MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1922 Session I, C-02

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MINES STATEMENT. CONTBK T S. PAGE Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 1-6 Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Mineral-production .... .. 1 Gold and Silver Mining .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 2 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. ... .. . . .. .. 2 Tungsten (Soheelite) . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 2 Cinnabar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Petroleum .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. . . 2 Sulphur .. .. . . . . .. .. . . .. . . 2 Coal-mining . . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . . 3 Persons employed in or about Mines and Stone-quarries .... 3 Mining and Quarry Accidents .. .. . . . . .. . . .. 3 Geological Survey . . .. . . . . . . .. 4 State Aid to Mining . . .. . . . . . . . . 4 Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. . . . . .. 4 Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. . . .. . , 4 Roads and Tracks .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . 4 Schools of Mines .. .. .. . . .. ... . . 4 Government Water-races .. . . . . . . . . .. . . 4 Miner's Phthisis Act .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. 4, 5 State Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 5, 6 Coal Control Department and State Firewood Depot .. .. . . .. 5 James Mine .. .. .. . . . . .. . . .. 5 Mac Donald Mine .. .. .. . . .. . . 5 Output and Sales, Liverpool Colliery .. .. .. . . . . 5, 6 Items from Balance-sheet .. .. .. . . .. . . . 6 Tables to accompany Mines Statement .. .. . . • .. .. .. 7-10 No. 1. Export oE Minerals and Coal-output .. . . .. .. . . 7 No. 2. Gold —Quantity and Value exported .. .. . . . . 8 No. 3. Coal —Output from different Fields . . .. .. . . . . . . 8 No. 4. Coal—Output of different Classes . . .. .. . . . . .. 9 No. 5. Coal and Oil-shale —Annual Production .. . . .. .. 9 No. 6. Coal—lmports .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 9 Exports : Bunker .. . . .. .. . . . . . . 10 Exports: Cargo .. . . .. .. .. .. . . 10 No. 7. Number of Persons employed in Mining .. .. . . .. . . 10 Appendices to the Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 11-50 Appendix A. —Reports relating to Metalliferous Mines and Stone-quarries .. .. 11-29 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. .. .. .. .. 11-19 I. Minerals: Produced . . .. .. .. . . .. 11 Exported . . .. .. .. .. . . 12 11. Persons employed . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 12 111. Accidents .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. 12 IV. Gold-mining .. . . .. . . .. .. .. 13, 14 (1.) Quartz-mining . . .. . . .. . . . . 13 (2.) Dredge Mining . . .. . . .. . . .. 14 (3.) Alluvial Mining . . . . . . .. .. . . 14 V. Minerals other than Gold .. . . . . . . . . . . 14-16 Tungsten-ore . . . . . . .. # .. . . 14, 15 Iron .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 15 Cinnabar .. . . . . .. . . . . .. 15 Petroleum .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 15 Asbestos .. . . . . . . . . .. .. 16 Sulphur .. . . . . . . . . .. .. 16

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Appendices to the Mines Statement — continued. . page Appendix A — continued. Report by Inspecting Engineer —continued. Vl.' Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Quarrying Operations .. .. .. .. .. . • 16 Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .•• 10 VII. State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. . . .. 16-19 (1.) Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. 16, 17 (2.) Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. .. 18 (3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields .. .. .. .. 19 (4.) Government Water-races .. .. .. .. .. 19 (5.) Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. . . .. 19 Annexure A—Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 20-26 Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. . . 20-22 Quartz-mining . . .. . . . . . . .. . . 20,21 Quicksilver.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..21,22 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Oil-wells .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Prosecutions Marlborough, Nelson, and West ("oast District .. .. • • • • 22-25 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 22-24 Dredging .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 24 Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 24 Iron .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 24, 25 Asbestos .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 25 Petroleum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Accidents .. .. .. .. . . .. • • • • 25 Southern Inspection District .. .. . . .. .. . . 25, 26 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 25 Alluvial Mining .. .. . . .. .. . . .. 25 Dredge Mining .. . . .. .. .. . . .. 26 Scheelite, Cinnabar, Phosphate Rock, Petroleum . . .. . . 26 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Annexure B— Observations by Katathermometer of the Physiological Conditions in the Deep Mines of New Zealand .. .. . . . . ... .. 26, 27 Annexure C—Mining Statistics .. .. .. .. •. 28,29 Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained .. . . . . . . 28, 29 Appendix B —Reports relating to the Inspection of Coal-mines . . .. . . 30-50 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. .. .. .. . . 30-37 Section I. Output .. .. . . .. . . . . .. 30 Section 11. Persons employed .. .. .. . . . . . . 31 Section 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 32-34 Section IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act .. .. .. .. . . 35-37 (a.) Permitted Explosives .. .. .. .. .. . . 35 (b.) Dangerous Occurrences .. .. . . .. .. . . 35 (c.) Electricity at Collieries . . .. .. . . .. . . 36 (d.) Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 36, 37 Section V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining .. .. . . . . . . 37 Annexuro A —Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. . . . . 37-45 Northern District .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 37, 38 West Coast District .. .. .. .. . . .. . . 38-41 Southern District .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 41-45 Annexure B —Colliery Statistics .. .. .. .. . . . . 46-50

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1922. NEW ZEALAND

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— In presenting to Parliament my second annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1921, I desire to congratulate honourable members and the people generally on the progress of such industry during that time, notwithstanding the acute financial position .and the fact that mine costs, including the prices of stores, have not diminished to any appreciable extent. Honourable members will be pleased to learn that the production of goldsilver bullion from quartz and alluvial gold-mines and by gold-dredges increased in quantity by no less than 77,225 oz. during the year, which speaks volumes for the efforts of those who have sunk their capital and devoted their energies to this important industry. It is with extreme regret that I have to announce that no new goldfields have been discovered during the year. It is, however, hoped that the prospectors, who arc being financially assisted by the Department, will locate a new and payable goldfield, as such a discovery would materially assist in overcoming our present difficulties, financially and otherwise. During the year the Government has assisted prospectors and mining companies with advice and money, and had it not been for the financial difficulties which have occurred much greater aid would have been granted. As the financial position improves it will be possible to increase materially the granting of subsidies and loans for prospecting and developing promising mines. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1921 and 1920 :—

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Gold and silver* Quicksilver .. Tungsten ore Sulphur Manganese .. Asbestos Stone Pumice Coal Totals Mineral. 1921. Quantity. Value. £ .. 551,875 oz. 547,105 $$ ton 231 38/q „ 1,785 873 „ 2,619 358,362 2,945 „ 7,958 .. 1,809,095 „ 1,809,095 £2,727,205 1920. Quantity. 474,650 oz. l^jton ""liO » 746 „ 2 „ 114 Value. £ 528,317 1,378 1,956 2,238 10 105 31.4,470 7,499 1,843,705 2,843 „ 1,843,705 „ £2,699,678 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unsep limited.

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The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in table No. 1 accompanying this statement, amounted to £2,919,453, a.s compared with £3,431,391 during 1920. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1921 amounted to £146,673,152. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. The following statement shows the quantity and value of bullion-production, the dividends paid by registered companies, and the number of productive claims and gold-dredges during 1921 and 1920 : —

The production of gold-silver bullion from quartz and alluvial-gold mines and by gold-dredges increased from 474,650 oz., value £528,317, during 1920 to 551,875 oz., value £547,105, during 1921, being an increase in quantity of 16 per cent, and in value 3-5 per cent. This increase may to a large extent be attributed to the encouragement given to work low-grade ore bodies or deposits by the higher value paid in England for gold owing to the low exchange on the paper pound sterling. During 1921 the average price per ounce fine, unfortunately, declined ; otherwise the value of the considerably increased gold-production during that year would have been much greater. During the year no ore bodies or deposits of importance were discovered, mining operations being confined to known ore reserves. MINERALS OTHER THAN CxOLD AND SILVER. The Onakaka Iron and Steel Company having laid down a blast-furnace installation upon its lease at Onakaka, near Parapara, in the Nelson Provincial District, on the 26th April of the current year, the furnace was blown in for a trial run on the ore. The result was very satisfactory, a soft grey marketable foundry pig iron being produced comparable by test and analysis with that imported. The following is the analysis by.the Dominion Analyst of a sample then produced: Iron, 92-10 ; graphitic carbon; 2-89 ; combined carbon, 0-19 ; silicon, 3-92 ; phosphorus, 0-22; sulphur, 0-04 ; and manganese, 0-64, per cent, respectively. The iron-ore deposits in the form of lirnonite which occur on the surface at Onakaka and Parapara have been estimated in the " Iron-ore Resources of the World," published by the International Geological Congress, to be 64,000,000 metric tons. Owing to the low price paid for 65 per cent, tungsten (scheelite) concentrate, which has fallen from £3 Bs. per unit during the war to 9s. per unit, there was no exportation during the year, although tons of concentrate was produced. Operations in connection with cinnabar-mining were confined principally to development and prospecting. The New Zealand Quicksilver Mines produced .1,575 11). of quicksilver at Puhiptihi. Drilling in search of petroleum produced negative results at Waipatiki and Waitangi, near Whatatutu, in the North Island, and Kotuku, near Greymouth. At Rotorua 873 tons of fumarolic sulphur was taken from a Crown lease.

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Class of Gold-mining. Production i of Bullion. Dividends Number of Producpaid by Registered tive Claims and Companies. Dredges. 1921. 1920. 1921. 1920. 192 2 !1. 1920. Quartz Alluvial Dredging Oz. 527,855 16,718 7,302 £ 433,488 77,438 36,179 Oz. £ 451,122 415,! 16,576 77,' 6,952 34,( £ 415,868 77,777 34,672 868 777 672 £ 53,791 2,337 600 £ 100,981 4,445 23 150 11 23 122 12 Totals 551,875 547,105 474,650 528,: 528,317 317 56,728 105,426 184 157

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COAL-MINING. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows :—

The decline in the production of brown and bituminous coal is chiefly attributable to the considerable increase in the quantity of coal imported, which during 1921 amounted to 822,459 tons, of which 76| per cent, came from Australia, as against 476,343 tons, of which 97 per cent, was imported from Australia, during the previous year. The annual rate of coal-consumption in the Dominion—viz., about 2,300,000 tons —has been maintained notwithstanding that the utilization of hydro-electric power is constantly increasing. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1920 and 1921 :—

The shortage of labour experienced during previous years, more especially as regards coal-mines, has entirely disappeared. MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. At metalliferous mines, at which 2,070 persons were ordinarily employed, one life was lost by accident, and seven other persons received serious injuries. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, in which 1,561 persons were ordinarily employed, one person was accidentally killed, and four others received serious injuries. In or about coal-mines, at which 4,367 persons were ordinarily employed, it is regretted that ten fatalities occurred, three of which were unconnected with mining operations. Thirty-seven other persons received serious injuries. At all the mines and quarries the proportion of fatal accidents was 1-5 per 1,000 persons employed.

Output of Co; il during 1921. Class of Coal. Northern West Coast Distriot District (North Island). (South Island. Southern District (South Island). Total. Total Output to the End of 1921. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bitu- 83,325 810,520 minous Tons. Tons. 893,845 Tons. 33,949,532 Brown 431,282 155 Lignite ... ... ... 200 268,683 214,930 700,120 215,130 16,580,317 3,163,639 Totals for 1921 ... 514,607 810,875 514,607 810,875 483,613 1,809,095 53,693,488 Totals for 1920 ... 483,492 821,507 483,492 821,507 538,706 1,843,705 51,884,393

Inspection District. Totals. Classification. o ,, Northern West Coast (of , s [ m ™ f", (North Island). South Island). l i sl a n d) Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 1,147 481 393 Ironstone, cinnabar, and asbestos 11 36 2 Doal .. .. .. 1,220 2,026 1,121 •s-tone-quarries under the Stone- 1,060 88 • 413 quarries Act' Totals .. .. 3,438 2,631 1,929 1921. 2,021 49 4,367 1,561 1920. Increase. 1,914 107 16 33 4,078 289 1,468 93 7,998 7,476 522

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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the past year geological surveys have been conducted in the Dargaville, Waiapu, and Ohura districts. The total area surveyed in detail amounted to about 1,520 square miles. Mining is being carried on in none of these districts, but all probably contain mineral resources that will be utilized in the future. The year's work has been in the nature of a " stocktaking," so that some idea of the value of the mineral resources of New Zealand may be formed. In the Dargaville district the limestone and coal deposits have been examined; in the Ohura district the extent of the thick coal of the Waitewhena coalfield has been determined as closely as possible ; and in the Waiapu district the structure of the large areas over which indications of petroleum occur has been studied. Owing to the financial stringency the only publications issued by the Geological Survey during the year were its annual report and Bulletin No. 23, in which the mineral resources of western Southland were described. In addition to the ordinary bulletins prepared by the members of the staff, these include memoirs on the fossils of New Zealand written by specialists in other countries. The base on which geology is founded is widened by the unpaid labours of these scientists, and on the correct interpretation of the geology of New Zealand depends the efficient utilization of its resources both agricultural and mineral. STATE AID TO MINING. Considerable use continues to be made of the Government prospecting drills. During the year five parties employed these drills, an aggregate of 4,676 ft. being drilled in search of coal, cinnabar, and alluvial gold. Workable coal-seams were proved at Glentunnel and Bush Gully, Canterbury, and a payable alluvial gold deposit at Tucker Flat, Kanieri. During the year ended 31st March, 1922, twentynine approved prospecting-parties were granted subsidies amounting to £1,980, of which £502 was expended during the year, in addition to £3,261 authorized during previous years. Upon these operations sixty-five persons were intermittently employed. The results attained by five parties were satisfactory. The expenditure on roads and tracks by subsidies and direct grants out of the Public Works Fund vote, " Roads on Goldfields," during the year amounted to £11,329, as against £11,050 during the previous year. The expenditure by the Mines Department on schools of mines for the year amounted to £5,848. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida Government Water-races, which in past years considerably aided alluvial-gold mining in the Kumara and Naseby districts, have during the year ended 31st March, 1922, supplied claims employing twentyeight miners with water for sluicing, by which gold to the approximate value of £5,633 was obtained. The cash received for water sold amounted to £1,492 7s. 3d., the expenditure on the upkeep of the races being £3,806. During the current year considerable economies in connection with the upkeep of these races have been effected, as the result of which it is hoped that the receipts for the sales of water will meet the expenditure incurred by the Government. MINER'S PHTHISIS ACT, 1915. The benefits under this Act were extended by the Finance Acts, 1919 and 1920. In order to qualify an applicant must be totally incapacitated for work owing to miner's phthisis (pneumoconiosis) contracted while working as a miner in the mines of New Zealand. The pension for a married man or widower with children under the age of fourteen years is £l 15s. a week, for a single man £l ss. a week, and for the widow of a miner entitled to a pension and who dies of miner's phthisis 17s. 6d. a week during widowhood. It is further provided that a miner in receipt of a pension may be absent from New Zealand for a period not exceeding two years and still be entitled to a pension.

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The following is a statement showing the amount of pensions payable, in force, and granted to the 31st March, 1922 : — Amounts paid since inception : — £ Year ended 31st March, 1916 (five months) . . 1 ,509 Year ended 31st March, 1917 .. .. .. 8,060 Year ended 31st March, 1918 .. .. .. 13,275 Year ended 31st March, 1919 .. .. .. 13,270 Year ended 31st March, 1920 .. .'. . . 16,652 Year ended 3.lst March, 1921 .. .. .. 26,972 Year ended 31st March, 1922 . . .. . . 31,212 £110,962 Number of new grants for 1921-22 . . . . . . 78 Annual value of new grants .. .. .. £5,538 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1922 . . 506 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1922 £31,505 Average pension payable per annum . . .. £62 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1922. . 868 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1922, includes the following : To unmarried miners, 151 ; to married miners, 302 ; to widows of miners, 415. STATE COLLIERIES. Coal-control Department and State Firewood Depot. The bulk of the activities of the Coal-control Department and the Firewood Depot were transferred to the Mines Department on the Ist September, 1921, and as the result of such, transfer considerable economies were effected, which are estimated at £4,350 per year. The activities of the Firewood Depot will be brought to a close within a few weeks. James Mine. The underground development has been continued during the year, and the erection of the coal-tipping and screening plant and the installation of the machinery connected therewith have been completed. The mine sawmill, which was situated at Dunollie for many years, has been dismantled and re-erected at Runanga in a central position for supplying timber to both the James and Liverpool Collieries. Macdonald Mine. As already announced on more than one occasion to honourable members, the Government has decided to cease developing this colliery, arid, with the exception of tree-planting, work was stopped in March, 1922. Since that time arrangements have been made to dispose of a part of the plant, and efforts are being made to sell the remainder. As I have already informed honourable members, the Government was compelled to close the mine owing to the enormous increase in the estimated cost of developing and equipping the colliery, including the erection of houses, drainage, and lighting, as well as the construction of a railway-line, and also owing to the acute financial position prevailing. A total area of 37| acres has been planted with trees suitable for mining purposes, at a cost of £511. Output and Sales, Liverpool Colliery. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended 31st March, 1922, are briefly reviewed hereunder :— The only colliery producing coal was the Liverpool Colliery. The gross output for the year was 137,908 tons, as compared with 153,722 tons for last year, a

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decrease of 15,814 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown below : —

Note. —The difference between the gross and net output is the allowance made for mine consumption and waste. The disposal, inclusive of stock on hand at beginning of year, was as follows :—

The total sales of State coal from the mine for the year amounted to 130,733 tons, value £222,819, as compared with 148,335 tons, value £222,127, for last year, a decrease of 17,602 tons, but an increase in value of £692. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £l 14s. 1*05 d., an increase of 4s. l-65d. on last year's average. The sales of coal, &c, through the medium of the depots totalled 87,871 tons, value £213,860, as against 60,912 tons, value £137,910, for last year. The profit at the mines was £13,831, and at the depots, &c, £7,935, making a total of £21,766, out of which £4,552 was applied to Sinking Fund Account, leaving £17,214 to be carried forward. Items from Balance-sheet. 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 amount written oft' for depreciation for the year was . . .. 15,075 The payments for interest totalled .. .. .. .. 9,177 The payments for sea carriage of coal amounted to . . .. 69,112 The cost of railway haulage amounted to . . .. 21,064 The total wages paid for coal-winning was . . . . . . 77,793 The amount paid for management and ..office salaries (Head Office and mines) totalled . . . . . . . . .. 4,786 The gross capital expenditure on the whole undertaking to the 31st March last was .. .. .. .. .. .. 514,078 The total depreciation written off to date (equal to 51 per cent, on the gross capital expenditure) amounts to . . . . 262,231 The debenture and loan.capital stands at .. .. .. 227,601 The net profits of the State Coal-mines Account from inception to the 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. .. ..93,762 The net profit for the year ended 31st March, 1922, was . . .. 21,766 The sinking fund is in credit . . . . . . .. . . 24,580 General reserve stands at . . . . . . . . . . 51,467 The amount at credit of Profit and Loss is .. . . . . 17,214 The cash in hand and in the Public Account at the 31st March last was (last year £18,293) .. .. .. .. .. 32,971 The present net book value of permanent or fixed assets is . . 243,984 TABLES AND REPORTS. The usual statistical tables and departmental reports are appended.

Mine. Output in Tons, 1921-22. Gross. Net. Output in Tons, 1920-21. Gross. Not. Liverpool 137,908 133,636 153,722 149,054

Supplied to Soreened. Unscreened. Small. Totals. Tons. 3,254 i Depots ... Railways Other Government Departments Shipping companies Gas companies Other consumers ... Tons. 9,563 607 2,817 234 1,308 2,379 Tons. 5,354 8,874 1,742 30,874 38,231 5,308 311 2,742 17,135 Tons. 18,171 9,481 4,870 33,850 56,674 7,687 Totals ... 16,908 90,383 23,442 130,733

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TABLES TO ACCOMPANY MINES STATEMENT.

No. 1. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold and other Minerals exported during the Years ended the 31st December, 1920 and 1921, and the Total Value since the 1st January, 1853. The Coal-output is also included.

For Year ended the For Year ended the 31st December, 1921. 31st December, 1920. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1921. Name of Metal or Mineral. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Precious metals — Gold* Silver Oz. £ Oz. £ 149,595 612,168 212,973 883,748 480,023 65,647 369,400 87.665 Oz. 22,741,100 23,096,902 £ 89,624,275 2,714,597 Total gold and silver 629,618 677,815 582,373 971,413 971,413 45,838,002 92,338,872 Mineral produce, including kaurigum — Copper-ore Chrome-ore Antimony-ore Manganese-ore Haematite ore Tungsten-ore Quicksilver Sulphur (crude) Mixed mineralsf Coal (New Zealand) exported Coke exported Coal, output of mines in Dominion (less exports) Oil-shale Kauri-gum Tons. i an £ Tons. 2 10ft 2i m £ 10 1,378 900 Tons. 1,504 5,869 3,781 19,366 77 2,304^ 4,927 63,959ft 5,166,288 16,820 48,527,200 £ 19,390 38,002 55,045 61,915 469 299,311 7,662 13,241 259,100 5,096,072 25,698 28,946,122 3,014^ 53,183 2 1,755,912 8,988 2,895ig 109,510 80,088" 10 j 20 1,755,912 | .1,763,617 8,745 128,509 63 1,763,617 3,901 6,481 556,756 14,444 370,802 7,236 19,505,017 Total quantity' and value of minerals Value of gold and silver, as above mwm 2,241,638 677,815 1,858,118* 2,459,978 971,413 54,196,356£& 54,334,280 92,338,872 Total value of minerals, including gold and silver 2,919,453 3,431,391 146,673,152 I * In respect of gold, ounces of thi pumiccstono, 234 tons ; pumice sand, '. i fineness of 20 c 17 tons ; also ma :arats and upwi irble of weight ards. f Inc unspecified by t -hiding lime, 4! he Customs D< tons ; building-si partmont. lone, 1 3 ' ff tons ;

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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, 1920 and 1921, and the Total Quantity and Value from 1857 to the 31st December, 1921.

No. 3. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Coalfields, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1920 and 1921, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.

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Year ended 81st December, 1920. Year ended 31st December, 1921. Total Quantit from Janua 31st Decern ty and Value ,ry, 1857, to iber, 1921. District and County or Borough. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. I Auckland— County of Tauranga County of Coromandel County of Thames County of Ohinemuri County of Piako Borough of Thames Great Barrior Island Borough of Waihi Oz. £ 2,849 12,071 157 625 295 1,264 9,285 38,555 Oz. £ 104 442 197 730 181 782 369 1,476 07,. £ 452 i,924 151 638 85,959 362 ', 156 73,882 309,372 98,997 416,595 98^997 74,884 313,440 6,898,500 | 26,657,989 Wellington .. .. .. •• 188 706 Mablbobough— County of Marlborough 1,833 7,362 422 1,526 104,909 408,474 Nelson— County of Waimea County of Collingwood County of Takaka County of Murchison .. "lO 38 4 2 16 8 '403 1^579 591 2" 891 West Coast— County of Buller County of Inangahua County of Grey County of Westland Hokitika Borough Ross Borough Kumara Borough 413 1,617 597 2,415 1,740,112 6,899,440 1,260 42,912 2,852 8,183 537 572 993 5,185 172,627 11,721 33,437 2,199 2,288 3,972 3,124 20,697 2,179 12,472 12,337 79,412 8,779 50,036 Canteebcby— County of Selwyn 57,309 231,429 38,472 150,564 6,285,290 24,948,227 2 120 473 Otago— County of Taieri County of Tuapeka County of Vinoent County of Maniototo County of Waihemo County of Waitaki County of Bruee County of Lake County of Wallaoe County of Fiord County of Southland County of Clutha 85 10,870 14,972 4,834 201 409 236 2,667 2,739 350 45,358 62,235 20,289 814 1,724 999 11,142 1.1,227 19 9,602 6,107 9,391 1 2,397 6 600 1,563 64 39,348 24,760 38,676 S 9,821 23 2,401 6,273 16,324 361 67]767 1,566 5,006 20,157 53,698 223,471 31,692 141,528 7,705,924 30,684,790 Unknown 721 3,268 528 2,695 6,057 24,176 Totals 212,973 883,748 149,595 612,168 22,741,100 89,624,275

Dm ;put. Approximate Total Output up to 31st December, 19-21. Name of Coalfield. 1921. 1920. Increase. Decrease. North Auckland Waikato (including Mokau) Nelson Buller .. Inangahua Grey Canterbury Otago Southland Tons. 83,325 431,282 10,353 485,284 40,808 274,370 26,259 275,935 181,419 Tons. 102,801 380,691 15,344 488,546 56,452 261,165 32,457 307,807 198,442 Tons. 50,591 Tons. 19,476 4,991 3,262 15,584 Tons. 4,040,819 6,562,446 379,975 17,114,194 412,838 10,399,777 851,855 10,312,674 3,618,910 13,205 6,198 31,872 17,023 Totals 1,809,095* 1,843,705 53,093,488 •Dei rease, 34,610 tons.

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No. 4. Table showing the Output of Different Classes of Coal.

No. 5. Table showing the Increase or Decrease in the Annual Production of Coal and Oil shale in the Dominion, and the Quantity of Coal imported since 1878.

No. 6. Table showing the Total Quantity and Value of Coal imported into and exported from New Zealand from and to each Country during the Calendar Year 1921.

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Class of Coal. Bituminous and semi-bituminous Brown [jignite Output. 1 ] 1921. 1920. Tons. Tons. 893,845 923,575 700,120 715,709 215,130 204,421 Increase. Tons. 10,709 I Decrease. Tons. 29,730 15,589 Approximate Total Output to the 31st December, 1921. Tons. 33,949,532 16,580,317 3,163,639 Totals 1,809,095* 1,843,705 53,693,488 53,693,488 * Decrease, 34,010 tons.

Goal and Slialc raised m the Dominion. Coal imported. 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 1920 .. .. 1921 I Tons Yearly Increase T l0 " s - or Decrease. lons - 709,931 162,218 .. 174,148 231,218 Tnc. 69,000 158,076 299,923 „ 68,705 123,298 337,262 , 37,339 129,962 378,272 „ 41,010 129,582 421,764 „ 43,492 123,540 480,831 „ 59,009 148,444 511,063 „ 30,232 130,202 534,353 „ 23,290 119,873 558,620 , 24,267 107,230 613,895 „ 55,275 101,341 586,445 Dec. 27,450 128,063 637,397 Inc. 50,952 110,939 668,794 „ 31,397 125,318 673,315 „ 4,521 125,453 691,548 „ 18,233 117,444 719,546 „ 27,998 112,961 726,654 . 7,108 108,198 792,851 . 66,197 101,756 840,713 „ 47,862 110,907 907,033 „ 66,320 115,427 975,234 „ 68,201 99,655 1,093,990 „ 118.750 124,033 1,239,086 , 145,696 149,764 1,365,040 „ 125,354 127,853 1,420,229 „ 55,189 163,923 1,537,838 „ 117,609 147,196 1,585,756 „ 47,918 169,046 1,729,536 „ 143,780 207,567 1,831,009 „ 101,473 220,749 1,860,975 , 29,966 287,808 1,911,247 „ 50,272 258,185 2,197,362 „ 286,115 232,378 2,006,073 Dec. 131,289 188,068 2,177,615 | Inc. 111,542 364,359 1,888,005 Dec. 289,610 468,940 2,275,614 Inc. 387,609 518,070 2,208,624 Dec. 66,990 353,471 2,257,135 Tnc. 48,511 293,956 2,068,419 i Dec 188,716 291,597 2,034,250 „ 34,169 255,332 1,847,848 , 186,402 391,434 1,843,705 „ 4,143 476,343 1,809,095 „ 34,610 822,459 Increase over Preceding Year. 6,664 24,904 26^722 14,.379 135 9,'iei 4,520 24,378 25,371 36,070 38,521 13,182 67,059 176,291 104,581 49,130 136,102 84,909 346,116 Deeri ase below Preceding Year. 16,072 33,778 380 6,042 18,242 10,329 12,643 5,889 17 i124 - 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

Imports. I ! Country whence Imported. Tons. Value. £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 83,881 197,053 Canada, via west coast .. . . . . 3,027 7,449 Australia .. .. .. .. 627,65!) 814,237 Japan .. .. .. .. .. 43,278 141,881 United States of America, via east coast .. 64,611 160,420 Totals .. .. .. 822,459 1,321,040 The values shown are the fair market values in the countries of export plus 10 per cent.

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Exports: Bunkers.

No. 7. Number of Persons ordinarily employed at or about Mines other than Coal-mines during the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

10

Produce of New Zealand. Produce of Other Countries. Produce of Country to which exported Tons. Value. Tons. Value. | ; £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 29,027 69,970 0,988 20,758 Straits Settlements .. .. .. .. 750 1,805 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 7,342 11,265 2,192 3,651 Fiji .. .. .. .. .. .. 341 469 United States of America, via west coast . . .. 1,100 1,375 Tutuila .. .. .. .. .. 419 576 Totals .. .. -.. 38,979 85,460 9,180 24,409 Exports: Caryo. Produce of New Zealand. Produce of Other Countries. Country to which Exported Tons. Value. Tons. Value. £ t Australia .. .. .. .. .. 9,781 15,894 Fiji .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,492 4,229 Tonga .. .. .. .. .. 161 798 Western Samoa .. .. .. .. 262 663 12 60 Society Islands ........ 5 24 2 8 Tutuila .. .. .. .. .. 1,503 2,442 Totals . . ,„ .. 14,204 24,050 14 68

Number of Persons ordinarily employed at Total. County or Borough. Gold-quartz Cold Cold- , Mines other than ,,,„, ,,,„, Mines. Alluvial Mines. dredges. '• Cold and Coal. l ' il - ''-"• NORTHEBN INSPECTION DISTRICT. County and Borough of Thames .. 63 .. .. . . 68 55 County of Ohinemuri .. .. 47 .. .. .. 47 ()<) ,, Coromandel .. .. 46 .. .. .. 4g :{0 ,, Piako .. .. .. 5 .. .. .. 5 Q Borough of Waihi .. .. .. 924 .. .. .. 924 827 County of Tauranga . . .. 62 .. .. . . 02 29 Puhipuhi district .. .. .. .. .. .. II 11 15 West Coast Inspection District. County of Marlborough .. .. 17 5 .. .. 22 34 ,, Waimea .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1 4 „ Takaka . . .. .. .. .. . . I 1 I ,, Collingwood .. .. .. .. .. 35 35 „ Murehison .... 4 23 .. . . 27 19 „ Buller .. .. .. 4 14 .. ., ]8 31 „ Inangahua . . .. 252 8 .. . . 260 264 Grey .. .. .. .. 21 .. .. 21 38 Wcstland .. . . 6 56 70 .. 132 94 5 Southern Inspection District. County of Taieri .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 2 3 „ Tuapeka .. .. .. .. 82 .. .. 82 74 „ Vincent .. . . .. 4 52 50 .. 106 114 „ Maniototo .. .... 50 .. .. ' 50 ' 37 Waihemo.. .... 1 2 .. 3 8 „ Waitaki .. .. .. .. 7 .. .. 7 |0 Lake .. .. .. .. 22 .. 9 31 30 „ . Wallace .. .. .. ..• 31 .. .. ;{| 26 ,, Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , | „ Southland .. .. .. 65 16 2 83 69 Totals .. .. .. 1,438 438 136 58 I 2,070 1,930 Summary of Persons ordinarily employed in or about New Zealand Mines during 1921 and 1920. — L921. 1920. Increase. Gold, silver, and gold-scheelite mines .. .. .. .. 2,021 1,903 118 Other metalliferous mines, including those worked for scheelite alone .. 49 27 22 Coal-mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,367 4,078 289 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 6,437 6,008 429

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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT. APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES ANJ) STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sib,— Wellington, 6th June, 1922. I have the, honour to present ray fifteenth annual report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries, together with annexures and statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1921. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c, are for the period covered by the financial year- -viz., from the Ist April, 1921, to the 31st March, 1922 The reports, &C, are divided into the following sections :-- - I. Minerals produced and exported. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (1.) Quartz-mining. (2.) Dredge Mining. (3.) Alluvial Mining. V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarry Inspection and Statistics. VII. State Aid to Mining. (I.) Subsidized Prospecting. (2.) Government Prospccting-drills. (3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. (4.) Government Water-races. (5.) Schools of Mines. Annexures :— (A.) Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines. (B.) Katathermometer Observations at New Zealand Minos, by Frank Reed, M.I.M.M. (C.) Mining Statistics.

