 0 156 0 0 £ s. d. 28 10 0 24 18 0 62 13 4 27 0 0 64 10 0 Ft. Mine ralized Surface prospecting ore-body 166 Alluvial .. Driving ,, .. Constructing w-ater-race 0 188 Quartz .. Driving , Surface prospecting Alluvia] .. „ Small copper lode found, but abandoned owing te large slip covering work. Driving at Golden Flat, Kanieri, to drain suppose* payable ground. Constructing tail-race at Argus Terrace. Crosscut in progress to intersect outcropping reefs. F. D. Walker and Honey Southern Inspection District. Otago Central Gold-mines 2 5 Waitahii Bannockburn .. j 36 0 0 483 0 8 374 15 0 1,050 Quartz .. Driving General prospecting in progress. General prospecting, Takaka River Valley. Payabh alluvial reported. General prospecting in progress. " R. Symes and party Deep Dell Consolidated Company Atlev Bros. W. G. W. Rarnard Pukerangi Gold and Scheelite Mining Company Ditto 2 3 3 4 2 2 Old Man Range . . Macrae's Shotover River .. Macetown The Reefs 170 0 O 120 0 0 117 0 0 243 6 8 173 6 8 166 13 4 170 0 0 39 0 0 117 0 0 160 0 0 8 16 0 43 0 0 | Alluvial . . Surface prospecting 119 Quartz .. , Driving Alluvial . . Surface work 480 Quartz .. Driving 24 „ .. j „ 129 „ .. „ Crosscutting for and driving on' reefs. No payable ore found. Nothing of value found. Driving on scheelite reef. Payable ore opened up. Repairing wing dam and water-races. Driving on reef. No payable ore found. Driving on scheelite lode in Pukerangi Mine. Driving to cut reef in Marion Mine. Work in progress

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(2.) Government Pkospectixg-drills. Tlie following is a table giving the result oi operations by Government dulls during 1919:—

Type of Drill. Name of Drill Superintendent. Number of Holes drilled. To whom lent. Mineral sought for. Total depth, in Feet. Character of Country pierced. Average Foot , drilld, H ( '„ including Hole - j Transport. Results. _ I s. d. Schramm - Harker die, j W. H. Warburton M [j Mines Department: Whangape Cm I Coal .. (12) 180 Calcareous sandstone, sandy papa 3 6-9 mond drill No. 3 (oil- Company's area rock, clays, sandstones, and greydriven i wacke Ditto .. Ditto .. .. .. .... .. (13) 168 Ditto .. .. .. ..347 .... .. .. .... .. (14) 141 .... .. ..3 9-9 .... .. .. .. „ -. (15) 135 .. .. .. .. .. 2 11-4 .... .. .. .... .. (18) 281 .... .. .. ..3 4-8 12. .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. (19) 249 .. .. .. .. .. 3 7-9 „ .. .. .... .. (20) 189 .... .. .. ..4 1-9 ,, .. „ Mines Department: Awaroa L. ml .. .. (16) 194 .... .. .. ..4 24 Company's area Ditto .. .. .. .. ., .. (17) 175 .... .. .. .. 3 3-4 Percussion drill .. „ ., . . .. .. . . „ .. (4a) 294 .... . . .. ..50 ,. .. .. .. .... .. (5a) 265 I .. .. ..50 I „ .. .. .... .. (6a)306 „ .. .. .. ..5 0 Schramm - Harker dii- W. H. Warburton ] f Homebush Coal Company, Glentunnel „ .. (1) 392 Sanelstone, clays, and shales 4 4-11 mond drill No. 3 (oil- and A. Wick . . driven) 5> 3< I Ditto .. Ditto .... ., .. „ .. (2! 410 „ .. „ ..4 21, ...... ■ • J I ,, ■• „ (5) 534 „ ,. .. . . 5 10J Sullivan C.N. diamond W. H. Warburton ! ■. Waitahu Coal Company, Reefton .. ,, - .. 735 Gravel, sandstone, shale, grit, and 31 2J drill (sieam-dri ven) and R. Pengelly conglomerate Ditto .. . . W. H. Warburton 1 I Scott Bros.' Coal-prospecting Lease. „ .. 250 Gravel Reefton Schramm - Harker elia- W. Garter "j r Talisman Consolidated (Limited), Ka- Gold-bearin'r (1) 428 Unaltered andesite mond drill No. 2 rangabake reef (driven by compressed V 2<J air) Ditto .. .. „ ..J N Ditto .. .. .. .. Ditto (2) 200 Liehei.. 2 i 2" 2 2 ft. coal at 72ft., 3 ft. coal at 121 ft. 4 ft. coal at 109 ft., 16 ft. coal at 137 ft. 17 ft. 6 in. coal at 123 ft. 6 in. 17 ft. coal at 121 ft. 6 in. No coal ; probably faulted country. No coal. " 16 ft. coal at 177 ft. 17 ft. 6 in. coal at 160 ft. 17 ft. coal at 252 ft. 14 ft, coal at 255 ft. 1 ft. coal at 252 ft. No workable coal. 91—12 2i~l| 4 ft, 6 in'.'coal at 130 ft, 8 ft, of coal at 586 ft. 2! In progress. 2 1 Maria reef interseeteel about 350 ft. below low level in Woodstock section of the mine. Reef well defined ; values low. 2', -2 6 Borehole in progress to intersect Maria r?ef at a lower level in Bonanza section of the mine. Unpayable results. Keystone drill No. 3 .. H. Rutlanel .. 24 Dunedin City Corporation reserver.'r Alluvial goM i 2,496* Gravel .. •• .- 8 0 area, Waipori Flat deepest 167 Keystone drill No. I . . A. E. Gregory .. 9 Metals Exploration Company (New „ 476* River gravel ... York), operating at Rimu Flat Keystone drill No. 2 . . ., .. 18 Ditto .. .. .. ..- .. 905* Keystone drill No. 1 .. G. E. D. Seale .. 1 Dr. Scott's coal-prospecting licence, Coal .. (1) 131 Gravel Reefton 6 Results not yet disclosed. 6 6 In progress. I * Aggregate

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The Government prospecting-drills bave been freely used during the year, and although in several instances the results have been of a negative character, this information has been gained by those concerned at a minimum of expense. In the Waikato the area which was partially prospected last year has been further tested, and the results have been such that the Government lias acquired a considerable holding here to develop a State coal-mine. At ltimu Flat further placer-drilling took place, and as an outcome of the extensive keystone drilling which has been carried out here during recent years an American company has decided to install a powerful gold-dredge of modern type to ileal with the heavy gold-bearing gravels. The Dunedin City Council finished boring their proposed reservoir area at Waipori, and the results of the drilling carried out during the past two years clearly show that the flooding of this reserve will not result in the loss of an extensive area of payable gold-bearing gravel. An aggregate of 9,534 ft. was drilled in seventy-one holes, a summary of which is as follows:—

(3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfiei.ds. The following schedule shows the amounts expended by subsidies and direct grants out of the Public Works Fund, vote "Roads on Goldfields," and out of Consolidated Fund, in the different counties and boroughs during the year ended 31st March, 1920 : — Public Works Fund— £ s. d. Direct grants ... ... ... ... ... 11.653 0 I) Subsidies ... ... ... ... ... ... 812 0 0 Consolidated Fund — Grants ... ... ... ... ... ... 631 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... £13,01)6 0 0 (4.) Government Water-hacks. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, which render possible hydraulic mining in the Kumara district, Westland, and the Xaseby district, Central Otago, have supplied thirtyseven miners with water for sluicing during 1919, by which gold to the value of about £8,180 was won. The average gross earnings of each miner, after deducting the sum paid to the Government for water supplied, amounted to about £183 for the year, but from this must lie deducted all expenditure on plant, rent, (fee. Receipts. Expenditure. The receipts and expenditure were as follows : — £ s. d. £ s. d. Waimea-Kumara races ... ... ... 659 10 0 2,387 0 0 Mount Ida ... ... ... ... 738 10 0 1,009 0 (I Totals ... ... ....£1,398 0 0 £4,07)6 0 0 From this it will be seen thai the expenditure on upkeep exceeded the revenue received front sales of water by £2,658. The capital expenditure on these races exceeds £2710,000, and as for several years past the races have not been self-supporting' n<> sum lias been allotted for depreciation or interest on capital. For the current year the loss on the races represents £72 per miner employed, or 32 per cent, of the value of the gold won. VIII.—SCHOOLS OF MINKS. The following table shows the expenditure by the Government mi schools of mines during 1919-20:— £ s, d. Subsidies towards erection and maintenance ... . . 1,742 I 9 Salaries of teachers, travelling-expenses, eve. ... ... 2,763 1 (i Total ... ... ... ... £4,505 0 3 The schools continue to do useful work in the training of young men I'm' positions at the various mines and in assaying' and otherwise determining the value of prospector's samples in their respective districts. 1 have, Ac., T. 0. Bishop, Inspecting Engineer ol' Metalliferous Mines.

Number of Holes drilled. .Mineral searched for. Tvna of Drill Cost per loot, Aggregate mJSi incluiliii- Deptii attained, ll8ea - Transport. In Feel. Results. 9 3 3 Coal Piamoi.d .. 3s. to 4s. fid. 1,712 Percussive.. 5s. 865 D.amond .. 4s. 3d. to 5s. lid. 1 ,336 Very good ; workable i-rea, Waikato coalfield. Gootl; workable area, Waikato coalfield. No extent of workable area as yet found ; boring in progress. Coal-seam 8 It. wide located; extent not yet provi d. In progress. I .. 31s. 2d. 735 I ■i 24 27 I Gold 250 628 Keystone .. 8s. 2,4!)(i 1.381 131 No payable gold-bearing gravel located. Results of boring not yet disclosed. In progress. Coal 71 9,534

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AiNNEXUKK A SUMMARY OF REPORTS J!V INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northers Inspection District (Mr, M. Paul, Inspector ol' Mines). Quartz-mining. waihi borough. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The following are the particulars of the principal development works carried out in this mine during the year: — No. 12 level below the collar of the No. 4 siiatt) : About the end of November this level was unwatered for the first time since 191.7. Air-pipes have been put in the drive on the Dreadnought lode, and also m the north-west crosscut. No. 12 level (1,447 A ft. below the collar of the No. J shaft) : About the end of November this 69ft. from the south branch ol' the Martha lode, and at 28 ft. the north section of the Empire lode was intersected and proved to he 25 ft. wide, worth £1 LBs. 6d. per ton. Driving east on the Empire lode was then continued tor 233 ft. with the following results: At 50ft., lode 15ft. wide mixed with country rock, value 1.65. Bd. per ton; at 100 ft., lode 15 ft. wide, value 10s. 9d. pei' ton; at .1.27 ft., lode \ ft. wide, value £1 10s. Id. per ton; at 213 ft., lode 2 ft. wide, value ■ is. 9d. per ton. On driving west for 107 ft. from Lion crosscut values varying from £2 18s. lOd. to is. Bd. per ton were found up to 80 ft. west, while crosscuts at 50 ft. and 1.00 ft. showed the reef to he 23 ft. and Bft, wide, with ore averaging Ids. LOd, and 16s. Bd. per ton respectively. Fast of Pistol north-west crosscut the level was driven 59 ft., and at 50ft, the lode is 15 ft. wide, mixed with country rock; value, Is. 4d. per ton. No. 10 level: Tire Soldier's crosscut, which is situated 444 ft. north of No. 4 shaft, has been advanced 215 ft., and ai, 197 ft. the north section of the Empire lode was met; width, 10 ft.; value, £1 9s. Bd. per ton. For 80 I'l. east along the level the values vary from 7s. Id. to £3 l-'ls. lOd. per ton, and Ihe lode is payable. West of Soldier's crosscut the level was driven 47 ft.. hui the ore met, varying from ss. Id. to ,£1 6s. sd. per ton, was not payable. West of Cow crosscut 185 ft. of driving disclosed values varying from 4s. sd. to .£1 10s. lod., and this ore is too low-grade to be payable. Martha lode: Fast of Cow crosscut the level has been widened lo II I'l. on the south side from a point 32 ft. east I'ot a. distance ol' 50 i'l. In effecting a connection between a point at 40ft, in Cow south-east crosscut and the south side of the level on the Martha lode some Oft. of payable quartz with values averaging £3 10s. per ton was found. No, 9 level (Ulster reef): This reel' was driven upon for 90ft., the lode varying in width from 1 ft. to 5 ft. and the values from 17s. 6d. to .£2 12s. per ton. Empire lode: Power north-west crosscut was extended 9-1 ft., and at 87ft. the north section of the Empire lode was met ; width 5 ft., and values £1 12s. per ton. On driving east for 57 ft. irregular values varying from £4 7s. to Is. 9d, per ton over a width of 2s. ft. to 5 ft. were met. Alexandra lode : A new shrinkage block has been timbered east and west of Rata rise. No. 8 crosscut: Horse crosscut was extended 118 ft., and at 96 ft. the north branch of Ihe Martha lode was intersected, having a width of 9 ft. and value of .£1 9s. 6d. per ton. No. 6 level : Marson crosscut, situated at 85 ft. east of No. 6 shaft, was driven upon for 21 I'l. At 10ft. the north section of the Martha lode was met —width Oft. and value £2 6s. per ion -and upon driving on this reef for 39 ft. the reel' averaged 3 ft. to 6 ft., carrying values ranging from £1 7s. 9d. to .£3 Is. per ton. The south-east drive on H reef was extended 82 ft., the reef varying from 3 ft. to 5 ft. wide, and the value from Bs. 4d. fo £1 15s. Od. per ton. This drive will enable two small payable blocks on the Empire and Albert lodes to be more readily mined. No. 5 level: The north branch of the Martha lode has been driven upon for 80ft., the last 40 ft. showing payable ore mixed with boulders of country. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company. —No. 1 main shaft: The pumping compartment was sunk through country rock and quartz of no value, making the total deptli below the surface 1,401 ft. The presence of quartz and calcite grit, in the water caused considerable delay in sinking, owing lo the electric pumps being' almost continuously under repair. A lotal of 70.391,358 gallons of water was pumped to the surface during tin' year. The excavation of a new pumping-chamber ami water-cistern ai No. 8 level is well advanced. When this work is completed the electric stationary pumps at No. 7 level will be removed and installed at No. 8 level. This should enable the sinking-pumps lo cope with the present influx of water for at least another .150 ft. No. 8 level (1,320 ft.): The drive on the lode in the main north-west crosscut, 17 ft. from the shaft-chamber, was advanced 34ft., making a total distance ol' 212 ft. The average value over width of 53 in. was Is. sd. per ton. Empire lode: The drive east was continued 141 ft. in country rock and now measures 1,008 ft. The crosscut at 735 ft. east was advanced 72 ft. The first 57 ft. was through country rock and calcite veins of no value; from 57ft. to 02ft.. quartz valued at £1 4s. Od. per ton; From 02 ft. to 72 ft., country rock. The crosscut at 1,000 ft. east was extended 5 ft. north and 92 ft. south. Prom the main drive to 33ft. south there is country rock, At 33it. a vein of quartz 18 iii. wide was passed through ; value. Is. 7il. per lon. The crosscut was continued in country rock until the foolwall of the Empire lode was intersected, which assayed 3s. 9d. per lon for a width of 15 ft. On breaking out to ihe south wall in preparation for stoping from 470 ft.

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to 574 ft. east the Empire lode assayed £1 3s. 3d. per ton for a width of 8 ft. No. 4 winze was sunk a total of 14 ft. below the level, the assays averaging ss. lOd. per ton for a width of 3 ft. 3 in. I'he lode-matter contains 40 per cent, country rock. No. 5 winze sunk 22 ft. 6 in. Assays over width of 3ft. 5 in. averaged £1 3s. per ton; neither wall was exposed. No. 6 winze sunk 9 ft. 6 in. Over width of 3 ft. 8 in., assays averaged ss. Bd. per ton. Neither wall was exposed and the lode-matter contained 60 per cent, country rock. No. i winze sunk 19 ft. Over a width of 3 ft. lOin. the assays averaged .£5 15s. 2d. per ton, and the walls are not exposed. No 8 winze sunk 48 ft. The first 13 ft. assayed I3s. 6d. per ton over a width of 3 ft. 2 in.; from 13 ft. to 30 ft. assays averaged £2 17s. 6d. per ton over width of 3 ft. 4 in.; from 30 ft. to 46 ft. assays averaged £1 13s. Bd. per ton over width of 3 ft. 4 in., neither wall being exposed. Royal lode : Drive west was advanced 92 ft.; total, 692 ft. Assays averaged Bs. lid. per ton over width of 6 ft. 7 in. In order to explore the country between the Royal and Empire hides a crosscut was started at 230 ft. west and advanced 186 ft. without intersecting any reef. The intermediate drive from No. 9 rise (55 ft. above this level) was advanced 57 ft. west—total, 133 ft—and holed through to the old No. 8 slopes. Assays from 80 ft. to 105 ft. over width of 6 ft. 1 in. averaged lis. 2d. per ton with the south wall exposed. From 105 ft. to 130 ft. west Ihe assays averaged £2 -Is. 2d. per ton over a width of 5 ft. 4 in. At 120 ft. west the lode was broken out a width of 27 ft. 6 in. The first 10 ft. was quartz, value £1 lis. lOd. per ton; next 9ft, country rock; then 3ft. bin. quartz, value 14s. id. per ton; the remainder quartz and e.alcite of no value. George lode : The main south-east crosscut was advanced 375 ft.; total, I,oloft. The course of this crosscut is 136° (true). At 714 ft. the George lode was intersected; width, 3 ft. 3 in.; value, lis. lOd. per ton. The George lode was driven upon 15 ft. east, the width being 1 ft. 9 in. and value Bs. per ton. It was also driven upon 70 ft. west, the width being 4 ft. 1 in. and value £1 2s. per ton, with both walls exposed. No. 7 level (Empire lode) : An intermediate level was driven from No. 6 rise, 25 ft. below No. 6 level, a distance of 39 ft. east, disclosing a width of 4 ft. 6 in. of payable quartz on the footwall. No. 6 level (crosscut from Dominion lode) ; A crosscut, started at 227 ft. east of the southeast crosscut on the Dominion lode, was advanced 61 ft., making a total of 288 ft. through country rock and quartz of no value. This crosscut will connect with the main filling shaft, which will be sunk to No. 7 level. Mary lode: The drive east was advanced 1.6 ft. —total, 370 ft.—from the north-west crosscut on the line of the lode. The drive is in country rock, no quartz being discovered. A crosscut at 335 ft. east was advanced a total of 17 ft. north and 38 ft. south. In the crosscut to the south two narrow veins of quartz of no value were passed through. No. 5 level (Mary lode) : The drive east into the Waihi Extended section was advanced 297 ft.—total, 437 ft.—from the main crosscut. From 140 ft. to 400 ft. over an average width of 5 ft. 6 in. the value was £1 12s. 2d. per ton. In breaking out preparatory to stoping from 203 ft. to 305 ft. the value over an average width of 4 ft. 6 in. was £I. 16s. 9d. per ton. A branch lode was intersected at 212 ft.; width, 3 ft. 6 in. j value, £1 17s. 2d. per ton. As the values obtained in this lode necessitated further exploration, work is now in progress at Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 levels, and the prospects of opening up payable runs of ore on this lode in the Waihi Extended section —recently purchased bj* this company—are distinctly encouraging. West area: Work in this section, which has been suspended since 1909, was resumed towards the end of this year. In the interval since this section was closed down the B shaft has collapsed through the decay of the timbers. A cavity has been left 20 ft. in diameter and- 25 ft. deep. Work is now in progress sinking a winze, endeavouring to locate the undamaged portion of this shaft. Waihi Gigantic Consolidated. —The only work done in this mine during the year was repairing the crosscut leading into the large reef at No. 3 level, Favona shaft, to enable samples to be taken. The results, however, did not come up to expectations, and, the capital of the company being exhausted, protection was applied for and the mine closed down. OHINEMURI COUNTY. Rising Sun, Mine, Owharoa. —Work has been confined during the year to stoping above the low level. In the back of the stopes in No. 1 block, which is up 155 ft., the values are low. At No. 2 block the lode continues to carry payable ore, but, owing to the hard nature of the quartz and country and the inadequate air-pressure to work the drills, work was suspended pending the installation of a more powerful electric motor to drive the air-compressor. This motor is now to hand, and preparations are being made to test this lode, by means of a winze below the lowlevel. Samples recently taken for a distance of 300 ft. along the floor of this level averaged £5 19s. per ton over an average width of 12 in. Talisman Consolidated (Limited), Karangahake. —The principal work in progress is sinking No. 10 winze on the main lode below No. 15 level, which has now reached a depth of 130 ft. At the bottom of this winze there is a strong body of ore, 4 ft. wide, with sulphide veins showing, but the footwall is not exposed. The values over the distance sunk have varied from £1 to £7 per ton. Immediately above this winze a block of payable ore was driven through for 50 ft., and stoped to a height of 80 ft. —the average crushing-value being over £7 per ton. Boring by means of a Government diamond drill is also in progress. No. 1 borehole in the Woodstock section proved the existence of a strong body of quartz, the values, however, being low. No. 2 borehole in the Bonanza section had only been sunk a short distance when the necessity for casing became apparent. As this was not obtainable a start was made with No. 3 borehole, which has

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reached over 400 ft., and the core shows a good class of country at this depth. In the meantime milling is suspended and will not be resumed until the exploration work in progress at No. 16 winze, and the completion of the boring operations, show that there is a prospect of sufficient payable ore being developed to warrant it. New Zealand Crown Mines (Limited), 4 level: The east crosscut, Hauraki section, lias been extended 136 ft. A small lode formation, 18 in. wide, was intersected and a few feet north and south was driven upon it, but the values were low. With the exception of keeping the levels in repair, no work has been done in the rest of the mine during the year. United Gold-mines, Maratoto.— This company erected a 10-head stamp mill with cyanide plant, constructed several miles of water-race, and also a tram-line to connect mine and mill, with the object of treatingore from the 6 ft. lode at the low level. For several hundred feet the average assay value of this lode does not exceed 13s. per ton, but as it is cheaply mined several stopes were taken along and the ore sent to the mill. As the ore did not pay expenses the mine was closed down and protection applied for in order to allow the company time to raise further capital to test the lode at greater depth by means of diamond drilling. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Maratoto. —The principal work carried out in this mine has been driving a crosscut to intersect the Camoola reef, which proved to be 24 ft. wide. The reef was sampled in 4ft. sections from hanging-wall to footwall, with the following results: No. 1, 3s. per ton; No. 2, 4s. per ton; No. 3,' £1 2s. per ton; No. 4, 16s. per ton; No. 5, 10s. per ton; No. 6, sd. per ton. Driving north and south on this reef has been commenced, and the south face which had advanced 18 ft. assayed £2 per ton, with neither wall showing. A special sample taken of a 6 in. silver sulphide seam in centre of reef was highly payable. A considerable amount of work has also been done on the Queen reef from the Julia low level, and at least 2,000 tons of ore have been paddocked. A few tons of selected rich silver-ore were shipped for treatment at Australian smelting-works, and payments made showed it to be worth over £100 per ton. The ore which is awaiting treatment is said to average over £3 per ton. A start has been made to clean up and repair the Telluride low level with the object of further testing the Queen lode at a greater depth. Komata Reefs Gold-mine (Mr. IT. IT. Adams, owner). —Four men have been prospecting and retimbering No. 2 level in order to reach the main pass, with the object of testing a new lode discovered in the upper level, and said to contain payable values. The pass is required to send the ore broken out of this lode down to the low level. THAMES BOROUGH. Waiotahi Gold-mining Company. —This company took up a claim situated at the head of Tararu Creek, formerly known as the Eclipse claim, but after cleaning up the level and sampling the lode the results did not come up to anticipations, and on the advice of their mine-manager the claim was abandoned. In the old Waiotahi Mine three tributors have been employed crushing the old tips, from which 255 tons were treated and yielded gold valued at £496 Is. Waiotahi, Creek Section. —Three small mines have been working during the year : — (1.) The West Coast claim (Mr. R. Ross, owner) produced 81 lb. of picked stone valued at £102 16s. 6d. (2.) Nonpariel Gold-mine (Mr. F. Sawyer, owner): This claim crushed 8 tons 2 cwt. 2 qr. 26 Ib. of quartz from small leaders for a return valued at £920 19s. 3d. (3.) The Evening Star (Messrs. Bird Bros., owners): From this claim 4 tons 3 qr. 31b. of quartz, including picked stone, was crushed for gold valued at £540 16s. id. The claim has now been formed into a oompany with the object of testing the Moanataiari cross-lode at its junction with the small leader the owners have been working upon. This cross-lode at its junction with other lodes has been responsible in the past for producing pockets of rich specimen stone. Karaka Creek Section. —The Magnet Extended Gold-mine (Mr. D. Dunlop, owner) crushed 7 tons 1 qr. 221b., including picked stone, from small leaders, for gold valued at £252 3s. 2d. Una Hill. —Two small claims have been worked in this portion of the goldfield. known as the Occidental No. 1 and Occidental No. 2. The former (Mr. J. Oaisley, owner) has two men employed, and treated 11 loads of quartz for gold valued at £262 15s. 4d. The latter (Mr. T). Davey, owner) treated 2 loads 30 Ib. of quartz for gold valued at £134 10s. 6d. Kuranui Gold-mining Company.—-The crosscut from the Magazine level to test lodes known to exist east of the Moanataiari fault was not advanced after a portion of the main slide had been passed through. The men were removed back to test a reef intersected 1.000 ft. from the mouth of the tunnel. Colours of gold have been seen in the quartz, but so far nothing payable has been discovered. Wa.ita.ngi Consolidated. —Work in this mine has been confined to driving upon the main reef at Nos. 1 and 2 levels. In No. 1 level the quartz is of low grade. At No. 2 level 250 ft. has been driven, with gold occasionally seen in the quartz, and the management is of opinion that the average assay value is over £1 per ton. THAMES COUNTY. Sheridan Gold-mine, Tapu (Mr. W. G. Plummer, owner). —Two men have been prospecting what is known as No. 1 leader, but so far nothing payable has been discovered. Mount Zeehan Gold-mining Company.—Two men have been employed in this mine during the year driving on the main reef at the low level. The ore is being saved for treatment. A 10-head stamp mill has been in the course of erection for over two years, and it is expected that capital will shortly be available to complete it and further develop the mine.

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Golden Bel, Gold-mining Company, Tairua.- Work in this mine has been eoniiued chietiv * ° Ck ° f '"' L ; Wl '-i Cl ' is eX| ' , ' < "" 1 '" be l' ilva,)k ' iN """' bein S above INo. 1 level. Ihere are tour men employed. _ Golden Hills, Tairua (Mr. J. M. Agnew, owner).—Work has been confined to stoping on the mam reel above No. 1 level. The 140 tons of ore treated produced gold valued at £1,241 Os. 9d. I'IAKO COUNTY. Bendigo Gold-mining Company. Waiorongomad.—Five men are employed testing various sections of the Bendigo lode, but so far nothing payable has been discovered" Hardy's Mine. Waiorongomai.—so work has been done in this mine during the year but it is expected that capital will shortly be available to develop the low level. OOROMANDEL COUNTY. Old Hauraki Gold-mining Company. Coromandei. This mine was closed down for several years. A new company was recently formed, and sufficient capital is now available to test the reef-system at a greater depth. All the machinery has been overhauled, and a start made lo unwater the Old Hauraki shaft, It has not yet been decided whether Ibis company will deepen the old shaft or sink a prospecting-shaft from the lioor of the 400 ft. level/where rich specimen stone was obtained. Marshal, Foch Claim.—A small syndicate has been formed to test what is known as the Mount Welcome lode by driving north and south upon it from the low level. There are also a number of claims held and being worked, but none call for special mention. TAURANGA COUNTY. Mn/r's Gold Reefs, Te Puke. —During the year work has been confined to stoping above No. I level, widening out and timbering at the low' level, and rising to connect with the surface for filling purposes. Practically all the ore developed at No. 1 level has been sloped out. At the low level a leading stope has been taken along for 200 ft., ami at the intermediate level 80 ft. has been driven on ore expected to contain payable values. Crushing commenced early in May, and from 4,100 tons of ore treated gold valued at £17,703 7s. 6d. was obtained. Unfortunately, early in January this year the mill was burni down. It is intended, however, to replace it with a 20-head stamp mill purchased from the Harrier Reefs Gold-mining Company, and this plant is now being removed to Te Puke. Accidents. No fatal accidents occurred during the year in the metal-mines under my supervision. Two serious accidents were reported, and they are briefly described hereunder :— sth July: Charles A. Dickson and his mate were employed draining a surface tunnel at the Waihi Grand Junction for filling. Two sets had been put in at the mouth of the tunnel, which was only 20 ft. from the surface. On account of the country being apparently firm, side slabs were not used. At the time of the accident Dickson was filling a truck at the mouth of the tunnel, when a large block of mullock came away from the side between the sets and struck him on the hip. No bones were broken, bill the hip was badly bruised. Ist September : Dunlop and his mate R. Preecc had been engaged prospecting for several weeks, and. finding some good stone on an old tip. decided to investigate as to where it came from. They therefore entered an old drive of the Magnet Extended, Thames, where there had been no work done for over twenty-five years, and in which for over 100 ft. the water had been dammed back to a depth of 2 ft. Finding the leader. Dunlop began picking some stone into a bag held by his mate. He had only struck a few blows when a large flake came away and struck him on the back and shoulder, thereby dislocating his collar-bone and severely bruising his back. North Auckland Inspection Dis-trict (Mr. Boyd Bennie, Inspector of Mines). New Zealand, Quicksilver Mines (Limited), Puhipuhi. -Dining the year work at the mine sisted of mining and treating the ore previously developed. For that period 650 tons of ore was treated for a return of £2,793 155.. the mercury being sold at ss. per pound at Auckland. It is estimated there are about 1,000 tons of ore in sight ready for minirg. the value of which is a little less than the ore previously mined. With careful treatment this ore may give a little profit over working-expenses, as with the present plant it is stated only 50 per cent, of the values are saved. The mine was inspected several times during the year, and I found that mining was carried on with great care and that timber-supplies were adequate for present requirements. Supplies of mining-timber, however, in the near future will be a real difficulty, as a settler in the district has been allowed to remove standing dead kauri, totara, and rimu timber for milling purposes in nowise connected with mining or his own requirements. ■Toffre Claim (Messrs. Collins Bros., owners).—! visited the mine in February and April, when the owners were driving an adil level with a view lo intersecting an ore deposit '-which was seen outcropping some little distance to the north-east. In April the ore-body had been out into, but was not a well-defined deposil of cinnabar. Since that visit the owners have left the mine to seek employment elsewhere and to give them an opportunity of raising capital for the future development of their claim. McLeod's Claim. —This mine has apparently been closed down (luring the whole of the year. Several claims have been granted mi the mining field, but at present the New Zealand Quick-silver-mining Company is the only mining company doing any work.