1. MINERALS PRODUCED AND EXPORTED. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metal-mines and of stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act during 1921 and 1920.

Mineral. Quantity. 1921. Value. 1921 Quantity. Value. Gold and silver (estimated) Quicksilver Tungsten-ore Sulphur Manganese Asbestos Stone Pumice '.'. Oz. 551,875 Tons. cwt. 0 14 38 7 873 0 0 5 2,945" 0 £ 547,105 231 1,785 2,619 "50 358,362 7,958 Oz. 474,650 Tons. cwt. 1 4 39 2 746 0 2 0 1 15 2,843 0 £ 528,317 1,378 1,956 2,238 10 105 314,470 7,499 Totals .. 918,110 918,110 855,973

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12

The following statement shows the value of Now Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1921 :—

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

111. ACCIDENTS. During 1921 one fatal and seven serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 2,070 persons were ordinarily employed.

The following is a description of the fatal accident which happened to Edward Murphy (57) an alluvial-gold miner. On the 3rd August, at about 10 a.m., he was employed with three others cleaning up at the sluicing-face of the Hochstetter Goldfields (Limited). The sandstone bottom rose; almost vertically to a considerable height above where the men were working. While thus engaged a fall of sandstone from a higher level occurred, burying deceased ; when his body was recovered he was dead, the base of his skull having been fractured. The mates of deceased at the inquest stated in evidence that prior to the accident they did not apprehend danger. The jury returned, a verdict of " Accidental death," holding no person blameworthy. Without inspection prior to the accident, it is impossible to gauge the. degree of danger (if any) which existed. The work was obviously attended with some risk, but the manager of the claim had not seen the place since 4- p.m. on the previous day — i.e., eighteen hours prior to the accident—and allowed the men to work without control. Descriptions of the serious non-fatal accidents are contained in the reports of Inspectors of Mines (Annexure A hereto).

1920. 1921. Increase or Decrease. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1921. j ; £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 883,748 612,168 Dec. 271 ,580 Silver .. .. .. .. 87,665 65,647 „ 22,018 Quicksilver . . .. .. 900 2] „ 879 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 1.378 .. ,, 1,378 Kauri-gum*! .. .. .. 556,756 367,197 „ 189,559 ManganeseH .. .. .. 10 .. „ 10 Other minerals .. ..- .. 8,745 8,988 Inc. 243 Totals .. .. 1,539,202 1,054,021 Deo. 485,181 £ 89,624,275 2,714,597 7,662 299,311 19,505.017 61,915 385,247 112,598,024 * The quantity of kauri-gum produced is not known, but the quantity exported is recorded.

Inspection District, Classification. Northern. West Coast. Southern. Total, 1921, ___ J Gold, silver, and tungsten Cinnabar Asbestos Ironstone 1,147 -.181 11 1 35 393 2 2,021 13 1 35 Totals for 1921 .. .. . 1,158 517 395 2,070 Totals for 1920 .. j 1,073 485 372 1,930

Cause. Fatal A' Number of Separate Accidents. coidents. ; Serious .Non-fai Number of Donl-liH separate Deaths. Accidents. 34tl Accidents. N umber of Persons Injured. Falls of ground Kxplosives Miscellaneous, on surface Miscellaneous, underground Totals 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 I 1 7 7

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

•In addition to the j-'old produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word "bullion" is used iv preference to " swld." t Tlie profits of privately owned dredges and mines are. unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete, t The bullion-production is from 150 alluvia! claims, but the dividends are only asoertainable from those, few that are the property of registered companies, The increased production as shown above, although satisfactory, should not be taken as an indication of a revival in the gold-mining industry, such improvement being due chiefly to improved methods and to the encouragement received during 1920 to work low-grade mines owing to the premium paid above the mint value of gold due to the low exchange on the paper pound sterling. The ajjproximate. mint value of fine gold is £4 ss. per ounce, but during ]!>2O the open market price paid in England averaged £5 12s. (id. per ounce; unfortunately, however, the price declined during 11)21 to £5 2s. lid., until at the time of writing the premium has almost disappeared the result of which will be the closing of the low-grade mines.

(1.) Quartz-mining.

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1921 amounted to £1 13s. lid. as compared with £1 15s. 10d. during 1920. At the principal gold-quartz mines considerable, depth is being attained with varying results. At the Wailii Mine development of the No. 13 (1,578|ft.) level has commenced, but the ore value in that level and at the level above has so far been low. During .1921 146,466 statute tons of ore were milled for a return of £233,331 Bs. 4d. Dividends amounting to £49,590 14s. were declared. The total dividends paid by this company now amount to £5,486,828. A geological examination of this and the neighbouring mines has recently been made by Mr. P. G. Morgan, M.A., F.G.S., Director of Geological Survey, and I understand that important and somewhat favourable evidence has been obtained bearing upon the prospects of the lodes at greater depths. Early in the current year mining and milling were suspended at the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, and operations have since been confined to the development of the Empire lode at No. 9 (440 ft.) level. During 1921 this company milled 65,964 statute tons of ore for a return of £96,398 ss. 9d. At Muir's Gold-mines, near Te Puke, the new mill to replace that destroyed by fire having been completed, milling was resumed during 1921. Three levels have been driven, the lowest being about 200 ft. below the outcrop of the lode, the average width of which is about 5 ft. Above the upper level worked before the fire the value of ore milled averaged £4 14s. 7d., but from the lower levels the average value of the ore treated has since been £2 3s. 7d. per statute ton. It is proposed to sink a three-compartment shaft from which to prospect and subsequently work the lower levels of the mine. The deepest development at the Blackwater Mine is at No. 9 (1,364 ft.) level, where the lode in the north drive appears promising. During .1.921 34,323 statute tons of ore were treated for a return of £65,776 6s. Bd. At the New Big River Mine, No. 11 (1,775 ft.) level, No. 2 winze has been sunk to a depth of 107 ft. on ore. During 1921, as the result of treating 3,898 statute tons of ore, bullion to the value of £21,610 was obtained, and dividends amounting to £4,200 were declared. At Alexander Stream, Big Grey River, the Bull lode, the much-advertised find of Messrs. Me Vicar and Hurley during 1920, has upon prospecting proved to be disappointing, being but a fragment lacking both length, depth, and value. The opinion expressed by Mr. P. G. Morgan in his report shortly after this discovery has been substantiated by exploratory work by option-holders.

Production of bullion, 1921.* (All Mines.) ; Dividends paid, 1921. I (By Registered Companies only.)t Number of Persons ,, ** ' ordinarily employed ' ' m f . ' at Productive and m &s Ind Unproductive Mines. jJSSSl M&1. Quantity. Value. Quartz-mining Dredge mining Alluvial miningj Oz. 527,855 7,302 16,718 £ 433,488 36,179 77,438 £ 53,791 600 2,337 1,438 23 136 11 438 150 Totals, 1921 Totals, 1920 551,875 474,650 547,105 528,317 56,728 2,012 184 105,426 1,903 157

Inspection District, Statute Tons oi Ore treated, 1921. 1920. Value of Bullion. 1921. 1920. Dividends pal tered Oompi 1921. Id (by Kcgisanles only). 1920. I Northern West Coast Southern 214,365 194,316 40,994 37,592 252 145 255,611 232,053 £ £ 334,550 325,854 98,422 89,333 516 681 433,488 .1 415,868 £ 49,591 4,200 53,791 £ 99,181 1,800 Totals . . 100,981

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(2.) Deedgb Mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket golddredges during 1921. (Note.---The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)

The Ferry, Lower Nevis, and Chambers Reward dredges were put out of commission during the year. The American dredge Rimu Commenced work upon the heavy and tight gravel at Rimu Flat, near Hokitika, towards the end of the year, lifting approximately 135 cublic yards per hour, the average value being about 9d. per cubic yard. This, the most powerful and up-to-date electrically-driven gold-dredge in Australasia, cost about £135,000. A description of this dredge is given in the report of Inspector J. F. .Downey, contained in Annexure A hereto. (3.) Alluvial Mining. The following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends declared from alluvial gold-mines during 1921 : —

V. MINEEALS OTHER THAN GOLD. TUNGSTEN-OBE. Owing to the low price in the Home market for tungsten-ore no exportation was made during the year, although 38 tons 7-j cwt. of scheelite concentrate was produced in the Dominion. The mines at Macrae's and The Reefs, Otago, were idle during the year. The following statement shows the quantity and value of ore exported :—

14

Name of Dredge. Locality. Js %% go g o 5c flo 2,-a Wg O co *H &D , "ft J>rC]d 9 8 oooi -9 is s •"# | O 'A |Zi °% 3d — x! _$ a'§ Dividend J &s gl ll fi S b-8 Sw so ojjg During II II fl fls 1921 - ■OH -5 £ Is declared. Total. Otago and Southland. Rise and Shine No. 1 Rising Sun Electric No. I (private) Earnscleugh No. 3 Earnscleugh No. 5 Nevis Crossing (private) . . McGoorge's Freehold No. 2 (private) McGeorge's Freehold No. 3 (private) Kuril, (private) Cromwell .. Alexandra . Nevis Waikaka Valley Waikaia . . 5J 10 20 7 10 25 5 10 16 7 12 150 6 13 150 :u io 12 6i 9 16 0J, 9 20 3i 9 16 Ft. £ £ S 40 6,212 600 S 45 4,605 S 35 1,696 E 50 3,644 E 35 4,079 8 10 748 S 14 i 4,874 £ 53,700 24,000 8 E E 8 S | 30,250 S 8 35 440 S i S 30 j 3,363 West Coast. S E Awatuna Rimu Totals, 1921 Totals, 1920 .. I Awatuna Reach Rimu 8 15 20 10 19 125 S 12 : .. E 58 6,518 36,179 600 34,672 1,400 Unknown Unknown

Dividends declared. at .„ *rw„„,„ , • Estimated Value of Name of Company. 0 oM produced . During 1921. Total to End of 1921. £ £ £ Hoohstotter Goldfields (Limited) .. .. .. 2,286 .. 6,572 Golden Crescent Sluicing Company .. .. .. 1,938 437 12,862 Havclock Sluicing Company .. .. .. .. 1,645 400 11,200 Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company .. .. .. 7,678 1,200 54,683 Ourawera Gold-Mining Company .. .. .. 1,609 300 16,115 149 other claims ..''.. .. .. .. 62,282 * * . Totals .. .. .. .. .. 77,438 * * * Unknown ; the dividends or profits from privately owned claims not being notified to the Mines Department.

Year. .899 . . 900 . . 901 . . 902 .. 903 .. 904 .. .905 . . .906 .. Quantity. Value. Tons. £ . . 32 2,788 .. | 54 i 2,635 2 88 '.'. ! 39 ! 1,200 42 1,439 17 791 28 1,848 .. { 55 3,407 Year. 1907 .. 1908 .. 1909 .. 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 . . 1914 .. Quantity. Value. Tons. 137 15,486 68 6,055 58 4,263 143 15,070 138 11,853 135 13,347 221 22,933 204 21,498 Year. 1915.. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 . . 1920 .. 1921 . . Quantity. Value. Tons. ! £ 194 27,784 266 49,070 161 28,972 169|- ! 37,922 131 29,489 1,378 Totals .. 2,304g 299,311

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The following is a statement showing the quantity of quartz crushed and tungsten concentrates obtained during 1921 :■■■■

Iron. During the year the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company was engaged upon the construction of a blast-furnace installation on its lease at Onakaka. situated near Parapara, between Takaka and Collingwood. A. description of this installation is contained in the report of Mr. J. F, Downey, Inspector of Mines, which appears in Annexure A hereto. The limonite deposit of this locality is of great extent, and is estimated in " Iron-ore Resources of the World," vol. 2, p. 889, published by the International Geological Congress, to contain 64,000,000 metric tons, of which about 30,000,000 tons occur in the Onakaka Block. At Onakaka the ore and crystalline limestone flux occur at an altitude of about 1,200 ft. above the works, and they are conveyed thereto by aerial tramway 8,000 ft. in length. On the 26th April, 1922, the blast furnace was blown in, and was kept in blast until the 4th May, about 80 tons of pig iron being produced. The furnace-charge consisted of Onakaka limonite, Onakaka crystalline limestone flux, and coke from Wallsend Colliery, Borehole seam, New South Wales, containing 0-37 per cent, sulphur. The results attained were very satisfactory, a soft grey marketable foundry pig iron being produced, as shown by the following analyses of samples taken by me and analysed by Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, Dominion Analyst. No doubt after a more extended run the quality of the iron would have been even better.

Table showing the Chemical Composition of Onakaka Pig-iron (tapped 29th April, 1922), and, for comparison, that of the Principal Brands of Foundry Pig-iron manufactured elsewhere.

Analyses of Ore, Flux, and Slac. iron-ore Crystalline lime- Slag Irom (Limonite). atone (Flux). Furnace. Silica (SiO 2 ) •■ ■• •• •• •• •■ 12-13 10-2(> 40-03 Alumina (A 1 2 0 3) .. .. .. .. .. 2-7!) 2-12 12-87 Ferrous oxide (FeO) . . .. .. .. .. . . .. 2-73 Fcrrie oxide (F0 2 0 3 ) .. .. .. .. .. 7Hi(i* 1-76 Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) •■ ■• ■• ■• ■• 0-20 0-17 0-49 Lime (CaO) . . .. .. . . . . . . 0-10 47-10 40-27 Magnesia (MgO) .. .. .. .. .. 0-33 . 1-24 h<) Phosphorus pentoxido (P 2 0 5 ) .. .. .. .. 0-23 0-07 0-10 Manganous oxide (MnO) . . . . . . . . . . 0-72 . . 0-45 Calcium sulphide (C'aS) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-54 Sulphur (8) .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-13 0-21 Loss on ignition.. .. .. .. .. .. 12-01 :!7-l8 100-30 100-11 100-67 * Equivalent to metallic iron, 50-16. Cinnabar. Operations by the New Zealand Quicksilver Mines (Limited) .at I'uhipuhi, North Auckland, were principally in the nature of development. During the year 1,5751b. of quicksilver, of nominal value £231, was obtained. Three small parties operating in the same locality were engaged in unproductive work. In the Greenvale Survey District a discovery of cinnabar was made by J. B. Graham and party, who have since been engaged prospecting the deposit. PUTEOLEUM. No drilling was done by the Taranaki Oil-wells (Limited) and the Blenheim Oil Company (Limited), at Moturoa, both companies having gone into liquidation.

Name of Mine or Company, Locality. Quartz j crushed. ] Scheelite Concentrates Value, obtained. Dominion Consolidated Company* .. Wakamarina, Marlborough .. Black and MePherson .. . • Glenorehy, Lake County Logan and Paulin .. . . .. „ ,, John Trip]) . . . . . . . . ,, ,, Northcoat and Paulin . . . . ,, ,, A. Hood .. .. . • Birse Brothers .. .. .. ,, ,, Tripp and Gaskell .. .. . . ,, ,, Glenorehy Scheelite Company.. .. ,, ,, Tons. 430 Tons. cwt. lb. £ s. d. 15 0 0 750 0 0 4 4 0 168 0 0 1 9 41 73 8 3 3 12 15 180 6 8 0 12 32 30 14 4 2 12 0 130 0 0 1 0 51 51 2 9 0 13 29 33 3 0 9 4 0 368 0 0 45 Totals .. 475 38 7 56 ' 1,784 16 0 * In addition to scheelite concentrate, gold to the value of £1,3 190 9s. 8d. wa s obtained.

Chemical Composition per Cent. Brand of Pig Iron. Iron. Graphitic Combined ani„ rtT , PhosCarbon. Carbon. BUiam. p_ mvn „. Sulphur. M n a °8 a - Kind of Iron. Onakaka, sample 2 Carron, Scotland (as imported to New Zealand) Ditto Summerloe (as imported to New Zealand) Lithgow (lloskius), New South Wales, 1914 Characteristic samples quoted in \ " The Manufacture and Proper-1 ties of Iron and Steel," by H. H. j Campbell ) Alabama 92-10 91-82 \____ ■ .. 2-89 0-19 3-92 0-22 3-50 0-14 2-80 0-70 0-04 0-64 0-035 1-00 Foundry. No. I foundry. 92-63 92-03 3-35 0-20 i 2-15 0-70 3-00 0-25 2-75 0-80 0-06 0-91 0-03 0-85 No. 2 foundry. No. 3 foundry. 2-00 0-85 0-03 100 Foundry. I No. 1 grey. No. 2 grey. 92-37 92-31 3-52 0-13 l 2-44 1-25 2-99 0-37 2-52 1-08 0-02 0-28 0-02 0-72 3-49 0-07 2-8 to 3-5 No. 1 foundry.

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16

At Waipatiki and Waitangi, near Whatatutu, boring was discontinued, results being negative. The Kotuku Prospecting Syndicate, operating near Greymouth, drilled a hole to a depth of 930 ft., with negative result. Asbestos. The New Zealand Asbestos Company, operating near produced 5 cwt., valued at £50. Sulphur. At Rotorua, on a Crown lease situated south of the racecourse, and held by Messrs. Donne and Birks, 873 tons 12 cwt. of crude fumarolio sulphur was obtained, as against 746 tons .3 cwt. during the previous year. VI. STONE-QUARRY INSPECTION AND STATISTICS. By section 2 of the Stone-quarries Amendment Act, 1920, the application of the Act was extended to include every place, not being a mine, in which persons work in quarrying stone and any part of which has a face more than 15 ft. deep, and also in any tunnel in the construction of which explosives are used. The Act, however, does not apply to any Government operations, or any road or railway-cutting, or excavations for buildings. The stone-quarrying industry continues to advance in importance, during 1921 the value of stone, &c, produced being £358,362 as against £314,470 for the previous year. The following is a table showing the number of quarries under the Stone-quarries Acts, also the number of persons ordinarily employed thereat, and the annual output and value of crude stone during 1921 : —

QuAttwY Accidents. The following is a summary of serious accidents during 1921 at quarries under the Stone-quarries Act:

The fatal accident is in the proportion 0-64 per 1,000 persons employed. The following is a brief description of the fatal accident : On the 19th April, while David Bower (60), manager of the Balclutha Borough quarry was barring down rock in the quarry, a large piece came away suddenly from the face striking him on the leg and breaking it. Later he developed pleurisy, and on the sth June he died of embolism due to the accident. No inquest was held. VII. STATE AID TO MINING. (I.) Subsidized Prospecting. During the year ended 31st March, 1922, twenty-nine approved prospecting-parties were granted subsidies amounting to £1,980, of which £502 was expended during the year. In addition, £3,261 authorized during previous years was expended. Upon subsidized prospecting operations sixty-five persons were intermittently employed during the year ; in five cases the results attained were satisfactory. The following is a statement showing the number of subsidized prospectors, the amount of subsidy granted, and paid, also the character and result of such prospecting operations, from the Ist April, 1921, to the 31st March, 1922.

6110) CO . d-d P-O 1- So ►i **! ,, , ... i Name and Address of a a Dist Government Inspector of « 3 "3? U1 » W1OT - Stone-quarries. "j | S'g S s •a ■ -o ,S a g-g a-o o&< a 3 > 5 r '!__ 5 s 03r1cQ 85 Out I li % 51 M of «,| 5 a So S a W ffl itput of 3 o OJ . a h, o a »a ».a a & n5 ,0110. i-. ■ as I: co a Cp 33 a S hi a oi 2 "OS .2 43 03 •OS "§ s s 5 - |o 5 a l> Auckland .. James Newton, Minos 118 037 Dept., Auckland M.Paul, Mines Dept., 12 77 Waihi (Hauraki Mining District only) Hawke's Bay James Newton, Mines 21 89 Dept., Auckland Taranaki .. Ditto .. .. II 45 Wellington ..36 21.2 Canterbury.. „ .. .. 10 82 Nelson ) J. F. Downey, Minos '( .., „ s Westland ) Dept., Reefton ) Otago \ A. Whitley, Mines \ .,„ j .... | Southland ) Dept., Dunodin ) ' Tons. 318,559 Tons. Tons. 88,125 220 Tons. 35,178 Tons. 126,179 Tons. Tons. 2,190 £ 137,993 33,139 366 13,405 26,484 50,677 14,000 15,564 21 89 11 36 10 45 21.2 82 i 13,906 80,637 77,369 21,288 16,121 5,079 39 39 11,000 6,920 9,321 32,594 28,764 )- 88 331 7,500 109,645 7,500 833 9,870 10,183 ' 833 10,183 3,262 67,436 1.2,717 27,855 6,012 18,597 102,124 257 J 241 1,561 1,468 667,239 578,262 : 198,660 11,632 317,461 19,023 180,751 169,1)53 i : Totals 1921 .. 257 1,561 Totals 1920 .. 241 1,468 11,632 19,023 123,796 142,252 6,012 5,341 ,2,190 11, 600 358,362 314,470

Cause. Explosives 'alls of ground 'ailing from face or during ascent or descent. . Totals Number of Accidents. Fatal. Serious. 1 I 3 I 4 I Number of Sufferers. Killed ' Sm ' ou 8ly lulled, injured. 1 1 3 1 4_

17

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Name of Prospecting Party. Sumber \mount of of Pro- Locality of Operations. SaMd y granted, spectors. - & Amount of Subsidy »g*WI expended. driven. Nature of Claim. Character of Operations. Remarks. Northern Inspection District. Waitangi Gold-mining Company W. H. Madill Campbell Bros. Rising Sun Gold-mining Company Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines (Ltd.) Caledonian-Kuranui J. H. Benny and George Doel J. H. Barrett and Falvey W. F. McNeil 2 3 2 2 2 I £ s. d. £ s. d. Thames .. I 130 0 0 Tairua .. .. 50 14 0 39 0 0 Puru Creek .. 50 14 0 50 14 0 Owharoa .. 2.000 0 0 2,000 0 0 (£1 for £1) Maratoto .. 433 6 8 264 6 8 Thames .. 2,000 0 0 324 1 3 Komata . . 50 14 0 50 14 0 Rotokohu .. 50 14 0 ; 0 14 0 Tokatea .. 50 14 0 I 19 10 0 Ft. Nil Quartz 100 610 234 Driving .. Surface prospecting .. Nothing payable discovered. ,, .. Prospecting lode 12 ft. in width; assay value encouraging. Sinking shaft .. .. Sinking shaft 100 ft. to develop lode at lower depth. Assay value for 300 ft. along floor of upper level over £6 per ton. Average w-idth, 12 in. Driving a low level to in- ' Intersected 21 ft. lode ; 8 in. of footw-all portion contersects Camoola lode tains high silver values. Testing lode system on Prospecting lode system on the eastern side of main eastern side main fault | fault. Surface prospecting .. ! Gold seen in ore broken out; nothing payable. ,, .. Nothing payable discovered. .. ,, .. I Gold freely seen in leader, but nothing payable. West Coast Inspection District. Alpine Consols (Limited) C. Anderson and party T. Barrett and R. Johnson Blackwater Miners' Prospecting Association J. Fayne and D. Danks C. N. Hodder and party P. Hughes and Samson Inangahua Miners' Prospecting Association E. Kean Mount Greenland Gold and Quartz Mining Syndicate E. McNair and party George Pettigrew .. K. Ross and party . . J. Timpson and P. McQuillan F. D. Walker and H. Honey Webster, Knight, and party G. Wise and J. O'Donnell T. Williams and S. Taylor Hokitika Prospecting Syndicate Forrester Bros. 2 2 41 2 2 7 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 i Lyell .. .. .. 19 1 4 Wataroa River .. 50 14 0 Upper Takaka . . 62 8 0 15 12 0 Grey River .. 93 12 0 148 18 0 Waimangaroa .. 85 16 0 50 14 0 Karamea River .. 93 12 0 Punakaiki River .. 50 14 0 j 21 9 0 Inangahua .. 150 0 0 I 46 16 0 Greenstone ... 132 0 0 Ross .. .. 30 0 0 j 61 19 4 Karamea .. 101 8 0 15 12 0 ' Slab Hut Creek .. 50 14 0 Taipo River .. 62 8 0 7 16 0 Browning's Pass .. 62 8 0 27 6 0 Capleston .. 43 6 8 24 5 4 Rimu .. .. .. 28 3 2 ' Wangapeka .. 50 14 0 j Brown Grey . - 50 14 0 23 8 0 1 Arahura River .. 66 6 0 ; Mount Domett .. 66 6 0 44 Quartz 143 Quartz ' 5 6 , .'. 109 Alluvial Driving .. .. Nothing of value located. Prospecting . . .. i ,, . . .. I Nothing of any value found. „ .. .. | Auriferous lode found at Alexander Stream, Big Grey River. „ .. .. Small leaders carrying gold found, but values low. ,, .. .. j Number of small unpayable lodes located. ,, .. .. | Several unpayable lodes located. ■! Construction of tail-race j No work done. .. j Driving .. .. Lode located, but too poor to work. Prospecting .. .. No discovery of any value recorded. ,, .. .. No work done yet. ,, .. .. ! Several lodes examined, but nothing payable found. ,, .. .. | Prospecting several small veins ; nothing of value found. Driving .. .. Fissure driven on, but quartz pinched out. ,, .. .. Considerable area of pay-gravel opened up. Prospecting .... ,, .. .. Several unpavable lodes located. ,, .. .. Prospecting just started. Southern Inspection District. Otago Central Gold-mines H. Fraser and J. McAuley Ballingall and Nicol R. Symes and partv P. and W. H. Thomas R. F. Landreth and party 4 4 2 2 2 2 3 Bendigo .. j 150 0 0 I 114 12 6 ! and half-cost i of timber .. ! 14 19 0 13 13 0 Nenthorn .. 15 12 0 15 12 0 Nevis .. .. 125 0 0 125 0 0 Old Man Range .. 101 8 0 50 14 0 Hamilton's .. 92 19 8 65 8 8 Red Hills, north- 76 1 0 76 1 0 ! I west Otago 400 Alluvial 75 j „ 500 " Quartz 151 Alluvial Driving .. .. Work in progress. Sinking .. .. Shaft sunk to ventilate prospecting-drive. Surface prospecting .. Nothing payable discovered. Driving .. . . No paj-able ground found. Surface prospecting .. Prospects encouraging. Driving .. .. Work in progress. Prospecting .. No mineral deposits "of value found.

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(2.) Government Prospecting-drills. . — - — Considerable use has been made during the year of the Government prospecting-drills, which are lent to hirers free of any charge but that of maintenance. An aggregate of 6,156 ft. was drilled in thirty-one holes for five hirers upon seven properties, as follows :—

The following is a table giving details of operations by Government drills during 1921 :—

Xumber Aggregate : M , , 8earched T of °i eS ??B*5 for. Drill used, drilled. drilled. Cost per Foot. Results. Drilling. Transport. 5 6 2 2 1 9 6 Ft. s. d. s. d. 1,227 Coal .. Diamond 1 4 to 4 2 2,196 „ .. „ 1 0 „ 1 8 370 Cinnabar .. „ 9 2 „ 11 5 1,317 Coal .. „ 5 4 „ 10 5 289 „ .. Cable percussive 468 Alluvial gold Keystone placer 289 j „ ' Ditto .. s. d. 0 8£ Coal in one hole, 7 ft. 0 8£ Coal in three holes from 3 ft. 9 in. to 6 in. 1 2 No payable ore found. 5 1 So workable coal found. Not determined ; faulted. Gold averaging 2Jd. per cubic yard. Gold averaging lid. per cubic yard.

Type of Drill. Name of Drill Superintendent. ' £ 0t tl 'IOmeter of Holes Depth drilled, m Feet. \ Mineral sought for. | Cost per Character of Country pierced. Foot of Drilling. Cost per Foot of Transport. To whom lent. Results. i Schram-Harker oil-driven A. Wick diamond drill Ditto Sullivan C.N. diamond R. Pengelly drill Ditto Cable percussion .. ; T. Ryan and W. H. Warburton Kevstone No. 3 placer- S. W. Ford drill Ditto .. .. „ .. | 1 1 9 6 ! Inches. | s. d. s. d. 236 2-S, If- Coal .. Gravel, clays, shales, and 2 8 0 8|- Homebush Brick and Coal Company, No workable coal. sandstones Glentunnel 280 2i, If .. Ditto .. .. .. | 3 7 .. Ditto .. .. .. ■ .. 285 ,2i, If „ .. „ .. .. ..42 .. „ .. 140 I 2J, If ., .. „ 2 9!.. „ 286 2|, If „ .. „ .. .. ..14 .. „ .. .. .. .. 7 ft. coal at 193 ft. (Sheath row seam). 306 2£, If . „ .. „ .. -. .. 18 .. Bush Gully .. .. .. 4 ft. coal at 173 ft., 4 ft. coal at 240 ft., 4 ft. 6 in. coal at 268 ft. 216 21, 1| .. „ .. .. ..10 .. ., .. .. .. No workable coal. 320 2i, If „ .. „ .. .. .. | 1 6 488 2J. If ...... .. ..15 386 2|, 1} „ .. „ .. .. .. j 1 4 .. „ .. .. .. 3 ft. 9 in. coal at 165 ft. 480 2|, If ! „ .. ., .. .. ..14 .. „ .. .. .. 6ft. coal at 111ft., 6ft. 6in. coal at 292ft., 3 ft. coal at 393 ft. 150 5, 2f Cinnabar .. Conglomerate, grits, mud- j 11 5J 12 N.Z. Quicksilver-mines, Puhipuhui No payable ore. stones, and clavs 220 ; 5, 2f „ .. Ditto.. ,.* ..9 2 .. „ 713 I 6, 2J j Coal .. Shingle, sandstone .. j 10 5 5 1 North Cape Coal Company, Puponga No workable coal. 604 6,2J „ .. Conglomerate and mud- 5 4.. M „ n stones 289 6,3J „ .. Mudstones and sandstones 86 6 7 0 Waimangaroa-Westport Coal-mines Not determined; country faulted. Syndicate, Burnett's Face 468 6 Alluvial gold Gravel .. .. .. .. Rimu Gold-dredging Company (Li- Gold a% erasing 2 J-d. per cubic yard. mited), Mahinapua 289 6 ,, ,, .. .... .. Rimu Gold-dredging Company (Li- Gold averaging lid. per cubic yard. i mited), Tucker Flat, Kanieri

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(3). Subsidised Roads on Goldfikt.ds. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldiields amounted to £11,329, as compared with £11,050 during the previous year. (4.) GoVEBNMENT WATER-RAGES. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, which greatly assist alluvial gold-mining in the localities of Kumara (Westland) and Naseby (Central Otago), but at an annual loss of £2,313 15s. Bd. to the Government, have, during the year ended 31st March, 1922, supplied with water for sluicing auriferous gravel claims employing an average number of 28-15 persons, by which gold to the approximate value of £5,633 ss. 6d. was obtained. The following is a statement showing the cash received by the Government for water sold, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races, together with the average number of miners supplied with water, and the approximate quantity and value of gold received for the year ended 3lst March, 1922 :—

This represents a loss of £82 3s. lid. for each person employed on the claims, or 41-07 per centum of the total value of gold obtained. Fn addition to the receipts for sales of water, a sum of £260 12s. 6d. was received as royalty for timber cut on the Kumara Reservoir Reserve. Owing to the small demand for water and to the considerable loss sustained in the upkeep, the maintenance of the Kumara, Kumara -Trans-Taramakau, and Erin-go-Bragh water-races was discontinued as from the Ist January, 1922. The Erin-go-Bragh Race has since been sold. (5.) Schools op Mines. The total expenditure on schools of mines during the year ended 31st March, 1922, was £5,8d8 as against £4,427 9s. 6d. during the previous year. The goldfields schools are attended by few (if any) mining students, but numerous children of both sexes attend them for subjects not taught at the Government schools. 1 have, &c, Frank Reed, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

Receipts. Vvii|.|i<litliri> (Sales of Water.) Jlxp( naitul c - Debit Balance. Average Number of Miners supplied with Water. Approximate Quantity and Value of Gold obtained. iVaimoa-Kumara Water-races— Waimea Race Branch Race to Callaghan's and Middle Branch Flat Kumara Race Kumara-Trans-Taramakau Race Erin-go-Bragh Race Mount Ida Water-races £ s d. £ s. d. 483 13 8 1,118 7 7 20 4 2 282 6 3 £ s. d. 634 13 11 262 2 1 6-50 3-00 Oz. £ s. d. 366 1,436 11 0 51 200 3 6 51 12 0 232 13 3 27 19 11 322 11 1 131 7 3 349 4 4 777 10 3 1,501 0 5 181 1 3 294 11 2 217 17 1 723 10 2 Nil 3-25 5-00 10-40 106 416 1 0 308 1,208 18 0 616 2,371 12 0 Totals 1,492 7 3 3,806 2 11 2,313 15 8 28-15 1,447 5,633 5 6

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ANNEXURE'A. SUMMARY OP REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OK MINES. Noethbbn Insi'eotiok District (Mγ. M. Paxtl, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Waihi GoJd-mitthi'i Company (Limited). —During the yoar No. 4 shaft was sunk ft. ; total depth, 1,616 ft. It was intended to open out No. 13 level at 1,600 ft., but owing to the shaft passing through a soft carbonaceous seam between 1,588 ft. and 1,599 ft. it was decided to open out at No. 13 level at 1,678} ft. On the south side of the shaft the north-west crosscut was extended 197 ft. where the Dreadnought lode was intersected, having a width of 23 ft., the assay value of the last 18 ft. being Bs. 3d. per ton. In the south-east crosscut the total distance driven was 319 ft. At 258 ft. a portion of the Royal lode, width 7 ft., was intersected, worth 6d. per ton ; at 279 ft. another section of this lode, width 5 ft., was met with—assay value, 12s. ; at 202 ft., quartz 3 ft. wide, assay value Is. Id. per ton. Driving east and west is in progress on the richest portion. No. 12 level (]4,447|ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft). —Dreadnought lode: Total distance driven east of No. 4 shaft, 530 ft. ; width irregular and values low. At this point the junction of the Empire lode was met with. Beyond the junction the drive has been extended 54 ft. over width of 5 ft. ; assay valuos vary from (is. Bd. to £1 7s. 2d. per ton. Bath north crosscut extended 136 ft. ; total, 209 ft. At 150 ft. for a width of 10 ft. the ore assayed at 4s. 7d. per ton. At 191 £ ft. a crosscut proved the Martha lode to be 60 ft. in width, of which 8 ft., near the centre, has payable values ; from 38 ft. to 40 ft. ore assayed £1 Bs. por ton ; balance low grade. Drive east, 141 J ft. over width of 5 ft. ; assay value varies from ss. to £3 9s. 4d. Crosscut proved width of lode 58 ft. ; values varying from Is. Bd. to £1 14s. lOd. per ton. Drive west, Martha lode : Distance driven, 104 ft. ; assay values, of width of 5 ft., vary from Is. Id. to 19s. 9cl. Crosscut at 95 ft. west proved the lode to be 00 ft. wide, and valuos from Is. sd. to £1 2s. per ton. Empire lode west of Bath crosscut: Drive extended 182} ft. ;at 50ft., lode lift, in width, value £1 per ton; at 118 ft., lode 8 ft. wide, value £1 os. 10d. West crosscut from No. 2 shaft: Advance! 108 ft. during the year', making a total distance 833 ft. At 052 ft. east part of the Edward lode was met with ; assay value, 3s. lOd. At 705 ft. the main portion of the Edward lode was intersected ; width, 25 ft. ; average value, Is. sd. per ton. At 827 ft. a rise was put up and connected with the bottom of No. 2 shaft, which provided adequate ventilation. No. 4 shaft, south crosscut, advanced 92 ft. ; total, 487 ft. The Royal lode was met with at 414 ft. ; width, 15ft. ; value, 4s. od. per ton. 23ft. was driven east and 11 ft. west; values low. No. 11 level (1,301 ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft). —Salmon west crosscut: This is being extended for the purpose of testing the Welcome and Martha lodes at this level; distance driven, 429 ft. At 237 ft. a lode 4 ft. wide! was passed through ; assay value, 11s. per ton. No. 10 level (1,152 ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft). —North section of Empire: The level was widened out to full width from 41 ft. to 91 ft. west. At 75 ft. an irregular reef was found going into the south wall; width 8 ft. ; value, £1 9s. 3d. per ton. The Soldiers' south-east crosscut was extended 87 ft. with a viow of testing this lode, but nothing important was met with. North section of Empire lode : The level has been widened and timbered for a length of 200 ft. ready for stoping. No. 9 level (1,004 ft. below collar of No. 5 shaft): Charters' south crosscut advanced 184 ft. Regina lode intersected from 25 ft. to 37 ft. ; payable samples were obtained, but on driving oast and west the ore proved low-grade. No. 8 level (1,852 ft. from'collar of No. 5 shaft): North branch of Martha lode advanced 124 ft. ; at 122 ft., 4ft. of hard quartz and country, mixed, assayed £1 17s. 7d. per ton. The level was heightened to lift, from 36ft. to 113 ft., and 5 ft. wide. No. G sublevel: No. 2 reef driven 120 ft. in payable ore 4 ft. wide. No. 0 level: Albert lode, south of the Martha junction, driven 140 ft. in payable ore, over 6 ft. wide. The Jellicoe lode was found 94 ft. in the south-east crosscut from No. 2 shaft: width, from 2 ft. to 5 ft. ; assays vary from £1 11s. od. to £10 Bs. Id. No. 5 level : Jellieoe lode driven on for 242 ft. ; width varies from 9 in. to 5 ft., and values from £1 18s. 3d. to £10 15s. od. A considerable amount of payable ore is still being won from the arches at and above No. 7 level. The new high-lift turbine-pumping plant commenced operations on the Ist September, and has run continuously since that date. Waihi Grand Junction Mine. —No. 1 shaft was sunk 12£ ft., making the total depth below collar 1,473 ft. At 150 ft. below No. 8 level a crosscut was driven 39 ft. through quartz; value, 10d. per ton. The object of this crosscut was to tap the main body of the water 30 ft. below the random of No. 9 level. No. 9 level was opened up at 120 ft. below No. 8 level. A water-cistern (capacity 10,000 gallons) has been excavated at No. 9 level. The drainage-water from the level is directed into this cistern, and from hero pumped to the main pumping-station at No. 8 level. This arrangement will enable the sinking of the shaft to proceed under improved conditions. During the year 205,823,855 gallons of water were raised, to the surface. No. 9 level: The main south-east crosscut was driven a total distance of 170 ft. ; from 21 ft. to 33 ft. is quartz valued at 4s. Id. per ton, from 32 ft. to 87 ft. country rock. At 87 ft. a lode, 45 in. wide, value 3s. 7d. per ton, was passed through ; from this lode to 140 ft. is country rock. At 140 ft. the Empire lode was intersected, and proved to be 24 ft. wide. The first 7 ft. is quartz, value 7s. 3d. per ton ; the next 10 ft. quartz and country rock, value 2s. 6d. per ton ; and tho next 7 ft. quartz, value £3 2s. 4d. per ton. From 104 ft. to 170 ft. is country' rock. Empire lode : East drive driven 140 ft. The average assay value is 15s. Bd. per ton for a width of 50 in. ; south wall is exposed. A crosscut at 105 ft. east exposed both walls. The lode is 10 ft. wide ; the first 5 ft. on the south wall is worth 10s. Bd., and the next lift. £1 Is. lid. West drive driven 210 ft. Value from crosscut to 75 ft. west over width of 59 in., £2 17s. 4d. per ton ; from 75 ft. to 107 ft. over width of 62 in., 7s. 2d. per ton; from 107 ft. to 125 ft. over width of 50 in., £1 13s. per ton; from 125 ft. to 190 ft. over width of 54 in., £2 Is. 9d. per ton ; from 190 ft. to 205 ft. over width of 58 in., £1 4s. 10d. per ton. A crosscut at 05 ft. west exposed 14 ft. of lode, of which 5 ft. is worth £2 Bs. 10d. per ton, and 9 ft. worth is. 7d. The north wall is not exposed. In crosscut at 150 ft. west the lode is 17 ft. wide ; the first 6 j ft. on the south wall is worth £2 13s. 10d. per ton, and the next 104 ft. 2s. 4d. Early in February, acting on report given by Mi , . H. Stansfield, consulting engineer, the directors decided to close down the battery, suspend stoping operations at the upper level, and confine expenditure to development work at No. 9 level and sinking the main shaft, which at that time of writing had reached a depth of 80 ft. below No. 9 level. Rising Sun, Owharoa. —Work in this mine has been confined to sinking a shaft below the low level, which was started 20 ft. south of the main crosscut and sunk to a depth of 100 ft. The available capital, together with Oovornment subsidy of £2,000, having been expended, work was suspended, and an effort is now being made to raise further capital to develop the reef system from the bottom of tho shaft.

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G'M and Silver Mines, Maratoto. —Tho crosscut from the Silverstream low level has been extended 852 ft. Four lodes were interseoted —tho first was 40 ft. in width, the second 4 ft., third 24 ft., and fourth 21 ft. The quartz in the latter has the same characteristics as met with in the Camoola lode. On the level 200 ft. above a vein about 8 in. in width on the footwall carries high silvor-values. Driving north and south on this lode is now in progress. The north drive has been extended 41 ft. and the south drive 103 ft., with no walls showing. Tho values vary from 6s. up to £5 12s. A picked sample. 1 ton 6 cwt. 3 qr. 18 lb., sent to Australia for treatment, yielded 580-667 oz. silver, valued at £95 10s. Gd. Waitekauri. —Several men have been prospecting near the old township. Parker and party found about a ton of quartz boulders, containing high assay values, in an old slip, which was at first thought to be a cap of a lode. A considerable amount of surface trenching and riving was done without finding any sign of quartz. Recently W. F. C. Nicholl, one of the oldost prospectors In this district, reported the discovery of a large reef by boring. Good dish prospects were obtained from the drillings, and finally an outcrop of quartz was located in a small crock. On the lower side of the road adjoining , this creek large boulders of quartz containing values have been found over since the opening of this goldfiold ; shod, no doubt, from the outcrop of a lode. The reef where exposed, and claimed to bo the outcrop of a lode, consists of quartz boulders and rubble lying on a clayey formation. In my opinion it is quite possible that Mr. Nicholl bored on a line of these quartz boulders buried up in a large slip, and until more work is done it is impossible to express a definite opinion as to the value of this find. Great Northern Waihi Gold-mining Company. —This claim is situated at Wharekirauponga. Work done during tho year consists chiefly of driving on a 3 ft. lode at creek-level, and general prospecting. It is stated that the quartz won from the 3 ft. lode contains payable assay values. Seven men are employed. The machinery for a 10-head stamp battery has been carted to site, but no attempt has been made to proceed with its erection. Waiolahi Mine, Thames. —This mine was sold by public auction, and purchased by Messrs. Sawyer and O'Loughlin, who are endeavouring to raise capital to give the Cure and Manaka sections a further trial above spring-tide level. Evening Star Mine. —This claim is situated in Waiotahi Crook. A winze has been sunk to a depth of 130 ft, on the Waiotahi-Oambria reef, and a considerable amount of driving done ; oolours of gold have occasionally been seen in tho ore broken, but nothing payable discovered. Nonpand Gold-mining Company. —A considerable amount of work was done in this mine, but the results proved most disappointing to shareholders. Gloaming Mine, Karaha Creek. —This is ownod and worked by Messrs. Kemp and Agncw, who treated 18 tons of ore for gold valued at £126 17s. 9d. Kwranui Gold-mining Company. —Work was continued driving north on the 2 ft. lode from Magazine level with no signs of improvement, and work has beon temporarily suspended. Waitangi Gold-mining Company. —Work done during the year consisted of driving and rising on tho main reef at Nos. 1 and 2 levels. At No. 1 level the roof is small and values low, but at No. 2 level the ore is heavily mineralized, and gold has been frequently seen in the quartz broken out. Caledonian-Kuranui-Moanalaiari Gold-mining Company. —At the beginning of the year the drive on the course of No. 9 level was rotimbered and extended until the main fault was intersected at a distance of 402 ft. This fault proved to be 46 ft. wide. The crosscut was continued a farther distance of 50 ft. ; at this point the country was firm, with no signs of movement; and, with the object of testing the well-known gold-producing reefs worked on the western side of this fault, crosscuts were started, one to the south to intersect the Caledonian Nos. 1 and 2 and. Waiotahi-Cambria reefs, and another to tho north to intersect the Moanataiari No. 9 lode. Owing to the lack of ventilation tho former was discontinued after driving 15 ft., and labour was concentrated on the north crosscut. At 104 ft. a promising leader, 8 in. wido, was cut, and colours of gold were seen in tho quartz. Later a distance of 9 ft. was driven upon its course, and at each breaking-down gold was seen. It has beon decided to clean up the main tunnel to a point opposite this crosscut, connect with the north drive, and to rise to the surface, which will provide adequate ventilation and enable tho work of proving any reefs on the eastern side of the Moanataiari fault to bo carried on more vigorously. Sylvia Mine, I'araru Creek. —During the year tlie Norfolk lode was driven upon a distance of 120 ft. from the bottom of the underlie shaft, and stopod to within a few feet of the level above. All ore was sent to tho mill, but no return has yet come to hand. The work at present in progress consists in driving a crosscut 130 ft. north of the shaft to intersect the cross-lode. St. Hippo Gold-mining Company, Karaka Creek. —A distance of 450 ft. was driven at tho low level on tho St. Hippo lode. The reef was cut through in several places, and proved of largo dimensions. Gold was frequently seen in the ore broken out, but not in payable quantities. Four men were employed. Alburnia Gold-mining Company. —An adit level 400 ft. below the collar of the Alburnia shaft is being extended for the purpose of intersecting Dixon's reef, worked with satisfactory results in the adjoining mines in the early days of the goldfield. Bendigd Mine, Waiorongotnai, Te Aroha. —Four men have been employed driving and stoping on the Bondigo reef, which will average 4 ft. in width. Tho ore won was treated by the oil-flotation process, but the results did not come up to the anticipations, and work has been temporarily suspended. Horseshoe Mines (Limited), Neasville. —Work was confined to driving on the Horseshoe lode at No. 2 level, and, although the quartz carried favourable indication, no gold was seen. Golden Hills Mine, Tairua. —Work in this mine has been confined to. stoping on the Puketue reef; 195 tons of ore treated produced gold valued at £534 lls. 9d. Old Hauraki Gold-mining Company, Coromandel. —A considerable amount of work has been done in endeavouring to locate the downward continuations of Legg's reef. It was followed down to within 25 ft. of tho 300 ft. level, whero the displacement was met with, and which appears to be a diorite intrusion parallel with tho roof rising from the footwall side, bending and breaking the reef. In the Welcome Find section some difficulty was met with in draining this portion of the mine : 380 it. of driving has been done at tho 400 ft. level, and this section is now clear of water, Work at present in progress consists of sinking below the 400 ft. level on the new reef No. 1, winze is down 33 ft. and driving on the lode has been commenced ; and, although no gold has been seen, indications are similar to those existing where the gold was obtained in the level above. Mount Welcome Syndicate. —The intermediate level was extended 190 ft., and the Puketutu lode intersected, but no gold was seen. A considerable amount of work was done also at the low level on this lode. A little gold was seen in the ore broken out, but nothing payable was met with. Four-in-Hand Syndicate, Waikoromiko. —Two men have been constantly employed prospecting. 1 ton 30 lb. of picked stone treated yielded gold valued at £30 16s. 10d. Muir's Gold-reefs, Te Puke. —The low level has been extended a total distance of 600 ft. In the face a fault was met with, which cut off the reef, but beyond driving a few feet on either side nothing has been* done to locate it on the other side. The lode will average 5 ft. in width for the whole distance driven, and the ore is said to be payable. A winze was sunk to a depth of 100 ft. below this level with no sign of water. Tho lode maintains its width, and the ore is similar in appearance to that won from the level above. Driving is also in progress at the intermediate level, 100 ft above. Tho south face, which is now well ahead of the" low level, has passed through the fault referred to. Tho battery, owing to the delay in obtaining electric power, did not commence crushing until the end of December. Up to the 17th February, 4,400 tons of ore were treated for bullion valued at £7,47 ■"> 2s. 3d. Quicksilver-mine a. New Zealand Quicksilver-mines (Limited), Puhupuhi. —Operations during the year were principally of a development order. The east and west faces were extended 290 ft. and 100 ft. respectively, from tramway

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level. Two winzes were also sunk to the dip—No. 1 to a depth of 20 ft., and No. 2 to 9(i ft. The lodoformation is most erratic in its course, and the ore occurs in bunches, and is therefore difficult to follow. To assist the company in carrying out this work a loan of £1,000 was granted. During the year twenty-one flasks (or 1,575 lb.) of mercury (nominal value, £231) were obtained. Mount Mitchell Claim (held by T. A. Black and party).—A considerable amount of prospecting has been done. A furnace and condensing-plant has been purchased, and a portion carted to site, and the owners are sanguine that this mine will prove remunerative. Rising Sun Mine (owned by Messrs. Fearks and Kelly). —About 500 ft. of driving has been done, proving the existance of cinnabar-ore of varying quality. Furnace and condensing-plant in course of erection, which it is reported will bo running about the end of April. Northland Mine. —This is owned by Messrs. Jamieson and Halloway, who have, a small experimental plant, consisting of a Wilfrey table and jig, to try a large deposit of pebbles containing cinnabar. Accidents. 1 am pleased to state that no fatal accidents have occurred in the mines under my supervision during the year. The following is a brief description of the more serious accidents :— 6th January, 1921 : T. Monk received injuries to his arm, and F. Hooker had his collar-bone broken and his ribs injured, by falling off a platform on to a concrete floor, a distance of about 16 ft. These accidents were caused by the guard-rail they were leaning against carrying away. The rail was not rotten, but gave way at the end where it was nailed. 6th January, 1921 : J. Parsons had his face and arms badly burnt, in the Waihi Grand Junction Company's power-house, by failing to comply with written instructions regarding the opening of feeder-switches. 27th June, 1921 : Daniel Harrison received a compound fracture of his right leg and his shoulder injured by a fall of quartz in a stope, 55 ft. above No. 10 level, on the Royal lode, Waihi Mine. 13th October, 1921 : John Shaw lost the sight of his right eye by a blasting accident in the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, due to carelessness on the part of a trucker named J. O'Connor. 13th December, 1921 : Charles Riokard had his back seriously injured by falling 30 ft. down a ladder-way of the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, leading up to H.ickey and party's stope on the Mary lode, above No. 6 level. Tho accident was duo to a small fall of quartz. Rdckard's mates heard it coming and shelte:ed under the timbers and escaped injuiy. Rickard was not, however, so fortunate, as apparently a piece of rock must have struck him., causing him to lose his hold and fall away, a distance of about 30 ft. 20th December, 1921 : John E. Tubman lost the sight of one eye by a blasting accident in the Waihi Grand Junction Mine. The accident was caused by his own candle coming into contact with the fuse, causing it to spit, unnoticed by him, whilst firing a charge on a boulder, blocking the mouth of the pass. Oil-wells. Taramihi Oil-wells Company (Limited). —No drilling has been done during the year. No. 3 well (depth 3,045 ft.) flows about every ten days, and produced during the year 1,350 gallons of oil. Blenheim Oil Company (Limited). —In the early part of the year this company went into liquidation. During the year the Blenheim well produced 3,398 gallons of oil. Waipatiki Oil-wells. —At a depth of 3,600 ft. this well became blocked, and all efforts to free it, up to date, have failed. Four men are employed. Gisborne. —Messrs. Clark and Lysnar have put down a number of drill-holes at Waitangi, near Whatatutu. In No. 1 (depth, 940 ft.) indications are stated to be favourable, but drilling had to be suspended as the casing could not be carried to a greater depth. No. 2 (depth, 343 ft.). No. 3 (depth, 98 ft.), No. 4 (depth, 54 ft.), and No. 5 (depth, 119 ft.) were abandoned. These holes were drilled close to tho first bore, but abandoned without success. Petroleum was not found in any quantity. Prosecutions. 3rd February, 1921 : T. and A. Katterfeldt, manufacturing jewellers, were prosecuted for buying gold without a license ; convicted, and fined £1, and costs £2 2s. 30th August, 1921 : J. Tallentire, mine-manager, was prosecuted for leaving twenty-six plugs of gelignite exposed ; convicted, and ordered to pay costs. 22nd September, 1921 : E. Higgins, miner, prosecuted for leaving gelignite exposed; convicted, and fined £1 and costs. 21st October, 1921 : James O'Connor was prosecuted under section 265 of the Mining Act; convicted, and fined £5 and costs. West Coast Inspection District (J. F. Downey, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT. Dominion Consolidated Mining and, Development Company (Limited). —Work was confined principally to the reconstruction of the treatment plant. The company replaced the old steam-driven air-compressor with a new compressor driven by water-power, and thereby materially reduced the cost of working. The amalgamating and concentrating portions of the plant have been greatly improved and extended, the former being placed away from the stamp-house with a view to better control, and two Frue vanners and two Californian shakingtables have been installed in place of the former ineffective concentrators. No ore was mined, but 430 tons of quartz previously broken were crushed, yielding 98 oz. gold. In addition 186 oz. of gold were recovered from cleaning-up operations about the mill. The total value received for gold won for the year was £1,390. About 15 tons of scheelite. concentrate was saved, but owing to the slackness of the market for this mineral it has not been disposed of. Alford and Party (Mountain Camp). —Owing to there being no sale for scheelite, this property was not worked during the year. NELSON DTSTRICT. Colossus Gold-mining and Developtnent Company. —Practically no work was done during the year, only one man .being employed in general prospecting. LYELL DISTRICT. New Alpine Consols. —The low-level tunnel was advanced about 34 ft. during tho year, making a total of 1,050 ft., and a crosscut was driven from it to the east to a distance of 75 ft., but nothing of any value was met with. New Creek Prospecting and Development Company. —Very little work was done during the year, but preparations were being made to resume active operations. CAPL3SSTON. Boatman's Consolidated Mines (Limited). —Work was carried on continuously, an average of twelve men being employed. The principal mining operations consisted in picking up the old No. 6 Welcome tunnel as far as the northern extremity of the Fiery Cross ore-shoot, and the picking-up and driving of the old No. 1 level, Fiery Cross shaft. Almost immediately after driving was resumed in the latter a small vein of quartz was encountered, which

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was followed for several hundred feet. The first 60 ft. is said to have shown fair values, but the remainder was not payable. A rise was started on the 60 ft. block referred to, to connect with the Welcome No. 6 level, and this was carried up to 50 ft. The lode lived up in it, but I understand that the values were not so good as in the drive. A start has now been made to pick up the old No. 2 Fiery Cross level, with the view to seeing if the ore-shoot found on the No. 1 level lives down to it, and shows any better values. BEISFTON. Blackwater Mines, —During the year an average of 133 men were employed, and breaking and development were carried on actively. The principal development work was as follows : No. 5 level south extended 435 ft., of which 232 ft. were on the lode : No. 6 level south extended 55 ft., of which 33 ft. were on quartz ; No. 7 level north extended 96ft., of which 86ft. were on quartz; No. 7 level south extended 16ft., all on quartz; No. 9 level north extended 412 ft., of which 287 ft were on quartz ; No. 9 level south extended 86 ft., of which 56 ft. were on quartz. Speaking generally, the mine was looking well, the development on No. 5 level south being particularly satisfactory. No. 9 level (the lowest in which any opening out has been done) may also be said to look well, especially in the north drive, where the quartz appears to be more continuous than in the northern and of any of the drives since No. 4 level was passed. For the year some 34,323 tons of quartz were mined and crushed, which was a considerable improvement on the results for 1920, when only 24,468 tons were handled. This increase of nearly 10,000 tons is partly the result of a plentiful supply of labour, and to a certain extent to an improvement in the class of miners available. A total of 13,830 oz. 3 dwt. of gold was recovered, for which, including premium, a total value of £65,776 was received. The figures for the previous year were 11,065 oz., and £58,887 respectively. The average value of stone crushed for the year appears to show a falling-off of about 1 dwt. per ton. Blackwater South Mine. —The track to the site of the proposed new shaft has been completed, but no attempt has yet been made to start mining operations. It is expected that work at the shaft will begin shortly. North Blackwater Mine. —During the year the erection of the new winding and air-compressing plant was completed, and the mine is now well equipped for future work. Just prior to the end of the year the unwatering of the shaft was accomplished. There still remained a gold deal of work to do before active mining operations could be resumed, but driving on the reef cut in No. 7 level crosscut, and which was claimed to carry good gold values, should be in operation early in the coming year. Five men, on an average, were employed during the year. Murray Creek Mine. —After a spell of idlemess, mining was resumed in July. About 730 tons of quartz was mined and crushed, which yielded 282 oz. of gold, valued at £1,176. This return was not, however, found payable, and in December operations again ceased. The quartz mined during this period all came from the old stopes above No. 4 level. No development work was carried out. New Big River Mine. —Work was carried on energetically throughout the year, an average of forty-one men being employed. The only development of any consequence consisted of the sinking of No. 2 winze on No. 11 (bottom) level to 107 ft. During the period 3,989 tons of quartz was mined and crushed, the whole of which came from between Nos. 10 and 11 levels. This tonnage was a considerable increase on that of the previous year, when only 2,970 tons were mined. Including premiums received, the total value realized for all gold won for the year amounted to £21,609, an increase on the figures for .1920 of £7,276. The mine was the only o:ie in the district to declare o dividend, £4,200 being thus distributed. Estimating the ounces produced at standard price for fine gold, the gold per ton crushed seemed to have shown an improvement of approximately 4 dwt. New Keep-it-dark Mine. —No work was done at this mine during 1921. North Big River Mine. —No 3 adit level was continued for some distance, but no lode of any value was found. On the same level as No. 3 a crosscut tunnel was driven about 200 ft. with no better results. Six men, on an'average, were employed. New Millerton Mine. —Work was carried on steadily, an average of twenty-live men being employed. A considerable amount of development was done. No. I level was driven north 20 ft., No. 2 level south 202 ft., and No. 3 level north 399 ft. A number of short crosscuts, totalling 212 ft., were also put in from No. 3 level north. Rising and winzing to the extent of 161 ft. was also completed. Taking the development work as a whole, it cannot be said to have given satisfactory results. Most of the driving was on the lode, which was for the most part small and broken and of poor values. A small stamp mill was erected, driven by water-power, and crushing operations were started in August and continued to the end of the year, 1,461 tons of quartz being treated for a return of 761 oz. 6 dwt. gold, valued at £3,705. The stoping was practically confined to one shoot of stone in the southern end of the mine, the stoping-length of which was in No. 3 level 60 ft., in No. 2 level 96 ft., and in No. 1 level 100 ft. Two small stopes were started on No. 3 level north, but were subsequently discontinued. With values based on standard for fine ounce, the value recovered per ton of stone treated seems to have been £2 4s. 2d. New Discovery Mine. —The work of driving the low-level adit tunnel was continued without break, during which it was advanced a farther 646 ft. to a total of 986 ft. It is not expected to intersect the lode till about 1,200 ft. has been driven. Six men were employed. Ready Bullion Mine (New Ulster). —The low-level adit at this mine was also kept going steadily, but only one shift of two men was employed. The adit was extended a farther 250 ft. to 600 ft., whence a crosscut was extended easterly 75 ft., in which direction it"is expected to intersect the reef-line. Alexander Stream. —During 1920 a gold-bearing lode was discovered and named the Bull lode, by Messrs. McViear and Hurley, at the Alexander Stream, Big Grey River. The prospectors pegged out six prospecting licenses of 100 acres each. During 1921 an option was taken over this property by the Recovery Gold-mines Syndicate, and a certain amount of exploratory work was carried out. An adit was started at a point 80 ft. below the outcrop of the Bull lode, and driven south-easterly to pass vertically under the surface outcrop. As no sign of the lode was therein discovered, a crosscut was then started about 20 ft. back from the face of the drive, and driven 115 ft. on a bearing of approximately 120° (i.e., at a right angle with the apparent strike of the lode on the surface), but no indication of the lode was found. Big River Extended. —An adit was driven about 200 ft. on an outcropping lode, but the values were apparently negligible. Big River South. —A little work was also done on this property, a winze being sunk, from an adit driven during the previous year, on a lode which is said to have contained fair values. Progress Mine. —No mining operations were carried out, but the bottom level, No. 11, was stripped of rails, air-pipes, &c. Treatment of sands at the mill and of concentrates sold in Australia resulted in a recovery of 1,093 oz. of gold, for which £4,440 was realized. Energetic and Wealth of Nations Mine. —This property has also been idle all the year, owing fo lack of money. HOKITIKA AND BOSS. Mount Greenland Mine. —Work was confined to the mining and crushing of 60 tons of quartz, which returned 54 oz. 17 dwt. gold, valued at £299. Mount Greenland Ex'ended. —Two men were employed in a prospeoting-drive during part of the year; nothing payable was found. STJLLWATKK. Victory Mine. —The low-level adit which was started during 1920 and driven 260 ft. was extended to 335 ft., up to which point no values had been met with. Only two men were employed. The adit has since been extended to 445 ft., where a small flat-lying leader ranging from 1 in. to 6 in. wide was encountered, samples from which are said to have shown values up to 10 oz. to the ton. Exploratory work is being continued,