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West Coast Inspection District (Mr. J. F. Downky, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-minim, g. MARLBOROUGH. Dominion Consolidated Mining and Development Company (Limited). —The number of men employed throughout the year averaged thirty as against fifty last year, and 8,443 tons of quartz was crushed, against 11 973 tons in 1918; consequently there was a considerable falling-off in values recovered. The decision of the Department of Imperial Supplies not to make any further purchases of soheehte has left the whole year's production, amounting to 21 tons 1 quarter on the company s hands. A little development in the way of driving and rising was done, without disclosing any material change in grade of ore. Alford and Party (Mountain Camp).—A little development work was done, and some parts ot a treatment plant purchased and delivered at the foot of the Mine Hill. Cadigan's Treatment-works.— -Work was still further delayed by litigation with a neighbouring claimholder, but 11 tons of scheelite was recovered. Only 5 ions was, however disposed of at the rate of £150 per ton. ' NELSON. _ Colossus Gold-mining Development Company.—A little driving was done by this company on its Blue Creek claim at Wangapeka, but no improved values were discovered. LYELL. New Alpine Consols Company .—The driving of the low-level tunnel on the line of the reef has been continued. This was advanced to the end of the year a total distance of 828 ft. Beyond the shoot of stone struck at 70 ft. from the crosscut nothing of any value has been met with." New Creek Prospecting and Developing Company. —This company was formed during the year to reopen the old Victory Mine. An adit is being driven to intersect the reef about 200 ft. below the old workings. Six men are employed. , CAPLESTON. Boatman's Consolidated Gold-mines (Limited). —A considerable amount of driving and crosscutting was done on the 1,000 ft. level of the Fiery Cross shaft in the hope of picking up the downward continuation of the Walhalla or Just-in-Time shoots. No success was, however, met with. The company now intends to do some prospecting from the 450 ft. level. REEFTON. _ Blackwater Mine. —A good deal of development work was carried out. The sinking of the main shaft another 300 ft. below No. 8 level was taken in hand, and is rapidly approaching A chamber was opened out for No. 9 level, but no work was done from it, the company's intention being to get down and open out No. 10 level chamber, and develop the two levels simultaneously. A good deal of driving was also done in Nos. 6, 7, and 8 levels, particularly to the south, where the developments in all three levels were very encouraging. The two former levels have now been extended south about 1,050 ft., and No. 8 level 960 ft. in the same direction, all on fair-class stone. No dividends were paid during the year. Practically the same number of men was employed as during 1918. The quantity crushed decreased, however, from 31,728 tons to 24,969 tons. Blackwater South Mine. —This mine has been idle throughout the year, but a new company has now been registered for working it, and during the coming year operations will be actively resumed. Keep-it-Dark Mine. —No crushing was done at this mine during the year, work being entirely confined to shaft and level repairs and development. A certain amount of driving was done on Nos. 4, 7, and 8 levels. A winze on No. 6 level was also continued a few feet farther, and one started on No. 9 level. In these two winzes stone said to be of fair value is showing, but what quantity of it there is in either case cannot be estimated. Murray Creek. Mine. —As the working of this mine under existing conditions was not profitable the company ceased operations about the end of May. Up to that time 4,512 tons had been put through for a return of gold valued at £9,975. The company is considering a scheme for shifting the treatment plant from its present site to one on the Waitahu lliver where water is available for power purposes. It is considered that the change from the present steam-power to water-power would effect a considerable saving in treatment-costs, and enable the company to show a profit. The only development done was about 100 ft. driving south on No. 4 level. New Big River Mine. —This mine had the same number of men employed as during 1918, but was nevertheless very short-handed, only one shift being worked. A slightly increased tonnage of quartz was crushed, but the total values recovered were not so good, showing a decrease from £3 7s. lid. to £3 2s. per ton. Practically no development was done. ,Ml the ore came from between the two bottom levels, Nos. 10 and 11. One dividend, absorbing £2,400, was paid. North Big River Mine. —A company has been recently formed to work this property, which up to the present has only been tested by two short prospecting-drives. A number of reefs outcrop, but the value of any of them at present is problematic, flood values are said to have been got at a shallow level in one of the reefs on which the drives mentioned have been carried in. Big River South. —A syndicate has been carrying out prospecting operations on this claim during the year. A small gold-bearing reef was located and driven on for about 100 ft.

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North Blackwater Mmes fJ«flH«e*;.-.Durißg the year underground work on this mine has oeen at a standstill, Good progress was made with the erection of a more powerful plant. The toiler and engine erection is practically completed, and a large new compressor has arrived at Greymouth from America. Until all this plant is installed it will not be possible to resume underground operations. It is expected that during 1920 the mine will be in full work again developing the various levels and gelling ready for production Health of Nations and Energetic Mines.— There has been no crushing for the year. The work of replacing or repairing the plant destroyed by tire in 1918 has been pushed ahead how ever, and is now practically complete. There will still be a lot of repair work to do in the shaft and on the levels, but this year should see the mine well on the way to the producing stage again. or CA°^ eSS • 1/ ""'— A " average of seventy men were employed, as against seven!v-five last year. Sliglitly less quartz was crushed, the total being 15,980 tons, from which gold to the value of £20,748 was recovered. Very little development was done. Ready Bullion Mine.—This mine was formerly known as the New (lister. During the year a new company was formed to give it a further test, and a level is now being driven to intersect the reef-line about 250 ft. below any previous workings. 110KITIKA AND HOSS. . Mount Greenland ( , ompany.— Work has progressed quietly. The crushing increased from 567 to 679 tons, but the total value of the gold won has only increased from £2,205 to £2,336. There lias thus been apparently a fall-off in the average value of the quartz of 9s. per ton. No dividends have been paid. Mount Greenland Extended Syndicate.—With the assistance of a Government subsidy a crosscut is being put in on this syndicate's prospecting-area to cut a reef at about 250 ft . below the outcrop. This crosscut is now in about 200 ft.. and should soon meet the reef. Jones Creel,- Syndicate.— After sinking two shafts on its property near (loss Township—one of them at Jones Creek to a depth of 410 ft.. and the other on Bayley's Creek to about 130 ft. this syndicate ceased work in .May. Some driving was done from the latter shaft, but no reef was met with. westpoht. Bagley's Eeuiard. —No work was done on this mine for the year. STILLWATER. Victory Mine. —A little development work was done, but results were negative. The battery was completed and 100 tons of ore crushed. The yield of gold was, however, only 12 oz. 16dwt., valued at £49 ss. The large amount of stibnite in the ore made it difficult to save the gold. GENERAL REMARKS ON QUARTZ-MINING. Shortage of labour has undoubtedly very appreciably affected quartz-mining in this district. Practically all the working-mines have been and are still short-handed. One prodiicing-niine only is employing two shifts. A number of companies have been formed in connection with the industry, the object of practically all of which is to give a further trial lo a number of Reefton mines which are considered not to have been fairly tested in the past. Amongst these are the Millerton. New Discovery, New Ulster, Blackwater South, and New Big River properties. Some of these are perhaps deserving of further attention, but if is to be feared that the new companies will have great difficulty in securing suitable men for their work. Owing to the prevailing conditions it has not been possible to carry out development work to any extent in any of the working-mines, the Blackwater Mine having done by far the most. Inspection of all mines has been systematically carried out, and it has been found generally that the provisions of the Act have been well observed. A number of applications for assistance were received from men desirous of prospecting in different localities. Tn practically all cases subsidy was granted at the rate of £1 10s. per week per man, but no discoveries of any value have been reported. Dredging. The decline in the dredging industry noted last year has continued during this one. the number of hands employed shrinking from sixty-six to thirty-one. and the value of gold won from £15,848 18s. 2d. to £8.336 12s. sd. The Success dredge foundered and has not yet been raised, and the Hessey-Cameron, Slab Hut, Ttimu No. 1, and Ahaura River dredges have all been out of commission. The Worksop No. 2 dredge was removed from Antonio's to the Ariihura River, where it was re-erected by the Westland Prospecting Syndicate under the name of " Chambers "Reward." It started dredging there, but to the end of the year had not met with any great success. Very heavy ground was encountered, and parts of the machinery had to be replaced with stronger plant. Buried timber also caused great loss of time. The results so far have not been at all satisfactory, but further work will probably prove more encouraging. The Kapitea dredge did fairly for the year. Alluvial Mining. MARLBOROUGH. Practically nothing has been done for the year. Only one return came in. and this was only for 12 oz. of gold from old tailings at Wakamarina,

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COLLING WOOD. Only one return was sent in, and this was for less than 3 oz. HOWARD DIGGIXUS. The number of men here shows a further shortage, only eight being reported as at work. :\o Iresh hnds have been made. UURCfUSON. Hunter's, at Mafakifaki, and Beilby and Richardson's claim at Horse Terrace, continue to operate, the yield of gold being slightly higher than last year. Addison's plat. On this field mining improved, gold to the value of £4,259 lis. 7d. being recovered as against £1,406 15s. 9d. in 1918. Of this Addison's Limited produced ill oz. Odwt., valued at £1,615, and Mouat and party 371 oz. 9 dwt., valued at £1,462. CHARLESTON. Powell's beach claim produced gold to the value of ,£5BO. This was the only return of any consequence. GREY VALLEY. Ilochslelter Goldfields (Limited). —The construction of the tunnels was completed, the tailrace was cut, and sluicing operations were started towards the end of the year. An average of thirteen men were employed. So far actual sluicing operations have not been sufficiently long in progress to enable the possibilities of the claim to be estimated. During the short period worked 252 oz. 15 dwt. of gold was recovered, valued at £992. The drey Valley Sluicing Company, at Goat Terrace, recovered gold to the value of £487, and McViear and Hurley, at .Moonlight Creek, won £770 worth. From Nelson Creek Donnellan Bros, report 100 oz., valued at £395. Several other claims worked, but the returns were very small. BARRYTOWN. The liarrytown Hydraulic Sluicing Company worked steadily, producing gold to the value of £1,810. KUMARA. On the Ivuuiara, Coldsboroiigh, Stafford, and Callaghan's fields the productions showed a slight improvement, a recovery of 1,375 oz. being reported, valued at £5,428. The principal producers were Morgan Bros. (175 oz.), Link-later (332 oz.). and Blackmun (255 oz.), at Stafford; Havill Bros. (130 oz.), at Callaghan's; Stubbs and Steel (132 oz.), at Argus Terrace; R. Kean (154 OZ.), and the llohonii Diamond Terrace Sluicing Company (103 oz.), at Greenstone. HOKITIKA. li tstland Prospecting Syndicate. —The head-race was completed and sluicing was started bile in the year. Results were, however, not nearly as good as expected, and work was temporarilyslopped. Itunii Options.- —lt is now reported that the American investors who for some time past have been further testing the ground by means of Keystone drills and shafts have exercised their option, and intend to put a large modern dredge at work there. A new company is being formed in America in connection with the venture, and its representative is expected to arrive on the field early in the new year. As it is certain that a large amount of gold is in the Rimii Hats, it is to be hoped that a suitable plant will now be provided to enable it to be recovered. A few other claims produced gold to the total value of £3,066, the largest producers being the Rimu Sluicing Company (391 oz.), and Brookes and party (230 oz.), at Ri'mu. RBBFTON. As during last year, Sewell's claim at Merrijigs was the only produoer of any note. At Antonio's the Antonio's Gold-mining Company (Limited) recovered 51 oz. This company has some good ground, hut has experienced much difficulty in getting a supply of water to it. A lot of expense has been gone to in this respect, for a dam on the head-race has broken away several times, causing much delay. Further efforts will be made to strengthen it. When this trouble is overcome the company should obtain some satisfactory returns for their perseverance. Accidents. Four fatal accidents occurred (luring the year at the metal-mines or dredges under my supervision. 23rd April: Three dredgemen. John Rrosnahan. William (,'rysell, and Thomas Reynolds, fell ihit of one of the boats belonging lo a dredge and were drowned in the Ahaura River. IHh December: Leonard S. Humphries, contractor to and part-owner of the Dominion Consolidated Mine at Wakamari na, received fatal injuries lo his head by falling down a rise in which In- was working. Full details of these accidents are contained in the tabulated remarks of the Inspecting Engineer of Metalliferous Mines. No serious non-fatal accidents were reported during the year.

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Southern Inspection District (Mr. A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Glenorchy. . Glenorchy Scheelite-mining Company (Limited).— Glenorchy Mine: All operations connected with mining and treating ore for shipment were suspended on the 30th April. A small amount of development work, comprising the extension of Nos. la, 2a, and 5 levels, was carried out. Junction Mine : Work was confined to the removal of surface overburden from the lode by sluicing. Fourteen parties of miners were engaged in the production of scbeelile from January to April, after which all work was suspended. MACETOWN. I uited Goldfields (Limited). —Operations were confined to the drive on Anderson's reef, which has been extended a total distance of 692 ft. without meeting with any payable ore. Macrae's. Golden Point Gold and Scheelite Company. —The Intermediate and Home levels were connected by a rise on the Home reef, and a block of ore 100 ft. in length, 110 ft. in height, and average width of 3 ft., was opened tip for sloping. A trial crushing showed that the ore contained payable values in gold and also a fair percentage of scheelite. Ounce Mine (Messrs. Callery and Donoghuc, owners). —In this mine a rich scheelite reef was discovered, upon which a winze was sunk 82 ft. and drives extended therefrom a length of 63 ft. The reef averages 1 ft. in width, and is carrying high-grade ore throughout : 20 tons taken from the winze produced 5 tons 4 cwt. scheelite. In addition to the scheelite reef two smaller reefs carrying gold and scheelite have been opened up within the claim. The output of scheelite from this locality for the year was small compared to that of former years owing to the cessation of the demand created by the war. Most of the reefs contain both gold and scheelite, but the gold values are generally too low to enable them to be profitably worked, consequently mining is practically at a standstill. THE REEFS. Pukerangi Mining Company and Betty and party produced small parcels of scheelite in the early part of the year. Marion Mine. —A. Kwart prospected the Marion reef to the west of Betty and party's mine and found gold-bearing ore in a number of surface trenches. The Pukerangi Company has taken an option over the mine, and commenced driving a level to test the reef 130 ft. below the outcrop. BANNOCKBURN. Otago Central Gold-mines. —The Carrick low-level crosscut was extended to cut the Crown and Cross reef at 1,327 ft. from the surface. This reef was driven upon for 89 ft. to the east of the crosscut, but it is small, and disturbed by faulted and broken country. BENDIGO. Come-in-Time and Alto Mines. —Birley and party mined and treated 435 tons of ore during the year. The results were unprofitable, and the mines have been abandoned. OLD MAN RANGE. Advance Mine. —11. T. Symes crushed 40 tons of ore from White's reef at the Battery level for a return of 41 oz. gold, valued at £193 15s. Alluvial Mining. TUAPEKA COUNTY. , Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Lawrence). —This company continues to work profitably the tailings-deposit from Blue Spur. Dividends amounting to £1,840 were paid for the year. Sixteen men were emplo3'ed. Treacy Bros. (Evans Flat). —This party purchased the Ttiapeka Company's watersluicing plant, and are working a section of their freehold property with payable results. Lawrence Sluicing Company (Munro's Gully). —This company is engaged in elevating the old tailings-deposit from Blue Spur. The workings are approaching the cement deposit which was worked by the Cornishman syndicate with payable results. When all the available tailings are treated the company proposes to bring water on at high pressure to deal with the cement. Golden Crescent, Sluicing Company (Weatherstone's). —This company is operating upon the western side of the auriferous cement deposit, which contains very hard seams difficult to break up with water under high pressure. As the value of the cement is only sd. per cubic yard it requires to be readily dealt with to pay for treatment. Golden Rise Claim. (Weatherstone'e). —W. Smyth, owner of this claim, is sluicing off clay and gravel overlying the auriferous cement. Four men were employed. Waitahuna Claims. —The Sailor's Cully and Haveloek Sluicing Companies were operating steadily during the year. The returns from these claims show a decline in the yield of gold as compared with those of former years.

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II aipori Claims. —Munro and George, with Rogers and party, were the most successful of the small parties of miners who are working in the creeks and gullies in this locality. Waipori Flat. —The work of boring this flat, which was undertaken by the Dunedin City Corporation with the object of proving if it contained payable gold, was completed towards the end of the year. The results of the boring showed that the alluvial deposits which form the flat consist of alternate layers of clay and quartz gravels to a depth of 167 ft. below the surface, and that the area bored does not contain gold in sufficient quantity to enable it to be profitably worked. Teviot -Molyneux Gold-mining Company (Roxburgh). —Sluicing and elevating has been carried on throughout the \ear. It is estimated that 195,000 cubic yards of gravel were treated for a return of gold valued at £1,287, which is equal to l'sBd. per cubic yard of material operated upon. Since the company commenced sluicing an area of about 10 acres has been worked. The results obtained show clearly that the ground does not contain sufficient gold to pay for working. Ladysmith Gold-mining Company (Roxburgh). —During the year this company was engaged in testing new ground to the north of the old claim. As the results were unsatisfactory the company ceased operations and went into liquidation. MANIOTOTO COUNTY. Naseby. —A number of small parties of miners continue to work the alluvial deposits in Enterprise, Main, and Spec Cullies, where water from the Government races is available for sluicing and elevating. Scandinavian Water-race Company (St. Bathan's). —This company is elevating material from a deptli of 110 ft. in the Kildare section of the claim. Operations are hampered by a scarcity of suitable labour. United, M. and E. (St. Bathan's). —Payable returns are being obtained by this company. The year's operations resulted in the production of gold valued at £1,041, and payment of dividends amounting to £228. Morgan Pros. (Cambrian). —This party of three men produced 1,655 oz. of gold, valued at £6,620, from a deposit of quartz drift whicti they discovered while sluicing in the bed of Cambrian Creek. The discovery of a rich run of gold in this old and almost abandoned field is important, and goes to show that the auriferous deposits which extend along the base of the Dunstan Range from St. Bathan's to Devonshire are by no means exhausted, as is generally supposed. VINCENT COUNTY. Devonshire. —Clare and party have taken up a claim on this old abandoned field, and have bought some of the Mount Morgan Company's water-rights, which will be usetl for sluicing and elevating. A tail-race is being constructed to convey sludge-water from the claim to Tinker s sludge-channel. Matakanui. —The Undaunted Tinkers Gold-mining Company has worked steadily during the year. Five men were employed. Nevis. —Mining in this locality was hampered by a scarcity of labour and the severity of the winter season. Six claims were worked during summer and autumn. In most cases the returns were small. LAKE COUNTY. Shotover River. —The number of claims working in this locality has decreased to six. Five of these produced gold. Atley Bros, have been engaged in repairing the water-races and dams used in working their claim near Long Gully. A considerable amount of damage was caused by floods during their absence on active service. Assistance by way of subsidy was granted towards putting the claim in order. WAITAKI COUNTY. Maerewheu.ua and Livingstone. —Returns from these localities show a decline in the yield of gold and number of men employed. SOUTHLAND COUNTY. Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company (Waikaia). —Two faces were worked in Maori Gully during the year. Water under a pressure of 100 ft. was used for breaking down the clay and gravel. Sixteen men were employed, and gold to the value of £1,873 produced. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —This company's two claims in Victoria Gully have been worked steadily. The yield of gold for the year amounted to 1,525 oz., valued at ,£."),647. Thirty men were employed. WALLACE COUNTY. Round Hill Mining Company. —Owing to the scarcity of suitable labour the company's No. 2 claim could not be worked during the year. Sixteen men were employed at No. 1 claim and attending to water-races. Cold valued at £4,543 was produced. Ourawera Gold-mining Company (Ltound Hill). —Sluicing and elevating from a depth of 50 ft. Fifteen sluice-heads of water are available under an hydraulic head of 450 ft. Eight men employed. Yield of gold for the year was valued at £2,392. Dredge Mining. Fifteen dredges were in commission and ten were dismantled during the year. The Kura, a privately owned dredge, working near Freshford, was the most successful, producing gold valued at £6,000. The Electric No. 1 dredge was purchased by Mr. James Goodger, of Cromwell, and has resumed work on the Kawarau River, near Bannockburn.

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Minerals other than Gold. Scheelite. —Owing to the cancellation of the Imperial Government's purchasing contract on the 30th April the production of scheelite ceased from thai date. The output during the period of four months amounted to 90 ions 16cwt., valued ai £21,025. Producers were compensated by the Imperial authorities for cancellation of contract, and in every case were satisfied with the treatment received. Accidents. I'ATAL. There were no fatal accidents in the Southern Inspection District during 1919. SERIOUS. Bth August: ,1. Christian, Livingstone—Broken collar-bone, caused by a fall of gravel in his own claim. Bth August: J. Meikle. Maerewhenua —Fracture'of leg, caused by a fall of clay in his own claim. Nth November: I). McKenzie, Junction Mine, Glenorohy -Fracture of leg, caused by a stone falling from the face.

ANNEXURE I?. SI'MMAUY OF REPORTS HV GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGERS. Waimea-Kumara Water-racks, Westland (Mr. James Roohk>rd, .Manager). II aimeii Water-race. The construction of the original Waimea water-race was completed about 1874. Its total length, including extension of Branch II lo Scandinavian Hill and the Waimea Extension additional supply from M acpherson's Creek to the Kawhaka Saddle, is II) miles 44 chains, and the total cost of construction approximately £127.000. The main race has a maximum carryingcapacity of 30 sluice-heads, and both it and the several branches are in good repair., Branch Purr to Ca/laghiin's and Middle Branch Flat. The construction of the Callaghan's water-race from the outlet of the Waimea pipe-line to Callaghan's Flat was completed in L 897 at a cost of approximately £5,050. Its length is I miles 02 chains, and carrying-capacity 25 sluice-heads to the junction with the Middle Branch race. The inverted siphon leading to Callagl 's will lake 15 sluice-heads. Middle Branch race was constructed in 1901. The cost of construction of this race and small storage reservoir was about £1,800, The length of Ibis race from the reservoir lo Middle Branch Flat is about one mile, and carrying-capacity 30 sluice-heads. With the exception of some necessary repairs to several flumings both these races are in good order. I\ unilira Water-race. The original race was constructed in 1878, and some branches now included sonic years later. The total length, including Kapilea Hill race, is three and three-quarter miles, and its construction has cost, including Nos. I and 2 reservoirs and various brandies, about £41,760. The head-race tunnel has a carry ing-capacity of 140 sluice-heads, but from there to the Taramakaii siphon the carrying-capacity is reduced to 00 sluice-heads. The tunnel and open ditching portions of the race arc in fairly good repair, but many of the old 30 in. steel pipes of the inverted siphon between Dillmanstown and Kumara need replacing. Kumara Supply Race. The intake is in the Kawhaka Creek, about one and a quarter miles below the headworks of the Waimea water-race, and it terminates at the headwaters of the Kapilea Creek,"covering a distance of about five miles. This race, which was completed in 1881 at a cost of £5,400, has a carrying-capacity of 35 sluice-heads, and was meant to augment the Kumara water-race supply. There has been little demand for water from the Kumara reservoir of late years, and as Ibis race has not been used for a considerable time repairs costing £600 to £700 will be required lo put il in working-order. A" (/ mora trans-Taramakau 11 u/er-race. This race was constructed in 1012, and comprises two miles of inverted siphon across the Taramakaii Valley and I mile 50 chains of open ditching. The total cost of construction, including reservoir and pipe bridge, was about £21,900. The carrying-capacity of the siphon lo reservoir-level is 15 sluice-heads and to water-race level 30 sluice-heads, while the open ditching from the reservoir lo Quinn's Terrace will carry 60 sluice-heads. This race is in good order except for certain seel ions of steel piping in the inverted siphon. Erin-go-Bragh I Vater-race. This race was purchased in 1913, and takes its intake from the big llobonu and runs to a storage reservoir at Kevell's Terrace, from which a branch race leads to Argus Terrace. The expenditure on this race, including widening, repairs to ditching, and extension, has amounted to about £2,900. The carrying-capacity to the reservoir is about 12 sluice-heads, and from there to Argus Terrace about 28 sluice-heads. The length of the race is about live miles, and the whole of it is in fair order. Wainihinihi Water-race. - This race was constructed in 1901, and comprises 95 chains of ditching and 35 chains of rock tunnel, at a total cost of about £16,000. The carrying-capacity is 35 sluice-heads, and the race is in good order.

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Summary showing Results of working the Waimea-Kumara Water-races during the Year ended 31st March, 1920.

Mount Ida Watbr-raob, Central Otago (Mr, J. C. Buchanan, Manager). The Mount Ida water-race is about seventy miles in length, the lower forty miles of which has a carrying-capacity of 22 to 32 sluice-heads and is in good order. The capacity of tin's race gradually increases, and it is from the Eweburn reservoir for a distance of twelve miles that it is capable of delivering (lie full .'52 sluice-heads. The upper part of this race, some thirty miles in length, had formerly a carrying-capacity of 10 to 15 sluice-heads, but this portion is not in good order as no steps have been taken to repair the damage done by the Hood of May, 1 111 7. The branch races leading from Coalpit dam, four miles in length and having a capacity of 22 sluice-heads, are in good order, as well as those, about two miles in length, leading to Upper and Lower Spec Gully. The Blackstone Hill race, which commences at Johnstone's Creek, and after a course of eight, miles terminates at the lower saddle between Ida and Upper Manuherikia Valleys, has a carrying-capacity of 15 sluice-heads. This race has not been used for a number of years, and requires repairing.

Summary showing Results of working the Mount Ida Water-race during the Year ended 31st March, 1920.

ANNEXURE (J. Summary of the Report by run Inspector ok Stone-quarries for the North Island (Mr. James Newton). The greater portion of the period has been spent in visiting the various districts for the purpose of actual inspection, whilst the remainder has been occupied at clerical work in the Auckland office. A large percentage of the quarries, mostly in outlying districts, have been operated intermittently, and I have inspected such places when passing through ihe several districts, whether work was being carried on at the time of my visit or not. 1 have found generally that reasonable care with regard to the safe working of quarry-faces has been exercised by those persons in charge of operations. Most of the quarries are now being worked from the top downwards by benching, or else put on a satisfactory batter and worked from the bottom upwards in shallow faces, allowing the material to rill safely and easily to the foot of the face. This safe condition of the quarry-faces, in my opinion, has been brought about by careful inspection in the past by the Department's officials. Much improvement has also been effected in the matter of care in the storage of explosives. I desire again to express the opinion that the minimum height of a quarry-face—namely, 20 ft. required to bring a quarry within the scope of the Stone-quarries Act is too great. I have made a point of visiting a number of such places, and in some cases have found conditions which in my opinion should not exist, both with regard to the working of the quarry-face and the handling and care of explosives. T regret to have to report that the industry lias not been free from accidents during the period under review, one fatal and two serious accidents having occurred. Details of the former accident are supplied in the tabulated remarks of the Inspecting Engineer for Metalliferous Mines,

Name of Water-race. Expenditure. £ s. d. 1,037 16 1 410 (i 5 228 3 5 358 19 0 351 17 9 I Cash Sales o( Outstanding ''"'•"i"" 1 - Wato - 'supped" OB 81/8/20. 1 £ s. d. £ s. d. : £ s. d. ' £ s. d. 494 3 8 508 9 1 .. 114 I 0 20 15 0 j 19 15 0 .. ' 394 8 II 27 3 0 | 15 1 3 .. 32 16 0 44 16 8 ; 39 12 3 .. 128 7 9 72 13 I : 72 13 1 23 6 10 Coll Number oi Men employed. 10-75 0-66 4-66 5-66 lateral Advantages. bold Value of Oold obtained. obtained, Waimea Kumara Callaghan's Trans-Taramakau Krin-go-Braph Oz. £ s. d. 685 2,688 12 6 38 149 3 (I 201 788 18 (i 310 1,334 10 0 Totals for 1920 Totals for 1019 Decrease 2,387 2 8 1,946 13 9 | *440 8 11 059 II. 5 655 10 8 j 180 8 11 I 693 0 6 875 15 S S2I 19 8 23 0 II 66!) 7 I) 216 4 3 166 9 0 *157 8 0 *23 12 9 1 [ * Increase. 21-73 23-07 1-34 1.264 4.961 4 (I 1,380 5,416 10 0 116 155 li 0

Collateral Advantages. Fx-iipiiditare ' Ca8u Sales of Water Outstanding Expenditure. lw , eiv „„ Water . FreeWate, on 81/8/20 . Number Gm Valuo rf Gol(1 employed. ° U *™ <L °" tal " l> ' 1 - £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. el. £ s. d. I s. d. Oz. ; £ s. d. 1,669 6 10 738 10 5 738 10 5 61 2 7 .. 15-5 836 3,218 12 0 1.403 II 9 1 706 14 9 706 1+9 63 1 I I .. 12-16 796 3.064 12 0 265 15 1 31 15 8 31 15 8 *l 19 4 .. 231 40 154 0 0 * Decrease. Totals for 1920 Totals for 1919 Increase

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ANNEXURE D.

M ININ G STATIS T I C S.

Table 1. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1919.

| Average Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. N 'MeiT °' Quartz crushed. Value. employed. Amalgam. Cyanide. (lold obtained. Thames County and Borough. Tapu— Tons cwt. qr. lb. 11/, dwt. Oz. dwt, £ s. d. Mahara Royal .. .. 2 Cleaning up battery 60 2 .. 112 13 9 Tararu— Charles Bcrrv .. .. 1 Sluicing in Tararu 33 16 .. 86 10 11 Creek Waiotahi— W.iiotahi .. ., .. 5 255 3 0 0 160 3 .. 496 I 0 Nonpareil . . . . .. 2 8 2 2 26 357 9 . . 920 19 3 Evening Star .. .. 2 4 0 3 3 250 4 .. 621 4 I Karaka— Magnet Extended .. .. 2 7 0 1 22 115 19 | .. 252 3 2 Occidental .. .. .. I 4 15 0 I 22 151 17 .. 397 5 10 West, Coast . . .. .. 2 0 0 2 25 76 2 .. 240 6 I .McGregor's Battery .. .. I Cleaning up battery 51 8 .. 135 IS 3 Thames foreshore .. .. 2 Re-treating tailings .. 123 0 214 13 10 Tairua— Golden Hills .. .. 2 440 0 0 0 544 19 .. 1,241 0 9 Golden Belt .. .. 4 23 0 0 0 526 9 .. 362 8 7 Prospectors .. .. .. 6 2 7 0 12 350 14 .. 939 3 0 Totals .. .. 35 j 754 15 0 26 2,679 2 123 0 6,020 8 6 Waihi Borough. Waihi— Waihi Mine.. .. .. 578 I 160.510 16 2 18 .. 411,903 5 303,586 7 11 Waihi Grand Junction .. 285 55,441 13 19 .. 84,648 7 97,899 0 11 Totals .. .. 863 215,952 9 3 27 .. | 496,551 12 401,485 8 10 OniNiiMURi County. (hvharoa— Rising Sun .. .. .. 12 1,220 0 0 0 659 0 1,297 1 2,880 3 7 Karangahake— Talisman .. .. .. 89 3.655 0 0 0 12,204 0 9,409 16 46,598 4 0 Marato toUnited Mines .. .. 8 791 0 0 0 .. 288 0 358 14 2 Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines 12 5 15 3 0 (Treated by sme It in Australia) 440 9 11 Totals .. .. 121 5,671 15 3 0 | 12,863 0 10,994 17 50,277 11 8 10,994 17 50,277 11 8 Piako County. Waiorongomai— Bendigo Mine .. ,'. j 5 1 60 0 0 0 l .. 297 0 j 99 15 4 Piako County. 60 0 0 0 5 297 0 99 15 4 Coromandel County. Waikoromiko— Four-in-Hand Mines .. .. 2 1 75 0 0 0 I 145 o .. 406 0 0 Driving Creek — | Zealandia .. .. 2 : o 10 0 0 ; 3 0 .. 6 0 0 Prospectors Totals .. .. 4 ; 75 10 0 0 148 0 .. 412 0 0 4 75 10 0 0 Tauranga County. Te Puke— Muir's Gold Reefs (Limited) .. I 50 4,100 0 0 01 .. 6,426 9 I 17,703 7 6 UlTIVTMAT? V 50 Tauranga County. 4,100 0 0 0 6,426 9 17,703 7 6 SUMMARY. Thames County and Borough .. , 35 754 15 0 26 2,679 2 123 0 6,020 8 6 Waihi Borough .. .. 863 215,952 9 3 27 .. 496,55112 401,485 8 10 Ohinemuri County .. .. 121 5,67115 3 0 12,863 0 10,994 17 50,277 11 8 Piako County .. ' .. .. 5 60 0 0 0 .. 297 0 99 15 4 Coromandel County . . .. 4 75 10 0 0 148 0 .. 412 0 0 Tauranga County .. .. 50 4,100 0 0 0 .. 6,426 9 17,703 7 6 SUMMARY. 754 15 0 26 215,952 9 3 27 5,671 15 3 0 60 0 0 0 75 10 0 0 4,100 0 0 0 2,679 2 12,863 0 123 0 496,551 12 10,994 17 297 0 6,020 8 6 401,485 8 10 50,277 II 8 99 15 4 412 0 0 17,703 7 6 148 0 6,426 9 Totals, 1919 .. ' 1,078 226,614 10 3 25 15,690 2 514,392 18 475,998 11 10 Totals, 1918 .. 1,228 259,103 5 2 25 22,269 9 786,312 7 615,063 12 11 1,078 1,228 226,614 10 3 25 259,103 5 2 25 15,690 2 22,269 9 514,392 18 786,312 7 475,998 11 10 615,063 12 11 Decrease .. .. 150 32,488 14 3 0 6,579 7 271,919 9 139,065 1 1 150 32,488 14 3 0 6,579 7 271,919 9 139,065 1 1 Note.—Ore treated given In long tons. During the year seventy-five men were employed at unproductive quartz-mining operations,

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Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the West Coast Inspection District for the Year ended 31st December, 1919.