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General Remarks on Quartz-mining. 'Despite the period of acute financial stringency through which the Dominion has been passing, the quartz-mining industry has during the past year shown signs of slightly increased activity. The quantity of ore treated showed an improvement of nearly 4,000 tons on that for the previous year, and, notwithstanding a decrease in the premium received on gold disposed, the total valuo realized exceeded that for 1920 by over £9,000. The dividends paid during the year also showed an advance on the previous year's figures, being £4,200 as against £1,800. No serious accidents of any kind have occurred in any of the quartz-mines for the year. A considerable amount of prospecting has been carried out. Dredging. A noticeable feature during the period in connection with this branch of the mining industry has been the completion and putting into commission of the large new dredge of the Rimu Gold Dredging Company at Riniu Flat, near Hokitika. Actual dredging operations were started in September, and to the end of the year 221,591 cubic yards of gravel were treated, for a yield, of 1,429 oz. gold, equal, with gold at standard value, to a return of approximately 6fd. per cubic yard. The total amount, including premium, received for the gold was £6,518. An average of fifty-eight men were employed. This dredge is the most powerful yet put to work in New Zealand, and presents a number of features, both in construction and method* of operating, new to dredging here. It cost £100,000 to construct. The pontoon, mainly of Oregon pine, is 115 ft. 6 in. long, 50 ft. wide, and 10 ft. 7 J in. deep. The working-parts are all very massive compared with those on previous dredges here. By way of illustration, the bucket-pins are 0 in., the top tumblershaft 21 in., the bottom one 15 in., and the ladder-rollers 10 in. in diameter, and all are of manganese steel. The buckets, seventy-three in number, and delivering at the rate of nineteen per minute, are also wholly of the same material. The main drive, winch, pumps, stacker, &c, arc all operated by electric power. To work them simultaneously 535 electrical horse-power is required, the figures for the various units being—main drive, 200 h.p. ; winch, 25 h.p. ; screen, 50 h.p. ; stacker, 50 h.p. ; high-pressure pump, 125 h.p. ; low-pressure pump, 60 h.p. ; and nozzle pump, 25 h.p. The power is transmitted, by the Kanicri Electric (Limited) to a transformer near the dredge at a pressure of 10,000 volts, and is there stepped down to 2,000 volts. The most novel features in connection with the dredge are the pivoting of tho ladder on the upper tumbler-shaft, the dispensation with links between buckets, use of electricity for all power purposes, control of practically all work on board from one central position, stacking by means of belt conveyer, and employment of spuds in. place of headlines. The stacker and ladder are each 135 ft. in length. The former was designed to dig normally to 43 ft., but can, it is claimed, dig to about 55 ft. if required. The screen is 46 ft. long and 7 ft. internal diameter. The spuds, two in number, are 56 ft. long, and each weighs 18 tons. For saving gold, 6,000 square feet of tables are provided on the dredge. No copper plates nor any description of blanket are used, the gold being caught in shallow riffles in which mercury is placed. The dredge has not, so far, been worked to its full capacity. This Rimu dredge was the only one in the district which won any gold during the year, but at Awatuna Beach a company known as the Awatuna Dredging Company (Limited) is re-erecting the dredge formerly worked as the Chambers Reward at Humphrey's Gully. The area on which it will operate has been well tested, by drilling, and is said to contain good gold-values. Some twelve men have been employed in connection with it. Alluvial Mining. A slight falling-off in the number of men employed in this branch of the industry has been noticeable, and the total amount of gold won showed a proportionate decrease, being 3,91 I oz., as compared with 4,245 oz. in 1920. The total value received for it was £17,570, as against £18,386. In the following notes some particulars are given as to operations in the various localities where work was carried, on :— Howard Ijigginge, —Only twelve men have been employed in this field during the year, the amount of gold recovered being 298 oz., valued at £1,186. M'urchison. —For tho whole of this district, including Matakitaki, Newton Flat, and Lyell, only 84 oz. of gold, valued at £330, were recovered. Seven men were employed. Addition's Flat. —Only one claim (Mouat and part3''s) was worked, 219 oz. gold, valued at £914, being recovered. Charleston and Brighton. —ln these localities the amount of gold won for the year amounted to 916 oz., for which £3,819 was realized. Grey Valley. —At the various claims twenty-one men were employed. The total gold won amounted to 684 oz., valued at £3,409. The Hoohstetter Company, not finding the yield payable, closed down towards the end of the year. Barrylown. —There was no gold won in this locality during the year, but the Waiwhero Sluicing Company was engaged in entirely reconstructing its plant. Rumara. —On the Kumara, Greenstone, Stafford, and Callaghan's fields the total production for the year amounted to 773 oz., valued at £3,691. The principal producers were—Linklater Sluicing Company (Stafford), 283 oz. lOdwt., valued at £1,229; Stubbs and. Steel (Greenstone), 182 oz., valued at £912; and R. Kean (Greenstone), 149 oz., valued at £671. The Havill Brothers at Callaghan's completed towards the end of the year a new low-level tunnel tail-race over 2,000 ft. in length, and the Callaghan's Sluicing Company has been engaged in putting its property (formerly Honey Bros.' claims) into working-order. At the ITohonu Diamond Terrace Sluicing Company's claims at Greenstone preparations are being made for the construction of a new main race to bring a water-supply in from the Jlohonu River. /lokitika. —ln this district 275 oz. gold, valued at £2,261, were won, the principal producers being Rimu United Sluicing Company (Seddon Terrace), 260 oz., valued at £1,238 15s. Id.; and Ford and Knight (Riniu), 148 oz., valued at £752. Eighteen men were employed. South Westland. —Some 107 oz. were won from various beach leads, the value of which was approximately £489. Reefton. —Returns from this district show that eight men were employed, and that 279 oz. gold, valued at £1,332, were recovered. T,he principal producer was Antonios Limited, with 229 oz., valued at £1,151. Marlborough. —The total return of gold was only 11 oz. 16 dwt., valued at £46 Bs. Mining other than for Gold. Onakaka Iron and Steel Company. —This company has during the year been busily engaged in erecting a plant for smelting the iron-ores on its property at Onakaka, between Takaka and Collingwood, some thirty-five men, on an average, having been employed. Tho plant is not designed for a large output; its producing capacity is estimated to be about 25 tons of pig iron per day. The following is a brief description of the plant already erected, and of the general proposed scheme of operations : The furnace is of shaft typo, of mild-steel plate, constructed in New Zealand. It is 64 ft. in height from feeding-platform to hearth-level, with an internal diameter of shaft 10 ft., and of hearth 5 ft. Up to the bosh the lining is of local clay and silica, and thence to the top of the shaft is of Huntly firebricks. The thickness of lining in the shaft averages 1 ft. 6 in., and in the hearth 2 ft. 6 in. The top of the furnace is fitted with a bell for distributing the feed uniformly. Tho furnace will be hand-fed. The bronze tuyeres arc water-cooled, as arc also the water-blocks used as tho tuyoros-zono construction. The air required in the furnace will bo heated in a U-pipe stove to 900° F. Tho U-pipes in the stove are of cast iron, twenty-four In number, and they will be heated by burning the wasto gas from the top of the furnace under and around them. The blower was made by tho Baker Company, and is of tho Root type, with a rated capacity.of 645 cubic feet per revolution. It is of iron throughout, and heavily geared. Two boilers have been installed for providing steam for driving the blower. One of these is of

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Babcock and Wilcox type, nominal horse-power 100 ; the other is of underfired multitubular type, horse-power 90. The boilers will be heated also by waste gas from the blast furnace. Slag from the furnace will be granulated by means of water and flushed over the hillside. As a guard against possible blockage of the race, or inability to granulate owing to failure of water-supply, an endless-rope haulage, with slag-pot on bogie, is also being installed. In front of the furnace is situated the cast-house, covering a sand-pig bed where the molten metal will be flowed into pig form, and from there it will be lifted by a 5-ton overhead crane and carried to the stockyard. For supply of water an open race GO chains in length, and a pipe-line 40 chains in length, have been provided. A considerable number of hutments have been erected for housing the employees, and the company has also jjrovided a comfortable mess-house where the men will get their meals at a reasonable price. An up-to-date laboratory has also been erected. For the bringing of the ore from the quarries to the plant an aerial ropeway, about a mile in length, has been erected. This will deliver both the limestone and the crude ore into largo ferro-eoncrete bins, whence the charge will be raised to the feed-floor by means of an hydraulic lift. The charges are expected to approximate 2J tons of ore, 15 cwt. limestone, and 20 ewt. coke. The average iron content of the crude ore is expected to run from 45 to 48 per cent. This, less the moisture, 12 per cent., is expected to bring the iron content empirically to from 51 to 53 per cent. The character of the ore will, however, no doubt vary considerably during the working of the deposits. Up to the end of the year a sum of upwards of £25,000 has been spent in the erection of the plant, &c. No attempt will be made for a time to produce anything but a soft, highly siliceous pig iron, of which it is estimated 10,000 tons are used yearly for foundry purposes in New Zealand. ASBESTOS. New Zealand Asbestos Company (Limited). —This is the only property in the district that has turned out any asbestos for the year, and the quantity was small, being only 5 ewt. of cobbed mineral, valued at £50. PROSPECTING FOB PETROLEUM. Kotuhu Petroleum, Prospecting Syndicate. —This syndicate, whose property is situate at Kotuku, on the GreymouthOtira line, was the only one in the West Coast Mining District to carry on active operations. Under the supervision of Mr. J. A. Davis, a driller of American experience, a well was sunk to a depth of 930 ft., but no indications of either mineral oil or gas were noted, and it has now been abandoned. The site for a new well has, however, been selected, and the ground will be further tested. Six men were employed. Accidents. No accidents of any kind were reported, except at the alluvial claim at Ahaura worked by the Hochstetter Goldflelda (Limited), where, on the 3rd August, a man named Edward Murphy, aged fifty-seven, single, met his death. Southern Inspection District (Mi\ A. Whitley, Inspector). Quartz and Alluvial Mining. WAITAKI COUNTY. Livingstone and Maerewhenua. —The Mountain Hut Race, which was the principal source of the water used in the alluvial claims at Maerewhenua, was badly damaged by a flood in the month of October. As repairs have not been effected, mining is practically at a standstill. Returns from this district show that seven men were employed, producing 178 oz. 17 cwt. gold, valued at £744. TAIEKT COUNTY. A. G. Buckland (The Reefs). —150 tons of ore from open cuttings on the Barewood reef yielded 17 oz. 15 dwt. golf], valued at £73 11s. 2d. TUAPBKA COUNTY. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Blue Spur). —This company completed treating the tailings that had been deposited in Gabriel's Gully by former companies and miners who were operating on the Blue Spur cement for many years, and a start has been made to sluice the cement remaining in the solid. Water under a pressure of COO ft. is available for breaking down and elevating. Since the company was formed in 1907 gold valued at £56,754 has been produced, and dividends paid amounting to £15,615. Lawrence Sluicing Company (Blue Spur). —The sluicing and elevating plant has been shifted from Munro's Gully to Kitto and party's old paddock in the cement, where payable returns were obtained. The yield of gold for the year was valued at £1,287. Golden Crescent Sluicing Company (Weatherstone). —Sluicing and elevating have been steadily carried on during the year. A jack-hammer drilling plant was installed to assist the high-pressure water in breaking up the hard portionsof the cement. Gold valued at £1,938 10s. was produced, and dividends were paid amounting to £437 10s. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company (Waitahuna). —Operations were confined to the Norwegian section of the company's claim, where a paddock about 1 acre in area and 15 ft. deep produced 500 oz. gold. Sinking has been commenced in the cement, which gives good prospects and is expected to yield payable returns. Ilaveloclc Sluicing Company (Waitahuna). —This company h working shallow ground near Waitahuna Township with payable results. Gold valued at £1,045 was produced, from which £400 was paid in dividends. Waipori. —Six sluicing claims were in operation during the year. Thirteen men were employed, and the production of gold amounted to 756 oz., valued at £3,290. Teviot Molyneaux Gold-mining Company (Roxburgh). —Eight men were employed, and the yield of gold amounted to 151 oz., valued at £740. Murchison Bros. (Fourteen-mile Beach). —This party has installed an elevating-plant to work a beach in the Clutha Gorge between Coal Creek Flat and Alexandra. MANIOTOTO COUNTY. Naseby. —Twenty-four miners were employed in this locality. The gold produced was valued at £5,192. St. Bathan's. —Only two claims, employing eight men, were worked. The Scandinavian Water-race Company produced 457 oz., valued at £2,209, and the United M. and E. Water-race Company 145 oz., valued at £662. The former was elevating from a depth of 102 ft. Cambrian's. —The Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company suspended operations at Vinegar Hill, and shifted the sluicingplantto new ground on the south-east side of Morgan Bros. , claim. A pipe-line one mile and a half in length has been laid from the company's water-race to the claim. The yield of gold amounted to 164 oz., valued at £709. Morgan Bros, were engaged in prospecting the south-eastern portion of their claim, with unsatisfactory results. Patearoa. —Two claims, employing five men, were in operation. The production of gold amounted to 196 oz., valued at £878. VINCENT COUNTY. Matahanui. —The Undaunted. Tinkers' Gold-mining Company, elevating from a depth of 57 ft., produced 241 oz., valued at £1,069. Seven men were employed. Nevis. —Graham and party's claim at Upper Nevis continues to yield payable returns. 553 oz., valued at £2,677, were won during the year. The output of gold from the sluicing claims in this locality amounted to 1,288 oz., valued at £6,029. Thirty-two men were employed.

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Bendigo. —The Otago Central Consolidated Gold-mines drove 400 ft. into a high-level terrace near the old Bondigo Mine to prospect for a lead of alluvial gold. The work, which is still in progress, has not resulted in opening up any payable ground. Old Man Range. —R. T. Symes, owner of the Advance Mine, crushed 95 tons of ore from White's Reef, at the battery level, for a return of 105 oz., valued at £430. LAKE COUNTY. Glenorchy. —The Glenorohy Scheelite Company and seven parties of miners were engaged in soheelite-mining for a short period in the early part of the year. There being practically no demand for the mineral, operations ceased, and will not be resumed until the market revives. SOUTHLAND COUNTY. Muddy Terrace Sluicing (Waikaia). —Sluicing was carried on in Mathewson's and Nuggety Gullies when water was available. Nine men were employed, and the yield, of gold amounted to 325 oz., valued at £1,600. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —This company's two elevators, working in Victoria Gully, a branch of Nokomai Creek, produced 1,723 oz., valued at £7,678. Dividends amounting to .£1,200 were paid. Thirtythree men were employed in the claim and attending to water-races. Atltol. —Two claims were working in this locality. Blakely and McLister produced 272 oz., valued at £I,2!><>, and Mutch and party 215 oz., valued at £1,029. WALLACE COUNTY. Ourawera Gold-mining Company (Round Hill). —Right men were employed, and gold valued at £1,0>09 produced. Round Hill Miniwj Company. —Work was steadily carried on in the company's No. 1 claim, where elevating to a height of (iO ft. was in progress. At No. 2 claim a start was made to take a new paddock on the west side of the Ourawera Stream. The production of gold for the year amounted to 785 oz., valued at £3,994. Fifteen men were employed. OrepuM. —Four claims, employing five men, produced 160 oz., valued at £743. H. Sorensen was the largest producer, with 75 oz. Dredge Mining. Nine gold-dredges were in commission during the year. Of these the Rise and Shine No. 1, working on the Clutha Kiver above Cromwell, was the largest producer, yielding 1,2f1S ozz., valued at £0,212. The following dredges were dismantled and scrapped : The Ferry, Lower Nevis, Adam's Flat, Waikaka Deep Lead No.s. 1 and 2, and Waikakn. Forks. MineraU other than Gold. Scheelite. —23 tons of scheelite concentrates were produced in the Glenorchy district in the early part of the year. None of this was exported, as there was practically no market for the mineral, and the price offering was too low to cover the cost of production. The mines at Macrae's and The Reefs were idle throughout the year. Cinnabar. —A discovery of cinnabar was made in the Greenvale Survey District by .J. B. Graham and party. The mineral occurs in seams and impregnations over a width of from !) in. to 2 ft. in soft sandstone. The prospecting done by the party comprises sinking to a depth of 50 ft. and driving 100 ft. on the deposit at 25 ft. from the surface. Further development will be required to prove if the mineral occurs in payable quantity. Phosphate R0ck. — 6,012 tons of phosphate rock, valued at £6,012, were produced at Clarendon and Milburn by the Ewing T hosphate Company. Petroleum. —The Canterbury Petroleum Company's borehole at Chortsey was cleared of the detached sandpump, and sinking was resumed with 2$ in. casing. At 2,200 ft. quicksand was encountered, which prevented further drilling. The company has gone into voluntary liquidation. Accidents. Richard Fraher had his loft leg broken by a fall of gravel in Charles Hore's sluicing claim in Main Gully, Nasebj', through going too close to the working-face while sluicing operations were in progress. This was the only accident of a serious nature that occurred in the district during the year.

ANNEXURE B. OBSERVATIONS BY KATATHEKMOMETER OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE DEEP MINES OF NEW ZEALAND. In my last annual report, Annexuro B (2), appeared " Notes on the Katathermometer," an instrument invented by Dr. Leonard Hill, F.R.S., Director of Department of Applied Physiology, Medical Research Committee, for ascertaining a general measure of the cooling effect of air on the body when every physiological means of promoting heat-loss is brought into play. It has been found that the ordinary thermometer is of very little use in indicating what the body requires, because it only gives the average temperature of the surroundings, and does not show the influence of wind, which is the most potent thing in cooling persons and animals. The wot katathermometer shows the influence of wind and humidity. A considerable amount of controversy has taken place regarding the provision contained in Regulation 94 (7) (<'), under the Mining Act, that the maximum temperature of air in any working-place in any mine in the Hauraki Mining District (i.e., Hauraki Goldfields), measured by a wet-bulb thermometer, shall not exceed 83° F., unless firing of explosives has occurred in such place within twenty minutes of the observation of the thermometer, but the Inspector may allow such higher temperature if in his opinion it is impracticable to maintain the temperature at or below 83° F., wet-bulb ; but he shall fix the number of hours (not exceeding six) which any person shall be employed in any such working-places. As depth is attained at the Waihi mines it has occasionally been found impracticable to maintain the temperature below the above standard, the rate of increment of the temperature of the rooks with depth being approximately I' F. in 33ft. The wet-bulb temperature of the workings at times has approached 90 ; 1 ,, ., which temperature has been pronounced injurious to men at work by Dr. J. Haklane, F. 8.5., and other eminent physiologists.

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With a view of ascertaining to what extent the conditions existing in hot and humid working-places may be improved by the circulation of air at increased, velocity, a number of observations have been recently taken by some mining engineers, consisting of Messrs. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines ; A. H. V. Morgan, Director of Waihi (School of Mines; E. G. Banks, superintendent, and J. L. Gilmour, manager, of the Waihi Gold-mine; W. McOonachie, manager of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mine; and by myself. The observations were principally taken for the purpose of establishing, if possible, a katathermometer standard for warm mines as an improvement on the existing wet-bulb-ther ometer stan !ard. The places of observations were specially chosen where the velocity of the air for experimental purposes could be regulated and increased when desired, and do not always represent the working-conditions of the mines. Upon reference to the tabulation of the results thus obtained it will be seen how rapidly the cooling-power, as indicated by katathermometer, improved with increased air-velocity, as shown by observations Nos. 2 and 3, being one series taken at the same point; Nos. 4, 5, and 6, a series taken at one point; and Nos. 11 and 12, another series at one point, increasing through each series the velocities from still air. The opinions expressed on the physiological conditions contained in the last column were conscientiously arrived at by the mining engineers, who base their opinions upon what they believed to be the conditions existing ; but when compared with the standard of the inventor of the katathermometer, Dr. Hill (viz., that for sedentary workers the dry katathermometer should be kept not less than 6 and the wet 16-5, but that the cooling-power should be higher than these for severir forms of mechanical work), the standard here adopted by the New Zealand engineers (viz., 4-04 dry katathermometer and 10-6 wet katathermometer) are much less exacting, .and, not being subject to medical analysis, cannot claim equal authority to Dr. Hill's standard. Thus, for the present, insufficient evidence exists by which to determine a legal katathermometer standard for mines. The observations, however, arc of considerable value in showing the benefit of moving air at the working-places; likewise, observation No. 13, taken in still air in the warmest place in the warmest colliery in the North Island, provides satisfactory evidence that the temperature of our coal-mines is not excessive.

Tabulated Results of Observations taken to ascertain the Physiological Conditions at some Mines in New Zealand.

Notes. The instruments used consisted of Professor Hill's katathcrmomoter, Biram- Davis anemometer, nnd Sling hygrometer. Standard of Professor Leonard Hill, F.R.S., the inventor of the katathermometer : For sedentary workers the dry katathcrmometer should be kept not less than 6, and the wet 16£. The cooling-power should be higher for severer forms of mechanical work. In the above tabulation the mining engineers have taken a lower standard—viz., not less than 4 dry bulb and 10-6 wot bulb. At the Waihi Goldlield the rate of increment of the temperature of the rocks with depth is approximately I F. in 33 ft., thus great difficulty exists in keeping the workings in a satisfactory condition.

S O © u v • ll Place of Observation. Out. Tempt in SI door Stature hade. Katathermo- — «r m PotiS 5§ .it i lace. calorics per Sqr. t£ cm.p. Sec. o £ - ** Physiological Conditions as believed by the Mining ICngincers present at the Tests. Date. Wet Bulb. Dry Bulb. Wet Bulb. Dry Bulb. Wet "Dry Bulb. Bulb. 5 - \> Seatoun, Wellington (hills) °F. 18/1/22 56-60 °F. 65-00 °F. 56-60 °F. 65-00 57-60 24-90 14-30 Salubrious conditions for arduous physical work. 2 Waihi Gold-mine— No. 13 (1,450 ft.) level, Martha lode west No. 13 (1,450 ft.) level 28/1/22 61-50 02-30 80-25 81-40 9-40 2-90 Still air 12-90 Oppressive. 3 4 5 Royal lode west 28/1/22 61-50 30/1/22 59-00 30/1/22 59-00 59-00 62-30 64-00 64-00 78-60 88-00 84-70 80-20 88-70 88-00 33-20 4-90 21-80 15-00 1-57 4-46 Still air 6-00 Velocity of air excessive for continual physical work. Extremely oppressive conditions and unendurable, inducing profuse perspiration on unclothed men resting. Velocity of air rendered conditions satisfactory for physical work. Velocity of air excessive. Lower limit of satisfactory conditions, velocity just sufficient to deflect candle-flame. Satisfactory stoping conditions. 6 7 900 ft. "level, Edward lode, White's stope 30/1/22 59-00 14/3/22 58-00 59-00 58-00 64-00 67-50 83-00 78-00 87-00 79-50 27-10 11-10 6-30 4-04 11-85 0-70 8 1,150 ft. level, Edward lode, Heath's stope 1,205 ft. level, Edward lode, Harrison's stope Edward lode, Salmon crosscut Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mine, No. 7 (1,200 ft. level), southeast cross-cut to Empire lode Ditto 14/3/22 58-00 58-00 67-50 76-50 77-50 12-40 5-04 0-54 9 10 14/3/22 58-00 58-00 58-00 67-50 67-50 77-00 79-00 77-50 81-00 10-60 24-20 4-07 11-30 0-42 12-60 Lower limit of satisfactory conditions. Satisfactory conditions. 14/3/22 58-00 11 31/1/22 62-50 62-50 67-00 76-00 77-00 11-70 4-42 0-65 Considered reasonable workingconditions for naturally hot mines. 31/1/22 62-50 Good conditions for working in naturally hot mines. Fair conditions. Of the two miners working only one had his shirt off. Considered to be the warmest place in the colliery : if so, colliery-workings on the Waikato coalfield are reasonably cool. 12 62-50 67-00 72-00 74-50 19-20 8-30 .1-83 13 Taupiri Extended Colliery, No. 1 west dip heading, 300 ft. deep 6/2/22 j 64-00 64-00 78-00 04-50 66-70 17-01 6-21 Still air

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ANNEXUEE C.

MINING STATISTICS. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

Average Go'd oi Locality and Name of Mine. HU Meii r ° f Quartz crushed. employed. Amalgam. Go'd obtained. btai lined. Cyanide. Thames County and Borough. £ s. d. 126 17 9 Karaka Creek— Tons cwt. qr. lb. Oz. dwt. Gloaming Mine .. .. 2 18 0 0 24 j 45 15 Tairua — Golden Hills . . .. 2 195 0 0 0 178 16 Oz. dwt. 89 8 561 9 9 Totals .. .. 4 213 0 0 24 224 11 213 0 0 24 224 11 89 8 89 8 688 7 6 Waihi Borough. Waihi— Waihi Goldmining Company* . . 599 140,466 I) 0 0 Waihi Grand Junction* .. 325 65,964 0 0 0 Totals .. .. 924 212,450 0 0 0 4 t 412,487 6 92,611 18 412,487 6 92,611 18 505,099 4 233,331 8 4 96,398 5 9 505,099 4 329,729 14 1 Ohinemuri County. Karangahake— Talisman .. .. .. 2 Cleaning-up 173 19 Wonrlstnp.k TCatterv OniNEMUKi County W ooclstocK psattory Owharoa— Rising Sun Goldmining Company 10 Cleaning up mill Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Minesf 11 1 6 3 18 2 Cleaning-up Woodstock Battery 10 Cleaning up mill 11 1 6 3 .18 173 19 441 11 441 11 115 14 1.1 661 16 6 95 10 6 23 1 6 3 18 173 19 Totals .. .. ' 23 1 6 3 18 173 19 441 11 441 11 873 1 11 Piako County. * Wai orongomai— Bendigo Syndicate .. .. [ 4 j 40 0 0 0 j 4 I Piako County. * 40 0 0 0 1 183 2 183 2 53 8 0 Coromandel County Waikoromiko — Four-in-hand .. .. 2 10 12 9 14 Hauraki Block — Old Hauraki .. .. 20 80 I 2 2 223 0 Totals .. .. 22 81 1 3 4 232 14 30 16 10 795 18 7 22 81 1 3 4 232 14 826 15 5 Tauranga County. Te Puke— Muir's Gold Reefs .. . .1 62 I 1,600 0 0 01 Tauranga County. 466 17 I 62 1,600 0 0 0 1 466 17 2,378 15 11 SUMMARY. Thames County and Borough .. 4 213 0 0 24 224 11 Waihi Borough .. .. 924 212,430 0 0 0 Ohinemuri County .. .. 23 1 6 3 18 173 19 Piako County ..' .. . . 4 40 0 0 0 Coromandel County .. .. 22 81 1 3 4 232 14 Tauranga County .. .. 62 1,600 0 0 0 Totals, 1921 .. 1,039J: 214,365 8 3 18 631 4 SUMMARY. 213 0 0 24 212,430 0 0 0 1 6 3 18 40 0 0 0 81 1 3 4 1,600 0 0 0 224 11 173 19 51 5( 89 8 505,099 4 441 11 183 2 89 8 505,099 4 441 II 183 2 466 17 106,280 2 688 7 6 329.729 M 1 873 I 11 53 8 0 826 15 5 2,378 15 11 232 14 466 17 211,365 8 3 18 631 4 506,280 2 334,550 2 10 Totals, 1920 .. 918 194,316 2 3 15 805 9 Totals, 1921 .. 1,039 214,365 8 3 18 631 4 194,316 2 3 15 214,315 8 3 18 805 9 631 4 4i 5( 433,510 3J 506,280 2 33,510 34. 106,280 2 325,853 19 8 334,560 2 10 Increase .. .. 121 20,049 6 0 3 174 5§ 20,049 6 0 3 174 5§ 72,769 18£ 72,769 184. 8,696 3 2 * Waihi and Waihi Grand Junction Mines: Gold won from these mines valued at £4 4s, per ounce t Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines: 580,687 ounces silver (no gold); value, £05 10s. 6d. X In addition, during the year 108 men were employed at unproductive quartz-mining operations. § Decrease. n from these mines vahu silver (no gold); value, ed at unproductive quarl :d at £4 4s, per oun £95 10s. 6d. ;z-mining operation! ice; silver, 2s. per >o; i silver, 2s. per o mnce. s.

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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, 1921.

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

Locality and Name of Mine. Average Gold obtained by NU Mon r0f Quartz crushed. Estimated Value. j employed. Amalgamation. SntaTes. Wakamarina— Dominion Consolidated Development Company (Limited) marina— ninion Consolidated Develoj Marlborough. Tons cwt. qr. Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. ip- I 16 [ 430 0 0 I 284 0 0 , .. , 1,390 9 8 16 Ross — Mount Greenland .. .. | 4 Westland. 60 0 0 | 54 17 12 | 298 17 0 Hukawai— New Millerton Mine Inglowood— Murray Creek Mine Crushington— Wealth of Nations Waiuta — Blackwater Mines Globe HillProgress Mines (Limited) Big River— New Big River Mine Alexander River — Recovery Gold Mine 25 5 2 133 4 41 3 25 5 2 133 Nelson. 1,461 0 0 730 0 0 34,323 0 0 761 6 0 282 9 0 11,482 1 0 4 0-0 2,348 2 17 3,705 7 10 1,176 1 6 16 16 4 05,776 6 8 4 1,093 2 10 4,440 2 8 41 3,989 0 0 3,765 10 0 742 2 0 21,609 J7 5 3 0 14 0 2 I 0 7 7 7 Totals 233 233 43,993 14 0 16,632 4 12 4,187 7 3 98,421 6 8 Marlborough* Nelson Westland 16 213 4 16 213 4 SUMMAR' 430 0 0 40,503 14 0 60 0 0 284 0 0 16,293 7 0 54 17 12 4,187' 7 3 1,390 9 8 96,732 0 0 298 17 0 Totals, 1921 Totals, 1920 2331 228 233f 228 40,993 14 0 37,592 0 0 16,632 4 12 14,152 2 0 4,187 7 3 2,523 8 13 98,421 6 8 89,333 17 0 Increase 5 3,401 14 0 1,663 10 14 2,480 2 12 9,087 9 8 * 15 tons of Tungsten concentrate, estimated value, unproductive work. 760, was also obta vined. t In addition, 51 quartz-miners were employed at

Average Locality and Name of Mine. ™» °* oSSSSS. employed. Gold obtained by Amalgamation. Concentrates. Estimated Value. Vincent County. Old Man Range— Tons. Advance .. .. ... I 2 | 95 Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. gr. I 95 0 0 | 10 0 0 | £ s. d 436 15 0 The Reefs— Taibri County. Buokland .. .. .. [ 2 | 150 17 15 0 | .. | 73 11 2 17 15 0 73 11 2 ,, , Waihemo County. Macrae s — Ounce .. .. .. i 1 7 , 1 Waihemo County. 7 • 16 0 1 5 15 9 1 6 0 5 15 9 HTTMM A TJ V SUMMAKY. Vincent County.. .. .. 2 95 Taieri County .. .. .. 2 150 Waihemo County .. .. 1 7 SUMMARY. 95 0 0 10 0 0 1 17 15 0 16 0 436 15 0 73 11 2 5 15 9 2 2 I 95 150 7 95 0 0 17 15 0 1 6 0 10 0 0 1 436 15 0 73 11 2 5 15 9 Totals, 1921 .. 5* 252 Totals, 1920 .. 8 145 5* 8 252 145 114 1 0 10 0 0 130 16 23 114 1 0 130 16 23 10 0 0 516 1 11 680 10 8 516 1 11 680 10 8 Increase .. .. .. 107 107 10 0 0 10 0 0 Decrease .. .. 3 16 15 23 .. 16 15 23 164 8 9 164 8 9 * In addition, two quartz-miners were employed _ at unproductive work. at unproductive work. Summary of Inspection Di ISTRICTS. 'ISTRICTS. inspection District. Average Number o, Quartz „ Average Number of 0ll , rt , „,.<,__,,,, Persons employed. • quartz crusnert. Statute Tons. 1,039 214,365 233 40,993 5 252 crushed. Bullion obtained. Esti: Bullion obtained. Estimated Value. imated Value. Statute Northern (North Island) .. .. 1,039 214, West Coast (of South Island) .. .. 233 40, Southern (Otago and Southland) .. 5 3 Tons. Oz. dwt. gr. ,365 506,911 6 0 31 ,993 20,819 11 15 ! 252 124 1 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 506,911 6 0 20,819 11 15 124 1 0 £ s. d. 334,550 2 10 98,421 6 8 516 1 11 £ s. d. 134,550 2 10 98,421 6 8 516 1 11 Totals, 1921 .. .. 1,277* 255, Totals, 1920 .. .. 1,154 232, 1,277* 255,610 1,154 232,053 _ 123 23,557 persons were employed at unproductive ,610 527,854 18 15 41 ,053 451,122 0 0 4! 527,854 18 15 451,122 0 0 433,487 11 5 415,868 7 4 133,487 11 5 115,868 7 4 Increase .. _ 1J! _ 123 23, * In addition, 161 persons were employed at unprc ,557 _ 76,732 18 15 -oductive quartz-mining. _ 76,732 18 15 lartz-mining. 17,619 4 17,619 4 1 _1

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APPENDIX B. KEPOKTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Engineer of Minks to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 12tli April, 1922. I have the honour to present my sixteentli annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1921, in accordance with section 78 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. The report is divided into the following sections : — I. Output. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act — (a) Permitted Explosives. (b) Dangerous Occurrences. (c) Electricity at Collieries. (d) Prosecutions. V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining. Annexures — A. Summary of Annual Reports by Inspectors of Mines. B. Colliery Statistics.

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

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Output of Coal during 1921. Total Output to the End of 1921. Class of Coal. Northern District West Coast District Southern District (North Island). (South Island). (South Island). Totals. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bituminous 83,325 810,520 Brown .. .. .. 431,282 155 268,683 Lignite .. .. .. .. 200 214,930 Totals for 1921 .. 514,607 810,875 483,613 Totals for 1920 .. 483,492 821,507 538,706 Tons. 893,845 700,120 215,130 Tons. 33,949,532 Hi,580,317 3,163,639 1,809,095 53,693,488 1,843,705 51,884,393

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Tbe following is a table showing the annual production of coal and the quantity of coal imported since 1911 :—

During 1921 the production of brown coal declined 15,589 tons, and that of bituminous coal declined 29,730 tons, the latter owing chiefly to the large increase of that class of coal imported into the Dominion viz., 822,459 tons, as against 476,343 tons during 1920. An increase of 10,709 tons in the production of lignite occurred. Of the coal imported 627,659 tons were produced in Australia. After making allowance for the restoration during the year of the depleted coal reserves of the Government railways, freezing-works, and other large consumers, it may be reasonably estimated that, although there is a considerable decline in the output, the annual rate of consumption—viz., about 2,300,000 tons —has been maintained, notwithstanding that the utilization of hydro-electric power is constantly increasing. New collieries are being laid down at Hikurangi by the Hikurangi Coal Company ; near Pukemiro by the United Coalfields Company (Farmers' Co-operative) ; and by the State near Dunollie. The Kaitangata No. 1 and Castle Hill collieries, the property of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, have temporarily ceased production. The establishment of the proposed Mac Donald State Colliery near Waikokowai in the Huntly district has been stopped. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion arc shown in the following table : —

SECTION II.— PERSONS EMPLOYED.

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Year, Coal produced. Coal imported. Total Quantity of Coal produced and imported. Year. Coal produced. Coal imported. Total Quantity of Coal produced and imported. Tons. 191.1 .. 2,066.073 1912 .. 2,177,615 1913 .. 1,888,005 1914 .. 2,275,593 1915 .. 2,208.624 1916 .. 2,257,135 'Tons. 188,068 364,359 468,940 518,070 353,471 293,956 Tons. 2,254,141 2,541,974 2,356,945 2,793,663 2,562,095 2,551,091 1917 1918 .. 1919 .. 1920 . . 1921 .. Tons. Tons. 2,068.419 291,597 2,034,250 255,332 1,847,848 391.434 1,843,705 476,343 1,809,095 822,459 Tons. 2,360,016 2,289,582 2,239,282 2,320,048 2,631,554

Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. Output for 1921. Total Total Output to Number of 31st December, Persons 1921. ordinarily employed. Northern District. Hikurangi .. .. .. Hikurangi Taupiri Extended .. .. Huntly Rotowaro .. .. .. Rotowaro Pukemiro .. .. .. Pukemiro Waipa .. . . .. Clen Massoy .. West Coast District. Semi-bituminous Brown Tons. 46,984 157,639 83,523 117,373 57,649 Tons. 1,358,210 89 2,854,782 362 271,975 163 593,198 198 560,297 109 „ T .„ ... . , ( Millerton Westport (2 coluenes) , Denniston .. Westport-Stookton .. .. Mangatini Liverpool (State). . .. .. Rewanui Blackball .. .. .. Blackball Southern District. Kaitangata and Castle Hill (3 collieries) Kaitangata Taratu .. .. .. .. Near Kaitangata 164 other New Zealand collieries .. All coalfields .. Bituminous 225,255 132,620 100,760 137,334 96,139 6,147,618 424 8,188,695 411 1.718,762 267 987,047 334 3,001,223 289 Brown Lignite Various 99,316 35,856 518,647 3,931,437 332 477,130 86 23,603,114 1,303 Totals .1,809,095 53,693,488 4,367

Inspection District. Average Number of Persons employed (] Above Ground. Below Ground. [living 1921. Total. Southern iVest Coast Northern 374 840 547 1,479 297 824 1,220 2,026 1,121 Totals, 1921 Totals, 1920 1,218 3,149 1,152 2,926 4,367 4,078

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The following statement shows the tons of coal and shale raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about collieries, &c, to 1921 (prior to 1877 no returns of output, &c, were made to the Mines Department) : —

SECTION lII.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1921, with their causes :—

The fatalities being in the proportion of 2-28 per thousand persons employed, and 5-52 per million tons produced. The year 1921 has been unusually prolific in accidents in or about coal-mines, ten persons having been killed and thirty-seven persons having received serious injuries.

Statute Tons. Out] iut, In Above Ground. Persons ordinarily employed. ISclow Ground. Tons raised per each Perion employed Per Million Jelow Ground. Tons produced. Lives Los ab it by Accidents in or lout Collieries. Thousand *" m '><; r IVraolls Lost employed. ''" sr " Total. Prior 1877 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 1920 1921 570,947 138,984 162.218 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 480,831 511,003 534,353 558,620 613,895 586,445 037,397 668,794 073.315 691,548 719,546 726,654 792,851 840,713 907,033 975,234 1,093,990 1,239,686 1,365,040 1,420,229 1,537,838 1,585,756 1,729,536 1,831,009 1,860,975 . 1,911,247 2,197,302 2,066,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,614 2,208,624 2,257,135 2,068,419 2,034,250 1,847,848 1,843,705 1,809,095 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 147 301 393 338 392 388 414 466 512 416 485 590 506 525 590 531 556 554 617 688 803 717 763 833 1,174 1,143 992 1,159 1,136 1,365 1,130 1.053 1,176 1,050 988 1,090 1,102 1,095 1,152 1,218 366 888 890 1,145 1,213 1,111 1,275 1,251 1,334 1,277 I , 190 1,298 1,393 1,274 1,347 1,381 1,447 1,599 1,843 2,086 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 2,926 3,149 513 802 1,038 963 1,043 ] ,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 4,150 3,988 3,983 3,994 3,944 4,078 4.367 443 t 194-64 6-66 8-88 5-28 475 4-74 540 6-23 456 5-87 440 f 503 7-16 481 6-51 468 6-82 477 12-55 523 5-98 563 1-48 533 7-23 516 8-33 618 6-88 588 83-24 609 4-75 627 1-10 609 3-07 593 3-65 600 2-42 655 1-46 665 2-81 609 2-60 651 3-78 687 3-46 662 6-55 641 2-68 633 3-65 634 7-28 706 6-77 681 4-13 590 3-18 639 21-53 711 4-07 750 2-65 715 1-93 703 2-95 648 5-41 630 0-54 574 5-52 -I- 0 44-00 35$ 1 -92 2 311 3 1-91 2 1-60 2 2-34 3 201 3 f 0 2-66 4 2-36 4 2-37 4 4-33 8 2-36 4 0-66 1 2-64 5 3-16 6 3-33 5 34-07 66§ 2-09 4 0-49 1 1-39 3 1-62 4 1-09 3 0-69 2 1-40 4 1-21 4 1-83 6 1 -62 6 307 12 1-28 5 1-79 7 3-55 16 3-26 14 2-08 9 1-38 6 10-35 491| 2-16 9 1-50 6 1-00 4 1-50 6 2-53 10 0-24 1 2-28 10 Totals .. 53,707,931 358 Year of Kaitangat la explosion. § ear of Brunner ixplosion. 'ear of B-al ph's (Huntly) explosion ill's (Huntly: Unknown. t No life lout. *

Fatal Ai ■cldents. Serious Non-fi ttal Accidents. Number of Separate Fatal Accidents. Number of Deaths. — Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons injured, including those, injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Palls of ground Explosives Haulage Miscellaneous —Underground On surface 3 1 3 3 3 1 3 II 4 11 8 3 11 4 11 8 3 3 Totals .. 10 10 10 37 37 I

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Of'the ten fatal accidents three were not connected with mining operations, having occurred on the surface, respectively by a fall from an electric-power pole, by a railway locomotive, and in connection with a bath-house ; but owing to the definition of " coal-mine " in the Coal-mines Act including all works '' belonging to " a colliery, these fatalities are reluctantly classed as mining accidents. Of the seven fatal mining accidents proper, four were due to neglect or errors of judgment by other persons. In the case of Frederick Reid two labourers were convicted and fined for neglect whereby the accident was caused. Regarding the fatal accident to J. H. Robertson almost every statutory safety provision was entirely ignored by the mine-manager by permit, who was convicted and fined for several charges of neglect pertaining to the fatality ; his permit was likewise cancelled. In the cases of James McDonald and E. J. Oldham the evidence at the inquest disclosed errors of judgment by others who contributed to these fatalities. The accidents to P. Revis, G. P. Jack, and J. O'Rourko appear to be solely due to misadventure, or possibly misjudgment by the sufferers. During the previous year only one fatal colliery accident occurred, that being the lowest number recorded for thirty-four years. Expectations were raised that an era of greater immunity from accidents had been entered upon, but the record for 1921 has temporarily banished such hopes. The following is a brief description of fatal accidents in or about coal-mines during 1921. Descriptions of the serious but non-fatal accidents are contained in the reports of Inspectors of Mines appearing in Annexure A : —

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Date. Name and Situation of Name, Age, and Occupation nt i,„.irt„„f „n,i i!«rr, 0 vU 0 Coal-mine. of Person killed Description of Accident, and ltemaiks. 26 Feb. Ironbridge and Coal- Edwin Pigeon (52), fore- He was sitting on the top arm of a transmission-pole, brookdale, Dennis- man on construction of about 20 ft. from the ground, engaged tying an eleeton electrical transmission trio wire to the top insulator ; two of his party having attached this wire to another pole to strain it while deceased was tying it, both men, having their feet on the ground, were tightening the wire by leaning on it, when it broke near the polo on which deceased was sitting. He thereon lost his balance and fell to the ground, fracturing the base of his skull and being killed instantly. No defect in the wire was observable. The method employed for tightening the wire was the usual practice on this work. The jury at the inquest held no person blameworthy. By reason of the definition of a " mine " in the Coalmines Act this accident must be classed as a mining accident, as it occurred on a lease of the Westport Coal Company, on works belonging thereto. 18 Feb. Mount Linton, near I Frederick Reid (25), [ He was pushing two mine-trucks through a lay-by Nightcaps trucker cutting, outside a drive from the surface, when a small piece of sandstone, hurled in the air from a shot, fell upon his face, inflicting a severe fracture of the base of the skull. He succumbed in a few hours, without regaining consciousness, from shock and haemorrhage whilst being conveyed to the Riverton Hospital. The shot which caused this accident was fired at an adjacent opencast coalworking situated at about 25 ft. higher level than the lay-by. In this opencast two persons, D. L. Baird and G. Gray, were employed removing the sandstone overburden by blasting. Cray had drilled an auger-hole about 4 ft. deep, and had charged it with about 12 oz. of Monobel, subsequently tamping it, the direction of the shot-hole being towards the lay-by. Standing by these two men was William Hunt, an unoccupied, miner. Gray struck a match to light the fuse, but he dropped the match, which Hunt thereon picked up, and lie ignited the fuse. The Avoid " Fire " was called several times by these men before the blast occurred, but unfortunately no one went to the lay-by or the drive-outlet to warn persons that it was proposed to fire, any person in the cutting not being visible from the opencast. The three men alleged that they were unaware of the presence of any person in the lay-by cutting at the time of firing. The jury at the inquest brought in a verdict of accidental death, with a rider that proper precautions were not taken to protect the miners coming out of the drives, and that in or about mines only experienced miners should be allowed to use explosives. Legal proceedings were taken against Cray and Baird by the Inspector of Mines, Mr. E. ft. Green, for a breach of Regulation 126 (o) —viz., that before firing a shot they did not see that deceased had taken proper shelter. Both were convicted, and Gray was lined £6 with £7 lis. 6d. costs. Unfortunately, there is no legal provision for shot-firors using explosives other than " permitted " explosives being certificated or otherwise qualified. I concur with the rider of the jury. In a subsequent Supreme Court action for damages by the widow she was awarded £1,500 and £100 costs. 5 May Westport - Stockton, [ James McDonald (37), I With J. Matthias he was laying rails in Hunter's pillar near Stockton roadsman place in " B " section of the mine, such place being in old standing pillars upon which extraction has commenced. Deputy H. G. Reid examined that section between 6 and 8 a.m., and reported all places safe except a creeping of the roof in Gannon's pillar place, about 3 or 4 chains from Hunter's place, where the accident subsequently occurred. Shortly after 1 p.m. the manager, Mr. James Fletcher, and underviower, T. A. Fox, visited Hunter's place and decided, on account of the creep, to remove the men. Fox instructed Matthias and deceased to finish their job and then withdraw. Messrs. Fletcher and Fox then left the place, and two minutes later an old black-birch bar of a carrying-set, about 10 ft. in length, and upon which rested the ends of three other auxiliary or transverse bars, broke, and a fall of between 1 and 2 tons of sandstone roof occurred, burying deceased and causing a fractured skull, from which he succumbed the following day. Matthias received minor injuries. The carrying-set which collapsed was old timber in which decay was visible to a small extent. It was the only set within a roof-area exceeding 150 ft. The place was 7 ft. high. At the inquest conflicting evidence was given as regards the condition of the carrying-set prior to the fall, the mine officials and Government Inspector, Mr. G. Duggan, stating that it appeared sound, whereas the workmen's inspector stated it was decayed and unsafe. Mr. Duggan stated that decay of the timber had commenced, and. that the collapsed timber was splintered as if by excessive weight, and in view of the accident a chock would have been preferable. He believed there was a relation between the creep and the fall, a.nd that more careful examination should be made when restarting in an old place. The Coroner, acting without a jury of experienced miners, found that the accident was not due to negligence or default of any person. This was the first shift worked in the mine by deceased, and his wife and family were on their way out to the Dominion. A very sad accident.

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Date. Name c a ol S minf °" ° ( Name ilH&S?kmed Patl ° n description of Accident, and Remarks. Name and Situation of Name, Age, and Occupation Coal-mine. of Person killed. 10 May Westport - Stockton, Percy Revis (35), horse- He was driving a horse drawing a race of six minenear Stockton driver trucks, each of 30 cwt. capacity, between lay-bys on an almost level roadway in the No. 2 section, Eastern Mine. During driving, as the horse was not pulling the race well, he went to remove a sprag from a truck-wheel, and after he got the horse to start he tried to put the sprag in again, when by some means unknown he was crushed between two trucks. No person witnessed the accident, and he was too injured to give, much explanation ; he sustained injuries to the back, hip, anil side, also severe shock, from which he died on the following day after an operation in the Westport Hospital. The Coroner found that he was accidentally killed by being jammed between trucks. With this I concur. 16 May Chamberlain, Albury i John Hector Robertson I He was an alluvial-gold miner, who had been employed (52), miner at this mine for three weeks. On the day of the. accident he was working alone getting coal in an untitnbcred back heading. At, about 10 a.m. Mr. T. F. Slowey, the mine-owner, acting by permit, as mine-manager also as underviewer, ordered deceased to withdraw from the place, as he did not consider it safe ; but he did not see him withdraw, and deceased continued to get coal from .the place until about 4.15 p.m., when a fall of about 2 tons of coal occurred, which killed him instantly. In connection with this accident the Coal-mines Act and Regulations had been utterly disregarded by the mine-owner, in consequence of which he, was prosecuted by the Inspector of Mines on charges that he neglected to carry out his duties as manager, and did not control or supervise the mine ; that he failed to securely protect and make safe the working-place of deceased ; also that he did not. withdraw deceased from a dangerous place. He was convicted on such charges, and fined £3, with costs £8 10s. 4d. 4 July Ironbridge, Denniston | George Potters Jack (17), I While working alone unelipping the chain-clips from rope-road worker full coal-tubs on the endless-rope haulage-road at No. 8 section curve by some mischance his left foot was caught under the tub or haulage-rope, and he was dragged towards the stationary detached tub ahead and crushed between it and the tub which he had failed to unclip. He was evidently 7 unable, while being dragged along, to reach the signal-wire to stop the rope. He was killed instantaneously, death being due to shock and asphyxia. The youth who usually worked with him was absent at. the time, having been called away to a breakdown elsewhere on the haulage-road. As a result of this accident it was promised by the manager that in the event of one of the hangers being absent the haulage-rope should not be started until his return. This i3 the first fatal accident on the extensive endloss-rope-haulage system at the Denniston collieries during the thirty-five years it has been in operation. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was accidental, no blame being attributable to any one. 12 Sept. R o t o w a r o, near I George Torby Scurr (18), [ He was a mine-trucker, inexperienced at railway shuntHuntly temporary shunter | ing, that day temporarily employed, in the place of the regular shunter, with the company's locomotive on the branch railway near the mine. About 3 p.m., when the slowed-down engine was approaching the points, he descended from it to open them ; by some means he was run over, both logs being broken. It is supposed that he slipped and fell in front of the engine. Ho died in the Hamilton Hospital that evening. The engine was provided with a cow-catcher but no handrail. The Coroner's verdict was " Accidental death," with a rider that better provision should lie made for shunting, and a handrail should bo provided on locomotives. This must be classed as a coal-mining accident by the Coal-mines Act interpretation of a "coal-mine." Subsequent proceedings for damages owing to neglect were instituted by the father of deceased. The case was settled out of Court by a substantial payment. 17 Sept. Liverpool No. 1, Re- | Robert Joeelyn Meade While engaged upon his duties he slipped on a flatwanui (48), bath - house at- sheet near the boiler used for heating. He strained tendant himself, affecting an old rupture, necessitating an operation. As a result of haemorrhage he died on the 7th October. No inipiost was held. Owing to the legal definition of " coal-mine," referred to in the remarks upon the previous accident to G. Scurr, this also must be classed as a mining accident, although in no other country, to my knowledge, are similar accidents so classed. Oct. . . Kaitangata No. 1, | James O'Rourke (51), I With his mate, John Smith, both being experienced Kaitangata miner miners, he was working in No. 6 dip district, in a pillar place 32ft. long, 20ft. wide, and Oft. high, which was systematically supported by props, but there were no chocks. About 8.30 p.m. they were filling coal into a truck when they heard a prop break. They immediately ran into their truckingroad, about 7 ft. wide in solid coal, and systematically timbered with sets. A great fall of coal then occurred, filling the place and a portion of the trucking-road, and burying the two men. Afterstrenuous and very hazardous work by many brave rescuers, Smith was extracted in five hours and O'Rourke in fifteen hours, both being then conscious, and without serious injury. Little if any warning was given prior to the fall, which was due to the settlement of the overlaying cover owing to inadequate support. The injuries received by Smith consisted of bruises and skin-abrasions; lie recovered in a few days ; but O'Rourke never rallied, and died on the Gth October from heart-failure due to shock. At the inquest all the witnesses, including officials, the workmen's inspector, and others who had seen the place shortly before the fall, testified that it appeared safe. A verdict of " Acci dental death" was returned by the jury, consisting mostly of coal-miners, no blame being attachable to anybody. '9 Oct. Ironbridge, Denniston ' Kdward James Oldham j At about 8.30 a.m., when engaged upon bis duties. (54), shiftman while walking around a curve which ascended a narrow trucking-road rising I in 8 to a pillar place, he was crushed between a rapidly descending full truck and the centre prop of a set; the truck, which was supposed to be double-spragged, had been started off down Hie incline road by a trucker from a distance of only 23 ft. from the place of accident, and was out of control. The deceased could not have been aware of its approach until it was close upon him. Ho was not an active man, anil appeared to lose, his presence of mind, and when he became aware of his danger he ra.n backwards a few paces instead of stepping to one wide The place was systematically timbered with sets spaced 6 ft. apart. He received injuries consisting of a fracture of the left thigh anil serious internal abdominal and other injuries, from which he succumbed the same day in the Denniston Hospital. Tin- jury at. the inquest returned a verdict of " Accidental death," holding no person blameworthy. In this case the trucker acted incautiously in starting off a full truck at a rapid speed anil out of control without first ascertaining if the road was clear. The curve at the bottom prevented him from seeing the deceased from the place of starting, or from deceased seeing him.

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SECTION IV.—WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a.) Permitted Explosives. (Regulations 128 to 134 inclusive.) Permitted explosives which have passed the Home Office Rotherham test are solely used at all but lignite-collieries, a few small semi-bituminous mines near Hikurangi, where but little shot-firing is done, and at Waipa Colliery, near Glen Massey, where the manager refuses to take this precautionary measure. By the appointment of firemen-deputies as shot-firers instead of the miners firing promiscuously greater security has been attained, and " grunching " has to a certain extent been reduced, for which reason permitted explosives are not greatly appreciated by the coal-hewers. The following is a table showing the quantity of permitted explosive used and the number of shots fired at New Zealand coal-mines during 1921 : —

Sixty-nine per cent, of the coal produced in the Dominion during 1921 was broken down by permitted explosive, and the average production per pound of explosive used was 4-7 tons, and per shot fired 4 tons. (b.) Dangerous Occurrences reported. (Regulation 81.) Northern Inspection District. Taupiri Extended Colliery (21/5/2.1). —Heating of coal in the Tail-rope section, north side. No serious consequences. Rotowaro Colliery (21/5/21, 17/7/21, and 23/8/21). —Small accumulations of inflammable gas ignited by naked lights in the working-places of H. Crook, D. Kernochan, and J. Ponga. The whole mine is now worked with safely-lamps and permitted explosives. On the 2nd October a serious spontaneous fire occurred, by reason of which the whole mine was sealed of! for six weeks. Prior to that date only one fire was reported by the manager, Mr. A. Penman, to the Inspector of Mines, and that occurred on the 30th June, when heating was reported in a solid-coal pillar about 1 chain from the surface entrance to the main-haulage incline. The manager then reported that the heated coal had been removed. On Saturday, the Ist October, shiftmen were in the mine until 1 p.m., and observed no heating. On Sunday, the 2nd October, at 7.20 a.m. the fan-attendant oiled the bearings of the fan situated outside the entrance to the return airway; he then observed no indications of heating in the air passing through the fan. At about 8.45 a.m. smoke was seen issuing from the entrances to the mine. The manager and staff entered the mine and found that the pillars of coal between the travelling-road and the return airway were on fire within 1 chain of their entrance, embracing the main-haulage incline, the new haulage-road, and the travelling-road. These three entrances with the return airway, comprising the four entrances to the mine, are situated within a distance of 2 chains, and are connected by cut-throughs or stentons. Water was played by hose on the burning coal-pillars, and a hole was made in a brick stopping between the main intake {i.e., the main-haulage incline) and the return airway, to short-circuit the ventilation; but the fire increased, until at 3 a.m. on Monday, the 3rd, the men were driven from the mine, and sealing off the four mine-entrances by means of earthen stoppings was commenced. The stoppings were subsequently completed, and, by means of pipes passing through them, steam from three boilers was introduced into the mine to suppress the fire. Shallow boreholes from the surface were drilled in the locality of the fire for the purpose of ascertaining the temperature and the conditions existing below. Fortunately, at the time of this fire originating there were no men in the mine, otherwise, owing to its suddenness and the fact that it embraced all the intake airways, there would have been grave danger by reason of the gases produced from the fire being circulated through the workings to the fan outside. About one hundred persons were normally employed in the mine, most of whom would probably have been compelled, in their endeavour to escape, to pass through the fire zone or by the vitiated return airway. Telephonic communication did not exist in the mine, it being required only by Regulation 123 when the length of the main haulage-road exceeds 1,000 yards; and to communicate with all the working-places would have been slow and difficult under the

* oi j:'crmiLHia j'jxpiosivos used. Quantity of Permitted Explosi--es used. Numbi er of Misfired Shots. J? 11 03 J* ii i u M<r, P.O P, «l Inspection District. -£ a a ■° g a S i I f <| J to '3 '3 - P - A I I <l rS fe . Hi St 1 o CM r" Number of Shots fired. 03 Number > of £ <_. Shots fired. g.| •fi i» S M. 03 o > . > ■ r 'li —3 o 9 5 03 Q 03-d lb. ' 111. lb. 111. 11). Northern (i.e., North Island) .. j 92.877 .. 289 .. 2,297 West Coast (of South Island) .. ; 127,1188 ' 240 250 30,108 Southern {i.e., Canterbury, Otago, 9,401 I 176 and Southland) Totals .. .. 230,266 416 539 30,108 2,297 !b. Tons. 359,497 781,126 100,639 81 106,866 181 190,030 41 14,100 225 655 16 24 144 310,996 222 896 81. 168 1,241,262

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circumstances. About six weeks later the mine was recovered and operations were resumed, but the heated area has since shown signs of recrudescence. The fire was of spontaneous origin. West Coast Inspection District. Liverpool State Colliery. —Some time between the 4th and 14th May a serious explosion of inflammable gas occurred in the low-level adit being driven to intersect the coal-seams near the junction of Seven-mile Creek. No person had been known to enter the adit for a considerable time, and its entrance had been temporarily boarded off. The origin of the explosion is a mystery ;it has been suggested that lightning was the cause, which at-first I scouted, but am now more inclined to believe. Firedamp is freely emitted from a coal-seam intersected in the adit. Safety-lamps and permitted explosives had been used prior to the temporary closing of the adit. Blackball Colliery (6/6/21 and 11/6/21). —Fires occurred in bank 6J and No. 17 section respectively. These were isolated by stoppings. Spontaneous fires frequently occur at this colliery. Southern Inspection District. Kaitanyata No. 1 Colliery. —On the 13th October an outbreak of fire occurred in McGrhie's level, which resulted in the loss of the whole of the Extension section of the colliery, including McGhie's level, Mundy's and No. 6 districts. The area was permanently sealed off, leaving the 18 ft. seam workings and the airways to the fan shaft as the only open parts of the mine. At this colliery spontaneous fires are of constant occurrence, and cause great anxiety, the mine being gaseous. Fires also occurred in the following collieries : — Tres Bon Coal-mine, Milton (3/1/21). —In consequence the workings of the surface seams were closed. Mossbank Colliery (30/4/21). The section affected was scaled off. It is satisfactory to report that no fatal or serious accident, occurred in connection with any of the dangerous occurrences here reported. (c.) AT COLLIERIES. (Regulation 160.) During 1921 there has been an 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 ajiparatus is installed .. .. 18 Number of continuous-current installations . . . . . . . . 13 Number of alternating-current installations . . . . . . .. 6 Number of collieries electrically lighted . . . . . . . . 16 Number of collieries using electrical ventilating-machines . . .. 12 Number of collieries using electrical pumping plants .. .. .. 11 Number of collieries using electrical haulage plants . . . . .. 8 Number of collieries using electrical screening plants . . . . .. 3 Number of collieries using electrical miscellaneous plants .. .. 7 Number of collieries using electrical locomotives . . . . .. 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface .. .. .. 1,764 Total horse-power employed from motors below ground .. .. 1,026 J * The use of electricity has never been attended by any serious accident in or about the collieries of the .Dominion, although several accidents have occurred at metalliferous mines. (d.) Prosecutions. During the year nine persons, including three mine-managers and two firemen-deputies, were convicted and fined for breaches of the Coal-mines Act or regulations thereunder. Two lives were lost by reason of the said neglect. West Coast Inspection District. On the 30th May, James Scott, a fireman-deputy, was convicted and fined £2 and costs for behaving in a violent manner towards another deputy at Blackball Colliery, in contravention of Regulation 69. On the 30th August, Whalan, a fan-attendant, was convicted and fined £2 and costs for failing to enter the number of revolutions of the fan and the water-gauge in the fan record-book at Coalbrookdale Colliery, in contravention of Regulation 103. On the Ist September, W. E. Gγ. Hewitson, certificated mine-managr, was convicted and fined £2 and costs for not providing at Coalbrookdale Colliery an automatic indicator registering the number of revolutions of a fan, or an automatic indicator registering the water-gauge, in contravention of Regulation 100. On the 29th September, W. Saunders, a fireman-deputy, was convicted and fined £1 and costs for failing to keep all detonators issued to him at Coalbrookdale Colliery in a suitable case or box until about to be used, in a shot-hole, in contravention of Regulation 125 (5) (6). On the 12th September, A. Hill, mine-manager by permit, was convicted and ordered to pay costs for failure to store detonators in a proper magazine at Hunter and party's co-operative coalmine, in contravention of the Coal-mines Act, section 40 (2) (c).