During the 3 - ear, sixty-six persons were employed on unproductive mining operations. In addition to gold the Dominion Consolidated Mine produced 21 tons 1 qr. of scheelite concentrates, but did not dispose of them. James M. Cadigan, who re-treats the tailings from this mine, recovered 11 tons, of which 5 tons were sold, realizing £150 per ton.

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1919.

6—C. 2.

Average Locality and Name of Mine. NU MeJi' °' employed. Quartz crushed. Gold obtained. Amalgam. Cyanide. Estimated Value. Mablbokoui 1H. Wakamari na— Dominion Consolidated .. 30 Tons. 8,443 Oz. dwt. gr. 1,196 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d4,485 0 0 30 Waiuta —■ Nelson. lilac kwater .. .. ■ ■ ) ( 113 24,969 9,661 5 0 1,451 15 0 *892 8 0 43,582 15 5 2,553 19 8 Big River— f .in 4,254 2,907 5 0 326 2 0 *216 0 0 i 37 New Big River 37 12,447 4 11 750 15 5 Globe Hill— 15,980 3,578 13 0 846 15 0 *951 19 0 17,755 7 11 2,992 18 6 i> { 70 rrogress .. .. . . I 70 Crushington— New Keep-it-Dark .. .. 12 f I n 12 17 9 11 0 127 19 0 *136 9 0 20 5 10 376 8 9 386 4 7 ( 17 Consolidated Goldfields .. J Ingle wood—- .„ Murray Creek .. • • ) 40 4,512 1,910 17 0 339 14 0 *352 8 0 8,543 11 2 1,431 14 9 Ross — Mount Greenland .. •.. 7 Stillwater— Victory Mine .. .. 5 7 Westland. 679 590 8 12 2,336 16 6 5 100 12 16 0 49 5 7 Totals .. .. 831 3 3 I 58,937 19,857 4 12 5,651 0 0 97,712 9 0 Marlborough .. .. .. 30 Nelson .. .. .. 289 West land .. .. .. 12 30 289 12 SUMMARY. 8,443 49,715 779 I ,196 0 0 IS,058 0 0 603 4 12 5,051 0 0 4,485 0 0 90,841 6 1 I 2,386 2 1 Totals, 1919 .. 331 Totals, 1918 .. 398 331 398 58,937 86,495 19,857 4 12 27,522 18 5 5,651 0 0 4,460 19 0 97,712 9 0 127,846 8 2 Decrease .. .. 67 27,558 7,655 13 17 11., 190 I 0 30,133 19 2 67 * From concentrates, f Increase. The return this year inel illed for inclusion in annual returns. ludes gold w( m from concentrates treated overseas. 'his information has n< >t hitherto been sup

Locality and Name of Mine. Average Number of Men employed. i Quartz crushed. Gold obtained. Estimated Value. VlN ient County. Bendigo— Come-in-Time Alto .. 2 2 Tons. 427 8 Oz. dwt. gr. 17 0 0 9 10 0 f s. d. 54 14 8 35 10 0 Old Man RangeAdvance 2 40 41 0 0 193 15 0 Totals 475 67 10 0 283 19 8 Macrae's — Golden Point .. Deep Dell Wait mo County. I 5 * 3* 26 4J 6 4 1 0 18 20 23 0 0 3 7 6 Totals 30J 7 2 21 26 7 6 81 MMARY. Vinoent County 6 475 67 10 0 283 19 8 Waihemo County 8 SOf 7 2 21 26 7 6 Totals, 1919 Totals, 1918 14t 24 505j 1,690 74 12 21 226 18 22 310 7 2 821 7 11 Decrease 10 1,1841 152 6 1 511 0 9 * Also employed at scheelite-mining during tbo year, irdinanly employed at metal-mines. t Nine men were employed at non-productive mining op< but shown as q uartz-miners in the return of number of persons irations not iucluc led in this table.

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Statement of Value of Bullion won from Quartz crushed for all Districts for the Years ended 31st December, 1917, 1918, and 1919.

Table 2. Gross Totals and Value of Bullion purchased by Banks for the Year ended 31st December, 1919.

Mining District. Inspection District. Year ended Year ended Year ended 31st December, 1917. 31st December, 1918. 31st December, 1919. lauraki larlborough, Nelson, and West Coast .. 'tago and Southland.. Northern West Coast .. Southern £ 751,974 158,007 1,818 £ 615,064 127,846 821 £ 475,998 97,712 310 Totals 574,020 911,799 743,731

Bank. Bullion purohased. Value. Hauraki Mining District (Nort hern Inspection Distrit t). Bank of New Zealand National Bank of New Zealand Oz. dwt. gr. 20,959 18 0 61,519 0 0 £ 63,742 185,405 s. d. 0 11 0 11 Totals 82,478 18 0 249,147 1 10 Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Mining D Bank of New Zealand National Bank of New Zealand Bank of New South Wales Private buyers is trie ts ( West Coast h 2,640 1 12 12,863 7 13 2,869 2 20 405 0 0 ■spection District). 10,434 4 4 49,213 15 1 11,233 13 3 1,582 10 9 Totals 18,777 11 21 72,464 3 5 Otago Mining District (South ;rn Inspection District^ Bank of New Zealand National Bank of New Zealand Bank of New South Wales Bank of Australasia ... Commercial Bank of Australia 15,124 2 3 5,928 12 3 4,823 18 10 39 1 10 79 8 12 58,274 19 23,041 8 18,578 2 149 0 286 13 4 0 7 7 3 Totals 25,995 2 4 100,330 3 9 Totals, 1919 Totals, 1918 Totals, 1917 127,251 12 224,774 3 319,013 12 1 7 9 421,941 9 584,358 13 731,065 2 0 3 4

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APPENDIX 13. REPORTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OP COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary op Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 31st March, 1920. I have the honour to present my animal report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion, for the year ended 31st December, 1919, in accordance with section 78 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. The statistical tables here published arc in the same form as personally compiled by me and published in the Mines Statement and Year-book during the past fourteen years, likewise as supplied in advance by me by request to the Board of Trade and published by such Board without acknowledgment in its report on the Coal Industry, 1919. The report is divided into the following sections : — I. Output of Mineral. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act— (a.) Ventilation. (6.) Inflammable Gas and Safety-lamps, ((•-.) Systematic Timbering. (d.) Permitted Explosives. (c.) Crushing of Coal Pillars and Subaqueous Mining. (/.) Inspection of Old Workings. (g.) Mine Rescue Work. (h.) Electricity at Collieries. V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining. Annexures— A. Summary of Annual Reports by Inspectors of Mines. IS. Colliery Statistics.

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

Output of Coal during 1919. Ont.nnr. nf P.r Class of Coal. (Jutput Of (Jc oal c ~i during 1919. Total Output to the End of 1919. Northern Distriot. West Coast Distriot. Southern Distriot. Total. 3ituminous and semi-bitu-minous Tons. 115,390 Tons. 845,717 Tons. Tons. 961,107 Tons. 32,132,112 3rown... Liignite 393,841 2,220 109 290,381 200,190 684,331 202,410 15,164,488 2,744,088 Totals for 1919 ... 511,451 845,826 490,571 1,847,848 50,040,688 Totals for 1918 ... 549,778 997,089 487,383 2,034,250 48,192,840

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The decline in the annual output was chiefly due to restriction of work by miners at the principal collieries. The output per person employed below ground has declined from 750 tons during 1916 to 648 tons during 1919. The number of operative collieries was 138, of which the 16 most productive won 1,-175,789 tons, being an average of 641 tons per person employed below ground; the 122 smaller collieries, where little or no restriction occurred, produced 472,059 tons, being an average of 671 tons per person employed below ground. As the principal collieries are better developed and equipped for a larger production per miner than are the smaller collieries, the fact that the latter have produced more coal per miner during 1919 appears to be conclusive evidence as to the chief cause of the decline of coal-output for the Dominion. No new colliery arrived at the output stage during the year. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.

Name of Colliery. Locality. Output for 1919. Total Total Output Nulnber to 31st De- „ ot oember, 1919. P ° rson » ordinarily employed. Class of Coal. Northern District. Hikurangi ... Hikurangi... S e mi-bitu-minous Tons. 77,845 Tons. 1,243,128 123 Taupiri Extended Rotowaro Pukemiro Waipa ... Huntly Rotowaro... Pukemiro... Glen Massey Brown 172,561 73,990 89,261 54,168 2,557,757 107,264 385,685 442,952 351 120 150 89 it ... West Coast District. Millerton ... Denniston Mangatini Dunollie ... Bituminous 217,630. 147,766 129,125 45,885 5,710,151 7,928,984 1,486,737 2,396,708 345 373 274 68 Westport (2 collieries) Westport-Stockton (Point Elizabeth... State (2 collieries) \ (Liverpool S enii-bitu-minous Bituminous Blackball Rewanui ... Blackball... 121,710, 94,016 707,194 2,803,655 304 284 Southern District. Kaitangata and Castle Hill (3 collieries) Nightcaps (2 collieries) Kaitangata Nightcaps... Brown 103,550 48,282 3,736,030 1,356,231 297 99 „ 122 other New Zealand collieries All coalfields Various 472,059 19,178,212 1,072 Totals 1,847,848 150,040,688 3,944

Average Number of Persons employed during 1919. Inspection District. Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Northern Vest Coast Southern 242 498 355 697 1,393 759 939 1,891 1,114 Totals, 1919 ' 1,095 2,849 3,944 Totals, 1918 1,102 2,892 3,994

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There has been experienced a considerable shortage of skilled miners on the West Coast and Olago coalfields. In the North Island a number of Maoris are now working in the collieries, and they make very fair miners. The following statement shows the tons of coal and shale raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about coal-mines, &c, from 1878 to 1919 : —

I I Persons empl >yed. Tons raised per each Person employed Underground Lives Loi it by Minin dents. g AcciYear. Output, in Tons. . , „ , Above Below Ground. Ground. Per Million Tons raised. Per Thousand Persons employed. Number of Lives Lost. Total. 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 1917 1918 1919 709,931 162,218 147 366 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 361 888 480,831 393 890 511,063 338 1,145 534,353 392 1,213 558,620 388 1,111 613,895 414 1,275 586,445 ' 466 1,251 637,397 j 512 1,334 668,794 I 416 1,277 673,315 ; 485 1,196 691,548 590 1,298 719,546 506 1,393 726,654 525 1,274 792,851 590 1,347 840,713 531 1,381 907,033 556 1,447 975,234 554 1,599 1,098,990 617 1,843 1,239,686 688 2,066 1,365,040 803 2,082 1,420,229 717 2,135 1,537,838 763 2,525 1,585,756 833 2,436 1,729,536 1,174 2,518 1,831,009 1,143 2,767 1,860,975 992 2,902 1,911,247 1,159 3,032 2,197,362 1,136 3,463 2,066,073 1,365 2,925 2,177,615 1,130 3,198 1,888,005 1,053 3,197 2,275,614 1,176 3,558 2,208,624 1,050 3,106 2,257,135 988 3,000 2,068,419 1,090 2,893 2,034,250 1,102 2,892 1,847,848 1,095 2,849 366 888 890 1., 145 1,213 1,111 1,275 1,251 1,334 1,277 1,196 1,298 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 2,893 2,892 2,849 513 802 1,038 963 1,043 1,249 1,283 1,483 1,605 1,499 1,689 1,717 1,846 1,693 1,681 1,888 1,899 1,799 1,937 1,912 2,003 2,153 2,460 2,754 2,885 2,852 3,288 3,269 3,692 3,910 3,894 4,191 4,599 4,290 4,328 4,250 4,734 4,156 3,988 3,983 3,994 3,944 443 475 540 456 440 503 481 468 477 523 563 533 516 618 588 609 627 609 593 600 655 665 609 651 687 662 641 633 634 706 681 590 639 711 750 715 703 648 194-64 6-66 2-96 5-28 4-74 6-23 5-87 7-16 6-51 6-82 12-55 5-98 1-48 7-23 8-33 6-88 83-24 4-75 110 3-07 3-65 2-42 1-46 2-81 2-60 3-78 3-46 6-55 2-68 3-65 7-28 6-77 413 3-18 21-53 407 2-65 1-93 2-95 5-41 * 44-00 1-92 1-04 1-91 1-60 2-34 2-01 2-66 2-36 2-37 4-33 2-36 0-66 2 64 3-16 3-33 34-07 209 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 10-35 216 1-50 1-00 1-50 2-53 0 351 2 1 2 2 8 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 4 6 10 Totals 50,055,131 345 * No life lost, ilosion. fYei ir of Kaitangata explosion. J Year of Brunn ir explosion. § Year of Ralph's (Huntly)

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SECTION 111.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of coal-mining accidents during 1919, with their causes:—

The death-rate from accidents was 253 per thousand persons employed, or 541 per million tons of coal produced, as compared with 586 per million tons for the coal-mines of the United Kingdom during 1918, the latest year of (lie published statistics. It is gratifying to state that since 17th November, 1919, there has been no fatal colliery accident to this date, 30th June, 1920. The proportion of fatal accidents in the Dominion during 1919, although lower than in America or South Africa, shows an increase which is to be regretted, as there had been since 1914 a gradual decrease. As during previous years, the most prolific cause of accidents was falls of ground. A full description of the foregoing fatal accidents is given on the following page. Particulars regarding the serious non-fatal accidents referred to in the above table are contained in the reports of Inspectors of Mines, which appear in Annexure A hereto. The accidents classed as serious with non-fatal results include those which cause any fracture of the head or of any limb, or of any dislocation of a limb, or any other serious personal injury. As regards the seven fatal accidents from falls, four of these —viz., those which happened to A. E. Hawkins, T. Blight, R. Grundy, and J. Shearer —appear from the evidence to be of that class for which the judgment of the sufferer was chiefly responsible—such accidents as are inseparable from mining. The accidents by falls to W. Kirk, R. W. Smith, and J. Penman were due to neglect in permitting the deceased to work in dangerous places, but the two firstnamed were contributory to such neglect. In (lie case of the two last-named the mine-managers respectively were convicted and fined. In connection with the three fatalities due to haulage, that which caused the death of J. A. Weir was due to his illegally riding on a coal-truck without permission, in a low underground roadway, but for subsequent breaches of the law in connection with this case the actingmanager was convicted and substantially fined. The haulage fatalities to W. Muncaster and P. J. Rutledge were due to misadventure for which no person appeared to be blameworthy. The following is a description of fatal accidents at or about coal-mines during 1918 : —

Fatal Ai icidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Separate Fatal Accidents. Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Porsons 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 ... 7 3 7 "o 3 1 6 6 1 3 1 6 6 1 Totals 10 io ri17

.. . Name and Situation of Name, Age, and Occupation uate - Colliery. of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Uemarks. s duly, Kaitangata No. I Alfred Ernest Hawkins 19 18; Colliery, Kaita- j (37), miner died 8 \ ngata May, 1919. A deputy on his morning round of inspection prior to the conmem-einent of work deteoted on a. truoking-road in No. (i dip section several sets of broken props. Owing to a. shortage of shift-men for effecting repairs it was arranged that four miners, including deceased, instead of prooeeeling to their working-places, should repair the timbering by erecting oilier props under the bars alongside the broken props. These four miners proceeded to this work anil were engaged preparing props prior to erection when, without warning, a large fall of coal and timber occurreel. Two of the party were partly buried, but not seriously injured, but deceased sustained a compound fracture of the right tibia, together with severe body-bruises and a wound of the scalp. On the 11th December his leg was amputated, but he elicel on the 8th May, 1919, of bloodpoisoning. The Coroner held no person to blame. Regarding this accident it may be stated that repairing timber is a necessary but often a dangerous operation ; also that, timber on trucking-roads should not bo allowed to become so broken as to collapse without giving warning. The admitted shortage of shift-men may have some bearing on this accident.

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Onto. i Name and Situation of Colliery. Name, Ace, and Occupation of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Remarks. 1919. :il .Ian. 1 Kaitangata No. 2 Colliery, Kaitangata .lames Archibald Weir (42). rope-attendant He was sitting on the front, of the first truck of a rake which was being hauled at a normal speed by a winch up No. 1 elip haulage-road. When passing through a hanging brattice-screen it caught his head and he was turned over and was crushed side on against, (lie ooal roof about 1 ft. 10 in. above, the truck, and then thrown violently into the truck, receiving a crushed pelvis and severe bruises on bis side, the shock from which brought on heart-failure. from which he died about three elays later. He hail recently the influenza, and had not entirely recovered. In connection with this accident the deputy mine-manager. Mr. Frederick Carson, was prosecuted by the Inspector of Mines for a. breach of section 02. paragraph (1), of the Coal-mines Act for failure to notify the Inspector by telegram of this serious accident, also with a, breach of paragraph (5) of the same section by having, prior to the visit of the Inspector, the low coal roof brushed against which deceased was crushed. For each of these offences the defendant was fined £10, with £3 Us. solicitor's fee, amounting in all to £2(> (is. In defence Mr. Carson stated that at the time of the accident ho was not of the opinion that it was a serious accident requiring notification by telegram. At subsequent proceedings taken by the wieiow she was awarded £1,500 as compensation for neglect by the owners. the jury finding that I lie deceased was riding on a truck in a drive which was dangerously low without permission of the mine-manager, in eont invention of Special Rule 54, the manager being aware of such contravention. He was getting coal on the surface at a place overhanging 4ft., being the commencement of a elip heading; no sprag or props were erected. A fall of about 2 tons of coal and stone, occurred, burying him and killing him instantly. The cause of death was laceration of the lung and haemorrhage. The mine - owner and permit - holder, Mr. P. W. Archer, stated that he instructed deceased on the previous day to put up timber at the place. The place of the accident had not been inspected by the manager on the day of the, accident prior thereto. There was no other official employed : only three men and. a boy were working at this mine. A breach of seotion 40, paragraph (42), appears to have occurrcel in not having such inspection. A somewhat similar fatal accident occurred during the previous year at Moss Bank Coal-mine. He was employed to hang on trucks at the bottom of a jig at No. I bank. No. 2 section. He gave a signal for a nice of two trucks to be jigged. The man at the top of the jig, which was 1 chains long, inclined I in 5, when pushing the full trucks over the brow at the top accidentally uncoupled the front truck, which travelled down the jig at great speed, striking dcccaseel, who was standing in the roadway, breaking his leg, also causing internal injuries and profound shock, from which he died on the following day. The coupling which became detached was not the usual chain coupling, but a piece of endless-rope clip chain. This shoulel not have been used as a coupling. Work was immediately resumed at the place of accident, in contravention of section (i2, paragraph (5), of the Coalmines Act, the mine-manager not thinking it eonstituteel a serious accident. He was working at a coal-face, 12 ft. wide and between 6 anel 7 ft. high, the whole, thickness being mined. Passing across the face a,t an angle of about 45° was a clay joint or " greasy back " : this continued into the roof-stone. The place was timbered with a double row of props to within 0 ft. of the face ; there was no sprag or prop at the face. Without warning a piece of roof-stone weighing about 5 cwt. fell from the "greasy back," striking deceased and inflicting injuries from which he succumbeel on the 7th August following. The examining eleputy and workmen's inspectors considered the place, adequately timbered and safe, but this accident proveel otherwise. The Coroner's jury held no person blameworthy. As regards this aecidemt, the " greasy back " at the face should have served as a warning that the roof was treacherous, and one or more props shoulel have been put up at the face. Ho was proceeding with a race of twenty empty trucks, the loco being behind such trucks, pushing them. At a stage in the journey he gave the brakesman, who was also an experienced driver, charge of the loco, and then he went along the trucks to the first empty one in front of the race. While the race was travelling ho signalled to the driver by outstretching his arms, and, overbalancing, fell out of the truck under the race, receiving a fractured thigh and pelvis, also other injuries. He eiieel from shock the following day. At the time of the accident eleeeased was not in his proper pla.ee. In the Coal-mines Act, section 40 (29), provision is made that the driver of a steamengine shall not cease to have continual supervision of such engine, but no reference is maele to electric locos, an omission which requires rectifying. The Coroner found no person to be blameworthy. Archer's Coal-mine, Capleston Will in in miner Kirk (4b), 22 Feb. 25 April Point Elizabeth State Colliery, Dunollie' William Muneaster, jun. (32), trucker . 5 May Black Diamond (late Tinker's) Colliery, near Nightcaps Thomas Blight (36), miner 22 May Wcstport-Stockton Colliery, near Ngakawau Percival John Rut - ledge (23), eleotrioloco driver

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Date. Name and Situation of Name Age, and Occupation Colliery. of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Remarks. 1919. 4 Aug. !(i Aug. Homebush Colliery, Glentunnel Brighton Colliery, Brighton John Penman (39), miner Robert William Smith (53), miner On the 2nel August a fall of claystone roof occurred in No. 1. right-hand level, which was driven 18 ft. wide, in a 3 ft. 6 in. coal - seam. By direction of the mine - manager, Mr. David Kane, this fall had been removed on the morning of the 4th August, the stone therefrom being used to build a pillar about 7 ft. square on the rise side of the roadway, and eighteen props with cap-pieces had been put up on the rise side eif the roadway ; no bars were used. A large loose stone was supported at one end by the built pillar, and elsewhere by four props. On this elay two miners, A. Smith and O. F. Simpson, who worked at the face of the level, stated respectively to the deputy (Thomas Burt) anel to the, manager, that the place required attention and was unsafe, as the roof was " working." The two latter thought the place was safe, and the deputy passed the men in to work in the level. About 5.15 p.m. two miners, John Penman and John Simpson, who had fired a shot at the leift-hanel face of the same level, were passing under the aforesaid large stone on their way back to their working-place when the stone fell upon Penman, killing him at once, the props under the stone being thrown aside. The jury at the inquest considered the evidence too conflicting to warrant them finding any person negligent. In connection with this fatality legal proceedings were taken by the Inspector of Mines against Messrs. David Kane, mine-manager, and Thomas Burt, fireman-deputy, for a contravention of section 40, subsection (9), of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, in that the place of the accielent had not been securely protected and made safe for persons employed therein. Each defendant was convicted and fined £5 Is. and £3 3s. costs. Proceedings were also taken against the mine-owners, the Homebush Brick and Coal Company (Limited), for failure to comply with the same section of the Coal-mines Act. The company was convicted and lined £2 and costs. He was an experienced miner and was working in No. I section in an untimbered heading about 6 ft. wide and 5$ ft. high. The certificated manager, Mr. David McNeill, who that day acted also as examining deputy and trucker, stated at the inquest that in the morning he inspected the place and, considering it safe, passed the deceased into the place to work, although a piece of roof-stone had fallen eluring the previous night. He also stated that later during the morning he instructed deceaseel to take down some loose overhead stone, in the afternoon he again visited the place, anel, finding that his instructions had not been obeyed, ho then emphatically told deceased to take the loose stone clown at once. He then left the place, to elo some trucking without seeing his orders carried out. A few minutes later a slab of roof-stone, weighing about half a ton, fell upon deceased, causing injuries from which he, expired shortly afterwards. In this mine timber was used only intermittently ; the Inspector of Mines did not insist upon systematic timbering, as the drives were narrow. The Coroner held no person blameworthy. It is unfortunate that the manager was too preoccupied with his trucking to remain with deceased and see his orders obeyed. In connection with this fatality legal proceedings were, taken by the Inspector of Mines against Mr. David McNeill, mine-manager, for a, breach of Special Rule 21 for failing to withdraw deceased from an unsafe, working-place. The defendant was convicted, and fineel £5 anil costs £3 10s. ; likewise, under section 7 of the Coal-mines Ameneltnent Act of 1914, his certificate was suspended for seven elays. With two mates he was employed in Mundy's dip section at pillar-extraction. They were taking down hoael coal by the retreating method, and to elo so a shot had been fired at the lip by a fireman-deputy. Before and after firing the place had been cxamineei and considered safe by the fireman-deputy. The height to the coal roof was about 14 ft. A 12 ft. weiodcn pole with an iron ferrule was provided for sounding the roof, but no ladder was available for testing the roof and sides with a pick. Some hours after firing, while the men were filling the fallen coal at the gob sielo of the lip whore the roof was unsupported, another fall of coal occurred, nearly covering deceased and inflicting injuries from which lie sucoumbed the same day. The roof was only partly sounded by deceased and a mate shortly before the fall, and they evidently considered it safe. At the inquest which followed the Coroner helel no person to bo blameworthy. The operation of filling coal in high and unsupported places outside the lip during pillar-extraction by the retreating method is one of the. most hazardous operations in connection with coal-mining in New Zealand, and it is necessary that the roof shall be frequently and efficiently examined. In this case it was not. 8 Nov. Kaitangata No. 1 Colliery, Kaitangata Robert Grundy (38), miner

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SECTION I.V.—WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a.) Ventilation, [Section 40.] The standard of ventilation required by the Coal-mines Act of New Zealand is stricter than that provided for by the statutes of any other British possession, including the United Kingdom; for whereas other countries provide for either a quality or quantity standard for mine-ventilation, in this Dominion a standard for both is specified by law. In all coal-mining statutes pertaining to safety in the Empire the following general provision is made that every coal-mine shall be adequately ventilated (this provision had its origin in the British Coal-mines Act of I860) : "An adequate amount of ventilation shall be constantly produced in every mine to dilute and render harmless inflammable and noxious gases to such an extent that all shafts, roads, levels, stables, and workings of the mine.shall be in a fit state for working and passing therein." In the British and New Zealand coal-mines Acts there is further added a standard of quality as follows: "And in particular that the intake airways up to within 100 yards of the first working-face which the air enters shall be normally kept free from inflammable gas :, Provided that an abandoned road or level not used in connection with the working of the mine shall, if properly fenced off, not be deemed to be a road or level within the meaning of this section. " Eor the purpose of the last preceding paragraph a place shall not be deemed to be in a fit state for working or passing therein if the air contains either less than; 19 per cent, of oxygen or more than (1 per cent. New Zealand; British, 1| per cent.) of carbon dioxide."* The British law further provides that " an intake airway shall not be deemed to be normally kept free from inflammable gas if the average percentage of inflammable gas found in six samples of air taken by an Inspector in the air-current (within 100 yards of the first workingplace) in that airway, at intervals of not less than a fortnight, exceeds 025 per cent."; This paragraph, which is not included in the Coal-mines Act of New Zealand, concludes the British ventilation provisions^ In this Dominion the law does not permit any person to work in a place where firedamp may be detected by a safety-lamp. In addition to a quality standard a standard of quantity is required, as follows: "The amount of air passing into the mine shall be such amount as may be prescribed by regulations,- provided that in no case shall less than 150 cubic feet of air per minute be provided for every person, and 600 cubic feet of air per minute be provided for every horse or other animal, while employed underground. All air-measurements taken pursuant to the preceding paragraphs shall be taken at the entrance to each ventilating district, and, if the Inspector.so requires,' at each working-face, and shall at such places be not less in volume than the minimum allowance aforesaid for every person and horse or other animal." The quantity standard of ventilation required by law of British Columbia, New South Wales, Queensland, and West Australia (which have no quality standard) provides for the supply of not less than 100 cubic feet of pure air per minute for every person employed below ground; in this Dominion the minimum quantity is 150 cubic feet, as before stated. Eor the purpose of ascertaining to what extent the provisions of the Coal-mines Act regarding ventilation were being complied with, during the early part of the year I inspected the airways and mine-workings of the principal collieries, taking air-measurements and air-samples for analysis. The points chosen for such measurements and sampling were at the beginning of every return air-course as near to the last working-place as the quantity could be accurately measured at, such position being the most suitable part of a mine for critical examination of ventilation, for the most vitiated air is there found, and all leakage has already occurred "before the return is reached. The result- of my measurement and analysis of my samples by the Dominion Analyst, are shown in the following table : —

* United Kingdom Coal-mines Act, section 29; New Zealand Coal-mines Act, section 40.

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Date. fame and Situation ol Colliery. Name, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Itemarks. 1919. 7 Nov. Westport-Stockton Colliery, near Ngakawau James Shearer (38), fireman-deputy As fircman-doputy he chargeel and fired a shot at the face of a bord for two miners. The bord was 17J ft. wide"anil 10 ft. high; it was timbered by two rows of props-with cap-pieces. About five minutes after firing and before the smoke had sufficiently cleared deceased returneel towards the face followed by the twej miners for the purpose of examining the same as required by Regulation 125. When within 10 ft. of the face a stone weighing several hundredweights fell from the roof, striking deceased and inflicting serious bodily injuries, to which he succumbed the same elay. Subsequent inspection showed that the shot had knocked down a prop near the face, which hail supported the fallen stone ; the dense smoke probably prevented the eleceased from observing this on returning after firing. At the inquest the Coroner held no person blameworthy.

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Table showing an Analysis of the Ventilation in the Principal Collieries of the Dominion made by the Chief Inspector during the early part of 1920.

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Narae of Colliery. Place of Observation. Date. Quantity of Air passing per Minute. " as ti £5? yc, Analysi Air Quantity of Air I per Person per Minute.* is of such Return by Dominion Analyst. Remarks. CO 2 . Oxygen, i CH4. North Island. Taupiri Extended . . Cub. ft, 15,765 10.881 3,710 13,211 10.368 8,028 87,000 39 14 13 43 29 20 Cub. ft, 404 777 284 307 354 401 Per j Per Cent, j Cent. C 0 15 | 20-36 ( 0-03 20-88 007 20-70 i t 008 20-66 010 20-70 010 21-51 Per Cent. 006 Per 006 0-14 009 .. ; No. 4 level, west side, return No. 5 dip, west side, return No. 5, new dip, and No. 6, west side, return No. 2 district, north side, return No. 1, tail-rope district, north side, return No. 7 district, north side, return Main return at fan 9/4/20 9/4/20 9/4/20 10/4/20 10/4/20 10/4/20 8/4/20 0-14 Atmospheric purity. 009 Effective ventilation, 71-2 per cent. ; water-gauge at fan, 2-5 in. Atmospheric purity. Pukemiro North district return Straight heading, left return Straight heading, right return Main return at fan 12/4/20 12/4/20 12/4/20 12/4/20 12,274 13,740 1 1,736 40.837 40 22 20 307 624 587 003 1 20-70 016 j 20-69 t 0-10 j 20-69 Effective ventilation, 92-2 per cent.; water-gauge at fan, 1 in. Rotowaro No. 3 south return No. 4 south return Main jig return Main return at fan No. 4 section (Siberia) return Pillars section return Main return at fan 13/4/20 13/4/20 13/4/20 13/4/20 14/4/20 14/4/20 14/4/20 9.984 4,257 4,150 26,845 16,200 3,672 23,324 40 12 32 43 8 9 1 249 355 130 348 384 007 | 20-78 t 0-15 I 20-88 t 0-07 I 20-72 Due to leakage and fan running at reduced speed. Effective ventilation, 68-5 per cent. Waipa 1 " . Effective ventilation, 85-1 per cent. South Island. Liverpool No. 1 Upper seam, No. 3 bank return Upper seam, crosscut return Morgan seam, east return Morgan seam, west return Main return at fan No. 1 district return No. 2 district return No. 3 district return Main return at fan Main return at fan 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 20/5/20 5/2/20 10,722 6,312 15,631 9,712 64,128 8 540 10,260 5,675 31,266 3,782 29 23 23 27 34 13 12 3 1 Effective ventilation, 66 per cent. • • : H» Liverpool No. 3 ... j 369 274 680 360 334 249 436 400 0-10 20-38 0-05 20-83 012 20-72 •" I Effective ventilation, 78 per cent. s» • • Brunner . . * The quantity of air per person is obtained by dividing the total quantity circulating, after an allowance of 600 ft. per horse has been deducted. t No sample taken; the mine-air was obviously wbolesome.

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Table showing an Analysis of the Ventilation in the Principal Collieries of the Dominion made by the Chief Inspector during the early part of 1920 — continued.

Name of Colliery. Place of Observation. Date. Quantity of Air passing per Minute. fe<i tH^ 3% > S3 > fc i & Analysis of such Return r, ... s ,. Air bv Dominion Quantity of Air Analyst, per Person per ' Minute.* Remarks. I I CO 2 . Oxygen. CH 4 . Oxygen. CH 4 . South Island —contd. Blackball .. No. 1, rise section, return No. 3, dip section, return Main return at fan Nos. 1 and 2, dip section, return No. 4, west section, return Evans section return South-east pillars return Nos. 2 and 4 sections return Wareatea jig section return Cascade section return Main return at fan Kruger's dip return Dip section return Mundy r 's and No. 6 dip return .. Main return at fan Fred's seam return 18 ft. seam return 6 ft. seam return Main return at fan No. 3 dip return Main return No. 1 section return No. 2 section return Small seam intake or return 3/2/20 3/2/20 3/2/20 10/2/20 9/2/20 10/2/20 10/2/20 11/2/20 24/5/20 24/5/20 24/5/20 13/2/20 7/1/20 8/1/20 8/1/20 9/1/20 9/1/20 9/1/20 9/1/20 12/1/20 15/1/20 15 1 20 15/1/20 13 1 2ii Cub. ft. 8,085 11.795 42,120 15,730 16,626 7,614 Unappreciable 19,800 10,810 6,302 97,643 2,142 6,288 14,297 22,542 3,226 Unappreciable 7.047 27,360 6,864 6,547 1,980 6,528 Unappreciable 16 28 Cub. ft, 505 421 346* 494 467 Per Cent. 051 0 35 007 Per Per Cent. Cent, t 20 33 20-54 20-81 t 20 70 < .. 20-90 20-85 : .. |. 20-04 2000 1948 0-37 20 16 0-35 20-62 .. I 20-70 .. } 20-60 ' .. ) 20-68 .. J 20-70 20 69 t 20-63 t Millerton 42 30 15 10 66 40 22 2 Air short-circuited. 1 1 3 4 2 0 14 Westport-Stockton .. Coalbrookdale Unapnreciable 273 230 233 007 014 Water-gauge, 2-5in. at 10ft. fan; air short-circuited through leaking stoppings; effective ventilation, 17 per cent. Inadequate quantity. Ironbridge Taratu Kaitangata No. 1 . . 12 38 43 1 128 165 304 038 0 30 0-47 0-42 0 13 0 10 0 13 019 019 005 2 Effective ventilation 63 per cent. Air short-circuited through leaking stoppings before it could reach first miner. Only 37 per cent, of the air passed through workings owing to leakage. Kaitangata No. 2 10 10 31 1 1 263 Unappreciable 227 Nightcaps .. , Jubilee Saddle Hill 18 17 9 15 7 i i 348 350 220 395 i 0-28 • Wairio Unappreciable No pretence at any system of ventilation. Air stagnant in this seam. * The quantity of air per person is obtained by dividing the total quantity circulating, after an allowance of 600 ft. per horse has been deducted. t No sample taken; the mine-air was obviously wholesome.

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Quantity Standard .—From the foregoing table it will be seen that air-measurements were made in the returns from thirty-seven ventilating districts at nineteen collieries in the North and South Islands. It was found that the average quantity of air per person employed in such districts which passed the last working-place into the'return airway amounted to 333 cubic feet per minute, being more than twice the quantity required by the law. In six districts only was less than 150 cubic feet per. person measured, and in all but one of these the shortage was due to leakage through defective stoppings constructed of brattice-cloth. At collieries where plastered-brick air-stoppings were used the proportion of the air, induced by fans, which passed the last working-place into the return airways (which I have termed "the percentage of effective ventilation) is very marked, as the following table will show :— Name of Colliery. Percentage of Effective Ventilation. Pukemiro ... ... 922 i,, • , Waipa 85-1 | Brick sto PP'»r,«Liverpool No. 3 ... ... 78 - 0 Brattice-cloth and sawn timber-stoppingß. Taupiri Extended ... 712 ],-,., Rotowaro 6g . 5 J Brick stoppings. Liverpool No. 1 ... ... 66'0\ Kaitangata No. 1 ... 63-0 blackball ... ... 47 - 0 of brattice-cloth or sawn boards. Kaitangata No. 2 ... 37 - 0 Coalbrookdale ... ... 17-0 ) As the effective air may be used, after ventilating the working-places, for " scaling " areas of old workings or standing pillars, there is absolutely no excuse for inducing air by a fan and then carelessly permitting much of it to be ineffective owing to leakage. It is important that air shall be confined to the intake airways, and not to be used for " scaling " until it enters the return, for in the event of a " blower," or an accumulation of gas, the maximum quantity of air induced may be required to remove the gas. Without proper distribution of air to the working-faces by means of brattice-cloth, miners may not receive the full benefit of the air induced by the fan and effectively directed to the returns. At the majority of collieries I found the brattice to be satisfactory, but*at three collieries —viz., Coalbrookdale, Kaitangata No. 2, and Nightcaps—the brattice was frequently not fastened to the roof, permitting leakage of air to a large extent. Quality Standard. —In this Dominion the quality standard for colliery ventilation is—as a maximum, 1 per cent, of carbon dioxide; as a minimum, 19 per cent, of oxygen; and as regards inflammable gas, no person is permitted to work where firedamp may be detected by a safetylamp, which is approximately from 1 to 2 per cent. CH 4 . During my inspection I found no instance of failure to comply with the above standard. In no working-place could I get a gas cap (i.e., about 1-J per cent. GH,). hi the return airways the minimum percentage of oxygen found by analysis was 1945, the maximum percentage of carbon dioxide was 047, and the maximum percentage of methane (CH 4 ) was 037. All these, however, occurred at Kaitangata No. 1 Colliery, which is gaseous, and where underground fires exist. At all the other collieries the quality of the return air (after it had passed every workingplace) was found after analysis by the Dominion Analyst to be almost as pure as astmospheric air. In conclusion, I am gratified to state that as a result of my searching investigations I find that the ventilation at. our principal collieries is of a high order, but it would be still improved if brick air-stoppings were more frequently used and greater attention was paid to the erection and maintenance of brattice-cloth. (b.) Inflammable Cas and Safhty-lamps, [Section -1-0 (4(I). | During the year inflammable gas was reported at seven collieries, as follows : —

Name of Colliery. Number of Days on which (las was reported. Maximum Estimated Quantity of Inflammable (las reported. Taupiri Extended Kaitangata No. 1 Liverpool No. 1 .. Liverpool No. 3 .. Ironbridge (Denniston): .. Millerton .. Wairaki .. .. .. 125 44 25 7 7 4 2 Cubic Feet. 2,000 500 480 1,000 80 2 Small. At the three last-named nuked lights were then in use.

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Gas-ignitions have recently been reported as follows :—

In only one case —viz., the last-named —were burns received, and in that case they were but slight. In every case naked lights caused the ignition, and at such places the use of such lights was permitted. An ignition of inflammable gas, however, must be regarded as a grave warning, for it proves that gas is being emitted from the strata which if allowed to accumulate, by defective ventilation might produce a disastrous explosion, for with the highly inflammable coal-dust of our bituminous and brown coal mines it requires only a few hundred feet of inflammable gas to become ignited to produce the concussion and flame necessary to cause a violent coal-dust explosion sufficient to wreck the mine and destroy those within it. (c.) Systematic Timbering. [Section 40 (9) and Regulation 56.J During the past five years thirty-four lives have been lost by colliery accidents, of which number twenty-three were caused by falls of roof and sides. In the majority of cases of fatal accidents by falls the reason attributed at the inquests has been that they were due to concealed joints— i.e., " sooty " or " greasy " backs or heads, variously termed. "The roof appeared safe, but when it fell upon the deceased a concealed joint became visible." And so it always has been :it is not the obviously dangerous roof which falls and kills a man, but the roof which has been given the benefit of the doubt by miner or deputy and been allowed to go unsupported by props. To obviate this class of accidents systematic timbering has become compulsory by law in the mines of the United Kingdom and this Dominion. In sections of a mine where timber is used at the working-faces or in the roadways by the regulations pertaining to systematic timbering it is assumed that all roof is a potential source of danger, therefore by continuous and uniformly spaced rows of props, or props and bars (as may be considered most suitable), any dangerous invisible defect in the roof is as far as practicable guarded against. In this Dominion the regulation regarding systematic timbering is very often neglected, and for this the colliery officials and miners are equally to blame. The miners frequently neglect to erect the props nearest the face within the specified distance, and deputies frequently do not enforce it with sufficient determination. The managers of collieries have not prosecuted miners for breaches of the regulations pertaining to systematic timbering, as they are unquestionably empowered to do under Special Rule 1 and Regulation 56. Unless more vigorous action is taken by mine officials, who are always on the spot, to secure efficient timbering, fatal accidents by falls of roof will inevitably continue. The following are the maximum intervals for systematic timbering allowed at the principal collieries in the Dominion : —

Name of Colliery. Date. Plaoe. Quantity and how caused. Ironbridge .. 7/8/18 No. 8 section About 1 cubic foot was ignited in a hole in the roof by naked light. Small ignitiem aftor firing a gunpowder charge. Not then reported to the Inspector. Ditto. This was reported. No person was injured. The mine has now been restricted to safety-lamps and permitted explosives. A small ignition by naked light at the face of a steeply rising place where brattice had been displaced. A small ignition by a naked light shortly after firing a charge of permitted explosive. No person was injured. Shortly after firing a shot a small quantity of gas was ignited in a hole by a naked light. Not then reported to the Inspector. Two miners, Sum mors and Howie, reported igniting about 200 cubic feet of inflammable) gas at their working-place with a nakeel light. A fan attendant ignited a small epiantity of gas at the fan outside the drive, and received slight burns. Wairaki 22/12/19 Dip heading 10/2/20 Dover's place off the di]) heading Millerton 11/2/20 Old dip section 1/6/20 No. 2 dip section Rotowaro -/3/20 Back di]) heading Pukemiro 11/5/20 Main north section back heading Liverpool Colliery 1/6/20 Stone drive near middle brake

Nai ic of Colli iery. Systematic Timbering (Wte Regulation 50). | 1 | &H TH -n - a | m S p. s H g I M O H a I i p . n d « 1 §s HO j3 o Q> E HH. a JSI w S g 1 2 CQ i co £ ! 1 HH. 02 1 3 N A ! 1 I s II a S3 l/l! !' Pi s bo to a 3 I E e I 8 S h^H p += s letween each row of props letween adjacent props in the same row letween the first row of props and the face Ft. 4 5 Ft. 4 4 Ft. 5 5 i'l. 5 6 Ft. 5 6 Ft. 5 6 Ft. 6 6 Ft. Ft. 4 6 4 6 3 7J i'l. 6 6 Ft. 6 6 Ft. 6 6 Ft. 4 4 Ft. 6 6 Ft. 81 31 Ft. Ft. 6 6 6 6 6 7 Ft. 4 51 i'l. 6 6 Ft. 6 5 Ft. 6 6 i'l, 6 6 5 4 6 6 6 6 71 71 n 7* 71 5 6 6 8 7 I'

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The distance between holing props and sprags, also between face-sprags, is 5 ft., in accordance with Special Rule 36. The penalties for a breach of the regulations for the first offence shall not exceed a fine of £5, and for a second or subsequent offence shall not exceed a fine of .£lO. ((/.) Permitted Explosives. | Regulations 128 to 134 inclusive.] Since the regulations enforcing the use of Home Office permitted explosives came into operation in New Zealand, in June, 1915, mine-owners have been fortunate in being able to obtain an adequate supply. In this Dominion no other than permitted explosives are allowed to be used in mines in which inflammable gas has been found, and with the exception of the explosive " ligdynite" no other than a Home Office permitted explosive is allowed in a mine which is not naturally wet throughout. A decision was given in April, 1919, in the Hamilton (Scotland) Sheriff Court, in the case of the Inspector of Mines v. Lanyon and White, that a mine which is naturally wet but lias some dry parts is not naturally wet throughout, and that under the United Kingdom regulation (which is identical with that of New Zealand) unless a mine is naturally wet throughout no explosive other than a permitted explosive may be used. The United Kingdom Explosives in Coal-mines Order of the 14th November, 1919, issued by the Home Secretary, which amends the Explosives in Coal-mines Order of Ist September, 1913, and subsequent Orders, came into force on the Ist January, 1920, from which date all previous Explosives in Coal-mines Orders amending the schedules to the Order of the Ist September, 1913, are revoked. The following tables show the explosives that have passed the Rotherham test, with particulars of their composition, &c. : —

First Schedule.

Second (A) Schedule.†

Name of Explosive. Name of .Makers. Permissible i>„.,.i,.i nm . Mivminni r cnuilllllllDetonator. Ammonite Ammonite No. 1 No. 5 .. Bellite No. 1 Negro Powder No. 2 Koburito No. 4 Denaby Powder Expedite Kentite New Fortex Ammonium-nitrate Group. Miners' Safety Explosives Company (Limited) . . Lancashire Explosives Company (Limited) lloburito and Ammonal (Limited) British Westfalite (Limited) .. Eaplosives and Chemical Products (Limited) Rritisli WestI'alitc. (Limited) .. Explosives and Chemical Products (Limited) 18 I 2-44 24 2-42 20 2-41 20 2-74 20 2-21 18 2-86 18 2-74 32 2-62 18 2-64 It) 2-61 6 7 (i 6 7 7 6 7 a 6 Samsonite No. 2 No. 3 •Super-Hippite Cambrite No. 2 Essex Powder Haylite No. 2 du Pant Permissible No. 1 Dynobel No. 3 No. 4 Haylite No. 3 Monarkite Monobel No. 1 A2 Monobel Rex Powder Scamex Stomonal No. I No. 2 Super-Cliffite No. 2 .. Super-Exeellite No. 3 Viking l'owder No. 1 No. 2 Thames Powder No. 2 Nilro-ylycerine Group. Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited) Curtis's and Harvey (Limited) Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited) Explosives and Chemical Products Company (Limited) National Explosives Company (Limited) E. 1. du Pout do Nemours and Company Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited) National Explosives Company (Limited) Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited) Cotton Powder Company (Limited) Explosives and Chemical Products Company (Limited) New Explosives Company (Limited) Curtis's and Harvey (Limited) Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited) British Explosives Syndicate (Limited) 26 2-49 21 2-42 18 2-53 24 2-00 38 217 IS -96 IS 2-82 18 2-50 30 2-35 l(i 2-44 18 2-30 10 2-81 22 2-44 20 2-61 36 2-51 3 (i 6 6 6 7 (i (i 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 20 2-68 30 2-57 30 2-53 36 2-73 ; 26 2-44 18 2-59 32 2-78 22 2-59 6 6 li 6 6 (i 6 6 Second Schedule.* Name of explosive : Bobbinito.

Name of Explosive. Name of Makers, Permissible Maximum Charge in Ounces. Detonator. Ligdynite.. . ■ • • Cape Explosives Works (Limited) .. .. 18 0 * Permitted for the purpose of bringing down coal in certain mines, and only until the 31st December, 1920. + Permitted only in mines in which file-damp has not been reported for three years. This explosive has passed the Rotherham teat but Is not on the Homo Office Explosives in Coal-mines Order, being the only explosive permitted in New Zealand winch is not on sueli Order.

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The Third Schedule prescribes that each cartridge, in addition to any marking required in the First or Second Schedule to the Order, shall also be marked with the outline of a crown with the letter P in the centre. In the case of compressed cartridges, which are not contained in a wrapper of paper or metal, the outline of the crown must be indented on the end of the pellet. The Fourth Schedule prescribes the composition of fuze, and the Fifth Schedule prescribes the composition of gunpowder, squib, and Brock squib. (-«.) CuiJSHiNO ok Com. PillABB and SUBAQUEOUS Mininii. [Section 40 (39).] At the Taupiri Extended Colliery serious crushing of coal pillars has occurred during the past two years, due to coal pillars of inadequate strength being left to support the cover. The Taupiri Extended Colliery workings are large, extending underground from the two shafts northward and Westward for one mile and a quarter. Mining operations are carried onl on ihe bord-and-pillar system, the bords being 14 ft. wide, of variable height (generally exceeding 10 ft.), a coal roof being left as a support to the jointed fireclay cover, which is for the most part a dead-weight with but little supporting strength. The haulage-roads are 12 ft. wide. The pillars were 8 yards wide and about 22 yards in length, with stentons 5 ft. wide and 6 ft. high. Two thick workable brown-coal seams exist of variable thickness. The workings referred to in this report are in the bottom seam. Owing to the mining operations being under the River Waikato or under privately owned land, the surface of which it is required to protect against subsidence, no coal pillars have been extracted. As the workings advanced in the solid coal to the northward, owing to the strata dipping in that direction, the thickness and weight of the cover increased until its weight became more than the coal pillars could support without fracture, the result being crushed pillars, falls of roof, heating of the coal, and in two cases fracture to the surface, the thickness of cover necessary to bring about these results being from 360 ft. upwards. During 1917 or early in 1918 the first of these occurrences took place in the north-west section of No. 6 dip. In consequence of their fears the miners stopped work for four days. To arrest the heating of the coal which occurred the area (about 10 acres) was flooded by the management, and it remains so. During 1919 a similar occurrence took place in the most northerly workings of No. 5 level (1 ail-rope district). About 2 acres of workings were affected. The section was also flooded and closed by brick stoppings. In this case cracks appeared on the surface around an area of about 5 acres, the nearest crack to the river being 9 chains. The settlement of the surface, if any, was unappreciable. During August, 1919, another area, of about IJ acres, became affected—viz., No. 6 level north. These workings are situated under the River Waikato, at a deptli of about 400 ft. below its bed, and, being to the rise of the haulage-road, could not be flooded, which caused anxiety among the miners, who ceased work in consequence, and at their request the Minister of Mines instructed me to investigate and report. The safety of subaqueous mining operations is chiefly dependent upon the thickness and character of the cover, especially as regards faulting. Tn this case these were reasonably satisfactory, being proved by boreholes situated 6 chains westward and 23 chains eastward respectively of the affected area. The strata in these boreholes shows the cover of the seam being worked to consist of alluvium, chiefly sand and shingle, with two thin seams of clay, to a depth of about 190 ft., underlain by coal-measures consisting of claystone and coal-seams for a thickness varying between 167 ft. and 256 ft. The affected area being to the rise, and flooding being impracticable, the management isolated it by brick stoppings to produce blackdamp and thus arrest oxidization and consequent heating of the coal. Without any delay strong reinforced-concrcte dams, 6 ft. in thickness, were built at the outby side of each stopping, such dams being well recessed into sides, floor, and roof, the roof-joint being finally grouted under hydraulic pressure. These dams are of ample strength to withstand the greatest hydraulic pressure possible. The coal abutments, however, although the best available consistent with maintaining the No. 6 haulage-road to the extensive unworked coalfield to the northward, are not of such strength as the dams, the coal abutments being frequently weathered and friable, and coal of insufficient depth. The precautionary measures taken hy the mine-owners in No. 6 rise district against fire and irruption of river-water are, I believe, the best that could be adopted under the conditions, and I have no fear of any sudden irruption of water without warning. Possibly the crushing of pillars and falls may slowly extend from either side across the haulage-road, thereby rendering the same unworkable. In such event this road and the whole of the workings to the northward may be isolated by the construction of two concrete dams built in the solid coal near No. 5 flat-sheet. For the purpose of preventing further crushing coal pillars of larger dimensions are now being left. The fourth occurrence of crushed pillars was observed by the Maoris resident on the west side of the river on or about the 14th March, 1920. A series of small cracks, without surface subsidence, appeared on the Rangiriri Road north of its junction with the Waikokowai Road. These cracks enclosed in somewhat circular form an area of about 5 acres immediately above the workings of No. 5 west section, north-west district, the cracks on the eastward being parallel to the river-bank for about 6 chains, and a distance of 44 ft. to 60 ft. therefrom. The cover above the workings is about 420 ft. in thickness, of which 190 ft. of the lower portion is claystone and coal-seams. The workings under the fractured and crushed area have been stopped for some time, and are flooded, but the sound of crushing has recently been heard near the edge of the flooded area. The fifth and perhaps most, serious occurrence was observed and reported by the mine-deputies m No. 4 dip, west side, on the l!)fli March. Considerable crushing of coal pillars, falls of roof, also heating of coal, destruction of brick stoppings, and creeping of the floor, occurred. As a result the manager stopped the workings and removed about thirty-four men employed therein preparatory to flooding the section. I inspected the accessible portion of this area on the 22nd March, four days after it was first reported, also as near thereto as accessible on the 9th April. I found crushing much in evidence

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during my first inspection, and owing to the destruction of air-stopping preventing ventilation fire-damp and black-damp were found throughout the rising bords. About 9 acres of these workings appear to be affected, in addition to which the approach to about twenty bord-faces is cut off; a. valuable and extensive area of unworked coal is thus rendered temporarily inaccessible. Since the occurrence of pillar-crushing and subsidence became evident I have inspected portions of the mine on twelve occasions, and on the 14th February and the 13th December, 1918, and the 2nd May, 23rd August, and 13th October, 1.919, and the 22nd March and 9th April, 1920, I inspected the crushing areas as far as accessible underground and on the surface. (/.) Inspection of Old Workings. [Section 40 (48).] On or about the 27th May, 1919, the workmen's inspectors at Pukemiro Colliery were, by the manager, Mr. Burt, refused admittance into the old workings, consisting of standing pillars of coal, which are separated from the working-mine by several brick and two wooden stoppings and by a wooden locked door. The workmen's inspectors claimed the right given in section Bof the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1914, to have full liberty to make an inspection of every part of the mine, and of its machinery and workings, once in every fortnight. The manager based his refusal to permit this inspection on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Penman v. Bennie (1915), that Special Rule 8 of the Coal-mines Act requiring a daily inspection of every part of the mine by an underviewer did not extend to disused workings. The manager also believed that tinder section 40 (42) of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, no person could enter the old workings until a fireman-deputy within two hours prior thereto had inspected with a safety-lamp such old workings and reported them to be safe. In consequence of the refusal by the manager the miners ceased work on the sth June, 1919. Unsuccessful endeavours were then made by Mr. Harle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, to settle the dispute. Thereon, in pursuance of instructions from the Minister of Mines, I proceeded to the colliery and inspected the old workings on the 19th June, accompanied by the Government Inspector, the workmen's inspectors (by special permission of the manager), the mine-manager, and underviewer. Prior fo entering the mine all of those who accompanied me stated that they had no knowledge of the existence of noxious gas therein. On the 31st March Mr. Bennie, Government Inspector of Mines for the district, had taken two samples of mine-air from sections 2 and 3 of these old workings, which upon analysis had been found to lie comparatively pure, containing—oxygen, 1854 and 1950 per cent, respectively, and carbon dioxide o'sß and o'sl per cent, respectively. During our inspection, however, eight weeks later, we found that oxidation or absorption of oxygen by the coal-surfaces had been rapidly proceeding within the old closed-off workings. In section 1 (left) I took a sample which upon analysis was proved to contain 1667 per cent, black-damp (CO L = 0 - 67 per cent., N 2 = 1600 per cent.). Sections 2 and 3 (left) were found to be practically full of black-damp mixture; samples taken contained from 1962 to 2619 per cent, of that damp, mostly nitrogen. The lights carried by our party were several times extinguished owing to lack of oxygen. The parly was thus stopped from advancing far into the old workings. As a result of this inspection Inspector Bennie, who rightly considered the area unsafe for any person to enter, immediately instructed the manager to entirely close it off by substituting brick stoppings for the wooden stoppings and' door. By this action the question of inspection in dispute was settled, and the old standing pillars secured against heating by lack of oxygen within the stopped-off area. The miners resumed work on the 20th June after a stoppage of two weeks. As a result of this stoppage legal opinions were obtained from Sir John Salniond, Solicitor-General, and Sir J. G. Kindlay, K.C., on the question of this disagreement. The Solicitor-General was of the opinion that the workmen's inspectors had the right of inspection under section Bof the 1914 Act. Sir John Kindlay came to the conclusion, though not without some doubt, that the workmen's inspectors were entitled to inspect the old workings. The point raised by the management regarding inspection by a deputy being necessary before any workmen's inspector might enter the old workings was, unfortunately, not presented to these legal authorities for an opinion. Personally I do not consider that there should be any objection to workmen's inspectors satisfying themselves as to the state of any part of the mine which may be accessible without danger to themselves or others. Old workings, however, are generally unventilated, and contain, as in this case, accumulations of noxious or inflammable gas, and are therefore dangerous, and if closed off by substantial stoppings should not be visited until ventilated. (</.) Mine Rescue Work. [1914 Act, Section 22 (h).] For the guidance of the Mines Department preparatory to making regulations providing for the supply and maintenance of appliances for use in rescue work, and for the formation and training of rescue brigades, it has been decided by the Minister of Mines to establish at Runanga in connection with the State coal-mines a cottage rescue-station for training at one time two nonresident brigades (of five men each). Prior to the design and equipment of this station being undertaken complete information regarding the plan of the station and the type of most suitable apparatus is being obtained from the highest British authorities, through the office of the High Commissioner. In addition to serving the requirements of the Si ate coal-mines, and enabling State employees to have this special and necessary training, the trained brigades will be available in case of emergency at any of the collieries and gold-quartz mines within reasonable distance; the township of Runanga being centrally situated as regards the gaseous collieries of the Grey Coalfield and the deep mines of the Inangahua Goldfield, it is also within four hours' journey by motor from the Buller collieries. The subject of mine rescue work is at present being actively considered by both the Mine Kescue Apparatus and the Oxygen Research Committees under the Home Office Research Department, and the second report of such Committees will be shortly forthcoming. The delay in establishing rescue-stations in this Dominion will thus enable more up-to-date information regarding improvements in design to be gained.

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From practical experience of breathing-apparatus in the United Kingdom it has been found that the wearers of such apparatus have on fourteen occasions lost their own lives, and it has been proved that the utmost care both in the training and management of a brigade as well as in the condition of the apparatus is necessary. There lias been a tendency to abuse the use of breathing apparatus, and for teams to use them before they were absolutely certain that they were necessary. One of the highest authorities—Colonel Blaokett, President of the (British) Institution of Mining Engineers, and inventor of the " Aerophor " liquid-air apparatus—has publicly stated that his experience of rescue work had been that 99 per cent, of the work could be done quite efficiently without the use of breathing-apparatus, and that when it was necessary to wear them they should be used in a sensible way, and only by men who had had the opportunity of a long training.* (/(.) Electricity at Colliehikk. [Regulation 160.] During 1919 there lias been but small 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 ... 11 Number of continuous-current installations ... ... ... 9 Number of alternating-current installations ... ... ... 2 Number of collieries electrically lighted ... ... ... ... 13 Number of collieries using electrical ventilating-machines ... ... 6 Number of collieries using electrical pumping plants ... ... 5 Number of collieries using electrical haulage plants ... ... 5 Number of collieries using electrical screening plants ... ... 2 Number of collieries using electrical miscellaneous plants ... ... 4 Number of collieries using electrical locomotives ... ... ... 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface... ... ... 2,051 Total horse-power employed from motors underground ... ... 611 SECTION V.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING COAh-MINING. The Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1919, which was passed during the year, contains the following provisions: — Section 2 extends the definition of "coal-mine" so as to include the mining of fireclay. Section 3 provides for the survey of lands applied for on lease or license. Section 4, in the case of an applicant for a colliery-manager's certificate already holding a metal-mine manager's certificate, reduces the qualifying period of underground experience from the usual five years lo three years. Section 5 prohibits the storage in a mine of explosive in excess of the requirements of one shift. Section 6 provides that coupling-chains on cages shall be annealed at intervals not exceeding six months; that cages shall be tested in the presence of an Inspector and approved by him prior to their use; that safety catches on cages, also winding-brakes, shall be tested once a week, also that the detaching-hooks shall be tested by an overwind once at least every three months; that there shall be 10ft. clearance between the detaching-hook (when the cage is at its uppermost landing) and the point of detachment; that approved gates and a rigid hand-bar shall be attached to all cages. Section 7 prohibits the use of winding-ropes unless authorized by the Inspector. Such ropes shall be recapped at intervals of not more than six months, and shall not be in use for more than three years and a half. Winding-ropes used for raising or lowering persons shall not be spliced. Section 8 provides for the examination of the working-places by firemen-deputies within two hours of the'eommencement of work. The remaining twelve sections pertain to —Sick and Acoident Fund; the compulsory acquisition by the Government of private lands for State coal-mines, also power to let such acquired land to other persons; the compulsory working of coal-bearing land by its owner, if deemed advisable; a prospecting license being held by the Minister of Mines or his appointee; prospecting on privately owned land; acquisition of vessels for carrying coal from State coal-mines; compulsory accommodation for employees by mine-owners; the suspension of the qualifications regarding age and experience necessary for a miner in charge of a place in the event of the Minister of Mines, acting upon the recommendation of a Commission, deeming such suspension necessary in the public interest; prohibition of tobacco in any form in any mine where safety-lamps are required to be used. Under the Mining Amendment Act, 1919, section 16, provision was made for Government loans for carrying on coal-mining operations and all matters incidental to such operations. During the current year, by Order in Council, additional regulations under the Coal-mines Acts have been made. Such regulations provide for— 26. An increase from 2£ to 5 per cent, in the amount of the allowance which may be made to a miners' association towards the expense of management of the Sick and Accident Fund. 83. (a.) In all working-places exceeding in height 10 ft. there shall be kept a pole, having a steel pricker attached at one end and a steel ferrule at the other end, for sounding and, if necessary, removing roof, (b.) In all working-places exceeding 12 ft. a ladder shall be kept. 134. The explosive " Ligdynite " is placed in the Second (A) Schedule, and is permitted only in mines in which fire-damp has not been reported for three years. 154 a. When and where the Inspector deems necessary, mechanical ventilating appliance shall be installed. Form 14 provides for a shot-firer's daily record. I have, &c, Frank Reed. Inspecting Engineer of Mines and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.

* Report on a Conference by the North Midland Coal-owners Rescue Station Company (Limited), published by the Colliery Guardian for 27th January, 1920, page 589.

B—C. 2.