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Southern Inspection District. On the 22nd April, U. Gray, labourer, was convicted and fined £5, with £7 11s. 6d. costs, and I). L. Baird, labourer, was convicted of a breach of Regulation 126 (4), in that before firing a shot at opencast workings at Mount Linton Colliery they did not see that Frederick Reid, a trucker, had taken proper shelter, a stone from which shot killed him. On the 14th June, William Lloyd, a rope-attendant, was convicted and fined £5 for a breach of Special Rule 57a, in that he neglected to attach a backstay or trailer to an ascending set of trucks on an inclined haulage-road at Nightcaps Colliery, by which neglect Thomas Prior, a roadsman, was seriously injured. On the 25th August, Thomas F. Slowey, mine-owner ajid manager by permit, was convicted and fined £3, with costs £8 10s. 4d., for offences which were responsible for the death of J. H. Robertson, a miner—viz., neglecting to carry out his duties as mine-manager at Chamberlain Coal-mine, Albury, and that he did not control or supervise the mine, a contravention of the Coal-mines Act, section 24 (1) ; also that he failed to securely protect and make safe Robertson's working-place, in contravention of the Coal-mines Act, section 40 (9); also that he did not withdraw Robertson from a dangerous place, a contravention of section 40 (45). The permit of T. F. Slowey as minemanager was cancelled by the Inspector of Mines. SECTION V.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING COAL-MINES. No amendment of the Coal-iniries Act, other than provision relating to State coal-mines accounts, was made during 1921. Regulations under the said Act by Order in Council dated the 12th April, 1921, contained provisions regarding—(2) the travelling-expenses of members of the Board of Examiners for certificates of competency ; (22) the Sick and Accident Fund ; (29) the Coal-miners' Relief Fund ; (56). systematic timbering ; (127) miss-tired shots ; (154) continuously produced ventilation ; (155) precautions against coal-dust; (179) precautions against spontaneous combustion of coal. Regulations dated the. 3rd May, 1921, made additional provisions regarding the Coal-miners' Medical Fund. Leaflets relating to coal-mine explosions and ignitions of gases, and to the testing for gas by shot-filers, have been drafted, and when printed will be circulated amongst the colliery-managers throughout the Dominion for their information and guidance. I have, &c, Fkank Reed, inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.

ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Noetheen Inspection District (Mγ. William Barclay, Inspeotor). Ilikiiraiiyi Oolliery. — Pillars are being extracted from the Phoenix dip section, and solid bold workings continued to the rise in No. 1 and No. 2 sections. The output at this oolliery in decreasing owing to extraction of pillars and a restricted coal area for developing new sections. The company have commenced the development of a new colliery about 100 chains from the present loading-bank and railway. Two concrete-lined circular shafts, 12 ft. 6 in. and 10 ft. inside diameter respectively, are being sunk to a depth of 450 ft, A coal-seam 10 ft. in thickness has been proved by several boreholes. Tlie output from (his new colliery will be delivered to the present screens and loading-bank by endless-rope tramways on the surface. Northern Taurangi (Wilson's Collieries, Limited). —This mine, situated upon the company s freehold about a mile from the railway, is worked by a. party of co-operative miners. The thickness of the coal-seam is 3 .ft. 6 in. Northern Kiripaka. —Mining operations were discontinued during the year. All plant was withdrawn and mine abandoned. Ken and, Co. (MoLeod'n Freehold). —A party of co-operative miners reopened the workings in this mine, finding a number of coal pillars standing in good order. Bords have since been continued for ."> chains along the north main road. Preparations are being made to extend the dip to the west of the road. Silverdale (Fool and Doel: Crown Lease). —There are three sections on this property, each having a separate intake and return. I'illars are being successfully extracted. Thickness of coal-seam 4 it., with a shaly band of stone on the centre. Output is delivered to railway-siding by about 100 chains of surface tramway. Northern Co-operative (Cunningham) . — The workings are in close proximity to the Mam Valley Road. .Several small drives following the outorop have been driven during the year. Heavy rains flood the drives with surface water, and considerable time and expense is incurred in unwatering. The ooal-seam is (i ft. thick. Kerr and Wyatt. —Pillars are being extracted by the retreating method. The roof of the coal-seam is soft and friable, and strong timber is required to support the main heading. Thickness of coal-seam is f> ft. The mine is worked by a party of co-operative miners, with a manager in charge. Rayhurn's Colliery (Christie's Freehold). —Mining operations conducted by a party of co-operative miners, with a mine-manager in charge. The ooal-seam is worked from a dip drive, and a small «team-pump installed for drainage. Only a small quautitiy of coal is available, as the seam is faulted and unmarketable near the outcrop. New '/lealand Goal and.Cement. Company (formerly North Auddand_Coal Company). —Situated about three miles from Whangarei. Operations have been suspended for a number of years. During the current year electrical machinery was installed to unwater the shafts and mine-workings, the eleotric power being supplied from the Whangarei town power-station. The mine-workings were found in good order after the mine was unwatered. The thickness of the coal-seam at the face of north level from main dip is 10ft., uith a strong roof. The dip is being extended to develop the thick coal area,. Wilson's Collieries (formerly Northern Warn Coal-mine). —The mine was reopened during the year, and connected to the main railway with a short branch railway from Waro Station. The following electrical equipment has been

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installed : three boilers of 200 h.p.*cach ; two unit electric plant developing 200 h.p. each unit; Zollner pump having a nominal capacity of 15,000 gallons per hour against a head of 400 ft. Ventilation is iuduced by a single-inlet electrically driven .Sirocco fan. The coal-seam is fl ft. in thickness, and has been worked by a former company to a distance of IS chain.", from the outcrop on the surface. Dip headings are being advanced into solid coal. Taupiri Ej tended Coal-mine, lluntil/. —There are six separate ventilating districts in this mine, but the quantity of air circulating is restricted by the area of the downcast shaft. The workings extend in a north-westerly direction for a distance of one and a half miles. The floor of the coal is undulating, and to secure a working grade for the endlessrope haulage stone drives are driven through the undulations. For drainage, a. borehole about 20 chains from the west bank of the Waikato River was sunk" to a depth of 400 ft., intersecting the coal-seam and sump in No. 4 west. Rotowaro Coal-mine, Rotowaro. —On the 2nd October, 1921, a serious outbreak of fire occurred in this mine about 100 ft. from the mine-entrance, and travelled from the main haulage-road to the travelling and new main roads. The mine was sealed up for six weeks, and the fire thus extinguished. Prospecting by boring south of mine-workings proved a coal-seam 28 ft. thick at a depth of 380 ft. from the surface. Electrical machinery is being installed on the surface to develop No. 2 Mine. Pukemiro Coal-mine, Pukemiro. —Endless-rope haulage has been installed in the South Mine, and preparations are being made to install a subsidiary endless rope for the Kast section. Electric current is supplied underground, operating small winches, pumps, and auxiliary fans in development headings. An additional bath-house was erected during the year. Old workings in the mine are stopped off in sections with substantial brick stoppings. Waikato Extended. —This mine is situated near the west bank of the Waikato River, about three miles south of Huntly. The output is delivered into barges. Waipa Colliery, Glen Massey. —Pillars are being extracted in the West section. The roof is soft and friable, and working-places in the mine are systematically timbered with sets. The coal-seam appears to be thickening in the development headings, main road extension. United' Coalfields, Glenafton. —Three headings are being advanced into the proved, coal area. Ventilation is by 30 in. Sirocco fan. A pjwer-houso has been erected and concrete foundations prepared for an electric unit. Screen buildings and workmen's houses are being constructed. The coal from the development headings is carted to Pukemiro railway-siding. Pukemiro Junction Colliery, Pukemiro. —A new mine recently opened by a party of co-operative miners, with a manager supervising. The coal-seam is 20 ft. in thickness, dipping easterly. Huntly Coal-mine, Huntly —The coal-seam occurs about 300 ft. above the level of the Waikato River. Prospecting by following an outcrop into the hill proved a coal-seam 16 ft. in thickness. The coal-skips are lowered down the hillside by back-balance system, and conveyed to the Huntly railway-siding by motor-lorry. Hunua Coal-mine, Pa/pakura. —A small coal-mine for local supplies. Coal-seam 6 ft. in thickness. Underground Workings conducted safely. Greencantle Coal-mine, Aria, Mpkau. —Mining operations during the year were confined to working the available coal in sight. Prospecting beyond the fault was without result. Stockman's Mine, Mokau. —A small private coal-mine on Chambers Bros, estate, worked for local requirements. lianyitolo Coal-mine, Tahaia. — A coal-seam of about 20ft. in thickness was proved over a huge area by boring. Three miles of railway formation have been completed from the urine to Otorohanga. Several buildings have been erected at the mine. Sheil's Coal-mine, Rangitoto.'—A small coal-mine under development, Output conveyed to Te Kniti and Otorohanga by motor-lorry. Dangerous Occurrences (Regulation 81). Taupiri Extended Mine. —Kith February, .1921 : Manager W. Wood reported a heating in the tail-rope section, north side. Rolowaro Colliery. —2lst May, 1921 : Manager Penman reported that Deputy F. Smith reported that miners Henry Crook and mate ignited some firedamp in their place (new main heading No. 5.). 17th July, 1921 : Manager Penman reported that D. Kernochan ignited gas and could hear it hissing in his place ; gas burnt for a few minutes. 23rd August, 1921 : Manager Penman reported that J. Ponga informed Deputy R. Coan that lie ignited some gas in his working-place. 2nd October, 1921 : Manager Penman reported an outbreak of lire at this colliery near the mine-entrance. Coal-miners' Relief Fund. A total of 438 accidents was reported during the year 1921, by claims made on the Coal-miners' Relief Fund ; and, comparing the figures with the year- 1920 (281 reported accidents), there is a very appreciable increase in the number. Of the reported accidents, 274 occurred at the Taupiri Extended, Rotowaro, and Waikato Extended collieries. Serious but Non-fatal Accidents. Taupiri Extended Mine. — T. Gardner, age 21 —fracture of left shoulder caused by being jammed between boxes on rope-haulage road. Injured on the 9th October, 1921 ; oft forty-eight days. W. Sillick, age 40— mitral incapacity and dilatation of heart, caused by lifting rails. Injured on the 19th February, 1921, and still off, R. Oummings — corneal wound of right eye caused by piece of coal from pick-point striking his eye. Injured on the 12th March, 1921 ; 133 days off. J. O'Brine, age 40—ulcer of left eye caused by piece of flying coal from pick-point striking eye. Injured on the 27th May, 1921 ; off sixty-two days. A. Veare, age 28— corneal ulcer of eye caused by piece of coal from pick-point striking eye. Injured on 30th August, 1921 ; off sixty-two days. G. Hulse — corneal ulcer of right eye caused by piece of coal from pick-point striking his eye. Injured on 3rd September, 1921 ; off sixty days. A. Anderton, age 38 —contused eye caused by piece of iron from chisel-point striking his eye. Injured'on Bth June, 1921 ; off fifty-six days. James Logan, age 36 — broken rib and bruised side and back, caused by falling off a scaffold. Whilst engaged in putting up timber , a piece of side coal gave way, and in trying to avoid it he fell off the scaffold. Injured on 15th March, 1921 ; sixty-five days off work. Pukemiro Colliery. —lsaac Riley, age 14 years —left foot severely crushed in creeper chain. Injured on 17th May, 1921 ; seventy-eight days off work. John B. Smith, age 45—septic wound, cornea right eye, caused by being struck by a piece of coal. Injured on 11th August, 1921, and still off. Hikurangi Colliery. —W. McKinley sustained a fractured leg, caused by fall of coal. Whilst engaged trucking, his box knocked out a prop and dislodged the roof coal. He was injured on 9th April, 1921 ; still off. Rotowaro Colliery. —Charles Meek, ago 21. He was lifting a piece of coal into a skip when a piece of coal rolled from the face and struck the piece he was lifting, severing his finger. injured orr 23rd July, 1921 : off work 157 days. Wjsst (.'oast Inspection District (Mr. George Dugcjan, Inspector). Ore,]) Coalfield. Liverpool State Colliery. —No. 1 Mine : The output from the upper-scam workings in this mine for the past. year was solely dependent on pillar-extraction. Owing to the intrusion of stone bands in the west workings of the Morgan seam it has been decided to commence extracting the pillars there, and also from the east side workings. W.irk recommenced in October in the low-level tunnel to the Morgan seam. An upcast, rising lin \\, is being driven from the coal-workings on the west side of the tunnel. The explosive A 2 Monobel has so far proved effective. for the stonework, and 'i ft. rounds have been taken out with it. Prospecting on a thick outcrop near this tunnel was started during September, locked safety-lamps being used.

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No. 3a Mine : Work at this mino ceased, owing to exhaustion, on the 18th November, No. 3 Mine : Pillaring from the remaining low coal was continued during the year. James State Mine.- At this prospective colliery, situated near Dunollie, the main haulage drive is now in 25 chains, but the coal met has been very disappointing, being thin and split up by stone bands. One place—going to the west from about the 22-chain mark—is in 2J chains, and 3$ ft. of fairly clean coal is being obtained there. Another place is being driven westward towards Kane's Mine. Co-operative Parties near Dunollie. —Messrs. Clarke and party are mining coal from a 9-acre lease between the Seven-mile Creek and the rise workings of No. 2 section, old Point Elizabeth Colliery. Clarke's mine is separated from these old workings by a large fault. The coal is 6 ft. thick, hard, and, save for a 3 in. band about 18 in. from the roof, is very clean. The fault has been reached and the solid work is almost completed. Messrs. Hunter and party have a lease over 40 acres, including the No. 3 tunnel section, Point Elizabeth Colliery. . The seam is thin and is divided by a stone band, which gradually thickened towards the old workings, and the coal became unprofitable to work in that direction. Messrs. Baddeley and party have a lease of 10 acres across the Seven-mile Creek, which includes the old No. 4 tunnel. The seam is b' ft. in thickness, hard and clean. To load the coal on to the railway-trucks a viaduct had to be constructed across the railway. Messrs. Halliday and party's mine is about one mile and a quarter from the railway-line at Dunollie, and they are using the old Point Elizabeth No. 1 section haulage-road. Three surface jigs deliver the coal from the mine to the haulage-road. From floor to roof is 8£ ft. thick, but this includes a grey sandstone band from 8 in. to 10 in. in thickness. Only the 4 ft. 6 in. of coal above this band is being worked. Messrs. Boote and party are also holders of a small lease on the State Coal Keserve, and they intend producing coal early in the present year, A small lease has also been granted to Messrs. Duggan and party, near the Rewanui Railway-station. Paparoa Colliery. —During the past year coal was produced from the solid workings in the, No. 1 section and Wilson's jig pillar workings. The No. 1 section workings have met a downthrow fault running north. Beyond this fault the coal contains many stone bands. As a consequence the first working is nearly completed, and pillarextraction will soon commence. Most of the main haulage-roads have been retimbered during the past year, 12 in. by 10 in. squared bars being used. Blackball Colliery. —Development of the No. 9 dip section has been steadily pursued during the year. The No. 1 level is now in 45 chains from the dip, and No. 10 bank has recently been turned off this level The underground fire in No. 17 section broke over a stopping on the 11th August, and was discovered by the morning examining deputy. To seal off the whole section a stopping was put in on the main haulage-road just inbye No. 10 incline. Another stopping was put in the water level, and a third in a cut-through between No. 9 dip section and the water level. These stoppings are built of sand and clay, and are 7 ft. to 8 ft. in thickness. The Sirocco double-inlet fan has been installed, and will be used early in the present year. tit. Kilda Mine. —Production ceased from this mine on the 18th May, through exhaustion. The Tyneside Proprietary (Limited) sunk a prospect shaft on their new lease and to the north of the old Tyneside workings. After sinking 72 ft. they decided to bore from the bottom of the shaft. They report having struck 10 ft. of coal after boring 40£ ft., or a, total depth from surface of 112Jft. Preparations are in hand for resuming sinking, a boiler and winding plant having been purchased. Dobson Mine. —The dip drive at the Dobson Mine was driven 880 ft., and a borehole was put down near the face of the drive. At a depth of 92 ft. a seam of clean coal 18 in. thick was struck. Boring continued for a farther 50 ft., and only a 3 in. seam of coal was met. This result was very disappointing, and work ceased. The coal in the Mount Buckley section is very faulted and the workings are practically finished, with no prospect of further development. Indngahua Coalfield. Reefton Coal Company's Mine. —Towards the latter end of the year only three pairs of miners were employed, and they were extracting pillars from the No. 2 seam workings. The dip section remained unworked during the year. A few places wore driven in the No. 4 seam early in the year, but, the coal being rather soft, work in this seam was suspended. Ferndale-Timaru Mine (formerly Lockington's). —The dip drive near the lower section workings was stopped in July, having struck a fault running north-west. The throw of the fault was not proved. A few places were broken away from the dip, but the most of the year's output was obtained from the extraction of the rise pillars. Morris and Learmont's Mine. —This is another of the mines which has been greatly affected by the " slump " in trade. Only the mine-manager, deputy, and one miner are now employed, and they are producing a small output from the No. 2 Mine. The coal is hard and clean, but steeply inclined, and is run down chutes from the upper levels " Riddles " are again in use for sorting the saleable coal from the slack. Birchwood Coal-mine. —This mine is near Reefton. During the early part of the year coal was produced from a seam varying from 2 ft. to 3J ft. in thickness. A bore was put down to a lower seam, and from data obtained from this bore and from old workings to the eastward a drive was commenced, dipping lin 2. Soft coal 10 ft. to 12 ft. thick was struck at 200 ft. Squared sets were used to timber the drive. Victory Mine. —The working of the upper seam was abandoned about the middle of the year owing to the seam proving too soft for the present trade. They are now working 4 ft. of the lower seam—above a clay parting. This coal is very hard and clean, and is much sought after for household purposes. Phosnix and Venus Mine. —Three men are employed at this mine on solid work. A place has lately holed through to the old workings on the rise side. Big River Mine. —The present block of pillars will last until March. Another drive—in coal —is being put in farther down the creek. Archer's Freehold Mine, Capleston —Only a few men are now employed on pillar work. A little work was done during the year in the main crosscut drive. Goghlan's Mine, Capleston. — Work was resumed in the freehold mine during the past year, and three miners are employed there. Very little was done in the leasehold area. Doran's Mine, Gapleslon. —This is a small mine where three men are employed. The area is only a small one, and was worked in former years. Only a few pillars are available. Golden Point Mine. —The production of coal from this mine ceased during July, and the mine is practically exhausted. Merrijigx Coal-mine. —Coal is now conveyed along a wooden flume by water from the mine to the foot of Progress Hill, a distance of two miles. A false bottom has been put in all the wooden boxes, and, if much coal goes through, will need renewing in a very short time. The coal-workings in the old level are exhausted. At a higher altitude another level is being driven in stone to cut the seam. On the southern lease the coal became very stony, and work ceased there. Empire Coal-mine, Burkes Greek. —Three levels have been driven diiring the year, the bottom one being now in 9 chains. Owing to the slum]) no coal has been mined since August. Woodlands Goal-mine, Burkes Creek. —A dip has been driven for 190 ft. on the seam, dipping lin 4. The seam is 5 ft. 6 in. thick. Above the coal is 18 in. of fireclay, then IJft. to 2 ft. of hard coal, which is being left on. A Tangye boiler and winch are used for hauling the coal to surface. Waitahu and Lankey's Greek Mines. —No work was done during the year at the Waitahu and Lankey's Creek Mines, but preparations are being made at the former for further prospecting.

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Butter Coalfield. Goal Greek Mine, Mokihinui. —All the output during 1921 was obtained from the now area near Coal Creek, 60 chains from the railway-line. The main heading has been driven 14 chains in good coal. The back heading has reached the Taipo outcrop. During the slack time —from September to December —no coal was produced, and the party reopened the old Knights of Labour workings. Two .small shafts were sunk from the surface to ventilate these old workings. To prove if another seam existed below the present workings, a percussive borehole was put down — about 2 chains west of the head of the jig—for 100 ft., but without success. Dove and Party's Mine, Seddonville. —ln April the main level holed through into the old Cardiff workings. These old workings were sealed off in 1901 owing to a fire in the southern section. A dam was placed in the Cardiff main drive, and the present workings are above the level of the water retained by this dam. Although at first rather warm the temperature gradually subsided, and a considerable portion of the output was afterwards obtained from the loose coal in these old workings. St. Helens Mine. —This is another small mine which has suffered owing to the slump. Owing to stone bands in the seam, care is needed to keep the coal clean. Chester's Mine. —A little development work in the top seam, 3-| ft. thick, has been done during the year. A small bin has been erected near the traffic road, and coal is carted from the bin to the railway-station siding at Seddonville. Woodford and Party's Mine. —A small party commenced mining operations early in the year on an outcrop near the railway-line between Seddonville and Mokihinui Mine. The seam is only about 2-J- ft. in thickness. Mulholland and Party's Mine, near Chasm Creek. —This party has two coal leases ; one includes the bridge ■section workings of the old Cardiff Mine, and the other is to the south-oast, across Chasm Creek. The output for the year has been produced from the latter area. The coal is variable in hardness, but fairly clean. To work the bridge area two wire ropes were stretched across Chasm Creek —a span of over 14 chains. Prom here the coal will be conveyed—by a surface jig and horse haulage—for a mile to the Seddonville bins. Mokihinui-Westport Goal-mine, Seddonville. —This party's lease is north of Mulholland's mine, and they have put in a well-timbered drive about 3 chains. Owing to a " roll " the coal thinned, but coal 8 ft. thick has been proved ahead. An aerial has been constructed across Chasm Creek, and small bins erected near Dove's mine. McLellan and Stralcer's Mine, near Ngahawau. —This mine is situated near the south bank of the Ngakawau River and half a mile east of Hector Railway-station, at an altitude of 420 ft. above the river. The coal is soft and friable, but an analysis proved it to be of high calorific value;. One drive is in about 3-J- chains, and preparations are being made for conveying the coal by an aerial across the Ngakawau River. lioddands Mine, Buller Road. —Worked intermittently for local sales. A lease has recently been granted over an area which includes the old Whitecliffs Mine. Waimangaroa- Westport Goal-mining Company's Lease. —A percussive-drill borehole was put down near the southern boundary of the area known as Cook's lease. It was stopped at a depth of 289 ft., having entered broken ground. Moynihan's Goal-prospecting Area. —Near the traffic road from Waimangaroa to Denniston a narrow heading has been driven (in coal) for 54 yards, and a crosscut (in stone) for 8 to 10 yards from, the face of the heading, to prove if a lower seam existed. The coal is very soft, and low in hydrocarbons. A small bin was put up, and the coal conveyed to Waimangaroa Junction Railway-station by Ford motor-trucks. Owing to the poor quality of the coal work ceased in October. Westport-Stockton Colliery. —Owing to the trade depression pillar work in the old mine ceased on the 26th October, and operations will be confined to the E field until trade revives. The No. 2 section workings, E field, going west, entered faulted ground and were stopped.; also the coal in the places going north became thin and unworkable. The No. 5 section workings have reached the IVlatipo outcrop. The high coal pillars in J dip section are being worked, and the pillars near the old fire area have been extracted for some distance from the fire. About 10 acres of coal lies in a syncline between the Nos. 2 and 6 sections, and a dip has been commenced to win eoai from this area. Almost all the miners employed in No. 6 section are working six-hour shifts, owing to the places being wet. Two fatalities occurred at the Stockton Mine during May, particulars of which are given elsewhere. Millerlon Colliery. — Pillar-extraction continued during the year in the Mangatina, south pillars, north-east pillars, No. 1 dip, and old di[> sections. Pillaring also commenced towards the end of the year in the third west dip section. A few solid places are being driven towards a, small block of unworked coal near the Mine Creek pack-track. Some pillars were left in this locality when the deviation of the main haulage-road was effected about fifteen years ago. In the top section of the fourth west some steep faults have been met, running north-east and south-west. Safety-lamps an; still used in the old dip and No. 2 dip workings. ironbridge Colliery. —Pillars continue to b<; worked in the Shaft, Kruger's, and Kiwi sections of the Ironbridge Mine. In the Deep Creek section a series of small detached areas of coal are being exploited. An endless-rope haulage has been completed for 54 chains —about half the distance from the main haulage; to the coal-faces —and the management intends to extend this haulage at an early date. The pillars in the 2-acre block on the west side of this haulage-road have been extracted. A few miners are employed in development work in the 47-acre block. A main heading will later be driven, going north-west from the 47-acre block to Kiels Flat. The average thickness of the coal in the Deep Creek section is 10 ft. The ventilating-fans and the pumps in the Ironbridge Mine are now driven by electric motors. The Kiwi fan, having 240 revolutions per minute, is driven by a three-phase 50-eycle 400-volt induction motor of 40 brake horse-power running at 500 revolutions per minute. The high-tension circuit of 3,300 volts is transformed outside the fan-house. A brick transformer-station has been built underground, a few chains from the junction of the Kiwi and main haulage roads. Two fatalities occurred underground at the Ironbridge Mine during the year, and a linesman was instantly killed by falling from a transmission-pole near the power-house. Reports of these fatalities are given elsewhere. Coalbroolcdale Mine. —Waratoa Jig Section : The coal in the heading going south-west off the Waratea jig section and also in the places south of the heading became split up by stone bands, and, thickening, they eventually took the place of the coal. The floor continued unbroken. It appears to be the continuation of the "want" between the Waratea Extended section and the old workings. Hand-boring was resorted to in the hope of proving an upper seam, but without success. The main headings in the Waratea jig section are still in hard clean coal, and development is proceeding apace. Waratea Extended and Cascade Sections : A crosscut going north-east has been driven through stone in the Waratea Extended section. Boring has been done, and after passing through 20 ft. of stone 11 ft. of coal was struck. When electric power is available a dip will be commenced to work the coal. Pillaring in the Waratea Extended and Cascade sections was continued during the year. Nelson .District. Puponga Mine. —The rise section pillars becoming exhausted, this party of co-operative miners recommenced operations in the dip section by the extraction of the upper west pillars. Owing to the Terakohe Cement-works being idle there is at present no sale for the slack coal, and it is being stacked along the surface haulage-road. The prospecting between the dip and rise sections was abandoned owing to unfavourable results. North, Cape Mine. —During the past year the thin coal on the east side of the main dip has been worked on the longwall system, but owing to the very bad roof any further mining must be done by bord and pillar. Mining ceased on the Bth November, owing to a dispute between the management and miners ; but, as very little coal remains to be won, it is very doubtful if operations will recommence. Two diamond-drill boreholes have been put down on the North Cape area, one 5 chains ahead of the face of the dip and the other , about 40 chains north of the North Cape Mine entrance. No workable seam was proved in either borehole. Stone's Mine, Central TakaJca. —A small output was obtained from bord-and-pillar workings during the year.

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Irvine's Mine, Takaka. —This is another small mine, and adjoins Stone's mine. A small output for local consumption is produced therefrom. Brook Slrett Mine, near Nelson. —A small party of Nelson men are reopening this mine, which has been unworked for over twenty years. The shaft has been retimbered and sinking resumed, and it is now down 200 ft. The party anticipates sinking another 100 ft., then crosscutting to the highly inclined coal-scam. Gladstone Mine, Motupipi. —Opencast workings near the sea-shore. Although only a brown coal, the Takaka Marble -quarries used the greater portion for steam purposes. O'jtourke's Mine, Murchison. —A small seam worked for supplying local trade. Very little done during the year. FairhalVs Mine, Murchison, —Worked for local sales. Seam is only 15 in. thick and lying at an inclination of 60°. Dangerous Occurrences requiring Notification (Regulation 81).' A firedamp explosion occurred in the Morgan seam low-level tunnel some time between the 4th and 14th May; No work had been done in the tunnel since April, 1920, and a wooden stopping had been put in near the entrance. The origin of the explosion is unknown. The stopping was blown away, and pieces were subsequently found 90 yards away. On the Oth June heating was discovered in No. 6J bank, Blackball Mine. Some of the heated coal was tilled away, and then stoppings built around the area. On the 11th August the underground fire off No. 17 section Blackball Mine, broke over a stopping. It was discovered by the morning examining deputy. The men were withdrawn from the No. 9 dip workings owing to the fumes. Clay and sand stoppings were then built in—one on the main haulage-road just inbye No. 10 incline, another in the water level, and a third in a cut-through between No. 9 section and the water level. Cancellation of Leases and Coal-prospecting Licenses. The coal lease held by D. Berry near Waimangaroa was determined on the 25th May owing to non-compliance of the terms of the lease. Six coal-prospecting licenses were also cancelled during the year, as the licensees had made no proper effort to prospect the areas. Applications to cancel two other licenses have been made. Three coalprospecting licenses were surrendered by the licensees. Prosecutions. On the 30th May a deputy was fined £2 and costs for behaving in a violent mauuer towards another deputy. On the 30th August charges were heard against a mine-manager, a deputy, and a miner for failure to use a lever and chain in withdrawing a prop in old workings. These informations were dismissed. On the 30th August a fan-attendant was fined £2 and costs for failure to enter the number of revolutions of the fan and the water-gauge in the fan record-book. On the Ist September a mine-manager was fined £2 and costs for not providing an automatic indicator registering the number of revolutions of the fan, or an automatic indicator registering the water-gauge. On the 29th September a deputy was convicted and fined £1 and costs for failing to keep all detonators issued to him in the proper box until about to be used in a shot-hole. He was testing his firing battery, and attached a detonator to the cable. He instructed a miner to take the cable up a jig. The miner misunderstood the instructions and retained the detonator, which the deputy exploded. The miner's thumb was blown off. He was also charged with a breach of section 59 of the Coal-mines Act, but the case was dismissed. On the 12th September a mine-manager was convicted and ordered to pay costs for failing to store detonators in a proper magazine. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. James White, a trucker employed at the Liverpool No. 1 Mine, had his arm broken by a runaway tub on the 4th February. D. MoKenzie suffered a fractured tibia on the 16th February by a long pole slipping off the top of an empty tub while being conveyed along a haulage-road in the Ironbridge Mine. On the 18th February Ernest Lockley, a trucker in the Blackball Mine, received severe injuries to his head and chest by a runaway tub. On the 2nd March W. Page, a miner employed in the Stockton Mine, suffered from a fracture of the dome of the skull by a fall of coal. He was returning with the deputy after firing a shot in a pillar place. On the 10th March D. McGinlcy, miner, received a fractured radius by a fall of coal in the Paparoa Mine. W. Woods, a miner engaged in a prospecting-drive near Reefton, received severe injuries to his eyes on the 18th March by a premature explosion of gelignite. Subsequently he lost the sight of one eye. He was working alone in the drive, and whilst tamping a shot it exploded. William Anderson, a miner employed, in the No. 1 section, Liverpool Mine, had his left leg fractured by a fall of stone and coal at the face on the 14th April. The place was only 0 ft. high, in pillar workings. The place was nearly through and a " bump " occurred, and coal and stone wore thrown from the face. In the Stockton Mine, on the sth May, R. Crackett received severe injuries to the muscles of his right arm by a fall of coal. On the 7th July, in the Coalbrookdale Mine, William Booth, a miner, received a severe blow on the head by a fall of coal. A prop was too close to the trucking-road, and Booth had put another prop behind. The first prop was holding up a large lump of coal, and on coming out the lump fell, striking Booth. Southern Inspection District (Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector). Mount Torlesse Collieries. —A spontaneous fire had broken out on the return airway from the dip workings. Stoppings were erected on intake and return airways, and the fire damped down. Meanwhile output of coal was being obtained from the upper-level workings at Alum Creek. No output of ganister had been reported, and only a sample of fireclay ; 13 ewt. 1 qr. had been produced during the year. Springfield Mine. —A few tons of coal had been recovered from an outcrop" of seam near the surface, previously worked underground. Sheffield Mine. —This mine had been reopened for a short period when work became suspended, the seam being thin and sales poor. Homebush Colliery. —Driving to dip in the thin seam near the weighbridge, with places broken away on either side. Several men engaged prospecting the outcrops of seams previously worked for extraction of stumps of pillars which may have been left at first working. Boring with the Mines Department's rotary drill had proved unsuccessful in locating any workable seam of coal outside the basin that had been worked for fifty years, and which apparently was now practically exhausted. Bush Gully Mine. —Not at work during the year, but the rotary drill had been engaged prospecting for coal without result. St. Helens Mine. —Recent rains caused flooding of the dip drive used for haulage from the pillars, which were almost worked, out in that locality. Steventon Mine. —Driven to dip, 1 in 3, and levels broken away ; places timbered ; seam 4 ft. 6 in. ; ventilation good. Cleannew Mine. —Workings neatly opened with a pair of levels to northward ; and air-shaft sunk for ventilation, which was good. Seam 9 ft.