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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northers Inspection District (Mr. Boyd Bennie, Inspector). Taupiri Collieries Extended Mine. —The mine-workings are partly under the Waikato River and on (lie western side of that river. The thickness of rock cover'overlying the coal-seam at the point where the present workings are situated is approximately 450 ft.', consisting mostly of fireclay. There are two coal-seams in this mine, the lower or main seam being about 22 ft. thick and the upper seam from 16 ft. to 18 ft. thick, separated from each other by approximately 40 ft. of fireclay. The quality of the coal is similar in both seams, but only a small area of the upper seam has been worked, and that area is some chains away from the course of the Waikato River. I understand that the management do not intend to work any section of the upper seam where it underlies the river. The mine is worked on the bord-and-pillar system, the bords in this mine being 14 ft. wide and the pillars 24 ft. wide. In the lower coal-seam the height of the bord is from 12 ft. to 17 ft. A mine-creep and falls of roof coal occurred in the northern dip section of the mine during the year. In. August signs of a creep were observed in the No. 4 level, No. 2 tail-rope section, where several heavy falls of roof coal and fireclay took place, there being signs of spontaneous combustion in the fallen debris. Fortunately that section of the mine was only connected with any other part of the mine by two drives, the main haulage-road and the return airway; the working-places were at a lower level than the roads referred to, and, the danger of mine-fire being so apparent, it was decided to flood that portion of the mine with water. This was accomplished ma short time and all danger thereby removed. Brick stoppings were built in the two main drives thus completely closing off the heated area. At No. 5 level several heavy falls of roof coal and fireclay occurred, falling up to the floor of the upper coal-seam, a height of about 30 ft. The upper seam has not been worked in this section, and a careful examination did not reveal any fractures on this coal-seam. There is about 400 ft. of cover overlying the falls—viz., 20ft. of coal and 340 ft. of strata—to the river-bed, some of which is good impermeable claystone, fireclay, &c. The greatest danger was from mine-fires due to spontaneous combustion among the fallen coal. The management therefore decided to close off the affected area, being Nos. 5 and 6 levels in the north dip section, and as a temporary precaution eleven brick stoppings were built, and by the end of the year reinforced-conerete dams varying in thickness from 6 ft. to 8 ft. were built outside most of the stoppings. The present workings and old workings have been carefully and regularly inspected by the company's officials, and periodically by the workmen's inspectors, and found to be safe ami free from dangerous accumulations of fire-damp, although small quantities of that gas have frequently been found during the year. Safety-lamps and permitted explosives only are used in the mine. There have been no fatal accidents in the mine for the year. Many minor accidents, necessitating miners being off work, some of them for lengthy periods, have occurred, and these have been a heavy drain on the Coal-miners' Relief Fund. During the year the company has built a commodious bath and change house, and the workmen are making good use of them. At No. 2 shaft winding-machinery and pit-head frames have been erected for lowering and raising the workmen into and from the mine at this shaft, thus relieving the No. 1 shaft, so that more time may be available for winding coal. Taupiri Company's Rotowaro Mine. —This mine has worked continuously throughout the year, and although for a portion of that period the daily output has been restricted, yet the coal mined for the year has been substantially increased. The mine is opening out in a most satisfactory manner, the coal-seam being from 16 ft. to 20 ft. thick. There are no features that require special mention. The mine is well ventilated by Sirocco fan. The work of installing the permanent, machinery has been going on slowly owing to the difficulty of getting the necessary material. The haulage engine formerly at Ralph's Mine has been removed and erected here, and the steam boilers from the same mine are also being erected at the Rotowaro Mine. A new and up-to-date electric plant is being installed. A change and bath house has been erected and is now in use. No. 2 mine, south-west of No. 1 mine, is being opened up, being an area of coal lying towards the Huntly-Awaroa Railway line, which will be worked from the No. 2 mine. The tramway connecting with the screening plant has been formed, and coal will be mined at the No. 2 mine in the near future. Pukemiro Colliery. —The mine has worked almost continuously throughout the year. In June the workmen's inspectors thought their right of inspecting all parts of the mine was infringed when the manager closed off a section of the mine when the first working had been completed. This area was not used in connection with the working of any other part of the mine, and to avoid the possibility of workmen wandering into the old workings, and to further reduce the possibility of mine-fires from spontaneous combustion, brick stoppings were built into the roads leading into the said old workings. Two doors were let into the brickwork, and these were locked as required by Special Rule 16. The Miners' Union was informed that the manager was acting strictly in accordance with the Coal-mines Act and the regulations; nevertheless they stopped work from the 4th to the 23rd June. On the 19th June a special inspection of the closed-off portion of the mine was made by the mine-manager, workmen's inspectors, the Inspecting Engineer of Coal-mines, and myself, when we found that there were no dangerous conditions there to endanger either the workmen or the mine. Having satisfied the workmen's inspectors that there was no danger so long as workmen were prevented from entering those old workings, I asked that the doors referred to be removed and the aperture be filled in with brickwork; also that

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several other brick stoppings be strengthened. This has been done. With the exception of this stop-work referred to, the work at the mine has gone on as usual during the year. Main headings are being extended into the newly leased south-east area, where the coal is good and the seam approximately 20 ft. thick. Waipa Collieries. —This mine has worked continuously throughout the year (day shift only). I have examined the colliery a number of times during the year. The roof clay overlying the coal-seam is friable and much jointed, requiring careful timbering. The timber is systematically set, but not braced or strutted. There does not appear to be any danger on that account, but occasionally the timber near the bord-face is shot out when the workmen are shooting off side coal at the tail end of their bord. Recently, owing to a workman, on returning to his working-place after firing shots, being struck on the arm and slightly injured by a fall of roof claystone loosened by the shooting-out of the timber near the face, I had to direct that the miners should not continue this dangerous practice. The endless-rope haulage-system has been installed from the ground-tram tail-rope terminus into the mine through a new stone drive, and this is a great improvement over the old system previously employed. There have been no additions to the mining machinery during the year. An up-to-date bath and change room has been erected and is now in use. There has been no new development-work undertaken for the opening-up and extending of the mining operations to any other part of the company's property. No. 2 mine has been closed, the pillar coal being exhausted. Waikato Extended Mine. —The mine is worked with only a few men. The coal is shipped to Hamilton and to places on the Waipa River. No special effort appears to be made to increase the output of coal from the mine. I have visited the mine several times during the year. lluntly Coal and Fireclay Mining Company. —The coal mined is from pillars left in by a former mining company many years ago. It has been found that the coal can be mined only by the opencut method, and, the overlying cover being soft clay, and at places from 12 ft. to 15 ft. thick, the cost of mining is high, and the only advantage in mining the coal is that the company can get a regular supply for their brickworks furnaces. The company do not sell the coal to the public, and the coal available for their own use is very limited, and may fail them in the near future. The fireclay quarry gives them sufficient clay of a good quality for their own use, and the supply appears to be sufficient for many years to come. The work at the mine and quarry has been carried on with great care for the safety of the workmen. Uunua Colliery. —This small mine is situated near Hunua Township and about eight miles east of Papakura. The coal-seam is 6 ft. thick, with a shale band of about 6 in. in the centre of the seam. The quality is slightly inferior to the Taupiri coal. There appears to be a large area of coal in the district, but, the quality being inferior to the Waikato coal, and the difficulty of constructing even a light railway being great, 1 do not anticipate that the coal-deposit will be worked on a large scale for many years. The coal from this mine is carried by motor-lorry to Papakura. Four men are employed at the colliery. Greencastle Colliery, Aria. —Early in the year I visited the mine and made a careful examination of the fault referred to in my previous report, and advised the owner with a view to the coal-seam being cut into beyond the fault. Later Mr. Morgan has informed me that he has cut into the coal beyond the fault, and it appears to be much harder and of a better quality. This coal-supply is a great boon to the settlers around the mine and to the butter-factory at Aria. There is a fair supply of timber for mining purposes close to the mine. Hikurangi Colliery. —The colliery is near Waro Station, about a mile north of Hikurangi. The Phoenix section of the mine lies under the southern end of the Waro lime-rock deposits which are of so much interest to travellers and geologists on account of the varied form of the rocks. The coal-seam is from 8 ft. to 10 ft. thick, but the area is not large. At the line of the Great North Road there is an upthrow fault-line. The first working has been completed up to the fault-line, and the pillar coal is now being worked. I believe there is sufficient pillar coal to last for two years at the present rate of working. Nos. 2 and 6 sections, also under the lime rocks : Both mines are working pillar coal, mining from the centre back toward their respective main entrances. Northern Company's Waro Rocks Section.- —The managing director, having recently arranged for an electrical mining plant, the engineers are preparing the foundations for the erection of such machinery. It is intended to utilize electrical power for haulage, pumping, &c. It will take some time before the mine can be unwatered and cleaned up so that coal-mining may be resumed. Northern Company's Tauronga Section. —This mine is worked on contract by a small party of miners. The coal-seam is 4 ft. thick, containing a band of stone. The contract let to the miners in this case is more to the advantage of the coal company than to the miners. The minemanager is in the employ of the mining company and is a careful, capable man. Four men are employed. Foot and Doel's Crown Lease (Section 4, Block XVI, Hikurangi Survey District). —Silverdale Mine : The mine on part Section 2, Block XVI, having been worked out, these men applied for a lease to mine coal on Section 4, Block XVI, and have opened a mine there. The coal-seam is about 5 ft. thick, but is intersected with a band of fireclay, which is in some places from 6 in. to 15 in. thick. They are working very carefully and doing good work. The coal is sent by motorlorry to Hikurangi Railway-station, where it is loaded into trucks and sent where required. The County Council and Town JJoard are levying a tax on these miners for damage to the roads. Kerr and Wyatt's Crown Lease (Section 39, N.E. Block XVI). —These men have done good work in locating and mining some coal left in by a former coal-mining company. In prospecting they found a small area not previously mined. The coal was very thin, but they are now working it. Previously they sold their coal to the Hikurangi Company, but the price paid for it was not enough to meet the expenses of mining the thin coal, and now they are taking their coal to

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the Hikurangi Railway-station, where it is loaded into trucks and sent where required. This coal also is carried over the roads which the County Council and Town Board are complaining are being cut up. Northern Kiripaka Mine. —Leasehold section : The greater portion of coal mined for the year came from this section. The first working has been completed and pillar coal is now being worked. There were two entrances to the area being worked—viz., the main entrance and Shepherd's tunnel. From these drives the main levels were driven until they junctioned, and from that point the pillar coal was worked, retiring towards the entrances. Thus when the first fall of roof took place the air-course previously used was closed up, and the workings became practically two separate mines requiring independent ventilation-systems. As stated in my previous report, a section of the coal inclines at a steep angle, and it will be extremely difficult to mine a high percentage of that coal, the coal being friable, and falls of roof rock in the waste will rill down and some of the pillar coal will be lost. In the first working the mine has been carefully worked, and the ventilation, which was by a small mine-fan, was generally good. The small mine on the freehold section has been worked by four men on contract. Cunningham's Crown Lease (Co-operative Mine Section N.E. 48, Block XVl).—During the year a new mine has been opened out on the same section but fully half a mile east from the former mine. The coal is situated on a hilltop, and is good, but the area is small. A ground tram has been formed from the mine to the Hikurangi-Marua Road, and from there the coal is taken to the Hikurangi Railway-station by motor-lorry. North New Zealand Coal-mining Company. —This mine has been closed down during the whole of the year, and it is not known when it will be drained and again worked. Serious Accidents, 1919. Of fattil accidents there were none. The non-fatal serious accidents were the following :— William Everson, Taupiri Extended Mine: Severe strain of rcctoral muscles causing injury to heart which has permanently disabled him for heavy work. The sprain and injury to heart was caused by his falling while trucking on the 24th July, 1919. Matthew Robinson, Taupiri Extended Mine : Loss of sight of one eye caused by flying coal on the 3rd February, 1919. Hector Fairless (aged 16), Pukemiro Collieries : Fracture of both thighs caused by falling between two moving trucks while uncoupling from the haulage-rope at the screening plant on the 9th April, 1919. A. Harry, Waipa Collieries: Dislocated shoulder caused by a piece of timber falling on his shoulder while he was timbering his working-place on the 22nd August, 1919. David Cairns, Waipa Collieries : Fractured tibia and fibula caused by a fall of roof-coal in his working-place on the 11th October, 1919. Peter Aitkin, Hikurangi Collieries : Broken collar-bone caused by fall of roof-coal in working-place, 4th December, 1918. Richard Wells, Kiripaka Collieries : Fractured radius caused by having his wrist caught between two trucks while coupling trucks on to the locomotive at the mine on the 29th May, 1919. West Coast Inspection District (Mr. George Duggan, Inspector.) New Zealand State Goal-mines. Liverpool, Colliery. —No. 1 Section : The upper-scam workings on the east side of the Sevenmile Creek are narrowing in from the cast, as the seam is thinning and is split up by hard stony bands. Pillar-extraction on the west side of the Seven-mile Creek is almost completed, in much lower coal than formerly. Morgan Seam : From April until September no coal was mined from the Morgan seam owing to the shortage of labour. Development is now proceeding to the east and west. The cast levels are in 19 chains, and the main west levels 13 chains. This seam is a gaseous one, and to keep the working-faces clear it was found necessary to run \]iv large Sirocco fan continuously. A crosscut stone tunnel is being driven at about 600 ft. lower elevation than the present entry to the Morgan seam. The drive is now in 19 chains. Axial water-feed rock-drills, driven by compressed air, are exclusively used in this tunnel. No. 3a Section : Twelve miners are engaged in this section, mainly at pillar-extraction. No. 3 Section : Only a small area now remains to be worked between this section and the No. 3a section, and the working-places entering this area are in thin coal, split up by thick bands of stone. Nos. 3 and I inclines, north of No. 4 level, have become too stony to work, and pillaring has commenced there. An incline above the fourth east level emerged at an outcrop in Garvcy's Creek, and thus materially assisted the ventilation. The west-side pillars—No. 1 level— are now exhausted. Pillaring on the east side above the No. 2 level was commenced caily in the year. Point Elizabeth Mine. —Only a few miners are employed at the No. 2 section extracting the remaining pillars. A portion of the plant, including an air-compressor, has been removed to the new James Mine near the coast. James Mine. —This is the recently prospected coal-area near Seven-mile Creek which is now under development. A Lancashire boiler has been placed in position and preparations are being made to commence the stone tunnel on the tramway to connect the mine with the coal storage-bins and screen. This tunnel will be about 1,000 ft. in length, rising at a very slight grade of 3 in. to the chain.

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Grey Valley Coalfield. Paparoa Colliery. —Most of the output from the Paparoa Mine was from pillar-extraction, the only development being the continuation of the level going south-east from the head of the first jig. Small quantities of inflammable gas are occasionally reported by the examining deputy. Owing to the small output many pillars are crushed before being extracted, and large quantities of coal are lost. Blackball Colliery. —The output was obtained from No. 9 dip and No. 9 rise workings. The crosscut and No. 17 sections were idle until November, and in the latter section portions of the workings had to be sealed off owing to spontaneous combustion. Heating was also apparent in No. 1 rise section, and the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 banks were scaled off. Two other banks in the No. 1 rise section have been constantly advancing, and have opened up an area of approximately 10 acres. The No. 9 dip has been extended only a chain or two, and is now about 7 chains below the lower haulage-road. Places have been broken away near the bottom of the dip. The coal there is extremely hard. Black-damp is freely given off in the No. 9 section, mainly from the floor, and brattices have to be kept close up to the working-faces. All working-places, 10 ft. wide and over, are now timbered, instead of, as formerly, the coal being " arched " in some. The general safety of the mine is thereby much improved. The main levels in this section are now within 10 chains of the line of the large fault. North Brunner Mine. —The main workings were exhausted in July, and to obtain a strip of coal to the dip of these workings a stone tunnel is being driven approximately 5 chains from the old level. This is now in over 400 ft. The fault has been crossed, and the seam should soon be pierced. St. Kilda Mine. —The remaining coal pillars are being taken out safely, and extraction will be completed before the end of 1920. Work in the Coal-pit Heath section has again ceased. The lower portion of the fireclay drive has been abandoned, but fireclay is still being won from the upper level. Dobson Area. —Preparations arc being made to drive a dip tunnel, approximately 1,300 ft. long, at a grade of about 1 in 3, to the coal proved by the Grcymouth Harbour Board's No. I borehole. Rock-drills driven by compressed air will be used, and the air-compressor and steam boiler are now being installed. Boustridge' s Prospecting-area (near Stillwater). —The coal in the main level became thin and unworkable, and driving ceased at 200 ft. in from the surface. Reef ton District. Reef ton Coal Company's Mine. —A crosscut stone drive from near the mine entrance proved a coal-seam at 300 ft. The seam is 5 ft. thick, hard, and of good quality. An outcrop was also found in a creek 11 chains from the mine-entrance. Another stone tunnel for ventilating purposes has been driven from the creek and connected with the crosscut. The timbering in this mine has shown a decided improvement during the year. Eonini Mine (formerly Lockington's). —A considerably increased output was obtained from this mine. Coal was produced during the year from both the lower and upper sections of the Konini Mine. A dip drive going north-west was commenced from the main level in the upper section, but owing to the lack of plant to cope with water the drive was stopped before going many yards. The Konini Company also control Lishman's lease, and the old drives on this area were cleaned out during the past year and retimbcred, but coal-production has not yet recommenced. Waitahu Mine. —Little underground development was done at this mine, but a diamond-drill borehole, 800 ft. ahead of the downthrow fault, proved the coal-seam to be 8 ft. thick at 584 ft. from the surface. Prospecting is also being done on a lower seam, cast of the present workings. Morris and Learmont's Mine. —Three miners are employed at Morris and Learmont's mine. It is proposed to strip the overburden near the mine-eiitranc.e and obtain the coal from a few acres by opencast workings. Murray Creek Mines. —Four miners are producing coal from the thick seam at the Phoenix and Venus Mine. Owing to the disabilities of conveying coal to Rccfton the output is restricted to about 8 tons per day. A new mine, called the "Victory," was opened up during the year near Murray Creek, by Messrs. Woods and party. A traffic-road, 20 chains long, and a surface jig, about 6 chains, were made to connect this mine with the main traffic-road to Reef ton. Two seams were driven on, the lower one thinned to about 3 ft., and developing was stopped when the drive was in 180 ft. The upper-seam workings are now in over 200 ft., and the coal is very hard and clean. The places are 7 ft. 6 in. high, worked to a "parting," with about 3 ft. of "tops" left on. The bottom coal is not worked, being soft and unsaleable. Lankey's Creek Mine. —Coal from this mine is used solely for power purposes at the Energetic Gold-mine. Owing to the Energetic shaft being destroyed no coal was mined during the year. Archer's Freehold (Capleston). —A crosscut drive through soft sandstone proved a 24 seam of hard coal lying at an inclination of 45°, and, being driven a further distance of 80 ft., pierced a 6 ft. seam of good coal. Development-work is proceeding on the thick seam, and levels are being driven east and west. Golden Point Mine. —This mine was reopened during the past year, and a dip driven a pillarlength below the old workings. A level is proceeding from the bottom of this dip. The seam is almost vertical in the level. Railway. —A private railway connecting the Burkes Creek mines with the Reefton-Grey-mouth Railway will be completed about the end of January. This will replace about three miles of horse-haulage. Numerous coal leases and coal-prospecting licenses have been granted recently in Rccfton district. One coal-prospecting license was cancelled during the year, and two coal leases determined for non-compliance of the conditions imposed. Three amalgamations of small leases have been effected.

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Westport District. Goal Creek Mine (Mokihinui). —This mine is still being worked by a co-operative party, who deserve every encouragement. The working-places are well timbered, and the Coal-mines Act is being complied with. The old workings near the bins are Hearing exhaustion, and the party has constructed a tramway over half a mile long, alongside the western bank of Coal Creek, to an area south of the Knights of Labour heading. This will soon be opened up, and connected to the tramway by a surface jig, about 7 chains long, rising at a grade of lin 5. Coal will be hauled over the tramway by a petrol locomotive. Co-operative Mine (Seddonville).—The year's output was 3,430 tons. Much brassy coal is now being met in the pillar-extraction, and ere long the workable coal will be exhausted. A "creep " came on near the tunnel-mouth during October, and mining operations were suspended for over a month. This party were cleaning out the main tunnel of the old Seddonville State Mine to get to some coal left in the west section, but an underground fire occurred on the 4th December at the far end of the west workings, and, being near pillared ground, it was deemed impracticable to seal off the fire. St. Helens Mine. —This is a small mine ojiened up during the past year on the hill immediately above the railway-tunnel, between St. Helens and Seddonville. The coal is hard, and about 7 ft. thick. Six men are employed here on the co-operative principle. Westporl-Stockton Colliery. —The B section of the old mine has been idle for the greater part of the year, and the men from the C and D sections were removed to the new mine during October, owing to the shortage of labour in the latter mine. In the L section, east of C section, old mine, the seam is much folded. The " Sandcap " section of the new mine was exhausted during the year. A new motor-haulage road has been made through the stone drive to the new mine, and the pillars near the fire area are being extracted. The high-tension cables to No. 4 substation have been removed from the wooden poles alongside the haulage-road, and placed on steel poles about 5 chains back from the haulage-road. This safety precaution is being continued from No. 4 substation to the new mine. Millerton Collieries. Millerton Colliery (Mangatiua Section). —The proposed extension of the Mangatina south headings has not yet been commenced, and the output is still obtained from the small area along the eastern boundary of the lease. Old Dip Section : A crosscut going south-west has been made through the coal pillars. It is proposed to extend this drive across Granity Creek, and it will then enter a proved coal area, south of the old curved drive. Mine Creek Mine. —No air connections have yet been made to the old dip sections, but the No. 2 dip workings are near Granity Creek, and will outcrop a few chains higher up the creek than the old dip workings. Development is still proceeding in Evans section going west. A fire occurred at the Mine Creek fan-house on the 24th February, and after burning all the woodwork of the rcversing-apparatus the fire was subdued. Denniston Collieries. Ironbridge Mine. —Very little development has been done at the Ironbridge Mine during the past year. The inner shaft section has remained idle, and the new Deep Creek section, to which an endless-rope haulage-road has been made, has not been worked, the miners demanding increased tonnage rates owing to the long distance they have to travel to and from work. Kiwi Section : A few more solid places are being driven near the compressor and to the east of the old workings. Coalbrookdale Mine, (Wareatea Jig Section). —The main heading met a 15 ft. upthrow fault, and, as the coal met beyond the fault is stony, the places arc being widened out preparatory to pillar-extraction. The splitting of pillars, &c., necessary for the formation of a new rope-road is proceeding apace, but the haulage-road will not be completed for at least six months. An over-tub safety rope is now in use on the main jig in this section. Wareatea Extended Section : All the output from the Wareatea Extended was obtained from pillar-extraction. A little desultory prospecting has been done near the fault during the year, but no coal has yet been pierced beyond the fault. Cascade Mine.— Pillar-extraction is still proceeding in the No. 8 section. The ground is still very heavy, and the ventilating-currcnt, having to pass over many falls to reach the faces, is sometimes deficient in oxygen. Black-damp is occasionally reported in this section by the examining deputy. The concrete foundation of the electric power-house (to be erected near the haulage-road on the plateau) is completed. The machinery, including generators and BelhsMorcomb steam-engines, is stored near the site ready for installing. Nelson District. Puponga Mine. —The small co-operative party continued pillar-extraction in the top section, and produced 3,536 tons during the year. Only a few pillars remain to be worked. North Cape Mine. —A little solid work is still being done on the east side of the dip, but the coal is very thin and stony. The remainder of the output is from pillar-extraction. A dispute arose in May as to whether a set rider should be allowed on the main-dip haulage. Considering the steep pitch of the seam and the numerous props being set along the middle of the dip, it was decided to be an unsafe practice, and the management were notified accordingly. Fatal Accidents. Four fatalities occurred in the inspection district during the year. Archer's Freehold (Capleston).— On the 22nd February William Kirk, a miner, aged fortysix years, sustained fractured ribs and haamorrhage of the lungs by a fall of stone and coal from his working-face near the entrance to the mine. A sprag was needed, and deceased appeared to have been preparing a hitch in the floor for the sprag when the fall occurred. Three suitable sprags were lying within 20 ft. of the fall.

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Point Elizabeth State Coal-mines.—On the 25th April William Muncaster, jun., trucker, thirty-two years of age, was fatally injured. He was struck by a full runaway tub at the bottom of a jig, and his left kidney was ruptured. Westport-Stockton.— On the 22nd May Pcrcival John Rutledge, aged twenty-three years locomotive-driver, fell in front of a race of empty tubs being pushed along by an electric locomotive, and three of the tubs ran over him before the race could be slopped. His pelvis was fractured, and he died the next morning. On the 17th November James Shearer, a, deputy, aged thirty-two years, received fractured ribs and a displaced kidney by a fall of stone from the roof of a'working-place to which he was returning after firing a shot therein. The shot had blown out a, prop near the face, and the stone had been supported by the prop. Serious non-fatal Accidents. Westort-Stockton Colliery.— l7th February: Edward Duffin, brakesman, had his fool crushed by being run over by a full race of mine-tubs on the motor-haulage road. The back portion of his foot was amputated later. Puponga Mine. —27th January : Arthur J. Skyring, miner, while cutting supports in the bush, lost his left eye by being struck by a chip from his axe. Liverpool State Mine. —lBth June: Phillip Findlay, rope-boy, received a fracture of the dome of his_ skull. A haulage-rope at the bins, coming out of the sheave, struck a piece of timber, causing it to strike him. Liverpool, No. 1 Section. —7th July : Leslie Harvey, trucker, fractured his leg by a prop falling off a mine-tub whilst he was turning the tub on a flat-sheet. 17th November : Charles McAuley, rock-driller, lost his left eye and sustained injuries to his head and face by the premature explosion of two detonators. He was preparing the fuses for a round of holes, and attaching the detonators to the fuses. Millerton, Mine. —3oth June: J. Teehan, trucker, lost joints from the first, second, and third fingers of his right hand by getting it caught between the jig-wheel and jig-rope. 29th August : J. C. Brown, district manager of the Westport Coal Company, received fractured ribs and arm by falling from the upper to the lower workings while inspecting the old workings, accompanied by the mine-manager. Prosecution, for Breach of General Rules. Reef ton Coal, Company's Mine. —Proceedings were instituted against the mine-manager for a breach of General Rule 2 (h) by allowing a naked light in a building used as a powder-magazine. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined .£5 and costs. Explosives. The supply of " permitted explosives " is still restricted, and numerous complaints were made regarding deterioration. In the middle of summer I have found frozen explosives in the miners' powder-tins. Should a frozen cartridge be inadvertently nlaced in a shot-hole, it is almost certain to entail a hang-fire. Trouble was also experienced at the Blackball and State mines owing to defective electric detonators. Dangerous Occurrences requiring Notification (Regulation 81). Millerton Mine. —On the 17th April, through a fall of coal from near the face of the abandoned dip in the old workings of the Mine Creek section, a quantity of water came into the workings in flic south pillars. Liverpool Mine No. I. —Tn the east section of the upper seam a sheet of brattice-cloth near an outcrop was found afire on the 6th August. Tt had presumably caught by a miner going through with his lighted pit-lamp in his hat. Blackball. —Heating was reported by the examining deputy on the 3rd March in the No. 1 rise workings, and Nos. 1, 2. and 3 banks had to be sealed off. On the 3rd June an outbreak of fire occurred in the No. 17 section, and it was successfully stopped off next day. Old. Seddonville Mine. —An underground fire was reported on the 4th December, but, owing to being near pillared ground, could not be sealed off. Twelve-mile Bluff (near Greymouth). —During September a fire was reported to have broken out in a coal-seam in a cliff overlooking the road being formed between Greymouth and Barrytown. The seam being 150 ft. above the road, and about 50 ft. below the lop of the cliff, men had to be lowered from the top, and by means of picks they cut away the burning coals. Southern Inspection District (Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector). Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited), Avoca. —Coal-workings on south side of Sloven's Creek in seam of 15 ft. thickness between walls inclined at an angle of 75°. The scam to rise where the ground was troubled and broken had not proved continuous. Levels were driven on the strike and the seam followed within the walls, which, however, had not maintained a true course, but bent inward in bow shape. Driving to dip easterly where the coal-seam was hard and more solid in appearance than in the rise workings; also driving on the seam north of the creek and preparing for prospecting by boring with the diamond drill. Six new wooden cottages for workmen had been built on the plateau near the head of the gorge track—each of four rooms, bathroom, scullery, and outhouses, also hot and cold water; cost, not less than £550 each. Springfield, Coal-mine, Springfield. —A short drive had been put in on the outcrop of a worked upper seam of 2 ft. thickness, but only 6 tons of coal were produced and work was again suspended.

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Sheffield Coal-mine, Sheffield.-An adit had been partly driven toward the sft seam found m prospectmg-shaft, but was not being persevered with Homebush Colliery, Glentunnel.-Viewed the several openings and outlets at outcrops of seams being worked by parties of miners on a contract basis with the owners. Timbering an,/nie ho," working were being conducted safely. The Government diamond drill was at the seven h lore TroonffflS "/" of \ T; ,rkablc seam of ooal All '™ d N< »- ' »«-«™ foi'fo'-a ; ;,r i ,OUU lb. ot explosives for use at the mine. jj*. miens Coal-mine, White CUffs, -Another drive put ii dllside, to which the steam plant had been moved, to recover a small known area of seam left at former working. Tripp's Coal-mine, Mount Somers.—YiMw and head coal now practically exhausted, and this part of the property almost worked out. Wright's old mine-workings had been reopened and there was a sufficient quantity of coal in sight to provide output at current rate for at least two years, with a reasonable prospect of much more coal behind the barrier left at first working. Woolmer's Coal-mine, Mount Somers.— Working suspended throughout the year. Alhury Coal-mine, Albury.— The old fire had broken out again, and it appeared now to have taken possession of the pillared ground, so that the entrance may not be of further use for output. Stoppings put in could not be kept tight owing to the broken nature of the ground and he remedy is to allow the ground to fall and fill in to smother the fire in the waste. A shaft had been sunk to the dip, and an adit was being driven to the seam on which the shaft had bottomed. _ Allanholme Coal-mine, Waihao Forks.— Seam 15 ft., worked bord-and-pillar system Ventilation good. Meadowbank Coal-mine, Waihao Forks.— Two men employed. Seam 15 ft.; drive 50 ft to face; shaft to be sunk on the terrace for ventilation. St. Andrew's Coal-m.ine, Papaka,io.—A new entrance driven to the outcrop of the seam formerly worked by Mr. Nimmo. Prince Alfred Coal-m.ine, Papakaio. —A small mine worked for supply of local requirements. Ngapara Coal-mine, Ngapara. —A small mine worked for supply of local requirements. Shag Point (old) Mine, Shag Point. —New stone drive, down 90 ft., to tap seam known to continue, will cut off connection with old workings. Shag Point Coal Company's Coal-mine, Shag Point. —Extension of the branch railw.ay-line from Shag Point railway junction completed fo loading-bank near mine-mouth., where fixed screens had been erected dividing the coal into three classes. The new stone drive, 460 ft. in length, hud been finished, and a double line of rails was being laid for jig haulage to mine-mouth. A double-inlet Sirocco fan, 18 in. diameter, provided for ventilation. Larsen and Brown, Kyeburn.—A small opencast pit held under lignite license. Coal Creek Coal-m.ine, Coal Creel!, Flat. —Operations suspended meanwhile. McPherson's Coal-mine, Coal Creek Flat. —Pit in good working-order. Water had been brought in for stripping and keeping down spontaneous fire, to which the seam has been liable. Alexandra Coal-m,ine, Alexandra,. —Working-places had been driven narrow throughout, and the benefit of so doing is now appreciated, as the soft and tender roof was proving incapable of adequately supporting the ovcrlving strata of 300 ft. or more. Splitting pillars and robbing of as much available coal as possible with safety to workmen. Cambrian Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Pit flooded, and no evidence of recent working. Stripping had become enormously heavy, which with wafer-drainage from natural inflow had rendered the pit unprofitable. Morgan Brothers, Cam,brian. —ln the process of gold-mining the seam of lignite was exposed underlying the auriferous wash. Application for a lignite license was made and subsequently granted. Laudervale Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Pit in good working-order; stripping kept ahead of coal-face, which will, however, soon require to be worked by underground mining. St. Bathan's Coal-mine, St. Bathan's. —Opencast pit, worked for supply of local demand. Hough Ridge Coal-mine, Otiireliuu. —Stripping and getting lignite above water-level. This pit was nearly worked out. Idabnrn Coal-mine, Ofurehna.. —The recent flood had drowned the old pit in the watercourse of the creek. Opening in a new place on the " Freehold," where stripping shallow. Oturehua Goal-m,ine, Ofurehna. —Opencast pit recently reopened for output, workings in good order. Cromwell Coal-mine, Cromwell. —Lower levels continued to right, and left of dip haulage-way. Water inflow small as compared with former workings, between which and this mine there remained several chains of solid coal as shown on the mine-plans. Shepherd's Creek, Coal-m,ine, Bannockburn. —Pillar- and head-coal extraction continued safely. Gibson's Coal-mine, Bannockburn',. —Working discontinued and mine flooded. Cardrona, Coal-mine, Cardrona. —After a great deal of strenuous work removing stripping and overburden the coal-seam does not appreciably improve, as deserved by the conscientious tenant in occupation of this Crown lease. Gibbsfon, Coal-mine, Gibbston. —Spontaneous fire in the old workings had been reported as under control. Nevis Coal-mine, Nevis (E . ,7. Williams). —No work had been done this season. Nevis Crossing Coal-mine, Nevis. —Opencast workings on vertical scam. Coal being mined to a depth of 20 ft.' and 8 ft. width.

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Lower Nevis Coal-m.ine, Nevis. —Worked for supply to the gold-mining dredge. Where exposed the seam was about 15 ft. in width, but much crushed and broken.. Fernhill Coal-mine, Abbotsford. —Two men extracting pillars and two men putting in a prospecting-drive to tap the seam to dip. Freeman's Coal-mine, Abbotsford . —Only three miners now on the coal. Furnace ventilation adequate. Green Island Coal-mine, Green Island. —Extracting pillars on a small scale. Jubilee Coal-mine, Saddle Hill. —Ventilation conducted by brattice to working-faces. A new upper seam, 8 ft. in thickness, was being opened up at near the haulage-tunnel entrance. Saddle Hill No. 1 Coal-mine, Saddle Hill. —Inadequate bratticing between intake haulageway and return airway to upcast furnace shaft. Ladder-way also required in shaft pending communication between workings and dip drive being driven from surface. These deficiencies were reported as having been immediately remedied. Saddle Hill No. 2 Coal-mine, Saddle Hill. —Fan ventilation. Air conducted by brattice to working-faces. Substantial permanent stoppings in against the waste for prevention of spontaneous fires. Fast Taieri Coed-mine, Fast Taieri. —Old dip workings abandoned. A new entrance had been made to southward between the outcrop and the dip drive. Small fan erected for ventilation. Magazine approved for storage of 275 lb. of explosives. Brighton Coal-mine, Brighton. —An inclined shaft had been sunk for second outlet and return airway. Seam thin (5 ft. 6 in.); headings driven narrow. Salisbury Goal-mine, North Taieri. —Work suspended, the seam having proved to be thin and unprofitable. Waronui Coal-mine, Milton. —Upper-dip pillars and that portion of the seam to rise left at first working now being recovered may soon be expected to become exhausted. Recent prospecting by boring had proved the existence of a lower coal-seam, 13 ft. in thickness, at depth of 100 ft. MeGilp's Coed-mine, Milton. —New mine-entrance to workings; robbing of pillar and head coal continued. Fall of roof was being brought down to smother heating place in the waste. Real Mackay Coal-mine, Akatore. —Working resumed at outcrop after being closed down for a number of years. New Burnwell Coal-mine, Lovell's Flat. —Seam of lignite being worked by underground mining. Drive well timbered to face. Dunlop's Coal-mine, Lovell's Flat. —A small mine recently opened by a party of practical miners from Kaitangata district. Taratu Coal-mine, Lovell's Flat. —New dip drive in shaft seam and working-places broken away. Hauling-winch and pump underground electrically driven from surface generating plant, as also the ventilating-fan at second outlet shaft. Old workings closed with substantial fire stoppings. Barclay's seam worked to outcrop, and pillar and head coal subsequently withdrawn. Kaituna (lately Miihara) Coal-mine, Kaitangata. —Seam thinning from 7 ft. to 4 ft., going easterly. Pillar-extraction continued. A new dip drive in northerly■ direction had proved the seam in regular sequence in that direction. Wangaloa Coal-mine, Wangaloa. —New mine opened on the Coal Reserve, which had been worked for many years but had latterly been neglected. Seam 10 ft. ; bord-and-pillar working. Gage's Goal-mine, Wangaloa. — New mine being opened on the Coal Reserve; seam 10 ft. at lace. Short tram-line and loading-bank being constructed. Longridge Coal-mine , Kaitangata. —A small output produced for local consumption. Kaitangata No. I Mine, Kaitangata. —Extraction of pillar and head coal in No. 6 dip and Mundy's dip sections had been brought back to the rib pillars on the haulage-ways, which had been extended in an easterly direction following the seam, and proved to be uninterrupted by faulting; also the districts were considerably larger in area than any previously worked in the colliery. The occasional presence of fire-damp had been reported at the edge of the waste beyond where men were required to work. When roof had fallen, as it invariably did, substantial stoppings were erected for prevention of heating and exudation of deleterious gases from the gob. Systematic timbering had been in vogue throughout the mine. The new Sirocco fan, 49 in. diameter, double inlet, had been installed, and a circulation of 33,000 cubic feet of air per minute was recorded. The fan was driven by a 40 h.p. motor with a 16 h.p. steam-engine for use in case of emergency when electric power might be cut off. The mine-entrance had been strengthened by a concrete archway for a length of 150 ft. A brick chimney, 113 ft. in height and over 14 ft. square at the base, had been erected for surface steam boilers. The new bathhouse was completed and being utilized by workmen. The stone drive off Barclay's level, dipping 1 in 4, at 380 ft. tapped a seam of good coal 12 ft. in thickness. Levels were being driven to the prospecting-shaft for ventilation. Kaitangata No. :2 Mine, Kaitangata. —The main haulage-way extension easterly had been extended 6 chains from the 18 ft. seam recently discovered, when, a 25 ft. seam of excellent coal was struck. The seams, too, were practically free from fire-damp, which had only been reported on rare occasions. Development in the 6 ft. seam was continued. Nos. 1 and 2 dips, main seam finished and blocked off. Steel tubbing on haulage-way had been considerably reinforced during the year. The power and speed of the Sirocco ventilating-fan had also been accelerated, and over 30,060 cubic feet of air per minute was in circulation in the mine. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata.. —A new seam of coal had been found after driving through conglomerate easterly. Output for market was not being derived from this mine. Repairs and

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ventilation, however, were maintained throughout the year. As formerly, the Inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported favourably on the condition of the pit horses and ponies at Kaitangata mines. Benhar Coal-mine, Stirling. —Seam to dip troubled and faulted. An inflow of water from overlying old workings had occurred, but not so as to endanger workmen. A borehole had been put up in the roof, and water was almost drained off. Stevenson's Collieries, Stirling. —Oil-engine and small exhaust fan procured for ventilation. New powder-magazine made near the mine for storage of 1,500 lb. of explosives. Phillip's Coal-mine, Pukerau.- A small lignite-mine recently opened. Miller Bros.' Goal-mine, Pukerau. —A small lignite-mine recently opened. Whiterigg Goal-mine, East Gore. —Seam of lignite strong, and worked safely. Green's Coed-mine, Gore. —The new air-shaft at near working-faces was acting well. Venti-lating-fan and oil-engine for drive being erected. Bushy Park Coal-mine, Gore. —Working suspended. Burnwell Coal-mine, North Chat.ton.—A small output mined for local use. Ramsay's Coal-mane, North Chatton. —Output raised for consumption in the district. Glenlee Goal-mine, Waikaka,. —An opencast pit being converted to underground mining. Greenvale Coal-mine, Waikaka. —A small mine worked intermittently. Pyramid Coal-mine, Riversdale. —After a considerable amount of prospecting, work is again discontinued. Rossvale Coal-mine, Waikaia.. —-Pillars robbed and work now being directed to the dip area. Waikaia Coal-mine, Waikaia. —Mine closed ; work suspended. Argyle Goal-mine, Waikaia. —Opencast seam. 15 ft. of lignite. Stripping kept, well ahead by sluicing away with water. Waikaia Oil-shale Development Company, Muddy Terrace. —Negotiations still pending for working and plant for reduction of shale-seam known to occur on the property. Princhester Creek Goal-mine. The Key. —Opencast pit. Coal difficult to win, but a boon to the district. Mataura Collieries, Mataura. —Ventilating-current not strong, but air clear and good; stentons well bratticed ; shot-firing conducted at end of shift. Mataura Lignite-m.ine, Mataura. —Ventilation fairly well conducted by brattice. Heatherlee Coal-mine, Waimumu. —Small private pit. Work suspended. Torrie Andrew, Waimumu. —A small opencast pit worked for local use. Ota Creek, Wyndham. —Opencast working for the requirements of the district. Clarke's Coal-mine, Wyndham. —An opencast pit worked intermittently. Nightcaps No. 1 Mine, Nightcaps. —The remaining pillars having been extracted to the outcrop, this mine, of long standing, is finished and abandoned. A few men were engaged in the "Resin " seam (4ft.) drawing pillars, as also in Lloyd's dip section, where the seam ranged from 5 ft. to 7 ft. in thickness. Ventilation here was inadequate owing to misfit brattice in certain places, as pointed out to the mine-manager, as also ambulance kits, which were not as well cared for as might have been expected. The management subsequently wrote that these matters had been rectified. Nightcaps No. 2 Mine, Nightcaps. —Opencast and underground mining continued satisfactorily. This mine now contributes the larger portion of output from this company's mines. Black, Diamond Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —Natural ventilation rapidly becoming inadequate, and a fan was to be obtained. Systematic timbering to roof also required for safety of workmen, as pointed out to and promised by the mine-manager. Burndale Goal-mine, Nightcaps. —Operations suspended meantime. Goaldale Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —Prospecting by driving had not been successful. Boringoperations now being conducted for location and thickness of seam. New Brighton Coal-mine. Wairio. —Small ventilating-fan in use to be replaced by a larger Sirocco fan, which was on order. Effective timbering conducted to working-faces. Wairio Coal-mine, Wairio. —Ventilation inadequate in the small seam, and the large seam required to be systematically timbered. The mine-manager subsequently wrote to say that these matters had been attended to. McKenzie and Sheddan's Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —-This lease is now incorporated with that held by the owners of Wairio Coal-mine, both being worked as one property. The Willow Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —An opencast pit, hitherto worked on a small scale, but now being prospected with a view to operations being extended. Wairaki Coal-mine, Nightcaps.— Emissions of inflammable gas with ignitions after .shottiring having been reported, it was decided by the Chief Inspector of Mines and myself that naked lights should be withdrawn and safety-lamps only substituted, with permitted explosives. 1 subsequently wrote the mine-manager, and in reply received his assurance that the statutory requirements would be fulfilled, the mine being closed down pending the installation of safety precautions as submitted. Beaumont Coed-mine, Nightcaps. —Operations continue to be suspended; the pit remained filled with water from Ohai Stream. Mossbank Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —Worked as partly opencast and partly by underground mining. Ventilation fair.

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Linton Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —An opencast working on the Coal Reserve. Operations resumed, and tram-line laid to the Wairio Branch Railway line extension. Diamond Lignite-mine, Seaward Bush. —Opencast working continued on a moderate scale. Orepuki Coal-mine, Orepuki. —Dip drive at 358 ft. at face, where a fault was met. Four levels were being driven on either side of the dip, one being in a distance of 100 ft. The coalseam was worked 7 ft. in height and overlain by a seam of shale 9 in. in thickness. Lynwood Coal-mine, Te Anau. —Worked opencast for supply of fuel to the steam-launch on Lake Te Anau, the property of the Tourist Department of New Zealand. Southport Goal-mine, Preservation Inlet. —Not at work, owing to various causes, as stated by the acting secretary to the company, among which post-war conditions, influenza epidemic, and labour shortage are enumerated. Fatal Accidents. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine, Kaitangata. —Bth July, 1918: A. E. Hawkins, 37, miner—compound fracture of right tibia and bruised chest by fall of coal and timber from roof while repairing. Deceased died in Dunedin Hospital on the Bth May, 1919, ten months after the accident, from which he never properly recovered. Cause of death, blood-poisoning, the outcome of the accident. Bth November, 1919: Robert Grundy, 38, miner—leg fractured and body crushed by fall of coal from lip of roof in a pillar place while filling a box of coal. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. —31st January, 1919 : Archibald Weir, 41, trucker—severely injured pelvic region; caught by ventilating-brattice and crushed against roof while riding on a rake of boxes. Black Diamond Mine, Nightcaps. —sth May, 1919 : Thomas Blight, 36, miner—injuries to back and groin region; struck by fall of stone from roof while filling a box of coal ai face Deceased died in Riverton Hospital on the 7th August, 1919, three months after the accident occurred. Homebush Mine, Glentunnel. —4th August, 1919 : John Peuiuan, 39, miner—-killed by fall of stone from roof of trucking-road which he was travelling at the time accident occurred. Brighton Coal-mine, Dunedin. —26th August, 1919: Robert W. Smith, 53, miner—fracture of skull by fall of stone from low roof while filling a box of coal at working-face. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Shay Point Mining Company's Mine. —l7th April, 1919: ('. Mauderson, miner—injury to eye, corneal ulcer; struck by piece of coal flying from working-face; 106 days off work. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. —7th May, 1919: lan Marshall, 16, engineer apprentice—injury to eye; eye out by piece of flying steel while riveting, causing subsequent removal of eye; forty-four days off work. Shag Point Colliery. —9th December, 1919 : Charles Cook, miner—by the fall of a small piece of stone suffered fracture of small bones in the wrist; off work seventy-one days. Coal-miners' Relief Fund. A total of 153 accidents was reported to me during the year, mostly in connection with the Coal-miners' Relief Fund, of which seven claims were not prosecuted or disallowed, leaving 146 eases of workmen injured by accidents met with in and about coal-mines. The following is an abstract of accidents:— Above Below Ground. Ground. Fatal accidents ... ... ... ... ... 6 Non-fatal (serious and severe) ... ... ... 2 Non-fatal (ordinary) ... ... ... ... ... 20 126 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 20 134 Eye accidents from various causes comprised twenty-one of the accidents reported. Of these fourteen cases occurred at Kaitangata Mines, two at Shag Point, and one each at Homebush Waronui, Taratu, Green's, and Nightcaps Mines. Prosecutions. With respect to the death of John Penman, miner, at Homebush Mine, Glentunnel. on the 4th August, the Homebush Coal Company as owners, I he mine-manager (David Kane), and fireman and deputy (Thomas Burt) were subsequently charged with having committed breaches of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. Kane and Burt were each fined .£5 Is. and costs, and the company was fined £2 and costs, for negligence under section 59 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, and for contravention of section 40, subsection (9), of the Act, the Magistrate holding that the drive had not been made safe for the persons employed therein. In regard to the fatality at Brighton Mine, Dunedin, where Robert William Smith was killed on the 26th August, the mine-manager, David McNeill, was prosecuted and fined £5 and costs for failure to withdraw the workman from an unsafe working-place, as required by Special Rule No. 21 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. further proceedings were taken against D. McNeill for inquiry into the matter of his certificate (2nd class) under section 7 of the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1914, when the Court, consisting of the Stipendiary Magistrate and two assessors, declared the certificate suspended for a period of seven days.

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COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1919.

ANNEXURE B.

ISame of Mine and Locality. Name of Manager. o - Quality of <.% Coal. 2; Cl -r. °o Thickness of - c Seams. Thickness worked. 00 System of „, . . „ , Underground 3 Total Output working. S for 1919 - si .Number of Men Approximate Approximate ordinarily emploved. Total Total Output to Output to j 31st December, 31st December, 1918. 1919. " == -' < - ■- Means oi VentilatiOB. North Auckland. Northern Tauronga, Hikurangi G. Doel .. .. f NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. Semi - bitu- f 5' 5' j Bord and 1 minous pillar Ditto .. I 1 5'toll' Full Ditto .. 4 Tons. 1,670 Tons. Tons. 612,742 614,412 4 4 4 j Natural. Northern Collieries, Kiripaka .. ! 33 33 4 5 8 51 Fan in two sections, othei natural. 8 Natural. 5 9 E. Nelson .. 4J 28,849 354,592 383,441 18 Northern Co-operative Kerr and Wvatt's, Hikurangi .. Dobson and Party (late Foot and Doel), Hikurangi Silverdale. Hikurangi I . „ . . E. A. Cunningham F. H. Kelts .. 3 G. Doel .. ■. ! .. .. 1 ! 4' to 6' „ .. 2 j 2'to 5' „ ...... .. 1 ! 5' to 6' 5' to 6' Pillar .. 1 1,099 2,881 2,021 21,666 22.765 16,493 19,374 9,588 11.609 4 1 4 5 8 .J. Doel .. .. i .. j 1 . 3' ti" to 4' 3' 6" to 4' Bord and .. pillar .. \ : 6'to 12' 6'to 10' Ditto 4 1,025 ! 1,025 2 2 2 4 I . 77,845 54.168 1,165,283 1,243,128 388,784 442.952 35 24 Hikurangi Colliery, Hikurangi .. A. H. Taylor .. 27 88 88 123 Waddle fan. II aiknio. Waipa Colliery, Glen Massey T. Thompson .. 7 Brown .. 1 10' 8' ! Bord anil .. pillar . . 1 10' to 34' 20' I Ditto .. 2 .. 1 6' to 15' 7' .. .. ..1 16' to 18' 6'to 12' , „ ..2* Lignite .... 20' 7' Splitting 1 pillars Brown . . 1 16J' 16J' Bord and . . pillar .. 1 6' 6' Ditto .. j .. Lignite .. 1 12' 9' Level .. l operations arc abandoned or suspended 65 65 89 | Fan. Taupiri Extended, Huntly Taupiri Rotowaro, Rotowaro .. Pukemiro Collieries. Pukemiro .. Huntly Coal and Brick. Huntly W. Wood .. 30J A. Penman .. I 2 A. Burt .. .. 4§ R. Greenwell .. 1\ 172,561 73.990 89.261 2,500 2,385,196 2,557,757 33,274 107,264 296.424 385,685 20,867 23.367 69 35 45 4 282 85 105 4 82 85 05 4 7 351 120 150 8 11 Natural. Waikato Extended, Huntly West W. C. Davies .. | 3J 2,762 3,174 5,936 4 7 Hunua Colliery, Hunua Greeni-astle. Aria Output of mines included in R. R. Lewis .. f A. Morgan .. ' 3 n-evious statements at which 481 338 481 292 630 3,785,360 3,785,360 1 3 2 3 2 4 2 Nelson. Puponga Mine I. Lewis (P.) .. 16 J. Walker .. 9 WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT Biteiminous 1 5' 6* Full height Bord and pillar I 2J' to 4J' „ Ditto .. 3,536 216,182 219,718 3 1 5 8 I Natural. North Cape Mine 8,501 67,922 76,423 9 14 23 Mechanical.

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Butler. Co-operative Mine .. .. H. Chester (P.) .. 5 Bituminous 1 10' 8' Bord and ' .. pillar Coal Creek Mine .. .. H. Barlow .. ! 4 „ 1 6' Full height Ditto St. Helens Mine .. T. L. Bennett (P.).. 1 „ 1 6'to 7' „ „ .. .. Westport-Stoekton Colliery .. P. Hunter 11 „ 2 4' to 25' „ „ If Millerton Colliery .. ' .. T. King, W. Pearson 28 „ .. 5' to 14' „ „ .. 2f Ironbridge Colliery .. .. G. Smith 28 „ 2 3' to 30' „ , Coalbrookdale Colliery- .. R. Fox .. 39 i „ 1 4' to 20' ,. „...., Roeklands Mine .. .. J. P. Burley (P.) .. 17 Brown .. 1 27' 8' „ Inangahua. Coghlan's Freehold Mine .. J. Coghlan (P.) .. 23 Semi-bitu- 1 12' 8' Bord and .. minous pillar Archer's Freehold Mine .. F. W. Archer (P.).. 24 Ditto .. .. 9'to 24' 8'to 10' Ditto .. .. Reefton Coal Company's Mine .. A.Thompson ..18 „ ..2 5' and 12' ■ 5'and 8' , Konini (Deep Creek) Mine .. William Lowden 18 „ .. 3 5' to 20' ; 5' to 10' Phcenix anel Venus Mine .. W. Julyan (P.) .. 38 „ 2 25' to 80' j 8' „ .... Loughnan's Mine .. .. H. Griggs (P.) 33 ..1 4' 4' „ .. .. Big River Mine .. .. W. Kirwaii (P.) .. 6 „ ..1 2'to 12' 2'to 12' Waitahu Mine .. .. I. Rhodes (P.) .. 17 „ .. 2 12' and 6' \ 8' and 5' „ .... Morris and Learmont's Mine .. P. Mitchell (P.) 6 „ .. 1 20' 8' .. .. Boatman's Creek Mine .. J. Whitfield (P.) .. .. „ .. 1 4' to 5" 4' to 5' „ .. | .. Victory (Murray Creek) Mine .. 0. Movie (P.) .. 1 „ .. 2 5' to 12' 5' to 8' Golden Point Mine .. .. W. O.'Birwirth (P.) 6. „ ..1 10' 7' 'I it 2t •• ••! .. 1 3,430 7,563 691 129,125 217,630 147,766 109 716 2.260 7,079 2,161 2,490 1,179 778 170 1,388 394 471 920 7,474 10,904 1 6 7 Natural. 9.038 16,601 5 11 16 691 6 6 1,357,612 1,486,737 82 192 274 Mechanical. 5,492,521 5,710,151 84 261 345 „ 7,781,218 7,928,984 J j* \™ ]%> I ( 50 145 19o „ 7,195 7,304 .. 2 2 Natural. 7,926 8,642 .. 2 2 Natural. 21,156 23,416 39,206 46,285 5 11 16 4,573 6,734 3 9 12 . „ 41,436 43,926 13 4,, 16,599 17.778 12 3,, 4.197 4,975 .. 2 2 4.879 5,049 2 4 6 520 1,908 .. 6 6 450 844 1 5 i 6 471 1 2 3 . 1,585 , 2.505 j 3 5 8 „ 6 11 6 192 261 130 145 2 7 16 274 345 180 195 2 Grey. Paparoa Colliery .. .. H.Talbot .. 11 Bituminous 1 5'to 25' 5'to 25' Bord and .. pillar Blackball Colliery .. .. G. Davielsem .. 29 „ 2 17' 15' Ditto Neirth Brunner Colliery .. J. Armstrong 10 „ 1 4' 9" Full height Bruimer Colliery .. .. R. Alison .. 55 „ 1 4' to 12' „ „ .. .. N.Z. Stale Coat-mines. Point Elizabeth Mine .. W. Parsonage .. 15J Bituminous 2 4' to 12' Full height Bord and pillar Liverpool Colliery (No. 1 Section) 0. J. Davis .. 7 „ 3 3£' to 16' „ Ditto Liverpool Colliery (No. 3 Section) C. Strongman .. 7 j „ 1 4' to 12' „ „ . . .. ( bitput of mines included in /} revious statements at which operations have been abandoned or suspended , .. 23,790 94,016 6,943 15,125 45,885 71,649 1 50,061/ 297.694 321,484 20 40 j 60 Mechanical. 2,709,639 2.803,655 56 228 284 115,873 122,816 15 20 35 2,419.342 2.434.467 9 12 21 2,350,823 2.390.708 22 41 I 63 Mechanical -a- ,a, -,,- mi ' 49 139 188 o8o,484 707,194 ■: , 6 „„ - 2,158.298 2.158.298 SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT Canterbury. i Mount Torlesse, Avoca .. W. Leitch .. 2 Brown ..1 5' 5' Bord and .. pillar Springfield, Springfield .. James Taylor .. 40 „ .. 2 2' All .. 1 Homebush, Glentunnel .. J. Deans .. 46 „ .. 1 6' 6' Bord and 1 pillar St. Helens, Whitecliffs .. J. Sutherland .. 38 „ .. 1 6' 5' Ditto ..II Mount Hutt, Methven .. James McQueen ..1 „ ..1 4' .. .. ; .. Tripp's, Mount Somers .. J. McClimont (P.) .. 53] „ ..1 40' 15' Bord anel j 1 pillar Albury. Albury .. .. ; T. F. Slenvey (P.) ..281 „ ..1 16' 10' Ditto .. | 1 16,009 6 11.457 1,096 200 2,570 1,262 2.946 18.955 19 , 38 57 Fan. 92.387 92 393 309! 750 321 ', 207 8 25 33 Natural. 27.562 28,658 1 4 5 200 11 70.416 72.986 1 3 4 Natural. 18,7(7 19,979 .. 3 3 Fan. Natural. Natural. * Ti t Air.

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COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1919— continued.

Name of Mine and Locality. Name of Manager. I °-r e §i Quality of Coal. ■» I c CD ■g ■ j Thickness of v. s Seams. p - Thickness worked. 5 CnSSound 1 working. £ 10r iaiy ' — = Approximate Approximate Total Total Output to Output to — 31st December, 31st December, 1918. 1919. I I Number of Men ordinarily employed. I'll Means of Ventilation. li Canterbury —continued. i Allanholme, Waihao Forks .. A. Todd (P.) .. 4 A. K. Kirk, Waihao Forks .. A. E. Kirk .. 2 SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT— continued. 1 Brown .. 1 | 15' 7' Bord and pillar .. 1 10' 7' Open Brown .. 1 7' 6' Bord anel 1 pillar .. 1 9' 7' Ditto . . 1 .. 1 25' 8' „ .. 1 .. 1 ; 4' 4' „ .. 1 „ .. 1 5' 5' , ,, . . 1 ..1 .. .. „ .. 1 Tons. 1 3,183 221 1,445 1,217 1,159 885 17,577 216 Tons. 2,017 73 57,105 63.961 32,216 411,388 44,818 Tons. 5,200 294 58.550 65,178 33.375 412.273 62,395 216 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 3 1 3 2 2 3 42 1 4 Natural. 2 4 Natural. 3 3 53 Fan. 2 Natural. North Otago. St. Andrew's, Papakaio .. George Ramsay (P.) 41 Prince Alfred, Papakaio .. A. Beardsmore (P.) 50 Ngapara. Ngapara .. .. William Nimmo (P.) 41 Shag Point (old mine). Shag Point William Hunt (P.).. 5 Shag Point Coalmining Company, Job Hughes .. 11 Shag Point Waitati Mining Company, Waitati A. Ross .. .. 1 Central Otago. Larsen anel Brown's, Kyeburn . . Larsen and Brown 2 Coal Creek, Roxburgh .. N. Harlewich .. 49 McPherson's, Coal Creek Flat .. J. Weatherall .. 49 Alexandra, Alexanelra .. A. W. Whittlestone 38 2 49 49 38 Lignite .. 1 2' 2' Open „ .. 1 20' 7' .. .. .. 1 60' 20' „ .. 1 „ 1 11' 7' Bord anel 1 pillar .. 1 30' All Open .. .. 1 .. .. „..-.. ..1 12' All „ .. .. . . i 20' 20' „ .. .. 1 20' 20' „ .. .. .. 1 20' 20' ..1 7' All „ .. .. ..1 12' 12' „ .. 1 7' (>' j Bord anel pillar . . 1 12' 6' ! Ditto ,, . . I 18' 8' ! Dip anel . . levels .. 1 ; 10' 10' Open .. .. .. 1 ! 15' 10' Bord and . . pillar .. 1 20' 20' i Levels . . „ . . 1 16' 16' ' Open . . .. 1 12' 12' .. .... 24 7li 2,426 3,518 6 190 303 147 916 561 848 12 1,725 5,375 15 177 1,656 138 587 5 61,072 72.420 97,130 49,493 1,309 6.281 32,380 47.246 2,339 3,253 4,048 92.257 316 26,058 24,655 6,933 13,725 292 26 61.148 74.S46 100,648 49.499 190 1,612 6,428 33,296 47.807 3,187 3.265 5,773 97,632 331 j 26.235 26,311 7.071 14,312 297 ! 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 3 2 1 2 1 j 2 \ 6 "6 8 2 ■• 1 Natural. 1 3 7 Exhaust steam 1 1 3 3 2 7 j Exhaust steam. Natural. 4 ; 3 i Natural. 1 2 i Cambrian, Cambrian .. .. D. Jones .. 58 Morgan Brothers', Cambrian .. .. 1 Laudervale, Cambrian .. Reid and Mclntyre 15 St. Bathan's, St. Bathan's .. J. Enwright .. 22 Roughridge, Oturehua .. J. Beck (P.) ..33 Idaburn, Oturehua .. .. J. White (P.) .. 49 Oturehua, Oturehua .. .. R.Thomas .. 25 Gimmcrburn. Gimmerburn .. C. Dougherty .. 63 Cromwell, Cromwell . . J. Hodson . . 5 58 1 15 22 33 49 25 63 5 Shepherd's Creek. Bannockburn W. R. Parcell .. 42 Gibson's. Bannockburn .. J. Gibson (P.) .. 2 42! 2 Cardrona. Cardrona . . .. R. McDougall .. 35 Gibbston. Gibbston .. .. R, B. Cowan (P.) .. 33 I 35 33 Nevis, Nevis.. .. .. E. .I. Williams (P.) 19 Nevis Crossing, Nevis.. .. R. Ritchie .. I 16 Dillon's. Blaokstono Hill . . J. Dillon . . I 22 19 ! 16 1 22

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South Otago. Fernbill, Abbotsford .. . . G. F. Turner .. 42 Lignite .. 1 II' Freeman's, Abbotsford .. W. Evans (P.) ..39 ,, ..1 10' to 12' Green Island, Green Island .. T. Barclay, jun. 32 ,. 1 10' -fubilee. Saddle Hill .. .. T. Barclay, sen. .. 22 ., .. 1 6' to 10' .Saddle Hill (No. 1), Saddle Hill Robert Hill .. 47 „ .. I 20' Saddle Hill (No. 2), Saddle Hill Robert Hil! .. . 18 „ .. 1 20' Bast Taieri, Riccarton .. D. McNeill .. 8 „ .. 1 10' .Salisbury, North Taieri L. C. Hazlett .. 4 ,, . . 1 6' Brighton, Brighton .. D. McNeill .. 4 „ . . I li' Waronui, Milton . . . . James Carruthers . . 15 Brown . . 1 18' McGilps, Milton .. .. James Carru there ..15 ,, .. 1 12' Real McKay, Akatore .. Joseph Hill .... „ .. i .. New Burnnell, Lovell's Flat .. D. Kerr (P.) .. .. Lignite .. Dunlop's, Lovell's Flat .. J. O'Fee (P.) Taratu, Lovell's Flat .. .. J. Gillick.. ..18 „ ..3 6'to 30' Port Arthur, Kaitangata J. M. Moe-rison .. 10 Brown .. 1 10' Kaituna (late Mahara), Kaitangata G. F Whittlestone.. 11 ,, .. 1 7 Wangaloa (Morrison Bros.) .. J. Heyes .. .. 1 ,, .. . 1 9 Longridge, Kaitangata .. N. Mackie (P.) ..11 „ ... 1 4' X.Z. Coal and Oil Company (Limited)— Kaitangata No. 1, Kaitangata A. S. Gillandei-s .. 43 ,, .. ' 1 25' to 32' Kaitangata No. 2, Kaitangata W. Carson .. 7 ,, .. 3 26' to 7' Castle Hill, Kaitangata .. 1 W. ('arson .. 26 : ,, .. 1 18' Benhar, Stirling .. .. J. Walls (P.) .. 56 Lignite ..1 25' Stevenson's, Stirling .. .. A. E. Barnes .. 3 „ .. 1 15' Southland. •lames Phillips's. Pukerau .. James Phillips . . 1 1 LigniteMiller Bros.', Pukerau . . J. Broome .. 1 „ . . j .. Whiterige, East Gore .. .. R. Craig (P.) .. 41 ., ..1 20' Green's, Gore .. J. Mason.. ..31 ,, ..1 2(1' Bushy Park, Croydon. . .. C.M.Wilson .. 14 ., ..I 20' Burnwell. North Chatton .. W. Mclvor (P.) ..20 „ .. 1 20' Ramsay's, North Chatton ..P. Ramsay (P.) .. 16 ., .. : 1 20' Glenlee", Waikaka .. .. A. A. Eelge (P.) ..26 „ ..1 14' Greenvale, Waikaka .. .. ! R. B. Mieldlemiss .. 3 „ ..1 14' Pyramid, Pyramid .. .. E. Jemes .. 3 „ .. 1 9' Terrace, Kingston Crossing .. E. Jones .. j 1 „ Rossvale, Waikaia .. .. T.D.Moffat .. I 16 „ ..1 10' Argyle, Waikaia .. .. M. C. Hutton ..28 ., ..1 12' Princhester Creek, The Key .. J. A. Denton ..17 „ ..1 li' Mataura Collieries, Mataura .. R. Brown 23 „ .. 1 17' 8' All 8' All 20' 20' 6' 6' 8' 10' 7' to 15' 8' 6' 4' All 18' 12' to 16' 10 12' 14' 18' 12' 15' 10' 10' 8' 8' 12' 6' 12' Bord and : 1 I pillarDitto .. 3 Level .. 1 Bord and 1 pillar Ditto .. 1 Bord anel 2 pillar Ditto .. Bord and 1 pillar Ditto .. 1 f :: :: 1 Borel anel 1 pillar Ditto .. 1 Open .... Bord and 1 pillar Ditto .. .. Open Bord and 1 pillar Ditto Bord and 1 pillar Open Bord anel pillar 4.870 162,317 j 5.533 568,944 3,566 135,009 i 16,128. 360,468 7,572 250,085 . 13,916 266,400 2,975 17.859 290 4,448 3.201 3,981 11,8(51 202.984 11.551 58,163 246 25.385 545 434 39.937 354,467 ' 70 2.926 2,733 3,787 604 2.104 156 3,998 103.550 3,632,480 9,946 178,758 4,152 3.458 82 240 5,854 71,510 17.979 206.396 193 22.929 538 41.350 3,703 86,843 1.424 16.861 • 352 770 232 2,941 1.099 1.170 42.126 305 6.042 75 1.819 12.580 197,280 167.187 2 574,477 2 138.575 3 376,596 ; 10 : 257, 657 5 ' 280.316 7 20.834 3 4.738 1 7,182 j 2 214.845 15 69,714 2 25.631 1 545 2 434 , 1 394,404 15 2,996 6,520 i 4 2.708 I 4,154 1 i f 37 ! 3,736,030 K ,. 188,704 1 j 7,610 3 ! 82 .. i 240 1 77.3H4 1 224,375 3 23.122 1 41,888 1 90,546 1 18,285 2 1,122 1 3,173 j 1 ! 1,099 1 ' 43,296 1 6,347 i 1 1.894 1 209,860 5 1 5 6 4 23 10 17 6 1 12 15 11 2 2 2 54 1 9 1 ill 114 6 6 i 1 ! 3 10 1 3 2 1 2 2 7 i Natural. 8 Furnace. 7 Natural. 33 Furnace. 15 24 Fan. 9 2 Natural. 14 30 Fan. 13 Natural. 3 I 4 3 69 i Ian anel natu ral. 1 i Natural. 13 4 2 148 H 149 f Fan ' J 7 j Exhaust steam 9 . Natural. "2 j .*.' 4 j Exhaust steam 13 . Fan. 2 Natural. 4 4 2 : Natural. 3 3 Natural. 3 1 1 12 j Exhaust steam

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COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1919— continued.