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Tripp's Mine. —Driving to rise, whore seam reduced to 10 ft. thickness, sandstone formation having made in the roof. Timber set at regular intervals ; ventilation good. Harris Bros. Mine. —Prospecting by driving toward a coal-outcrop known to occur on the hill-face. Drive well timbered, chiefly through dry sand strata. Cavendish Mine (formerly Evandale). —The south level had been extended, and a drive to dip, where coal-seam found much harder than on the higher level. Air-shaft, 30 ft. in depth, provided good ventilation. Albury Mine. —The level had been stopped and a pillar left against the former workings for prevention of blackdamp entering the workings. Through ventilation from mine-mouth to air-shaft; ventilation good. Lambrook Mine. —An old drive had been cleaned out and timbered ; seam 10 ft. ; an air-shaft, 40 ft., was sunk for ventilation. Allanholme Mine. —The seam on eastern side of haulage dip having proved thin and of poor quality, a new dip, direction south-westerly, was to be laid off in the near future. Ventilation fair. Meadowbank Mine. —Air-shaft having been completed, ventilation good. McllwraittiB Mine. —A new opencast working ; seam 10 ft. A few tons had been mined for local use Wharekuri Mine. —Worked for supply of local requirements. Borton's Mine. —Working suspended during the year, the lignite being inferior and unsaleable. St. A ndrew's Mine. —The old workings finally closed and abandoned owing to the seam not living to dip continuously. Prospecting being conducted on the outcrop to rise of former workings. Prince Alfred Mine. —Pillars being carefully withdrawn in the dip workings ; timber set for security of workmen ; stoppings built prevented heating from the waste, which was not now troublesome. Ventilation fair. Ngapara Mine. —Ventilation excellent. Air conducted by brattice to working-faces, the position of the air-shaft facilitating direct ventilation through the mine. Diamond Hill Mine. —An attempt made to reopen this small seam was quickly abandoned, and the mine became closed again. Shag Point Mine. —After considerable expenditure by sinking and driving, a seam 5 ft. 6 in. in thickness was located and being developed on the old. Broad leaf section, near the fault. Shag Point Goal-mining Company. —Electrical power-house and, plant, 45 horse-power, erected for ventilating fan drive, pumping and dip haulage underground. An improved jig screening plant had also been built on the loading-bank at the branch railway terminus. Ventilation at return air-course, 19,800 cubic feet per minute. Ventilation good, and places well timbered to working-faces. Kyeburn Diggings Mine. —A small opencast pit worked for local supplies. Creighton's Mine. —An opencast pit; since abandoned. Gimmerburn Mine. —Opencast working for local requirements. Hough Ridge Mine. —Decreased supplies now being obtained from this opencast pit. [daburn Mine. —Opencast working vigorously conducted; 1,174 tons won during the year. Olarelnia Mine. —An opencast pit. Flood-water and drainage from Idaburn Stream troublesome. lewis's Mine. —Lignite from this opencast mined for private use. Dillon's Mine. —A small opencast pit worked for private use. Armilage' a Mine. —A small opencast pit worked for private use. St. Balhan-i Mine. —This pit continues being worked opencast although the stripping is so heavy, the lessee not having experience of underground mining. Cambrian Mine. —Working resumed by the Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Company, and a full supply of water laid on for stripping the seam to advantage. Lauderlane Mint. —A level has been driven northward, where a fault was struck. Water from Woolshed Creek utilized for winch dip haulage and generation of electricity for pumping. Working became suspended toward the end of the year, sales having become unprofitable owing to distance from and difficulty of placing the coal on the market in competition with other sources of supply. Alexandra Mine. —Pillar-extraction continued to be safely conducted. The clay floor with sand on the dip haulage-road at the fault caused contraction, which required frequent attention for repairs. McPhersjn's Mine. —An opencast pit worked in benches. The fire in the old worked ground kept suppressed by water laid on as required. Cromwell Mine. —Seam improved to 13 ft. in thickness, of which 7 ft. was being worked. Seam steep, having an inclination of 45°. Shepherd's Creek Mine. —Pillar-extraction in dip workings continued with safety. Workings in good order, and ventilation good. Gardrona Mine. —The large proportion of stripping required to be sluiced away in order to recover the comparatively small quantity of saleable coal won militates against the financial success deserved by the persevering and optimistic lessee of this mountain pit. Gibbston Mine. —Toward the end of the year it became necessary to close the mine on account of the fire which had followed outward from the waste, pillars having been withdrawn to rise of the lower level back to the outcrop of the seam. Nevis Mine. —An opencast mine worked intermittently for supply of local requirements. Nevis Crossing Mine. —The adit level near Coal Creek had been extended to 300 ft. from the surface when operations became suspended. Graham's Prospecting License (for Coal and Shale at Nevis). —Five samples taken from bulk and treated by the Dominion Analyst yielded 13-2 gallons of oil per ton. Fernhill Mine. —Working continued in the lower seam. Places driven narrow were standing well. Freeman's Mine. —Pillar workings continued with safety, and ventilation good. Jubilee Mine. —A new entrance had been made convenient to the body of the workings, and steam-power adapted for fan ventilation, dip haulage, and pumping. Places driven narrow at first working. Ventilation good, and air free from powder-smoke. Saddle Hill No. 1 Mine (including Burnweil Mine). —A small ventilating-fan made on the premises, driven by oil-engine, was doing good work. Air underground good and clear. Some portion of the Burnweil Mine pillars, where a barrier pillar of coal left by agreement at first working, was being extracted. Stoppings in against the waste where blackdamp had accumulated. Saddle Hill No. 2 Mine. —A dip had been driven into old workings where roof and floor had met under pressure, and coal pillars were being recovered safoly. Walton Park Mine. —A pair of dip drives were being extended under the railway and district road for the purpose of prospecting the field and recovering pillars or coal left at first working many years ago. The drives had been taken narrow and low by consent of the local authorities. East Taieri Mine. —A now dip had been driven through old workings to recover a block of coal and pillars left at first working. The drive was well timbered, but floor inclined to heave, as it had done previously, causing contraction of roads and airways. Grade's Mine. —Prospecting on outcrop, and forming a tram-line to the Main South Road, 20 chains distant The drive was in 20 ft., and the coal-seam was 6 ft. in thickness. Brighton Mine. —Recently leased by two experienced miners, who were cleaning up the roads and airways underground. Buanui Mine. —A new opening on Duncan Settlement. A short drive to dip, with level northward to the air-shaft, sunk 42 ft. to the coal-seam.

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Waronui Mine. —The former mine had been worked out, closed, and abandoned; loading-bank arrangements with ventilating-fan removed, and erected at the new mine. The seam ranged from 5 ft. to 10 ft. in thickness, being somewhat troubled, and carrying occasional boulders of hard stone. Working-places driven narrow with a view to future best extraction of pillars. Electrical power used for fan ventilation and pumping purposes. MeGilp's Mine. —Pillar-extraction had been well conducted, only a small portion of the block opened remaining for withdrawal. Ventilation good. Floor heaving, and roadways low in consequence. Trfa Bon Mine. —A new opening on the hill-face, where the seam had been found occurring more regularly and less disturbed by faulting than the previous mine, lost by fire at the beginning of the year. Crichlon Mine. —A comparatively amall output was being derived from this mine, which, in common with other small coal-pits in Bruce County, had been prohibited from carting on the public roads during winter months. Dunlop's Mine. —This mine had practically been idle throughout the year. Lakeside Mine. —A prospecting-drive had been put in, from which 315 tons of coal had been obtained, worked intermittently. Taratii Mine.— -The vontilating-fan had been duplicated, with beneficial results to the air in the dip workingplaces, which had benefited considerably. A new endless-rope haulage from shaft-bottom to head of dip, a distance of 10 chains, had been installed, and was working satisfactorily. Fan ventilation at return airway 21,015 cubic feet per minute. The place fallen to surface from waste, Barclay's Mine, where fire had broken out, was filled in with material from the walls of the plump, and water laid on successfully. Cages, coupling-chains, ropes, and winding-gear examined regularly and periodically tested. Electricity utilized for underground dip haulage and pumping and for fan ventilation. Tualdtoto Mine (formerly Port Arthur). —A new opening at a lower level, where the seam had been found downthrown 50 ft. Kaituna Mine. —The former workings had been finished and abandoned. The drive to dip had proved the scam continuing in that direction, especially on the western side, where the coal was more clean and free from faulting. Natural ventilation good ; powder-smoke from blasting quickly cleared away. Wam/aloa Mine. —Had driven through the fault met with near mme -entrance, and coal-seam was found continuing. Kaidale Mine. —Output was being maintained from the rise workings, water having accumulated in those to dip. Kaihrooh Mine. —Worked intermittently, partly owing to change of ownership and partly on account of the embargo placed on coal-carting over the Bruce County roads during winter months. Ro-seneath Mine. —Opencast working on the sea-beach discontinued, and two drives put in on the cliff-face had been connected underground. Kai Point Mine (Oaird Bron.).—K new mine had been driven, and connected with the original drive for second outlet and ventilation, which latter was good. Summerhill Mine. —Operations suspended, the seam having proved soft, and crushed apparently by ancient earth-movement at and near the surface. Kaitancjata No. 1 Mine. —The major part of the year's output had been derived from Mundy's dip and No. 6 dip sections, with a smaller proportion from the 18 ft. seam off Barclay's drive, where development work only had been proceeded with. On the 13th October an outbreak of fire was discovered on McGhio's level, among coal and timber on roof and sides, and, becoming unmanageable, stoppings were erected on the intake and return airways and the fire became damped down. Subsequently the stoppings were opened and air-circulation restored, when new stoppings were built at either end of and close to the fire region, permitting recovery of much plant, material, and tools, when the district was sealed off permanently, leaving the 18 ft. seam workings and airways to the upcast fan shaft as the only open parts of the mine. Coal-getting had also been suspended at the 18 f.t. seam, but ventilation was continued pending completion of the stone prospecting-drive to the main scam proved by boring underground some timo ago. Ventilation of reduced area, 22,880 cubic feet of air per minute. Kaitangnta No. 2 Mine. —Coal-output from Kaitangata Collieries was now being obtained exclusively from this mine, the districts at work being the 6' ft. seam, 18 ft. seam, and main seam workings. Timber supports to roof were plentifully used, and pillars extracted safely. Volume of air at mme -entrance, 33,915 cubic feet per minute. Ventilation good all round the working-faces. Samples of road-dust collected from the several working sections were examined by the Dominion Analyst, who reported as follows : — " No. 1, from roadways, Kaitangata No. 1 Mine ; No. 2, from roadways, Kaitangata No. 2 Mine ; No. 3, from dusty roadways, Castle Hill Mine. " Analyses. 1, 2. 3. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. "Ash .. •• •• •• •• •• •• 394)2 15-00 38-15 Moisture lost at 100° C. .. .. .. .. .. 13-08 14-50 13-08 " Nos. 1 and 3 : The sum of the moisture and the ash exceeds 50 per cent., and the samples would therefore comply with the regulations. No. 2: Does not comply." With respect to sample No. 2, the roadways were subsequently cleaned and gravelled, rendering the dust innocuous. Firedamp or fires underground had not been reported by the mine officials during the year. Samples of mine-air collected at the working-face in solid coal by the Chief Inspector yielded the following results at the Dominion Laboratory : — " Nos. 1 and 2, from main return at fan shaft, Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. No. 3, from main seam section, at Gribbon's end, off north level, being farthest-in place, Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. " Analyses. 1. 2. 3. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. " Carbon dioxide (CO a ) 0-23 0-21 0-26 Methane (CH 4 ) 0-33 0-30 0-23" Pit-ponies at Kaitangata Collieries, thirty in number, had been examined by the Inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who reported that he had found them in good condition. Castle Hill Mine. —Ventilation at entrance, 17,875 cubic feet per minute. At No. 7 dip section the north side was ventilated but not being worked ; only tho roadway pillars remained intact. The Carson seam had been opened up but coal-getting suspended ponding improvement of trade. Ventilation adequate, and air clean and sweet all over the mine. No firedamp or fires underground had been reported during tho year. A new inclined drive (1,300 ft.) for travelling and airway had been laid off to replace the upcast air and second outlet shaft, which will enable lengthy and expensive airways through old workings being dispensed with, and provide a practically new mine. Benhar Mine. —Owing to water dripping from tho roof in working-places two boreholes were drilled 28 ft. to the old workings above, when the small quantity of water lodged quickly drained off. Ventilation being unsatisfactory by reason of powder-smoke hanging in working-places after shot-firing, remedial measures were carried out, consisting of brick air-stoppings in lieu of brattice-cloth at road-ends on dip drive, an air-crossing over the dip from the eastern side, and enlargement of upcast shaft area, whereby an appreciable air-current was created and smoke cleared rapidly away. Glydevale Mine. —An opencast mine, worked intermittently for private and local use. Pukerau Mine (Miller Bros.). —A small fire in some dross had been extinguished, and no material damage was done. Ventilation, fair.

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Otiherama Mine. —A level had been driven a distance of 90 ft. through a fault, which not improving the seam, mining was being abandoned. Itosedale Mine. —An opencast pit having a short drive into the face. Stripping to be kept back from the face. McLean's Mine. —Almost worked out, the seam not having proved continuous. Whiterig Mine. —The haulage dip had been driven below the level of former workings, from which water lodged had been drained by boreholes. Ladder required for air-shaft. Green's Mine. —Having reached the boundary of the public road, mining would soon be transferred to the new entrance provided. Powder-magazine approved for storage of explosives. Biverview Mine. —A small opencast pit for private use. Todd's Mine. —An opencast pit, recently commenced. Springfield Mine. —An opencast pit, recently reopened. Seam 10 ft. ; stripping 8 ft., kept well in advance of working-face. Glenlee Mine.' —Mine worked safely and kept in good order. Ramsay's Mine. —A new entrance was being made for a shorter haulage and cutting off the drive through old workings. Pyramid Mine. —Underground mining practically discontinued. Further prospecting by boring was contemplated. Wendon Mine. —A vertical seam, 1/5 ft., between the walls of which 10 ft. was being worked. Care had been taken in opening and timbering the drive. Landslip Mine. —Prospecting on outcrop of the old company's workings, where a few pillars had been left unworked. Bossvale Mine. —Several stoppings had been built on the left-hand side of dip drive, where warmth had been coming from Cain's old. workings. The bottom of air-shaft had been cleaned up, and ventilation was good. Argyle Mine. —Worked opencast; stripping sluiced away by water laid on for that purpose. Terrace Mine, Kingston Crossing. —Some extra timber was required where the joints occurred in the roof, also a ladder in the shallow air-shaft, which were promised by the manager. Princhester Greek Mine. —An opencast pit, worked for supply of settlers in Mararoa district. Forest Hill Mine. —An opencast working, recently started for local supplies. Seam 10 ft. in thickness. Mataura Collieries Company's Mine. —Workings in good order. Ventilation good. Boghead Mine. —Underground mining commenced from the face of the terrace, where stripping becoming too heavy and costly to pay for removal. Mataura Lignite-mine. —Mine in good order. Ventilation fair. Terrace Mine, Mataura. —Seam 11 ft., worked opencast. Care was being taken to have the stripping kept well in advance of working-face. Ti Tepu Mine. —Seam 12 ft., of which 6 ft. was being worked opencast. Heatherlea Mine. —Seam 10 ft.; stripping kept well ahead. Ota Creek Mine. —Opencast workings, in good order. Stripping 6 ft. to 8 ft., well in advance of coal-face. Clarke's Mine. —Opencast pit, kept in good order; stripping well ahead. Diamond Lignite-mine. —An opencast pit reopened on the opposite side of the railway, where there was more room for expansion. Nightcaps No. 1 Mine. —Some opencast working at the outcrop near the dam was being conducted. Lloyd's dip : Workings gradually drawing to a closure, where the last of the pillars to be drawn were almost finished up to the diphaulage roadway. Knight's section : Several pairs of men engaged driving and pillaring in this low wet seam. Prospecting by boring had not resulted in the location of a payably workable seam on the property. Nightcaps No. 2 Mine. —The report-books showed that the fire heating in the opencast waste had travelled under surface to the upper-level underground workings, where it had been stopped off. Opencast working finished, and some remaining pillars had been drawn from underground. The new air-shaft was sunk 60 ft. to the coal-seam, and connection made with the workings. Seam to dip inclined steeply, and heavily saturated with water. Sterling Mine. —Opencast working had been suspended during the greater part of the year. Preparations were being made for underground mining. Burndale Mine. —Seam 5 ft. to 6 ft. in thickness ; roof supported by timber, and working-places in fair condition. Coaldale Mine. —There being evidence of faulting underground and the seam thinning to dip, a bore was sunk and a seam of coal struck, to which the dip drive was being graded for haulage. Ventilation to be augmented by the fan acquired recently. Black Diamond Mine. —Fan ventilation good, and powder-smoke promptly removed. Excellent ambulance equipment kept in a special cabin at the mine. New Brighton Mine. —Seam to dip improved in thickness to 9ft., of which 7 ft. was being worked. A new dip haulage-way driven from the surface near the loading-bank to tap the dip workings will provide direct haulage and ventilation. Workings adequately timbered. Wairio Mine. —The seams having been worked out to the fault, beyond which no mining had been done, the place was abandoned. Resin-seam Mine : Seam 4 ft. 6 in. in thickness was being worked intermittently, demand for this class of coal being limited at the present time. Mossbank Mine. —The underground fire having become unmanageable, the openings were sealed with the object of damping it down. A new dip had been driven, from which levels were set off and output maintained. Efforts made to reopen the heated area had proved unsuccessful, a sufficient time apparently not having elapsed for extinction of the fire underground. Wells and Party's Mine. —A new mine opened at an outlier of surface, seam 5 ft. in thickness. After working a few months mining became suspended, owing to demand for any but the better-class coal having fallen away. Wairaki Mine. —Only safety-lamps and permitted explosives allowed to be used in the mine. Firedamp had not been reported during the year, but slight bubbling in water on the floor continued. Fan ventilation ; air clear and good. Wairaki No. 2 Mine. —Under fan ventilation; air well conducted by brattice to working-faces. Fire-damp had never been reported as occurring in this mine. Systematic-timbering notice posted at the mine, to be carried out by the management. Linton Mine. —Fan ventilation satisfactory and air good underground. The shot-firer appointed at the opencast working rang a warning bell, erected for the purpose, before firing. Ohai Mine. —Opencast workings. Two seams, 16 ft. and 7 ft. in thickness, in sight. Coal was being carted to the Wairio Railway terminus, three miles distant. Birchwood Mine. —Opencast working superseded by underground mining. Seam 20 ft., of which 10 ft. was being worked bord-and-pillar. Orepuki Mine. —A new sump had been made, and driving to dip continued. Ventilation good ; working conducted safely. Lynwood Mine..— An opencast pit, worked for supplies for the steamer owned by the Tourist Department on Lake Te Anau. Seam 7 ft., with stripping, or overburden 9 ft. in thickness. Dangerous Occurrences notified under Regulation 81. Tres Bon Mine, Milton.- —3rd January : Fire discovered at mine in surface seam, necessitating the closing of the mine and opening out on another part of the area. Pukerau Mine, Southland. —3rd March : Fire in workings extinguished ; no material damage done.

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Wairio Mine, Nightcaps. —l9th April: Spontaneous combustion noticed in old pillar workings ; was built off with stoppings. Mossbank Mine, Nightcaps. —3oth April: A spontaneous fire discovered. The workmen were not permitted to enter, and the mine was sealed to prevent fire spreading. Mount Torlesse Mine, Avoca. —16th June : A spontaneous fire broke out in the return airway from the dip section. Stoppings were inserted and the fire damped down. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine, Kaitangata. —l4th October: A spontaneous fire was discovered on McGhie's level, south extension workings. Workmen were not admitted other than those required for erection of stoppings on intake and return airways. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Nightcaps Colliery, Nightcaps. —26th January : Thomas Prior, 43, roadsman—injury to back ; struck by a rake of runaway boxes on haulage-road. 23rd August: John Dallow, 29, miner—fractured left leg below knee, and injury to right loin due to fall of coal and stone from roof in low working-place. 23rd August: Henry Livingstone, 22, miner— injury to ankle by fall of coal and stone from roof in working-place. 2nd December : Arthur Pennack, 50, horse-driver —fractured right leg below knee ; struck by full box which was oil the rails. Mount Torlesse Mine, Avoca. —Bth March : John Donovan, 39, miner—injuries, mostly shock, due to concussion from explosion while deepening a hole in which he thought the shot had exploded. Wairaki No. 2 Mine, Nightcaps. —l4th March : Robert Harding, miner—burns of left forearm, duo to ignition of half-plug powder which he had in his hand while firing a shot. Ooaldale Mine, Nightcaps. —6th June : Horace Talbot, 18, rope-attendant—extensive bruising ; struck by a runaway box on haulage-way. Homebush Mine, Glenlunnel. —6th July : Lawrence Workman, 34, miner —contusions of leg and abdomen ; struck by a piece of clay fallen from roof. Femhill Mine, Abbotsford. —2nd August: George Ritchie, 40, trucker—broken arm (left) due to drum brakehandle flying up and striking his arm while lowering rake on short jig. liossvale Mine, Wailcaia. —10th August: James Henderson, 56, miner—injury to foot; caught between buffer and rail while lifting full box on to rails. Lauderlane Mine, Cambrian. —20th August: Samuel Ciarkson, 62, mine-manager—fracture of right thigh ; foot caught in stirrup, and kicked by horse while dismounting at the mine. Burndale Mine, Nightcaps. —24th August: James Phillips, 53, miner—injuries to right foot and sprained ankle ; struck by piece of stone fallen from parting in roof. Waronui Mine, Milton. —29th September: John Jardine, 30, pit-head-man—injury to right knee-joint; slipped on stairway, thus aggravating an old war injury. Saddle Hill No. 1 Mine. Saddle Hill. —2nd November : John Stratton, 33, miner—burn of left hand, arm, and face. Had charged a hole, when, igniting the fuse, half a plug of powder which he held in his hand exploded. Taratu Mine, LovelVs Flat. —3rd November : James Morris, 28, trucker —fracture of left log below knee. After pushing the rake over the rise, timber-trolly kicked back, striking his leg. Evidently brake on haulage-drum in action with too much slack rope. Steventon Mine, Ohai. —18th November: George Brookie, 40, miner—concussion of spine. Having ridden to work, girth of saddle gave way, and Erockie was thrown from his horse at the mine. Prosecutions. On the 22nd April, G. Gray, labourer, was convicted for a breach of Regulation 126 (4) by neglecting to see that all persons in tho vicinity had taken proper shelter before firing a shot in the opencast workings at Linton Coal-mine, whereby Frederick Reid, miner, was fatally injured on the 28th February, 1921. Fine, £5, and £7 11s. 6d. costs. D. Baird, Gray's workmate, was convicted and discharged. On the 14th June, William Lloyd, rope-attendant, Nightcaps Mine, was convicted for a broach of Special Rule 57a (3) —viz., neglecting to attach the back-stay or trailer to an ascending set of tubs on an inclined haulageroad. Fined £5. Thomas Prior, roadsman, was seriously injured by the runaway set, the rope-coupling chain having broken. Lloyd had been cautioned previously by the underviewer for not using the trailer. On the 25th August, T. F. Slowey, owner and manager of Chamberlain Mine, Albury, was convicted of failure to exercise control and supervision of the mine on the occasion of the death of James H. Robertson, by fall of coal on the 17th May, 1921. Fined £3, and costs £8 10s. 4d.

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46

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1921

ANNBXUEE B.

Name of Mine and Locality. Name of Mine Manager. Name and Address of Owner. •% £ *g j£. - Number of Persons i_%: ftv«t-em of ZM Tntii i Total Output Total Output ordinarily employed. » £ Classification S I Thickness of Thickness r X r " °n l Ml n ,*™ L to 31st to 31st , ■§* of Coal. •§* Coal-seams. worked. n^™ nd a a 0nt §"* for December, December, ~ Tj |§ |i Horkm «- g« 1921 " 1920. 1921. | | -j X |_| n j < w:g Means of Ventilation. I North Auckland. Hikurangi, Hikurangi Northern Tauranga, Hikurangi Northern Kiripaka, Hikurangi .. Kerr & Co. (McLeod's), Hikurangi Siiverdale, Hikurangi Northern Co-operative, Hikurangi Kerr & Wyatt, Hikurangi Rayburn (Christie's). Hikurangi (formerly N. Auckland Coal Co.) Waro, Whangarei Wilson's, Hikurangi A.H.Taylor .. Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., Auckland! 29 ! James Jones (P.) .. Wilsons Colls., Ltd., Auckland .. 3 C. Westfield .. Northen CM. Co., Auckland .. 7 F. Kells .. .. Kerr & Wyatt, Hikurangi .. 1£ Boyd Bennie .. Foot & Doel, Hikurangi .. 3 E. A. Cunningham(P) E. A. Cunningham & Co., Hikurangi 3 R. Dickson (P.) .. Kerr & Wvatt, Hikurangi .. 6 W. Tunstall(P.) .. Christie & Co., Hikurangi .. 1$ NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. Semi-bitu- 1 6'to 10' 6'to 9' Bord and 1 minous pillar Ditto 1 4' 4' Ditto .. ! 1 5' to 11' 5' to 11' .. 1 1 3' to 6' 3' to 6' „ .. .. „ .. 1 3' to 4' 3' to 4' ., .... „ ..1 5' 5' „ .... ., .. 1 4' to 5' 4' to 5' „ .... ..1 4'to 5' 4'to 5' „ .. .. .. j 1 6' to 10' 6' to 10' „ .. ! 2 .. ; 1 5 to 9" 5' to 7' „ .. j .. Tons. 46,984 2,092 10,208 3,843 6,620 1,675 2,165 6,144 839 2,755 Tons. 1,311,226 618,574 405,172 542 4,744 24,790 21.594 304 Tons. 1,358,210 34 55 i 89 Fan. 620,666 1 3 14 Natural. 415,380 10 12' 22 Fan & steam. 4,385 3 7 ! 10 Natural. 11,364 4 9 ! 13 26,465 4 2 ! 6 23,759 1 5 16 6,448 2 6 ! 8 J. Cadman .. N.Z. Coal & Cement Co., Whangarei 11 G. Davidson .. Wilson's Colls., Ltd., Auckland .. 4 30,658 41,087 31,497 3 14 17 Fan. 43,842 14 30 44 Waikato (including Mokau). Taupiri Extended, Huntly W. Wood .. Taupiri CM., Ltd., Auckland .. 33 Brown .. 2 10' to 34' 20' Bord and 12 pillar .. 1 6' to 15' 12' Ditto .. .. .. : 1 16' to 18' 6' to 12' „ .... 1 16' 12' „ .. 1 10' 8' 157,639 83,523 117,373 7.968 57,649 2,697,143 | 2,854,782 72 j 290 362 Fan. Rotowaro, Rotowaro Pukemiro, Pukemiro Waikato Extended, Huntly Waipa, Glen Massey A. Penman .. Taupiri CM., Ltd., Auckland .. 4 A. Burt .. .. Pukemiro Coll., Ltd., Auckland .. I 6 W. C Davies .. Waikato Shipg. Co., Ltd., Hamilton: 5i T. Thomson .. Waipa Railway and Colls., Ltd., i 8 Wellington P. Hunter .. N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co.,Ltd.,Hamilton! 1£ C. V. Malony .. Clare & party, Pukemiro .. 1 J. Lamont .. Lamont & Starr, Huntly .. Oi P. Westhead .. Hunua Coll., Ltd., Papakura .. 3 A. Morgan (P.) , A. Morgan, Aria .. .. 5 C.Wright (P.) .. Chambers Bros., Awakino .. 1 F. Richardson .. Rangitoto Coal Co., Ltd.. Tahaia 1 John R. Connew .. C J. ShieL Te Kuiti .. .. 1 previous statements at which operations are abandoned or suspe 188,452 475,825 14,685 502.648 j 70 ! "l,359 1,084 3,748,721 271,975 34 129 163 593,198 58 140 198 Fans. 22,653 3 12 15 Natural. 560,297 30 79 109 Fan. 2,213 14 5 19 2,522 2 9 11 Natural. 540 1 2 3 1,887 14 5,, 1,428 12 3,, 780 1 1 2 99 3.6 9 174 1 I 2 3 3,748,721 ..[... United Coalfields, Pukemiro Pukemiro Junction, Pukemiro .. Huntly, Huntly Hunua, Hunua Grreencastle, Aria Stockman's, Mokau Rangitoto, Tahaia Shiels, Rangitoto Output of collieries included in 1 8' to 17' 8' .. 1 8' to 25' 7' to 12' ; ., .. 1 14' 9' „ .... .. ' 1 7' 5' .. 1 12' 9' „ .... „ ... 1 5' 5' ,, .... .. 1 20' 5' „ .... 1 20' 5'to 6' ended 2,143 2,522 540 528 344 780 99 174 Nelson. Puponga, Puponga .. .. [ V A. J. McHardy .. Puponga Coal Syn., Puponga .. 18 J.Walker .. North Cape Coal Co., Puponga .. 11 J. Burgess (P.) .. A. O'Rourke, Murchison .. 2 W. Olliver (P.) .. W. H. Olliver, Motupipi-Takaka 2 W. Stone (P.) .. Stone Bros.. Takaka .. .. 2 R. Fairhall (P.) .. R. Fairhall, Murchison .. .. 2 James Fletcher .. Westport-Stockton Co., Ngakawau, 13 Westport T. King .. .. Westport Coal Co., Westport .. 30 William Pearson .. Westport Coal Co., Westport .. 30 G. Smith .. Westport Coal Co., Westport .. 30 William Hewitson Westport Coal Co., Westport .. 41 J. P. Burley (P.) .. J. P. Burley, Berlin's-Buller Road 19 T. Murray .. Dove & party, Seddonville .. 7 William McGuire(P.) McGuire & party, Seddonville .. 6 H. Chester (P.) .. Chester & partv, Seddonville .. 2 A. Pratt (P.) .. Bennett & partv, Seddonville .. 3 •VEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT. 223,094 87,630 83 150 480 48 1,618,002 225,254 14 6 10 Natural. 95.396 | 10 15 25 143 I .. 2 2 350 2 2 600 ■ .. 1 1 95 i ■• 1 1 „ 1,718,762 ! 86 181 267 Fans. North Cape, Collingwood O'Rourke's Gladstone Stone's FairhaH's BvMer. Westport-Stockton, Ngakawau 18 11 2 2 2 2 13 Bituminous 1 ' 9' i 9' Bord and pillar 1 24' to 4i' Full height Ditto .. 1 l£'to2' Lignite .. 1 .. .. „ .... Bituminous .. .. .. ,. .... .. 2'to 4' .. „ .... Bituminous 2 4' to 20' Full height Bord and pillar 1 5' to 14' .. Ditto .. 1 4' to 20' 12' „ .. , 2 3' to 30' Full height , ] 1 4' to 22' i „ „ .... J Brown .. 1 27' 8' „ .... Bituminous 1 20' 9' ...... 15' to 20' 6' ,. .... 1 6' Full height ., .. .. i 1 6'to 7' .. „ .... f 1 2,160 7,766 60 200 120 47 100,760 225,255 132,620 155 9,364 8,302 1,368 4,459 Millerton, Millerton Millerton, Millerton Ironbridge, Denniston.. Coalbrookdale, Denniston Rocklands Co-operative, Mokihinui Coak Creek, Mokihinui Chester's, Mokihinui St. Helens, Mokihinui 80 30 30 41 19 7 6 2 3 5,922,363 8,056,075 I 7,407 j I 27,710 399 4,192 6,147,618 86 338 424 I „ 8,188,695 { $ 124 189 7,562 .. 2 2 Natum.. 23,134 3 5 8,, 36,012 3 13 16 1,767 12 3., 8,651 .. 6 6 '.,