Name of Mine and Locality. - Is I i 0 -z - Number ot Men y ,J5 i Approximate Approximate ordinarily employed. .ame of Manage, fc « of ft "»* ™ofe.T £2ZjlL | *££»*■ o|gto iJput'to - — - -,- - -j J£ B.K 9,9 working. 3 31st December. :Ust Oei-eniber, . . \ cntilation. lH • 1 S I 1918. WW. % * J = '.= ' = ,8 . a - •§ it; S3 I s. <! Name of Manager. i e — r Quality- of Coal. i r. IB",. Thickness of u. "E Seams. s--E — Southland —continued. Mataura Lignite Mine. Mataura Heatherlea. Waimumu Torrie, Andrew, Waimumu Ota Creek. Wyndham ■Clarke's, Wyndham .. .. i Nightcaps No. 1. Nightcaps .. ■ Nightcaps No. 2. Nightcaps Black Diamond, Nightcaps CoaWate, Nightcaps .. New Brighton, Nightcaps Wairio, Nightcaps MeKenzie and Sheddan's, NightSOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT— continued. Tons. Tons. Tons E.Charles .. 43 Lignite .. 1 18' 14' Bordand 17.969 190,145 208,114 4 9 13 Exhaust steam. pillar F. Barber .. 8 „ ..1 10' 8' Open .... 17 628 H45 1 .. 1 A. Torrie.. 2 ., .. 1 8' All SI 101 182 1 .. 1 K. Genge(P.) ..39 „ ..1 9' 9' „ .. .. 1,675 22.858 24,533 2 .. 2' J. Bushbridge ..12 ,, ..1 12' 12' „ .. .. 255 15.297 15.552 2 .. 2 W.Barclay .. 38 Brown .. 2 6'anel 4' All Bordand 1 33.695 ' 15 64 79 Two fans. W. Barclay ..3 „ ..1 28' 20' Dittoand .. 14,587 f 1 ' 3 * 7 ' 949 1.356.231 - ]+ ( , 2Q NfttoraJ open James Thomson .. 4 ., ..1 25' 10' Bordand .. 8,113 ' 7.104 15.217 5 8 13 „ pillar J.Duncan .. 2 „ .. 1 10' 6' Ditto .. ,. 252 665 917 2 5 7 W.Dixon ..13 „ ..1 7' All 1 7,136 55,621 62.757 3 15 i 18 Fan. A.Morris .. 14 „ .. 2 14'and6' ! „ „ .. .. 15.860 85,103 100.963 12 24! 36 Natural. J.Robertson ..2 „ ..1 14' 7' „ .. .. 400 199 ■ 599 12 3,, J. 0. Clapp ..6 „ .. 1 12' All Open .. .. 102 2.563 2,665 1 .. 1 S. Clarkson .. ! 6 „ .. : 1 ; 9' 7' Bordand .. 2.361 591 2.952 6 6 12 Natural. j pillar A. Hunter ..5 „ .. 1 14' 14' Bordand .. 13,099 6.246 19,345 8 6 14 open C. R, Hevcock .. 4 „ .. 1 i 20' 20' Open .. .. 3,984 3,982 j 7.966 18 18 A. M. Mason .. 18 Lignite .. 1 ! 7' 7' , 22 376 ■ 398 W. J. Voight .. 22 „ .. 1 7' 7' „ .. .. 120 342 : 462 1 .. 1 J. Nicol .. ..32 „ 1 10' 10' „ .... 24 1,998 ; 2,022 W. Robertson (P.).. 17 „ ..1 25' 18' , 2.322 17,955 1 20.277 2 13 N. McAllister .. 23 Brown ..1 10' 10' Bordand .. 1,518 26,454 27.972 5 5 10 pillar N.Z. Tourist Dept. 9 Lignite .. I 1 7' I 7' Open .... 109 2,379 2.488 1 .. 1 •evious statements at which operations are suspendeel or abandoned .. .. .. 2,724,897 2,724,897 .. •■ ••! .. .. .. .. 490,571 13,082,906 13,573,477 355 759 1,114 caps The Willow, Nightcaps Wairaki, Nightcaps Mossbank, Nightcaps Linton. Nightcaps Wellwood Park, Pukerau Otikerama, Pukerau Riverview, Gore Diamond Lignite, Seaward Bush Orepuki, Orepuki Lynwood, Te Anau .. .. I Output of mines included in pi I I Totals, Southern District, South Island Totals, West Coast District, South Island Totals, North Island I '< .. S45. 826 I 25,718.842 26,5€4,668 498 1,393 1.891 I 490,571 13,082,906 S45.826 \ 25,718,842 13,573,477 26,564,668 i 511,451 ! 9,093,735 9,605,186 242 697 939 511,451 j 9,093,735 9,605,186 Grand totals ' ! ——— -— ; i — Output of some mines prior tc Shale exported .. .. I .... 1,847,848 47,895,483 49,743,331 1,095 2.S49 3,944 i 1890 not included in the above statement .. .. .. .. .. 311,779 50.055.131 1,847,848 ' 47,895,483 311,779 21 49,743,331 1,095 2,849 3,944 50,055,131 I

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10—C. 2.

APPENDIX C. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS. Mines Department, Wellington, 25th June, 1920. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. On behalf of the Hoards of Examiners under the Mining Act and the Coal-mines Act, I have the honour to submit (he following report for the year that ended 31st May, 1920. The following candidates were successful al the interim examination held on the 20th May, 1919, and following days: As first-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act, 1908 — W. E. G. Hewitson (Burnett's Face), W. C. Davies (Huntly), James Carruthers (Milton). As second-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act, 1908 : John Brennan (Kaitangata), R, W. Duncan (Nightcaps). Written examinations for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates were held on the 16th December and following days at Waihi, Huntly, Reefton, and Dunedin. The results were considered at the annual meetings of the Boards of Examiners held in conjoint session at Wellington on the 28th and 29th January last. No candidate was successful in obtaining a first-class certificate as mine-manager under either the Mining Act or the Coal-mines Act. T. R. Hogg was granted a partial pass as a second-class mine-manager under the Mining Act, and O. Bell and S. B. Quintrcll were granted partial passes in the battery superintendent's examination. F. Carson, V. Armstrong, J. Hadcroft, and C. V. P. Maloney were granted partial passes as first-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act. Job Makinson, who had passed the written examination for second-class mine-manager's certificate under the Coal-mines Act, and Alexander Cain and J. C. Griffon, who had completed the written examin.ation for the same certificate, were orally examined by a committee consisting of the whole of the members of the Board of Examiners under the Coal-mines Act. All three were successful in the oral examination, and were granted certificates. In addition J. Bashall and J. Turton were granted a partial pass as second-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act. In future all candidates for mine-managers' or battery superintendents' certificates who satisfy the requirements of the two Boards in the written examinations will be required to attend a meeting of the Board concerned in order to undergo oral examination. Both Boards consider that searching oral examinations are necessary, in order to ensure that only fit and proper persons shall be granted certificates. Under a regulation gazetted last year, actual travelling-expenses will be refunded to all candidates required to attend such a meeting. Interim written examinations for the candidates who did not obtain complete passes or failed at the December examinations were held on the 25th May and following days. As soon as the examiners' marks are all to hand the candidates will be informed privately of their success or non-success. The following oil-well manager's permit has been issued under Regulations Nos. 199-201 during the twelve months that ended 31st May last : J. E. W. Henchman (New Plymouth). The following holders of foreign certificates have been granted equivalent New Zealand certificates: George Edmund Robins (New Plymouth), first-class mine-managers' certificate under the Coal-mines Act, 1908; Thomas McCloy (Mosgiel), and Herbert Llewelyn Morgan (Ngakawau), second-class mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1908. In various cases during recent years applications for certificates under the exchange clauses of the Mining and Coal-mines Acts have had to be refused, because the examinations passed by the applicants were not fully equivalent to the New Zealand examinations. In other cases much trouble has been experienced in ascertaining what were the standards and requirements of foreign examinations. Uniformity in the system of examining mine officials throughout the British Empire is much to be desired. At the present time the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy is promoting a, movement having as its objective the standardization of mining examinations through Australasia. If this movement is successful, the question of exchange certificates, so far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned, will no longer present any serious difficulties. Examinations for uuderviewers and firemen-deputies under the Coal-mines Act were held during the year at the following places : Greymouth, on 7th June, 1919, and 16th February, 1920; Dunedin, on 7th October, 1919; Westport, on 7th February, 1920; Huntly, on 10th February, 1920. At these examinations five candidates passed as uuderviewers and thirty-one as firemendeputies. In addition a fireman-deputy's certificate was issued to Henry John Fox, of Denniston, in lieu of certificate No. 5, destroyed by fire. Lists of persons holding certificates under- the Mining and Coal-mines Acts are appended. P. G. Morgan, Chairman of Boards.

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LIST OF MINE - MANAGERS, BATTERY SUPERINTENDENTS, AND DREDGE MASTERS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES UNDER THE MINING ACTS. FiasT-CLASs Mine-managers' Oebtii?icates. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Act, 1886, without Examination. Adams, H. H., Waiorongomai. Hunter, R., Thames. Ralph, J. G., Thames. Andrews, T., Thames. Jamieson, A., Coromandel. Reid, P., Coromandel. Barclay, T. H., Thames. Jenkins, j\l., Wakatipu. Rooney, P., Reefton. Bennett, J., Alexandra. Johnstone, H., Bluespur. Scott, T., Waiorongomai. Black, T., Waiomio. Koi-r, J., Thames. Smith, J. E., Thames. Burch, W. H., Thames. McGruer, G. N., Karangahake. Stone, F., Karangahake. Cameron, A., Macetown. Mcintosh, D., Bluespur. Sturm, A., Waipori. Chapman, J. A., Dunedin. Moore, H. VV., Thames. Todd, C., Heriot. Davis, J. E., Queenstown. Morrisby, A. A., Glenorchy. Treloer, J. S., Reefton. Evans, J. H., Skipper's. Newman, W., Naseby. Watson, T., Reefton. Prewen, J. 8., Queenstown. Polton, A., Karangahake. Wearne, T., Endeavour Inlet. Gilmour, T., Thames. Porter, J., Waipori. Wylie, W., Ross. Glass, W. M., Naseby. Quinn, E., Te Aroha. Young, G., Skipper's. Harrison, R. H., Coromandel. Issued after Examination under the Mining Act, 1886, and Amendment Acts. Baker, W., Thames. Fleming, M., Thames. Hosking, G. F., Auckland. Cochrane, D. L., Reefton. Harris, W., Thames. Kruizenza, W., Reefton. Colobrook, J. D., Coromandel. Horn, G. W., Thames. Logan, H. F., Wellington. Crawford, J. J., Thames. Home, W., Coromandel. Mouat, W. G., Dunedin. Donaldson, W., Otago. Hornick, M, Thames. Watkins, W. E., Reefton. Issued on Production of Certificate from a Recognised Authority outside the Dominion under the Mining Acts, 1886, 1891, 1898, 1905, 1908, and 1913. Argall, W. H., Coromandel. Datson, J., Manaia. Hall, E. X., Reefton. Beckwith, L. H., Wellington. Dodd, William, Milton. McKenna, Thomas, Dunedin. Brook, R. H. T., Reefton. Griffiths, A. P., Auckland. Molineaux, H. S., Gore. •Cock, 7., Jan., Ross. Griffiths, H. P., Auckland. Rich, F. A., Auckland. Cock, W., Waiomio. Hailey, R. C, Dunedin. Williams, W. H., Auckland. * Alluvial. Issued after Examination under the Mining Act, 1891. Agnew, J. A., Thames. Lawn, C. H., Capleston. Robertson, D. 8., Stafford. Annear, William, Reefton, Morrison, R., Thames. Ross, Richard, Thames. Bennett, E. P., Thames. MoDermott, G., Thames. Russell, Murray, Dunodin. Boydell, H. C, Coromandel. MoDermott, J., Thames. Shepherd, H. P., Thames. Bradley, R. J. H., Te Puke. McDermott, W., Thames. Stanford, W. J., Macetown. Carroll, J., Lyell. McGregor, W. T., Thames. Tierney, R., Thames. Cartwright, E., Thames. MoKenzie, H. J., Coromandel. Vialoux, P., Coromandel. Crabb, J., Reefton. McPeake, J., Thames. Warne, George, Thames. Gilmour, J. L., Thames. O'Keeffe, M. D., Tliames. Waters, D. 8., Skipper's. Hodge, J. H., Thames. Paltrulge, Henry, Thames. White, G. H., Thames. Keam, P. E., Thames. Paul, Matthow, Thames. Whitley, A., Thames. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 1905, and 1908. Allen, Henry, Waihi. Fry, S., Waimangiroa. Moore, L. 0., Waihi. Autridg , L. E., Thames. George, M. T., Waihi. Morgan, William, Waihi. Baker, S. G., Thames. Golds-vorthy, C, Karangahake. Morrison. William, Waihi. Barker, 8., Thames. G ld*wor hy, VV., Coromandel. Moye, Michael, R.-efton. Barrance, K. M., Karangahake. Gordon, J. A., Tnames. Oats, John, Bla k's Point, Reefton. Bell, 0., Waihi. Giajd n, P., Thames. O'Shea, J., Reefton. Bennie, Boyd, Waihi. Greening, W., Karangahake. O'Sullivan, J. W., Thames. Bishop, Thoma- Oito, Skipper's. Gudge. n, C. W., Macrae's. Rimmer, J. C, Helensville. 81-nkhorn, C, Coromandel. Hitchcock, W. E., Barewood. Ruffiu, il. C, Reef on. Bolitno, Joseph, Reefton. Hooker, John, Coromandel. Saunders, W. H., Reefton. Bower, J. W., Coromandel. Irwin, Samuel, Waihi. Scoble, E, J., Waihi. Bmai, R., Waihi. Jackson, G. T., Wami. Sheehan, D., Kar.mgahake. Buddie, Piank, G iromandel. Johns n, J. H., Coromandel. Smith, Walter, Karangahake. Bull, 0. W., Waihi. Kingaf >rd, C, Waihi. Spearing. J. R., Waihi. Caisley, John, Karangahake. La gdon, H , Waihi. Stewart, P., Waihi. arroll, A. M., R«i-fton. Langford, G. S., Waihi. Stewart, R. A., Reefton. C'Troll, Jonri, Kiiaotunu. Lautour, H. A. de, Waihi. Sullivan, T., Reefton. Carier, R. P., Waihi. Lawn, Nicholas, Reefton. Thomson, J. R., Waihi. Clouston, R. E., Kaitang-ita. Lewis, Ralph Reginald, Waihi. Thomson, Thomas, Waihi. Collier, E., Reefton. Lowt-s, G. W., R-efton. Thome, G. M., Waihi. Cooper, J. H., Thames. Markie, Portlai d George A., Waihi. Tucker, E. S., Corom .ndel. Cooper, '''hornhill, Waihi. McOonachie, W., JU".. Waihi. Turnbull, K. V., Coromandel. Codes, P. M., Karangahake. McDonald, R. M., Table Hill. Turner, C. E., Murchison. Conies. J. G., Waihi. McGiucr, A., Karangahake. Turner, G. W. E., Reefton. Dooherty, W. H., Coromandel. MacLaren, J. A. J., C iromandel. Ulrich, G. A. C, Waihi. Downe>, J. P., Reefton. McMahon, J. H., Raeftou. Walker, A. J., Waihi. Dution, W. P., Waihi. McMahon, T., Reef:on. Watson, J. L., Thames. Ellery, John, Reefton. McMillan, T., Waihi. Wood, P. H., Reefton. Evered, N. J., Waihi. Mitchell, William J., Barowood. Wotherspoon, James, Waihi. Issued under Section 313 of the Mining Act, 1891. Martin, James, Reefton. Thomas, James, Thames. White, John S., Karangahake. Rickard, John, Thames. Trolease, J. H., Thames. Williams, John, Kuaotunu. Snow, Thomas, Huntly.

C.-_

75

First-class Mine-managers' Certificates— continued. Certificates of Competency granted to Holders of Provisional Warrants under Section 32 of the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896. Alexander, Triomis, D-iep Creek. Harvey, A. G., Coromandel. Moorecraft, Walter, Coromandel. Argyll, A. E., Coromandel. James, Robert, Thames. Morgan, William. Owharoa. Battens, H., Coromandel. Jamie-ion, Jonn, Reefton. Moyie, Thomas, Tnames. Bunney, Joseph, Waihi. Johns, Thomas, Waihi. Patton, William, Macetown. Campbell, Alexander, Cullensville. Kennerley, W. H., Thames. Pearco, Francis, Reefton. Carl.yon, Samuel, Coromandel. McCombie, John, Karangahake. Potter, William H., Thames. Comes, C. A., jun., Karangahake. Mao Donald, H., Coromandel. Riilstone, Charles-, Waipori. Daldy, Edward Arthur, Coromandel. McEnteer, James, Tararu. Somervell, John, Thames. Draffin, Samuel, Waitekauri. McLean, Benj unin J., Waitekauri. Thomas, Aroholaus, Tapu, Thames. Parmer, C. S., Waitekauri. Meehan, James, Westport. Turnbull, Thomas A., Whangamata. Goldsworthy, William, Karangahake. 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. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Certificates of Service, issued under the Mining Act, 1891. Agnew, J. A., Coromandel. Gribble, James, Norsewood. McNeill, George, Upper Kuaotunu Argall, A. E., Coromandel. Grimmond, Joseph, Ross. Meagher, John, Karangahake. Blair, Thomas, Kuaotunu. Guthrie, John, Wellington. Movie, Thomas, Thames. Bolitho, James, Reefton. Hardman, James Edward, Thames. Newdick, Alfred, Thames. Bremner, John, Coromandel, Hetherington, William, Thames. O'Keefe, M. W. D., Thames. Brokenshire, Jomes, Thames. Hill, Alexander Grey, Waikakaho. Page, John, Lyell. Brown, John, Macrae's. Hollis, Frederick J., Waihi. Peebles, Alexander, Kuaotunu. Bunny, Joseph, Thames. Hore, John, Wellington. Pettigrew, Robert, Sydney. Byrne, John, Karangahake, Jamieson, John, Reefton. Primrose, J., Kuaotunu. Comer, W. W., Thames. Jobe, James, Thames. Richards, A. H., Kuaotunu. Comer, George, Thames. Johns, Thomas, Thames. Rickard, John, Thames. Corbett, T., Paeroa. Johnstone, William, Collingwood. Rogers, William Henry, Kumara. Crabb, Thomas, Reefton. Kerr, George, Kamo. Shaw, James, Karangahake. Daniel, P. F., Greymouth. Kirker, Thomas, Thames. Sligo, Alexander, Nenthorn. Dobson, John Allen, Kuaotunu. Law, John, Thames. Thomas, A., Thames. Edwards, George, Westport. Loughlin, S., Thames. Thomas, James, Thames. Ellery, John, Reefton. Mackay, William, Nenthorn. Thomson, John, Dunedin. Poster, Thomas, Wellington. Martin, David, Black's Point. White, John S., Karangahake. Gemmings, Charles, Thames. Martin, James, Reefton. Williams, James, Thames. Gill, George, Thames. Mayn, John, Coromandel. Williams, John, Thames. Goldsworthy, William, Mauku, Auok- McCombie, John, Karangahake. Worth, Robert, Waihi. land. McEwen, James, Reefton. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1891, 1898, and 1908. Benney, J., jun., Paeroa. Christie, William, Waitekauri. McNeil, A. H., Coromandel. Bennie, Boyd, Coromandel. Draffin, S., Waitekauri. Tilsley, G., Thames. Birch, J. J., Waihi. Dunkin, T., Coromandel. White, P. H., Kuaotunu. Cahill, T. M., Upper Kuaotunu. Mathewson, A., Hyde. White, G. H., Thames. Carroll, John, Upper Kuaotunu. Issued under Section 313 of the Mining Act, 1891. Connon, William, Thames. Edwards, E., Coromandel. MoCormick, 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. Gardner, James, Waimangaroa. Murphy, Joseph, Coromandel. Barney, Montague T., Waitekauri. Howe, Albion S., Waitekauri. O'Brien, John, Westport. Brownlee, Henry, Thames. Johnson, Frank H., Collingwood. Prescoct, Arthur J., Coromandel. Collins, Charles, Waitekauri. Kirwan, William, Reefton. Ruffin, Richard, Manaia, Coromandel. Davis, James, Coromandel. Certificates of Service issued under the Mining Amendment Act, 1910. Adams, Albert Augustine, Thames. Hansen, Charles Hans, Puketui. Lynch, James, Glenorchy. Adams, R. W., Thames. Hayes, James, Thames. MoKenzie, D., Georgetown. Barker, J. W., Coromandel. Bill, Harrold Alexander, Thames. Reid, George, Glenorchy. Brabyn, John, Clarendon. Hyde, Henry John, Karangahake. Reynolds, Edmond Francis, CoromanButcher, P. J., Waitekauri. lies, E. J., Bannockburn. del. Donaldson, George, Macrae's Flat. Inglis, Robert, Kuaotunu. Shechan, James, Thames. Gillan, Thomas, Thames. Kell, Arthur, Karangahake. Tallentire, John, Waiorongomai. Grace, Pierce, Waitekauri. Battery Superintendents' Certificates. Issued under the Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894, without undergoing Examination. Adams, H. H., Waihi. Hope, John S., Waitekauri. Noble, James R., Karangahake. Aitken, R. M., Reefton. Hutchison, William, Karangahake. Park, James, Thames. Banks, Edwin Gripper, Waihi. Margetts, Frederick Ernest, Kuao- Shepherd, Henry Franklin, Waihi. Goldsworthy, Henry, Kuaotunu. tunu. Sims, C. P., Tararu. Goldsworthy, John, Kuaotunu. McKenna, T. N., Tararu. Walker, James A., Kuaotunu. Greenway, H. Howard, Auckland. McLellan, William, Waitekauri. Wilson, Arthur E., Waihi. Issued after Examination under the Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894. Adams, A. A., Thames. Dixon, Clement, Waihi. Morgan, P. G., Thames, Allen, P. 8., Thames. ' Gray, J. W., Waihi. Morrin, W. S., Thames. Allom, H. 0., Thames. Hayward, P. W., Komata. Noakes, H. L., Waihi. Ansley, Comyn, Paeroa. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Raithby, R. W., Reefton. Ansley, Walter, Thames. Jackson, J. H., Paeroa. Stafford, B. H., Waihi. Banks, J. H., Waihi, Jones, Achison, Waihi. Taylor, C. H., Tararu. Bowers, W., Thames. Kidd, P. D., Thames. Thorpe, A. H., Thames. Brown, A. E., Thames. Laurie, D. 8., Karangahake. Vercoe, R. 8., Thames. Clarke, J. L., Thames. Lee, J. W., Reefton. Williams, A. G. R., Thames. Clarke, R., Waitekauri. Macdonald, W., Waihi. Wingate, H. M., Maratoto Clarke, W. J., Waihi. MoKenzie, H. J., Thames. Winsiow, G., Thamos. Day, A. T., Thames. MeMickon, S. D., Thames.

a—2

76

Battkry Superintendents' Certificates— continued. Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 1905, and 1908. Adams, J. H., Coromandel. Eaton-Turner, Geoffrey William, McEwin, J. A., Reefton. Adams, J. H., Thames. Waihi. McKinlav, John, Waihi. Adams, Richard W., Tararu, Thames. Ellis, L. L., Waitekauri. McNeil, A. R., Karangahake. Airpy, Hubert, Karangahake. Empson, J. 8., Karangahake. McPadden, J., Coromandel. Aitken, Alexander Hugh, Waihi. Evans, G. C, Waihi. Melrose, P., Waihi. Allen, D. V., Thames. Evans, J., Waihi. Metcalf, G. H., Karangahake. Allen, H. E., Wellington. Evans, W. 8., Reefton. Montgomery, A. E., Opitonui. Anderson, David, Waihi. Ewen, H. F., Auckland. Morgan, Robert James, Waihi Andrews, T. T., Waihi. Fletcher, H. T., Katikati. Motherwell, William, Waihi. Auld, J. 8., Crushington. Fry, Sidney, Westport. Moyle, W. T., Upper Tairua. Baker, W. H., Thames. Pyfe, A., Dunedin. Orb'ell, G. S., Waikouaiti. Hanks, C. A., Waihi. Gardner, E. A., Reefton. Orr, P. S., Waiuta. Banks, E. J., Thames. Gibson, William, Waihi, Paltridge, P., Thames. Barrance, K. McK., Karangahake. Gilpin, J., Waihi. Pond, H. C, Auckland. Barrett, J. J., Karangahake. Gow, E. A., Crushington. Quick, J. N., Thames. Barron, William E., Waikino. Grayden, J , Waitekauri. Reid, J. E., Great Barrier Baskett, E. G., Karangahake. Grayden, Pet»r, Thames. Reynolds, E. A., Auckland. Bell, L. M., Waihi. Grumitt, P. H., Thames. Roberts, H. C, Waihi. Bidlake, A. E., Waiomio. Gwilliam, Benjamin, Karangahake. Rodden, William, I,yell. Biid, A. W., Tnames. Halliwell, L. V., Karangahako. Rosewarne, R. H., Thames. Bishop, T. 0., R efton. Hargraves, E. P., Waihi. Royse, W. G., Reefton. Blackander, William, Crushington. Harsant, C, Fuketui. Sanford, A. G., Waibi. Bradley, R. J. H., Karangahake. Hay, Adam, Karangahake. Shaw, D. S., Waikino. Brown, P. M., Karangahake. Hazard, T. R. 0., Waitekauri. Shaw, L. J., Waikino. Brown, J. E., Komata. Hitchcook, W. E., Barewood. Stephens, H., Dunedin. Brown, W. E., Reefton. Hogg, 8., Karangahake. Sutherland, J. A., Reefton. Browne, E., Waitekauri. Hogg, T. R., Karangahake. Thomson, G. W., Bendigo. Bums, Will am, Waiomio. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Thurlow, J. R,, Coromandel. Bush, E. P., Parawai. Gillooly, T., Roxburgh. Tomlinson, A., Karangahake. Bush, George Arthur, Karangahake. Gillstrom, Carl A., Berlin's. Tomlinson, David Mitchell, Barewood, Bush, H. R., Thames. Hutchison, R. M., Karangahake. Tomlinson, W. P., Dunedin. Campbell, Colin. Thames. Johnson, Pjdward, Waihi. Tumbull, E. V., Waihi. Curless, Noel, Waihi. Jones, R. D., Karangahake. Ulrich, G. A. C, Komata. Carpenter, W. E., Karangahake. Kidd, R. 8., Waitekauri. Ulrich, Herstall, Whanpapoua. Carroll, John. Kuaotunu. Kingsford, A., Karangahake. Walker, Alfred James Dickson, Waihi Carter, S., Waihi. Kingsfurd, C, Waihi. Waters, D. 8., Waihi. Chappell, G. A., Karangahake. Kitching, L. J., Tnames. Watson, A. 8., Waitekauri. Clark, John L., Waihi. Langford, G S., Waikino. Watson, A. P., Crushington. Clarke, Thomas, Waihi. Launder, G. H., Waitekauri. Watson, J. P., Reefton. Coote, J. M., Thames. Lawless, L. J , Paeroa. Watson, J. R., R-efton. Couper, J., Thames. Lawn, H., Reefton. Watson, W. A., Crushington. Cowles, R. X., Crushington. Littlejohn, W. D., Karangahake. Wearne, W., Reefton. Crawford, H., Macrae's. Lovelock, J. E., Crushington. White, A. S. H., Karangahake. Crompton, H., Maratoto. Mackay, John, Crushington. White, E. D., Karangahake. Oroucher, Herbert, Waihi. Maltman, A., Reefton. Williams, A. C, Waihi. Dawson, 8., Elhrslie. Mann, C, Westport. Williams, James, Reefton. Donnelly, Thomas, Waihi. Matbeson, A. M., Barewood. Williams, Joseph, Reefton. Donovan, Willie, Waikino, Maxwell, W. L., Waihi. Williams, William Eustace, Waihi, Draffin, Eugene, Kuaotunu. McDonall, P. H., Waihi. Wilson, A. P., Crushington. Dredgemastehs' Certificates. Issued icithout Examination under the Mining Act, 1898, and Amendment Acts, 1901 and 1902. Anderson, L. C, Alexandra. Poohy, J. M., Alexandra. McDonald, E. A., Waitiri. Andrews, Ralph, Canvastown. Gibb, William, Croydon Siding. McDonald, J., Sofala. Baker, J. R., Alexandra. Gibson, A., Island Block. McDonald, John, Cromwell. Ballantyne, D., Miller's Plat. Graham, J. M., Gore. McGeorge, Alexander, Dunedin. Barnes, T. J., Beaumont. Grogan, William A., Miller's Plat. McGeorge, J., Dunedin. Bradley, Neil, Alexandra. Hay, James, Dunedin. McGregor, D., Kanieri. Bennett, George, Gore. Hedley, A., Cromwell. McGregor, G. R., Alexandra. Bennett, James, Kumara. Herbert, J., Beaumont. Mcintosh, D. J., Lowburn Perry. Blue, G. P., Alexandra. Hewitt, James, Clyde. McLean, D., Waitiri. Brand, Peter, Waikaka. Hogg, Thomas, Cromwell. MoMath, D. C, Ross. Brennan, Philip, Palmerston South. Hoskins, Thomas, Maori Point. MoMath, Thomas, Alexandra. Bremner, A. P., Lower Shotover. Hoy, Samuel, Alexandra. Mills, Edward, Murohison. Brice, William H., Cromwell. Inwood, W. J., Rocklands Beach. Mitchell, D. A., Dunedin. Bringans, D., Alexandra. Johnston, E. A., Alexandra. Morel, C. G., Inangahua Junotion. Brown, T. G., Ahaura. Johnstone, Alexander, Cromwell, Morris, G. S., Cromwell. Bunting, James, Murchison. Kennedy, Angus, Alexandra. Murray, D., Clyde. Busbrioge, P., Gore. Kitto, Edward T., Miller's Plat. Murray, Madget, Cromwell. Butler, Ewen, Roxburgh. Kitto, Francis, Lowburn, Neilson, S., Miller's Plat. Butler, M. J., Kanieri. Kitto, J., Lowburn Perry. Nicholson, W. E., Alexandra. Cameron, Samuel, Alexandra. Kitto, John P., Miller's Plat. O'Leary, D., Waiau. Clarke, Edward, Port Chalmers. Kitto, W. H., Cromwell. Olsen, Charles, Roxburgh. Compton, Albert, Dobson. Kloogh, N. P., Lowburn Ferry. Parsons, J. D., jun., Clyde. Cormack, W., Greymouth. Lawson, Edward, Dunedin. Percy, John, Clyde. Cornish, J. T., Miller's Plat. Ledingham, J., Bannockburn, Perkins, A. C, Dunedin. Coutts, Henry, Miller's Flat. Lee, George, Collingwood. Pettigrew, George, Nelson Creek. Cowan, Alexander, Stillwater. Lidicoat, R. H., Pern Plat. Poulter, G. W., Alexandra. Cowan, James, Nelson Creek. Luke, S. J., Alexandra. Pringle, John, Miller's Flat. Crookßton, W. L., Three-channel Plat. Magnus, A., Roxburgh. Ray, J. C, TotaraPlat. Cumming, J. C, Beaumont. Magnus, Olaf, Box 130 a, Christohurch. Reeder, Philip, Bald Hill Plat. Cutten, W. H., Dunedin. Mailer, John, Stillwater. Rennie, Andrew, Roxburgh. Deniston, R. A., Cromwell. Maitland, A. E., Miller's Plat, Ross, Alexander, Cromwell. Dewar, John, Alexandra. MeClure, F. C, Rongahere. Ross, Robert, Alexandra, Donaldson, J. G. A., Greenstone. McConnell, J., Cromwell. Richmond, J., Gibbston. Faithful, William, Greymouth. McCormack, D., Kanieri. Ritchie, J. S., Waitiri.