47

C—2

Woodford's, Mokihinui Mulholland's, Seddonville Moynihan's (Denniston Road) .. E. C. Woodford .. Woodford & party, Seddonville .. 1 „ 1 T T 92 R. Mulholland .. Mulholland & partv, Seddonville 1 „ 1 12' 8' 2,825 T. Moynihan (P.) .. Moynihan & party, Westport ..1 „ 1 8' 8' Prospect .. 84 drive J. Coghlan (P.) .. John Coghlan, Capleston .. 25 Semi-bitu- 1 12' 8i' Bord and .. 285 minous pillar F. W. Archer (P.) .. F. W. Archer, Capleston .. 26 Ditto 1 16' to 20' 8'to 10' Ditto .. .. 2.254 J. J. Doran (P.) .. Doran & partv, Capleston .. 1 .. .. ., .... 900 J.Armstrong .. Reefton Coal Co., Reefton -.20 „ .. 3 5'to 12' Full height ., .... 9.462 E. W. Tattley .. Ferndale-Timaru Co., Reefton ..19 „ .. i 2 6'to 20' 12' „ .... 6,475 William Julyan (P.) Messrs. Collins & Julvan, Reefton 30 „ ..2 30' to 80' 7' ., .... 2,064 H. Griggs (P.) .. I Alborn & Paseoe, Reefton ..35 .. .. „ .... 1,500 W. Kirwan (P.) .. Big River G.M. Co., Reefton .. 8 .. .. 1 3'to 8' Full height ., .... 952 J. Baxendale .. Morris & Learmont. Reefton ..9 ., 3 6' to 20' 8' .. .... 6.563 P. H. Woods (P.) .. P. H. Woods & party Reefton .. 3 ,. ..2 12' 8' ., .... 2.026 J.Frame.. .. W. O. Bierwirth, Reefton .. 9 ..2 8' 7' „ .. .. 4,647 G. Lishman (P.) .. A. R. Ayson, Reefton .. .. 2 ,. .. 1 3£' ' Full height 1.035 A. Chadwick .. McKenzie & partv, Reefton 1 „ .. 1 9£' 5£' „ .... 229 P. Mitchell (P.) .. .. 1 „ 2 9' to 20' 8' ,, .... 2,476 J. A. C. Bayne .. Paparoa Coal Co., Roa .. 13 Bituminous 1 14' Full height Bord and .. 25,492 pillar J. Neilson .. Blackball Coal Co., Blackball .-31 ., 2 17' 15' Ditto ,. .. 96.139 R.Alison .. Tyneside Propy., Ltd., Brunner.. 57 „ 1 4'to 12' Full height ., .. .. 2.042 V.Armstrong .. Dobson Coal Co., Dobson ..1 ,. 1 5' „ ...... 2.774 J. Rowse(P.) .. Baddeiev <fc party, Dunollie .-1 „ 1 5' ,. „ .. .. 1.800 A. Bull (P.) .. Hunter & party, Dunollie ..1 „ 1 4£' „ „ .. .. 3.210 P. Manderson(P.) Clark & partv. Dunollie ..1 „ 1 7' ,. .. .. ..! 4.683 T. Halliday (P.) .. Smith & party, Dunollie ..1 .. 1 IV 6' „ .-.-.. 896 O. J. Davis .. N.Z. Government, Greymouth .. 9 „ .. .. .. „ .... "I C. Strongman. .. „ „ ..9 „ .. .. .. „ ....)" 137 > 334 ■evious statements at which operations have been abandoned or suspended ..'...] .. .. I 10,333 27,815 '59.291 16,125 46,008 18,684 5,677 15,039 2,641 10.834 645 323,120 2,905,084 2,442,967 849,713 4,690,796 2,825 " 3 84 1 1 ' 3 1 2 4 2 3 3 Reef to n. 10,618 2 2 Natural. Coghlan's Archer's Doran's Reefton Company Ferndale-Timaru Phoenix & Venus Loughnan's Big River Morris & Learmonts Victory Golden Point Birchwood Woodlands Empire 30.069 '900 68,753 6 22,600 2 48,072 2 20.184 1 6>29 21.602 2 4.667 15.481 3 i;680 1 '229 1 2,476 2 6 2 2 1 "3 1 1 2 3 3 14 6 3 2 3 9 4 7 7 2 6 3 3 20 8 5 ,, 3 3 11 4 10 8 3 8 Grey. 348,612 20 20 45 65 Fans. Paparoa, Roa Blackball, Blackball Brunncr, Bmnnerton Dobson, Dobson Baddeley's Co-operative Hunter's Co-operative Hillside Co-operative Smith's Co-operative Liverpool State Colliery No. 1, Rewanui Liverpool State Colliery No. 3 Rewanui Output of mines included in pi 3,001.223 54 2,445.009 6 2.774 5 1.800 2 3^210 4,683 2 '896 3 f 79 54 I 6 5 2 "2 3 r 79 \ 26 235 6 9 4 8 6 5 162 67 289 12 14 Natural. 6 8 8 8 241 Fans. 93 987,047 -! 2g 4,690,796 I .. Canterbury. Mount Torlesse, Avoca Springfield. Springfield Sheffield, Sheffield Homebush, Glentunnel SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. W. Leitch .. Mount Torlesse Coll., Christchurch 4 Brown ..3 12' All Bord and .. 12,604 pillar J. Taylor .. J. Taylor. Springfield .. .. 41 „ .. 1 4' AU Ditto .... 92 G. Bradshaw .. G. Bradshaw, Sheffield .. 39 „ .. 1 3' All , 80 D.Kane.. .. Homebush Brick & Coal Co., Ltd., 48 „ ..1 34' All ,, .. .. 4,703 Glentunnel J. Sutherland .. J. Sutherland, Glentunnel .. 40 ,. .. 1 6' 5' .. .... 903 J.C.Campbell .. Campbell & Leeming, Glentunnel 2 .. ..1 4|' All 1.669 O. C. Marsh .. Smith &■ Marsh, Glenrov. Ch'ch. 2 ,. .. 1 : 9' 6}' „ .. .. 714 P.Campbell .. New Woolshed Creek & Mount 55 „ 1 ; 10' 7' „ .... 1,439 Somers Coal Co., Ltd., Ch'ch. J. McClimont .. J. McClimont, Mount Somers .. 2 „ .. 1 14' 8' to 6' „ .. .. 807 34,982 92,393 52.284 330,217 29,773 144 64 73,868 18 47,586 30 92,485 1 52.364 334,920 3 30 1 "3 21 1 1 13 21 1 1 13 51 Steam, Fan. i natural. 2 Natural. 1 16 " St. Helens, White Cliffs Steventon, White Cliffs Clearvicw. Glenroy Tripps, Mount Somers 30,676 2 1,813 1 778 1 75.307 1 2 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 5 4 4 5 Cavendish (formerly Evandale), Evandale Albury, Albury Lambrook, Winscombe, Fairlie .. Allanholme, Waihao Forks Meadowbank Waihao Forks Mcllraith. " Camden," Waihao Forks 825 2 2 ■ 2 I T. F. Slowey .. T. F. Slowey, Timaru .. ..30 Lignite .. 1 10' 6' 1.374 J. H. Smillie .. J. H. Smillie. Fairlie .. .. 1 „ .. 1 9' 5£' , 100 J.Campbell .. Allanholme Coal Co.. Waimate ..6 „ .. 1 15' 8' 1,059 A. E. Kirk .. A. E. Kirk, Waihao Forks .. 4 ., ■ ■ ;. 1 10' 7' „ .... 705 W. Mcllraith .. W. Mcllraith, Waihao Forks .. 1 „ .. 1 10' .. Open .... 10 A. F. Shanks .. A. F. Shanks, Wharekuri .. 2 Lignite ..1 30' 7' Bord and .. 394 pillar T. H. Brooke .. A. E. Gard, Borton's .. .. 1 „ .. 1 10' 7' Ditto .... 296 T. Barclay, jun. .. | Papakaio Coal Co., Oamaru 43 „ .. 1 7' 6' „ .... 753 A. Beardsmore .. . Mrs. J. E. WMetts, Papakaio ..52 „ ..1 9' 7' , .... 1,060 W. Nimmo .. W. Nimmo. Ngapara .. ..43 .. .. 1 25' 10' to 8' ' .. .. .. 1,209 J. Wilson .. Wilson & Calder, Diamond Hill, 3 „ .. 1 4' All „ .. .. 3 Herbert 21,524 "7,507 1,639 2,613 59.871 66,297 34,672 220 22.898 1 100 1 8,566 1 2,344 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 2 •• North Otago. Wharekuri, Wharekuri 3,007 2 2 2 Natural. Borton's, Borton's St. Andrew's, Papakaio Prince Alfred, Papakaio Ngapara, Ngapara .. .. i Diamond Hill, Herbert .. [ 296 60,624 1 67,357 1 35.881 1 223 1 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 1 4 3 4 ■• •• ..

a—2.

48

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1921— continued.

Name of Mine and Locality. I Name of Mine Manager. Name and Address of Owner. ■g I ,3 J ~;§ Number of Persons u"£ Svsi-oTn nf %,* Total Output Total Output ordinarilv employed. °g Classification s g Thickness of Thickness TInder»round -S i Ontraitfnr to 31st to 31st 1- Means of tZ\ °' c ° al Si Coal-seams, worked. "S™ E_= 0u .S u 1 t for December, December, ~ _~ { Ventilation. 35 Be wor ™°- S_ iazl - 1920. 1921. > I i ** o: _ < p i H SOUTHERN INSPECTION DIS' Shag Point (old mine), Shag Point W. Hunt .. \ Waronui Coal Co., Vogel Street, 7 Brown ..1 5J' Dnnedin Shag Point CM. Co., Ltd., Shag J. Hughes .. I Shag Point CM. Co., Ltd., Dnnedin 13 „ .. 1 5' Point 'RICT — contii All All nued. Bord and pillar Tons. 218 20,835 Tons. 412,389 89,851 Tons. I ! 412,607 12 3 110,686 12 59 71 49 : 66 1 .. 1 Natural. Fan. Central Otago. Larsen & Brown, Kyebnrn .. .. : Larsen & Brown, Kyeburn .. 4 Lignite 1 2' Kyeburn Diggings, Kyeburn Dig- J. T. Weatherall .. J. T. Weatherall, Kyeburn Diggings 2 „ ..1 ings Creighton' s, Kokonga Mill ., J. Creighton .. J. Creighton, Kokonga .. 2 j ,, .. 1 Gimmerburn, Gimmerburn .. C Dougherty .. C Dougherty, Gimmerburn 65 [ „ .. 1 12' Rough Ridge. Oturehua .. J. T. Beck .. Margaret Beck, Oturehua 35 „ .. 1 20' Idaburn, Oturehua .. .. R. K. Deaker .. R. K. Deaker, Oturehua 51 „ .. 1 20' Oturehua, Oturehua .. .. Becker Bros. .. . Becker Bros., Oturehua ..27 „ .. 1 17' Lowis's, Blackstone Hill .. T. A. Lowis .. T. A. Lowis, Blackstone Hill .. 2 ,. .. 1 10' Dillon's, Blackstone Hill .. J. Dillon .. J. Dillon, Blackstone Hill .. 24 „ .. 1 12' Armitage's, Blackstone Hill .. J. Annitage .. J. Armitage, Blackstone Hill 41 ., .. 1 St. Bathan's, St. Bathan's .. J. Enright .. J. Enright, St. Bathan's .. 24 ;, .. 1 30' Cambrian, Cambrian .. .. D. Jones .. Vinegar Hill Hydraulic S. Co., St. 60 „ .. 1 22' Bathan's Lauder Lane, Cambrian .. S. Clarkson .. Mclntyre & Reed, Beck's 17 „ .. 1 12' Alexandra. Alexandra .. D. Mathias .. Alexandra CM. Co., Alexandra 40 „ 1 9' McPherson's. Coal Creek Flat .. J. Weatherall .. N. Harlewich. Roxburgh 51 ,, 1 IS' Cromwell, Cromwell .. .. R. B. Cowan .. A. Scott, Cromwell .. .. 7 ,, .. 1 13' All Open 26 49.1 40 j All All All All AH 16' AH 20' „ .. 1 16 48 194 1.174 874 30 8 10 148 92 2 3.289 35,165 48,177 3,339 16 303 4,708 6,595 49.499 18 I 11.. 1 3,337 .. I .. 35,359 ; 2 ! .. 2 49.351 3 .. 3 4.213 2 .. 2 311 ...... .. 4.718 .. ! .. .. 6.743 2 j .. ! 2 49,591 1 i .. I 1 .. 6' 6' All toll' Bord and pillar Ditto Open .. I .. Bord and: pillar Ditto .. I .. 459 1,571 2.217 1,357 3,895 2,224 103,089 77.382 ■ 7,081 101,127 2,683 2 4 6 104.660 13 4 79.599 3 .. 3 8,438 12 3 Exhaust Steam Exhaust steam. Shepherd's Creek, Bannockburn J. Hodson, jnn. .. Bannockburn CM. Co., Bannock- | 44 „ .. 1 13' to 6' burn Cardrona, Cardrona .. .. R. McDougall .. R. McDougall, Cardrona .. 37 Brown .. 1 10' Gibbston, Gibbston .. .. J. Cowan .. Gibbston Coal Co., Ltd., Queens- 35 „ .. 1 15' town Nevis, Nevis .. .. I E. J. Williams .. E.J. Williams, Nevis .. 21 „ .. 1 10' Nevis Crossing. Nevis .. .. | R. Ritchie .. R. Ritchie, Nevis .. 18 „ 1 16' All 10' 6' 6' Open .. j Bord and ! pillar Levels .. ] .. Bord and! pillar 115 1,413 68 399 26,326 27,848 7,099 14,803 105,022 1:5 6 26,441 2 .. 2 29,261 1 i 2 3 Natural. South Otago. Fenihill, Abbotsford .. .. G. F. Turner .. Femhill Coal and Sand Co., 44 Lignite .. 1 8' Dunedin Freeman's, Abbotsford .. W.Evans .. ] Freeman's Coal Co.. Green Island 41 ,, ..1 20' to 8' Jubilee, Saddle Hill .. .. T. Barclay, sen. .. j Jubilee Coal Co., Ltd.. Dunedin 24 ., .. 2 8' to 6' Saddle Hill (No. 1), Saddle Hill R. Hill .. .. Christie Bros., Mosgiel, Dunedin 49 ,, .. 1 20' Harris's Burnweil, Saddle Hill .. R. Hill .. .. I Christie Bros.. Mosgiel, Dunedin .. .. .. 1 20' * Saddle HU1 (No. 2). Saddle Hill R.Hill .. .. ; Christie Bros., Mosgiel. Dunedin ! 20 „ .. 1 20' Walton Park, Fairfield .. R. Hill .. .. : Christie Bros., Mosgiel, Dunedin 1 „ .. 1 10' East Taieri, Riccarton .. E. Charles .. i East Taieri Coal Co., Riccarton, I 111 „ .. 1 8' Mosgiel Grades. Riccarton .. .. 31. Tikey .. : M. Tikey& Co., Riccarton, Mosgiel 1 ,, .. 1 6' Brighton, Brighton .. .. D. McColl, sen. .. ! D. McColl, sen.'. Brighton ..6 ., ..1 9' Ruanui, Brighton .. .. | N. McColl .. D.I. McColl, jun., Brighton .. 1 „ .. 1 ■ 5' Waronui, Milton .. .. , J. Carruthers, jnn. . Bruce Rly. & Coal Co., Dunedin 17 „ 1 12' to 6' McGilp's, Milton .. J. Carruthers, jun. '■ Bruce Ely. & Coal Co., Dunedin 17 .. .. 1 7' Tres Bon, Akatore .. .. J. Hill .. .. I Hill & Perry, Milton .. .. 2 „ .. 1 14' Crichton. Crichton .. J. Hodson, sen. .. Crichton Coal Co., Reefton .. 2 „ .. 1 20' Dunlop's, Lovell's Flat .. J. McMillan .. John O'Fee & others, Kaitangata 2 „ .. 1 20' Lakeside .. .. .. C Penman .. W. Stevenson. Invercargill .. 2 „ .. 1 18' Taratu, Lovell's Flat .. .. ! J. Hadcroft .. Sargood & Cheeseman, Dunedin .. 20 „ ..3 40' to 8' Tuakitoto (late Port Arthur), j J. Throp .. i J. Throp, Kaitangata .. 11 „ .. 1 7' Tuakitoto 6' All All All All All 61 6' All 8' to 7' All All 8' 7' 7' r r All Bord and piiliar Ditto .. .. 1 1,779 5,063 12,769 8,641 2.075 13.595 90 6,494 4 160 19 16.852 li;178 986 807 24 6 315 35,856 370 173,165 578,669 392,945 266,117 70,408 295,394 28,516 "7,192 233,403 83,200 28,787 463 1.536 1,185 441,274 2.996 7,167 .. j 1 1 15,202 .. 2 2 174,944 15 6 583,732 2 6 S 405,714 8 22 30 274,758 4 9 13 72.483 3 7 10 308.989 8 13 21 90 3 4 7 35,010 3 10 13 4 .. .. .. 7,352 .. 1 I 1 19 .. .. j .. 250,255 13 21 , 34 «4,378 2 9 11 29,778 3 2 5 1.270 12 3 1,782 13 4 1.500 112 477,130 20 66 86 3,375 ... * 3 Natural. Furnace. Fan. Natural. Exhaust steam. Fan. Natural. Fan & natural. Exhaust steam.

C—2

49

kaituna, Kaitangata Vangaloa, Wangaloa .. Laidale, Wangaloa Caibrook, Wangaloa .. ioseneath (late Middleton' s), Wangaloa Lai Point (late Caird Bros.), Kaitangata Summerhill, Kaitangata kaitangata No. 1, Kaitangata .. Caitangata No. 2, Kaitangata .. Jastle Hill, Kaitangata ienhar, Stirling Uydevale, Clydevale G. F. Whittlestone I Kaituna Coal Co., Ltd.. Dunedin | 13 T. Gage .. .. T. Gage, Kaitangata .. .. j 2 J. Fazakerley .. Morrison Bros., Kaitangata .. 3 F. S. Edwards .. F. S. Edwards, Kaitangata .. 2 T. Middleton .. T. Middleton, Kaitangata .. j 2 D. A. Anderson .. Caird Bros., Kaitangata ..1.2 J. Brennan .. | J. Brennan, Kaitangata .. 1 A. S. Gillanders .. ! N.Z. Coal & OU Co.. Ltd.. Dunedin '< 45 F.Carson .. N.Z. Coal & Oil Co., Ltd., Dunedin I 9 W.Carson .. N.Z. Coal & OU Co., Ltd., Dunedin ! 28 J. Walls .. P. McSkimming & Son, Benhar .. 58 M. Kean .. M. Kean, Clydevale .. .. 5 J. Broome .. Miller Bros., Pukerau .. .. 3 D. Ballock .. Ballock Bros., Otikerama .. 24 A. Reinke .. E. H. Reinke. Southland .. 2 D. McLean .. D. McLean, Gore .. .. 2 R. Craig .. .. R. Craig, East Gore .. 43 J. Mason .. T. Green & Co., Ltd., Gore .. 33 J. J. Nicol .. J. J. Nicol, Gore .. 34 R. L. Reid .. R. L. Reid, Waikaka Valley .. 25 A. A. Edge .. ! A. A. Edge, Waiakaka .. 28 P. Ramsay ..IP. Ramsay, North Chatton .. 18 D. R. Gaudion .. J. Byrnes, Pyramid .. .. 5 J. L. Hardy .. J. L. Hardy, Wendon .. .. 1 T. Northcoat .. T. Northcoat, Waikaia .. 22 D. R. Gaudion .. T. D. Moflat, Waikaia .. .. 18 M. C. Hutton .. Mrs. M. C. Hutton, Waikaia .. I 30 E. Jones .. E. Jones, Kingston Crossing .. 3 J. A. Denton .. J. A. Denton, The Kev .. 19 J. C. McDonald .. J. C. McDonald, Tussock Creek .. 1 R. Brown .. Mataura Colls. Co., Gore .. 25 C. E. Rowe .. C. E. Rowe, Mataura .. .. 16 A. E Barnes .. Beattie, Coster, * Co., Ltd., 45 Mataura P. Larking .. P. Larking, Mataura .. .. 2 A. E Peck .. Peck Bros'., Box 39, Mataura .. 1 P. H. Barber .. P. H. Barber, Waimumu .. 2 E. Todd .. .. E. George, Wyndham .. .. 41 J. Bushbridge .. J. Bnshbridge, Wyndham .. 14 A. McMUlan .. S. McMillan, Invercargill .. 19 W.Morgan .. Nightcaps Coal Co., InvercargUl.. 40 W.Morgan .. Nightcaps Coal Co., InvercargUl.. 5 T. Thomson .. Thomson, Currie, and Dockerty, 3 Nightcaps W. Buchanan .. Burndale Coal Co., Nightcaps .. 5 H. Talbot .. Coaldale Coll. Co., Ltd., Dunedin 4 R. W. Duncan .. Black Diamond Coal Co., Ltd., 6 Nightcaps W. Dixon .. Southland Coal Co., Invercargill 15 A. Morris .. Smith & Timpany, InvercargUl .. 16 A. Hunter .. Mossbank Coal Co., Ltd., Inver- 7 cargill J. Thomson .. Wells & partv, Nightcaps .. 1 A. W. Whittlestone Wairaki Coaf Co. Ltd., Nightcaps 8 A. W. Whittlestone Wairaki Coal Co., Ltd., Nightcaps 3 .. ! 1 14' 7' 1 11' 7' .. 1 16' to 10' 6' .. I 1 10' 8' .. 1 16' 8' 1 18' 8' 1 10' 6' Brown .. 3 25' to 6' All ..3 25' to 6' All ..3 20' to 18' AU Lignite ..1 25' 10' to 12' 1 12' All Lignite .. 1 12' 8' ..1 16' All .. 1 W AU .. ' 1 12' 10'. 1 24' 14' 1 19' 13' 1 10' All 1 10' AH „ .. 1 14' 9' 1 20' 15' „ .. i 1 0' 8' .. ! 1 16' 10' .. ! 1 5' All 1 16' 9'to 7' ..1 12' All ..1 24' 11' ..1 6' All ..1 10' All ..1 17' 12' 1 15' All 1 18' 12' 1 15' 11' '.. .. 1 12' 6' 1 10' All ..1 9' AU 1 13' AU 1 32' 16' Brown .. 2 6'and 4' All ..1 28' 20' ..1 7' All ..26' and 5' 6' ..1 8' All ..1' 25' 8 „ .. 1 9' 7' ..2 14'and4i' AH ..1 18' 6' ..1 5' ; All 1 10' 7' 1 16' 7' Open Bord and pillar Open .. Bord and j pillar Ditto .. Open Bord and pillar Ditto .. Open Bord and pillar Open Bord and pillar Open Bord and pillar Open Bord and pillar Bord and pillar and open Ditto .. Bord and pillar Ditto 3,038 474 1,567 650 1,899 1,611 152 99,316 10,938 100 1,028 346 368 1,656 2,957 14,010 20 132 1,890 2,832 171 166 113 1,853 444 1,600 99 60 7 ,253 1,362 13,119 782 100 132 1,026 1,644 2,226 18,885 ' 6,203 304 2,069 6,922 13,243 9,632 11.569 7,792 420 1,323 15,544 i 11,636 I 167 ! 5,228 438 391 235 3,832,121 198.662 195 2,588 855 520 1,347 80,054 240,831 2,052 59,181 20,296 93,727 3,567 : '36,606 I 44,578 7,071 \ 2,769 1,986 221,270 21,577 225,625 130 645 : 25,790 16,903 23,149 J- 1,393,900 J 20 957 917 24,051 68.530 118,135 35,722 1 24,325 | 14,674 3 9 641 1 2 6,795 1 4 1,088 1 3 2,290 1 2 1,846 .. 2 152 1 3,931,437 79 253 209,600 1 7 295 3,616 .. 1 1.201 1 888 1 3,003 1 2 83.011 1 3 254.841 4 10 2,072 59,313 2 22,186 1 2 96,559 1 3 3,738 1 1 166 1 36,719 1 46.431 1 3 7.515 1 4,369 1 2 2,085 1 60 1 .. 228,523 2 7 23,439 3 2 238,714 3 7 912 1 100 1 777 1 26,816 2 18.547 2 25.375 2 f 22 38 1,418.988 4 13 12 324 1 3,026 1 4 7,839 4 14 37,294 8 12 78,162 5 17 129,704 6 13 43,514 5 10 420 1 3 41,192 { J J 12 3 Natural. 5 „ 4 3 . 2 ! 1 332 Fan. 8 Exhaust steam. Southland. 'ukerau, Pukerau 1 Natural. Itikerama Station, Pukerau tosedale (late Reinke's), McNab dcLean's, Whiterig .. 1 i 1 i 3 Natural. Vhiterig, East Gore .. Ireen's, Gore tiverview Gore Springfield. Waikaka Valley llenlee, Waikaka 4 Exhaust steam. 14 i Fan. "2 j .. 3 I Natural. lamsay's, North Chatton 'yramid, Pyramid Vendon, Wendon jandsUp, Waikaia iossvale, Waikaia Irgyle, Waikaia ?errace, Kingston Crossing . 4 2 1 1 4 1 3 Natural. Winchester Creek, The Key forest Hill, Tussock Creek lataura Collieries, Mataura 1 1 9 Fan. Joghead, Mataura 5 •lautaura Lignite, Mataura 10 Fan. ?errace, Mataura ?i Tepu, Mataura leatherlea, Waimumu )ta Creek, Wyndham Jlarkes, Wyndham Mamond Lignite, Seaward Bush sTightcaps No. 1, Nightcaps 1 1 1 2 2 2 60 Fan. Nightcaps No. 2, Nightcaps 15 Natural. Stirling, Nightcaps 3 1 1 1 iurndale, Nightcaps .. 5 2 5 Exhaust steam. 5 Nightcaps Black Diamond, Nightcaps 4 6 1 1' 18 Fan. 18 20 20 few Brighton, Nightcaps Yairio, Nightcaps lossbank, Nightcaps 15 16 7 1 2 1 22 19 Natural. 15 Fan. 22 19 15 Veils & party, Nightcaps Vairaki No. 1, Nightcaps Vairaki No. 2, Nightcaps 1 8 3 1 1 1 4 Natural. 4 Fan. 4 4 34 I 34 ' „

,Q.—2.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinhee, Government Printer, Wellington.— 1922.

Approximate Cost of Paper. — Preparation not given; printing (675 copies), £88.

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1921— continued.

Price Is. <3<il

50

Name of Mine and Locality. Name of Mine Manager. Name and Address of Owner. •£,"§1 ,g« „e Number of Persons £ ■ ,_,_ j £S Tnfal Total Output Total Output ordinarily employed. « 2 Classification « % Thickness of Thickness Tj„J„™ na iS Outnutfor to 31st to 31st i c J of Coal. ■§_ Coal-seams. worked. ,£1,?[°™ 6 = ""g" 1 Ior December, December, \ a . §£i so ! workln 8- s-g 1MZ1 - 1920. 1921. "I - K*| X i ■ I -*i ( PQ H Means of Ventilation. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTI EtICT — contini '.ed. Linton, Nightcaps .. .. I C R. Heycock .. Linton Coal Co., Ltd., Invercargill 6 Brown .. 2 18' and 16' |> * to 5 j-' Ohai (lately Willow). Nightcaps.. C. Drain .. .. W. Stevenson, Invercargill .. : 2 „ .. 2; 16'and 7' Birchwood. Ohai. Nightcaps .. J. Lloyd .. .. Birehwood Coal Co.. Ohai, Night- I 1 ,, .. 1 22' caps Orepuki, Orepnki .. .. i J. Gillick.. .. j N.7.. Coal & Oil Co., Ltd., Dunedin [ 25 ,, .. 1 10' Lvnwood Te Anau .. .. I J. Porter .. ! N.Z, Government Tourist Dept.. i 11 Lignite 1 7' I Wellington Output'of collieries included in previous statements at, which operations are suspended or abandoned Totals, Southern District, I .. .. .. .. ■ ■ j South Island Totals, West Coast Dis- .. .. .. .. .... trict. South Island Totals,' North Island .. -. .. .. .. .. j .. 8' to 5-|' All 10' 7' All Bord and pillar Open Bord and pillar Open [ I Tons. 22,071 1,082 2,616 3,633 222 Tons. 28,007 2,714 31.018 2,676 2,765,284 Tons. 50,078 16 24 | 40 Fan. 3,796 4 .. 4 2,616 3 6 i 9 Natural. 34,651 I 5 8 | 13 Exhaust steam. 2,898 1 .. ■ 1 2,765,284 | .. . | .. | .. 483,613 j 14,112,183 | 14,595,796 374 I 846 1,220 810,875 j 27,386,175 28,197,050 547 11,479 2,026 514,607 10,088,678 10,603,285 297 [ 824 ; 1,121 Grand totals .. I .. .. .. * j .. I .. i " J 1,809,095 j 1,809,095 51,587,036 I 51,587,036 | 53,396,131 [1,218 ;3,149 4,367 53,396,131 [1,218 ;3,149 4,367 - — — 1 Output of some collieries prior to 1890 not included In the above statement- .. .. Shale exported. 1914 .. I .. .. .. .. .. i "* ! 311,779 21 53,707,931 311,779 .. .. i .. 21 .. .... S3 707 931 "