77

C.--2

Dredoemasters' Certificates— continued. Issued without Examination under the Mining Act, 1898, and Amendment Acts, 1901 and 1902 —continued. Sanders, H. P., Clyde. Sligo, N. X., Ahaura. Yon Haast, J. H., Clyde. Sanders, John, Cromwell. Smith, Alfred, Inangahua Junction. Wallace, John A., Miller's Plat. Sanders, Thomas, Alexandra. Steel, Archibald, Kawarau Gorge, Weaver, Charles, Alexandra. Schaumann, H., Alexandra. Steel, Thomas, Dunedin. Williamson, R., Miller's Flat. Scott, M. G., Alexandra. Templeton, Ivie, Rongahere. Williamson, Walter, Miller's Plat. Scott, Robert, Capleston. Thompson, T., Miller's Plat. Wilson, S. W., Waikaka Valley. Shore, T. M., Queenstown. Troy, G. C, Cromwell. Wood, R. M., Cromwell. Shore, William, Gore. Turnbull, W. D., Ganvastown. Woodhouse, W. S., Roxburgh. Simonsen, Charles, Alexandra. Tyson, John, Rongahere. Young, Andrew, jun., Roxburgh. Skilton, A. G., Old Diggings, Issued after Examination under the Mining Acts, 1898, 1901, 1902, 1905, and 1908. Anderson, Andrew, Alexandra South. Hepburn, D. 0., Alexandra. Newiek, Albion Edgar Charles, BanAnderson, Bertram, Maori Point. Hewetson, Sydney, Nelson Creek. nockburn. Anderson, G. 8., Roxburgh. Hogg, J., Nevis. Nicholson, Charles S. G., Mataura. Archer, D. J., Ngakawau. Holden, Charles, jun., Cromwell. Noble, William, Alexandra. Baird, William G., Clyde. Holden, John, Cromwell. Omond, Thi mas, Nevis. Bardsley, John James, Cromwell. Hughes, John L., Miller's Plat. Orkney, H. E., Cromwell. Bate, H. T. G., Greymouth. Johnston, John, Maori Gully. Orr, H. T,, Cromwell. Bishop, Hugh Arthur, Collingwood. Johnston, Louis, Beaumont. Orr, William W., Cromwell. Blair, G., Abl Oxford. Jones, David Rowland, Island Block. Parker, P. R., Roxburgh. Borthwick, Robert, Alexandra. Jones, T. R., Miller's Plat. Paterson, J. 8., Miller's Plat. Bourke, John, Clyde. Junker, Prank J., Berlin's. Patterson, J., Clyde. Brent, C. D., Cromwell. Kane, William, Clyde. Plumb, E. H., Maori Point. Briggans, Thomas, Alexandra. Kean, F. P., Waikaka. Poppelwell, William, Alexandra. Briggans, William, Alexandra. Kellett, C. H., Dunedin. Rait, Hume, Albertown. Broderick, T., Lyell. Kennedy, A., Ophir. Ray, J. P., Bannockburn. Bruoe, J. A., Kawarau Gorge. Kitto, Henry, Alexandra South. Ray, Robert Marshall, Bannockburn. Burley, J. P., Westport. Kitto, John, Clyde. Reiderer, Edward, Cromwell. Burnside, Walter, Alexandra. Linney, William, Island Block. Reynolds, T., Greymouth. Burton, A. P., Miller's Plat. Livingstone, D., Alexandra. Roberts, G., Three-channel Plat. Callaghan, E., Three channel Plat. Lloyd, Arthur, Inangahua Junction. Robertson, D. J., Alexandra. Campbell, G. W. T., Alexandra. fjlnyd, Hubert, Lyell, Robertson, W. R., Alexandra, Oarnegy, A., Three-channel Plat. Mac Donald, 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 Plat. Chapman, Robert, Maori Point. MacLaren, John, Alexandra. Sanders, W. J., Ahaura. Clark, D., Callaghan's Creek. Marklund, C. 0., Lowburn Ferry. Saunders, C. E., Cromwell. Clarke, R. S. 8., Alexandra South. Mathews, James Halbert, Miller's Sawle, J., Cromwell. Coup, George, Albertown. Plat. Sawyer, J. P., Alexandra. Cox, R. D., Alexandra. Matthews, A. A., Three-channel Plat. Sherwood, T. W., Greymouth. Craig, D. A., Shag Point. Mayne, W. C, Nelson Creek. Simpson, Edward Robert, Cromwell. Curno, C. 8., Alexandra. McCallum, W. S., Alexandra. Sparrow, J. A., Upper Nevis. Dalton, J. R., Three channel Plat. McDonald, C. J., Waitiri. Steele, Thomas, Alexandra. Dalzell, T. L., Cromwell. McDonald, Gr., Aloxandra. Steele, W. H., Miller's Plat. Donaldson, John, Lawrence. McGregor, Dougald S., Alexandra. Taylor, Alexander, Alexandra. Downie, Henry, Totara Plat. MoKenzie, John, Roxburgh. Taylor, J. T., Dunedin. Eaton, Edgar W., Alexandra. McKinnon, John, Alexandra. Theyers, C, Alexandra. Elder, D. D., Roxburgh. McLean, John. Roxburgh. Theyers, J. W., Alexandra. Fache, S. C, Gore. Melvin, J. R., Roxburgh. Turner, T. P., Moonlight. Faithful, Alfred, Bannockburn. Merchant, Isaiah, Clyde. Vickerman, E. M., Cromwell. Farmer, Nathan C, Miller's Plat. Milne, John A., Roxburgh. Walker, J. J., Alexandra South. Parquharson, George, Alexandra. Moffitt, R. W., Miller's Plat. Wasserbrenner, M., Alexandra. Pilippi, S. de, Westport. Mollison, William, Stillwater. Wathen, James, Miller's Flat. Pindley, David, Dunedin. Moncrieff, Henry, Miller's Flat. Watson, E. H,, Collingwood. Fisher, Hurtle, Miller's Flat. Monson, C. H., Miller's Plat. Weaver, P., Alexandra. Foley, S., Lowburn Perry. Morel, A. E., Noble's. Weir, R., Gore. Forno, D., Inangahua Junction. Morel, L. H., Inangahua Junction. Weir, T. R., Cromwell. Eraser, W. J., Roxburgh. Morgan, Harold, Roxburgh. Weir, W., Nevis. French, T. E. X., Three-channel Plat. Morgan, John, Alexandra. Wescombe, Alfred L., Island Block. Gibson, William H., Cromwell. Morris, V., Cromwell. Westcott, P. A., Miller's Plat. Graham, Thomas Arthur, Gore. Mouat, W. G., Greymouth. Williams, Predorick, Alexandra. Gunn, W. E., Beaumont. Munro, C. T., Waitiri. Wilson, George, Marsden. Guy, Donald, Cobden. Munro, Hugh, Alexandra South. Wilson, Stephen L., Inangahua JuneGuyton, James, Dunedin. Munro, R. P., Ross. tion. Planning, C. J., Clyde. Murray, H. 8., Cromwell. Wood, W. W., Cromwell. Hansen, H. C, Three-channel Plat. Murray, Robert John, Canvastown. Woodhouse, P., Bannockburn. Harden, J., Stafford. Nelson, Edgar, Brunnerton. Woodhouse, G. G., Waitiri. Harliwick, Matthew, Roxburgh. Nelson, George L., Brunnerton. Wylde, G. R., Inangahua Junction. Oil-wells Managers' Service Permits. Issued under Regulations 199-201. Christensen, C, New Plymouth. Henchman, J. E. W., New Plymonth. O'Dowda, B. C, New Plymouth. Pedorowicz, J., New Plymouth. Keith, L., New Plymouth. LIST OF PERSONS WHO HOLD CERTIFICATES UNDER THE COALMINES ACTS. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886 and 1891. Aitken, T., Wendon. Lloyd, J., Inveroargill. Smith, A. E., Nelson. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. Love, A., Whangarei. Smith, T. P., Nelson. Bishop, J., Brunnerton. Mason, J., Nightcaps, Sneddon, J., Mosgiel. Cameron, J., Denniston. May, J., Greymouth. Swinbanks, J., Kawakawa. Cochrane, N. D., Dunedin. Moore, W. J., Springfield. Taylor, E. 8., Huntly. Dando, M., Brunnerton. Ord, J., Huntly. Thompson, A., White Cliffs. Kerr, G., Kamo. Reed, P., Westport. Walker, J., Collingwood.

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First-class Mine-managers' Certificates— continued. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886, 1891, 1905, and 1908, after Examination. Armitage, P. W., Auckland. Pox, R. A., Denniston. McGeaohie, J., Mokau. Armstrong, J., Brunnerton, Pry, Sydney, Waimangaroa. McLean, M., Ngakawau. Barclay, T., Kaitangata. Gibson, John, Westport. Milligan, N., Westport. Barclay, W., Kaitangata. Gillanders, A., Shag Point. Morgan, William, Waihi. Bonnie, Boyd, Waihi. Green, E. R., Abbotsford. Mosley, J. T., Kaitangata. Bishop, T. 0., Reefton. Green, J., Brunnerton. Murray, T., Westport. Brown, J. C, Denniston. Hamilton, J. S., Burnett's Paoe. Neilson, James, Blackball. Burt, A., Waihi. Herd, J., Brunnerton. Newton, James, Brunnerton. Campbell, Peter, Fairfield. Hewitson, W. E. G., Burnett's Pace. Parsonage, W., Runanga. Carruthers, J., Shag Point. Heycoek, C. R., Nightcaps. Pearson, W, Waihi. Carruthers, James, jun., Milton. Hill, Robert, Abbotsford. Penman, A., Huntly. Carson, W., Kaitangata. Hosking, G. P., Auckland. Scoble, E. J., Waihi. Crockett, S., Millerton. Hughes, Job, Puponga. Smith, George, Fairfield. Crowe, W., Ngakawau. Jebson, D., Canterbury. Sowerby, H., Denniston. Davies, W. C, Huntly. Jones, T., Kimihia. Strongman, C., Ngakawau. Davis, O. J., Runanga. King, T , Granity. Talbot, H., Brunnerton. Dixon, C. W., Granity. Langford, G. S., Huntly. Tattley, E. W., Huntly. Dixon, W., Kaitangata. Leitoh, J., Blackball. Tattley, F. J., Mercer. Duggan, George, Burnett's Paoe. Leitch, W., Blackball. Taylor, A. H., Waikato. Dunn, Andrew, Denniston. Marshall, A. G., Denniston. Thomson, Thomas, Denniston. Dunn, W., Brunnerton. McCaffrey, Patrick, Perntown. Turner, G. F., Shag Point. Fleming, J., Kaitangata. McCormack, W., Denniston. Westfield, C. H., Fairfield. Fletcher, James, Granity. McEwan, Robert, Coromandel. Whittlestone, A. W., Shag Point. Issued under the Coal-mines Act, 1886, on Production of English Certificate. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. Cochrane, N. D., Dunedin. Reed, P., Wellington. Black, T. IT., Waipori. Hayes, J., Kaitangata. Tattley, W., Auckland. Broome, G. H., Ngakawau. Hodgson, J. W., Ross. 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 recognized Authority outside the Dominion. Alison, J., Mangatini. Goold, A. L., Auok'and. Morris, A., Huntly. Alison, R., Greymouth. Hunter, Peter, Ngakawau. Nelson, E., Hikurangi. Bayne, J. A. C, Roa. Irvine, James, Dunedin. Robins, George Edmund, New PlyBroadhead, A. X., Ngakawau. James, Isaac Angelo, Westport. mouth. Clark, W., Blackball. Kane, D., Denniston. Twining, C. E., Dunedin. Davidson, Gavin, Blackball. Kirkwood, D., Coromandel. Watson, James, Greymouth. Davies, D. J., Ngakawau. Lamont, 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. MoAvoy, H., Christcburch. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates. Issued under the Coal-mines Act, 1891. Collier, Levi, Kamo. Lobb, Joseph, Mokau Sara, James, Reefton. Clarke, Edward, Shag Point. Mcintosh, Allan, Shag Point. Thomas, James, Springfield. Elliot, Joseph, Coal Creek. 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. Issued under the Coal-mines Acts, 1886, 1891, 1905, and 1908, after Examination. Allan, J., Brunner. Duncan, James, Kaitangata. McNeill, D., Fairfield. Austin, W. 8., Sheffield. Duncan, J. E., Kaitangata. Mills, Walter, Huntly. Ball, A., Kimihia. Duncan, John, Lovell's Plat. Morganty, Louis, Ngakawau. Barclay, T., Kaitangata. Duncan, R. W., Nightcaps. Mosley, J. T., Stirling. Barclay, T., jun., Kaitangata. Ferguson, A., Kaitangata. Neilson, J., Runanga. Barclay, William, Kaitangata. Ferguson, G., Roa. Neilson, Moffat, Abbotsford. Barnes, A. E., Shag Point. Pox, R. A., Blackball. Newburn, S., Kaitangata. Brennan, John, Kaitangata. Griffin, James C, Kaitangata. Orr, Hugh, Fairfield. Broome, J., jun., Gore. Harris, A., Saddle Hill. Parcell, W., jun., Bannockburn. Brown, Robert, Kaitangata. Hewitson, W. E. G., Burnett's Face. Penman, C. P., Kaitangata. Cadman, J., Hikurangi. Heyes, T., Kaitangata. Price, P. J., Burnett's Pace. Cain, Alexander, Kaitangata. Hoycock, C. R., Nightcaps. Robertson, j., Nightcaps. Campbell, Peter, Fairfield. Hill, R., Abbotsford. Scoble, E. J., Blackball. Carruthers, J., jun., Nightcaps. Hodson, John, Kaitangata. Snow, T., Mercer. Charles, E., Glentunnel. Hughes, Job, Roa. Tattley, F. J., Mercer. Cherrie, R. C, Mokau. Hunter, A., Southland. Taylor, Joseph, Collingwood. Christie, James, Saddle Hill. Kells, P. H., Denniston. Thompson, Joseph, Blackball. Clemo, G., Whangarei. Lewis, David, Puponga. Thomson, James, Nightcaps. Craig, John, Coal Creek Plat. Lewis, J., Nightcaps. Todd, T., Nightcaps. Crockett, S., Millerton. Lindsay, J. 8., Orepuki. Waldie, A. 8., Mokau. Dale, E. G., Kaitangata. Lowden, W., Millerton. Watson, A., Soldier's Creek. Davies, W. C, Huntly. Makinson, Job, Huntly. Westfield, C., Fairfield, Otago. Dixon, W., jun., Kaitangata. McAllister, Neil, Kaitangata. Whittlestone, A. W., Shag Point. Doel, G., Lovell's Plat. McLelland, J., Kaitangata. Whittlestone, G. P., Abbotsford. Duffy, Prank, Burnett's Pace. McLelland, A. C, Kaitangata. 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. Grenall, S., Granity. Molony, C. V. P., Auckland. Barlow, H., Greymouth. Inglis, A., Huntly. Morgan, H. L., Ngakawau. Baxendale, J., Mine Creek. Jones, T., Kimihia. Myers, T., Kiripaka. Black, J., Granity. Kerr, D., Collingwood. Newbum, F., Roa. Boyd, J., Hikurangi. Lennox, W., Springfield. Parsonage, W., Dunollie. Brownlie, T., Huntly. Little, W., Wellington. Penman, A., Huntly. Burley, T., Hikurangi. Littlewood, G. G., Denniston. Provan, P., Runanga. Burt, A., Huntly. Longstaff, H. C, Kaitangata. Robertson, R., Roa. Clarkson, S., Kaitangata. McCall, John, Wellington. Sneddon, J., Blaokball. Cross, G, Hikurangi. MoCloy, Thomas, Mosgiel. Straehan, J., Dunedin. Diokinsou, W., Gore. MoGeaohie, J., jun., Mokau. Tennant, D., Paparoa. Dodd, W., Granity, McGuire, P.. Mount Somers. Talbot, H., Huntly. Eyeington, G., Huntly. MoGuire, William, Seddonville. Tipton, Harry, Hikurangi. Graham, D., Huntly. MoHardy, A. J., Perntown. Webb, T. E., Huntly.

79

(!.—2

Underviewers' Certificates. lamed under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909. Allan, James, Puponga. Green, Richard, Abbotsford. Nimmo, Thomas, Papakaio. Attrill, Charles Waterford, Mercer. Hawthorn, James, Puponga. Nimmo, William, Ngapara. Berry, A. H., Huntly. Hunter, Peter, Ngakawau. Penman, John, Denniston. Bond, John, Waikaia. Johnston, William Crowan, Gore. Proctor, William, Kaitangata. Boustrage, T. Hubert, Brunnerton. Johnstone, Thomas, Denniston. Robertson, William, Mosgiel. Broome, James, Gore. Levick, Harry, White Cliffs. Todd, Thomas, Nightcaps. Clough, Henry, Millerton. Marsh, Charles George, Glentunnel. Walker, John, Blackball. Davidson, William, Mine Creek, Muncaster, William, Runanga. Williams, William, Kaitangata. Davis, William, Runanga. McAlister, Robert, Kaitangata. Wilson, Daniel, Kaitangata. Donaldson, James, Kaitangata. McNeill, William, Fairfield. Winter, John, Denniston. Plynn, John, Bannockburn. Newlands, George, Brunnerton. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909, after Examination. Ainscough, William, Huntly. Hewitson, W. E. G., Burnett's Pace. Peacock, Thomas, Denniston. Armstrong, V., Runanga. Honey, A, J., Burnett's Pace. Pear-on, William, Burnett's Pace. Atkinson, John, Puponga. Hughes, T. G., Huntly. Pendleton, Samuel, Blackball. Bashall, J., Puponga. Hunter, Peter, Stockton. Phillips, J., Taratu. Berry, A. H., Huntly. Jaon, W., Millerton. Powell, Isaac, Rewanui. Boddy, A. J., Rewanui. Johnston, C. M., Seddonville. "Richardson, William, Taylorville. Brennan, John, Kaitangata. King, T. H., Granity. Rogers, James, Ngakawau. Brown, Charles Henry, Denniston. Lowden, William, Milli rton. "Smith, Albert, Denniston. Cain, A., Kaitangata. Maher, William, Denniston. Stroi.gman, C. J., Cobdeu. Carson, P. Kaitangata. Makinson, J., Huntly. Sweeney, J. L., State Collieries. Chippendale, John, Westport. McDonald, Thomas, Ngakawau. Thomson, James, Huntly. Clark, W. S., State Collieries. Mclvor, D., Runanga. Tucker, J., Kaitangata. Dowgray, John, Granity. McKernan, John, Millerton. Tnmbull, E. V., Thames. Duffy, F., Burnett's Face. McLean, Malcolm, Granity. Turner, Alfred, Kiripaka. Dymond, John, Mine Creek. McLeod, J. G.. Millerton. Turton, J., Huntly. "Fox, Sidney Arthur, Denniston. Morganty, L., Stockton. White, Edward, Ngaruawahia. "Gilbert, George, Millerton. Mosley, J. T., Denniston. Whittlestone, G. F., Abbotsford. Griffen, J., Kaitangata. Nicholson, D., Huntly. Williamson, W. R., Rewanui. Haderoft, John, Dunollie. O'Brien, D. Q., Mangatini. "Woods, Albert, Granity. Hall, Thomas, Kaitangata. * Issued during the year. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1910. Beardsmore, E., Denniston. Jones, David, Nightcaps. Mason, Edward, Kingston Crossing. Cuthberlson, Robert, Fairfield. Jones, Morris, Nightcaps. Mitchell, Alexander, Runanga. Evans, William, Abbotsford. Jonos, W., Waikaka Valley. McCaughern, John, Kaitangata. Fisher, T., Westport. Kitto, Richard, Kaitangata. Nihil, S., Kawakawa. Gibson, M., Abbotsford. Manderson, P., Runanga. Newburn, S., Kaitangata. Greene, M., Kaitangata. Mann, D., Granity. Statbam, Robert, Kaitangata. Haderoft, 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. Firemen and Deputies' Certificates. Issued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909. Aitken, George, Glentunnel. Gibson, Matthew, Abbotsford. Murdoch, Colin McColl, Stirling. Allan, A. George, Abbotsford. Gibson, Robert, Millerton. McCaffrey, James, Seddonville. Allan, Charles, Brunnerton. Gilmour, William, Millerton. McCaughern, John, Kaitangata. Beardsmoie, Edward, Denniston. Glover, Richard, Runanga. McDonald, John T., Millerton. Berry, Albert Henry, Huntly, Gray, Thomas, Abbotsford. McGhee, William, Kaitangata. Blaney, James, sen., Kaitangata. Grihben, John, Kaitangata. McGill, Douglas Thomas, Waikaka. Boyd, Robert, Waronui. Headeroft, James, Runanga. McGill, John, Huntly. Bradley, Robert, Denniston. Hamilton, John, Hikurangi. MoKenzie, James, Nightoaps. Buchols, Joseph, Waikaka. Hargreaves, Charles Millerton. Newburn, Robert, Kaitangata. Burgess, William Charles, E. Gore. Harris, John, Reefton. Newburn, Suniui 1, Kaitangata. Callaghan, Frederick, Kiripaka. Hartley, John, Denniston. Neholas, William, Kaitangata. Campbell, Samuel, Millerton. Hay, James, Denniston. Oliver, William, Kaitanpata. Chamley, William, Millerton. Heron, Ralph, Kimihia. Parcell, Henry Oh do, Bannockburn. Clausen, Emil P.,c/o J. Worthington, Hlggtns, Thomas James, Denniston. Park, Francis, Stirling. 33 Hiropi Street, Newtown, Wei- Hislop, William, Denniston. Penman, Robert, Kaitangata. lington. Holden, Samuel, Granity. Richards, James, Brunmrion. Connelly, Michael, Denniston. Hou.-Jey, Benjamin, Huntly. Rodgers, Edwin, Kaitangata. Connew, John, Puponga. Howe, George Charles, Shag Point. Sanderson, John, Kurow. Coppersmith, John, Denniston. Jarvie, William Marshall, Kaitangata, Scott, Charles, Nevis. Coußhard, Thomas, Brunnerton. Jaspers, George F., Denniston. Soott, John, Runanga. Cowan, Robert Black, Gibbston. Jenkins, James, Ngakawau. Smith, William, Seddonville. Cuthbertson, R ibert, Fairfield. Johnston, C. Mountier, Seddonville. Sneddon, James, Blackball. Davis, Evan, Denniston. Jones, David, Nightcaps. Statham, Robert, Kaitangata. Deeming, William, Hikurangi. Kaye, Charles, Runanga. Taylor, David, Roa. Dellaway, Archibald, Denniston. Kitto, Richard, Kaitangata. Taylor, James, Springfield. Dickson, Richard, Hikurangi. Leeming, J. T., South Malvern. Thin, William, White Cliffs. Dillon, Lawrence M., Nightcaps. Lutton, William, Millerton. Tripp, Albert, Kaitangata. Duncan, Prank, Huntly. Mann, Duncan, Millerton. Wallace, John, Mataura. Duncan, Hugh, Kaitangata. Mason, William, Denniston. Wardrope, Francis, Hikurangi. Evans, John, Granity. Mears, Andrew David, Runanga. Watson, Andrew, Roa. Evans, William, Abbotsford. Monorieff, Thomas, Nightcaps. West, George Thomas, Waronui. Findlav, Charles, Denniston. Moore, Thomas, Mangatini. YouDg, Thomas Gardner, Waikaia. Foot, Frederick Ernest, Denniston. Morganty, Charles, Ngakawau,

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80

Firemen and Deputies' Certificates— continued. luued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1909, after Examination. "Aberorombie, William, Huntly. Hannah, J., Glentunnel. Paul, James, Seddonville. Allan, George, Huntly. Hardie, J., Millerton. Pearson, James Thomas, Mataura. Allan, James, Brunnerton. Harvey, D., Huntly. Pearson, Samuel G., Burnett's Face. Anderson, Walter, Blackball. Hawkins, Josoph, Burnett's Face. Pearson, William, Burnett's Face. Armstrong, V., Runanga. Hendry, John, Millerton. Pendleton, S., Blackball. Atkinson, J., Puponga. "Howard, Nathan, Runanga. Phillips, J., Puponga. Baddeley, Jesse, Dunollie, Hicks, J. R., Kiripaka. Ponton, P., Millerton. Ball, A., Kimihia. Hill, A., Lovell's Flat. Powell, J., Dunollie. Barclay, F., Kaitangata. "Hill, Alfred, Runanga. Pratt, Alexander, Millerton. "Barclay, William, Kaitangata. Hill, E. E., Brunnerton. Ralph, J., Huntly, Birohall, J., Burnett's Face. "Hill, Joseph, Milton. Ramsay, J. McK., Kaitangata. Blair, Peter, Huntly. Hilton, Thomas, Denniston. Reed, W. H., Hikurangi. Boddy, Archibald John, Runanga. Hogg, C., Blackball. Reid, Henry, Millerton. Bond, W. T., Huntly. Hollows, W., Fairfield. Reid, Henry, Huntly. "Boyd, James Langwell, Huntly. Honey, Archibald John, Denniston. "Richardson, Ernest, Kaitangata. Brennen, J., Kaitangata. Hopkinson, Joseph, Seddonville. Richardson, W., Dunollie. Broadbent, Samuel, Huntly. Hughes, T. E., Huntly. "Richmond, William, Runanga. Brown, J., jun., Denniston. Innes, Andrew, Runanga. "Riegans, William M., Huntly. Buchanan, William, Millerton. iKhorwood, T., Runanga. Robson, W., State Collieries. Burdon, George, Denniston. "James, E. V. P., Blackball. Rodgers, J., Huntly. Burt, T., Huntly. Johnson, J. H., Hikurangi. Rodgers, J., Ngakawau. Calder, Thomas, Ngakawau. Johnson, Thomas, Huntly. Rogers, A. G., Kaitangata. Caldwell, Thomas, Blackball. Jones, 8., Millerton. "Ross, Alexander, Fairfield. Callaghan, M., Blackball. Jones, J., Hikurangi. Rowse, J., Runanga. Campbell, J. C, Glentunnel. Jones, J., Kimihia. Rnston, Edwin Walter, Huntly. Carson, Frederick. "Kerr, David, Green Island. Rutherford, W. R., Kaitangata. Chadwick, A., Millerton. Kerry, E., Huntly. Scott, James, Blackball. Chapman, A. E., Kaitangata. King, Thomas Henry, Granity. Seddon, William, Huntly. Chippendale, J., Millerton. *Kyle, William, Nightcaps. Sharp, J. R., Kaitangata. Clark, W. S., Dunollie. Lancaster, Herbert, Puponga. "Shearer, William, Stockton. Clarke, S., Roa. Lauder, Matt Currie, Runanga. Shore, W. M., Taratu. Cleveland, P. L., Kaitangata. Lewis, 1., Puponga. Smith, C. 8., Dv oollie. Colledge, A., Huntly. Lowden, W., Millerton. "Smith, Frfd, Rotowaro. Connolly, John, Runanga. McAuley, P., Ngakawau. Smith, J. A., Seddonville Connolly, John Joseph, Runanga. McAvoy, William, Ngakawau. Smith, Thomas W., Millerton. Cooper, J. J., Milton. McDonald, J., Ngakawau. Smith, W. A., Denniston. Cowan, J., Millerton. McDonald, Thomas, Burnett's Face. Snell. J., Kaitanga'a. Cruikshank, P. G., Runanga. McGovern, R., Wairio. Snowdon, W., Kaitangata. Curragh, A., Burnett's Pace. McGuinnoss, E., Runanga. Southward, William, Runanga. Curran, James, Ngakawau. Mclvor, David, Runanga. Strongman, Charles James, Cobden. Cuthbertson, John, Glentunnel. McKenty, H , Denniston. Sutherland, J., Millerton. "Dalzell, Joseph, Runanga. MeKernan, John, Millerton. Sweeney, John Lewis, Ruuanga. Danks, Peter, Millerton. McLaughlin, J. W., Huntly. Tate, Anthony, Seddonville. Darby, W., Huntly. McMillan, John, Huntly. Taylor, Ghris'opher, Millerton. Davidson, Thomas Mine Creek. McMillan, John, Kaitangata. Thawloy, William, Denniston. Davies, P., Puponga. McMillan, R., Kaitangata. Thomson, J., Huntly. Davis, Oliver James, Runanga. Mackie, J., Kaitangata. Thomson, Thomas, Mine Creek. Delaney, J. E., Puponga. Maokinson, Job, Hikurangi. Throp, J., Kai'angata. "Dick, Alexander Clark, Kaitangata. Maddison, W., Huntly. Timms, H., Huntlv. "Doel, Charles John, Hikurangi. "Maguigan, Thomas, Roa. Tunstall, A. G., Hikurargi. Dowgray, John, Millerton. Maher, W., Denniston. Tunstall, W., Hikurangi. Downes, William Norbury, Cobden, Makepeace, Henry, Runanga. Turner, P., Kiripaka. "Duggan, Francis, Runanga. "Mann, John Henry, Dunollie. Turton, John, Huntly. Duggan, John, Upper Rewanui. Martin, T. N., Huntly. "Tyson, Isaa-i, Runanga. Dunsdale. George, Rewanui. "Mcc, Albert, Kaitangata. Unwin, James, R manga. Dutton, John, Granity. Miles, B. C, Millerton. Veiich, D., Blackball. Dvmond, J., Millerton. Mitchell, A., S j ddonville. Vurlow, Frederick Alexander, Den Eekersley, W., Paparoa. M Tganti, Louis, Millerton. niston. Pairhurst, R. W., Huntly. Moreland, S., Hikurangi. Walker. W. J., Granity. Fannigan, P., Ngakawau. Mosley, J. T., Denniston. "Walls, James, Benhar. F' rguson, A., Kaitangata. Moye, John Patrick, Denniston. Wallwork, Moses Runanga. "Fleming, Gavin, Pukemiro. Myers Richard, Millerton. "Waters, Thomas Edwin, Sh ig Point Forrest, John, Runanga. Nicholson, David, Huntly. Wear, Daniel, Huntly. Frew. W., Huntly. Nicholson, J., State Collieries, Websti r, Oliver, Huntly. Gox, Henry Jo- n, Blackball. Niven, Peter, Ngakawau. White, Edward, Gran'ty. Gdligan, H., Runanga. Nut'nll, John, B achball. Williamson, W. R., Kewanui, "Greon, George Edward, Huntly. O'Biien, Denis Quinsin, Millerton. Wilson, J. T., Kamo. G een, T., Kaitangata. O'Brien, Martin, Millerton. "Wilson, Sidney Robert, Kaitangata. Griffen, James, Kaitangata. O'Pee, J., Kaituigata. Woods, A., Millerton. "Groom, Ge rge, Hun ly. Oliver R., Kaitangata, Woo, W., Huntly. Hale. J., Kaitangata. "Page, William, Dunollie. Worthington, T., Millerton. Ha 1. R. H , Huntly, Parker, Andrew, Greymouth. Wvse, A , Blackball. Hall, Thomas, Kaitangata. Par , Joseph. Bnrneit's Pace. Young, Tnomas, Granity. "Halhoay, Thomas, Dunollie. Panoit, W., Wainta. * Issu«d during the year. Istued under the Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1910. Broadfoot, W., Millerton. Halsey, W. J., Sad le Hill. M-Int 'sh, A. S., Shag Point. Bu-gess, R. S., Waikaka. Hartshorne, W. C., Brunnerton. Mclvt, W.. Waikaka. Cain, Alexander, Waikaia. Hodgitts, I , B irnett's Pace. Nelson, J. H , Pukerau. Cameron, D., Nortli Chatton. Hun-, William, Shag Point. Ramsey, George, Waikaka. Churchill, S. G., Alexandra South. Junk>r, P. A., Waikaia. Robin-on, R., Ngakawau. Clasen, Charles, Shag Point. Kid I, G. C, Albury. Russ> 11, 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., Nightcaps. Garrey, W., Kaitangata. MoClimont, John, Mount Somers. Whittlestone, G. P., Abbotsford. Gray, Hugh, Dunedin. 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, li., Huntly, Maloolm, A,, Nightcaps. Tucker, J., Kaitangata.

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