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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1925 Session I, C-02

C— 2

MINES STATEMENT.

CONTENTS.

PAGE Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 1-7 Mineral-production .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 2 Gold and Silver Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Kawa rau Falls Dam .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 2 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Tungsten (Scheelite) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Goal-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ 3 Investigations, New Zealand coals ~ .. .. .. .. . , 3 Persons employed in or about Mines and Stone-quarri.es .. .. .. .. 4 Mining and Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Geological Survey .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Government Prospecting-drills .. ~ .. .. .. .. 5 Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Roads and Tracks .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 5 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Government Water-races .. ~ .. .. .. .. , , 5 Miner's Phthisis Act .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 5 State Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6, 7 Working Portions of State Collieries on the Co-operative Principle .. 6 Output and Sales .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Tree-planting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Items from Balance-sheet .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 7 Tables to accompany Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 8-11 No. 1. Export of Minerals and Coal-output .. .. .. .. .. 8 No. 2. Gold—Quantity and Value exported .. .. . . .. .. 9 No. 3. Coal—Output from different Fields .. .. . . . . . . 9 No. 4. Coal—Output of different Classes .. .. .. .. . . . . 10 No. 5. Coal and Oil-shale—Annual Production.; Coal imported .. . . . 10 No. 6. Coal—Imports .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . 10 Exports: Bunkers .. .. .. .. .. . . 11 Exports: Cargo .. .. .. .. .. .. . 11 No. 7. Number of Persons employed in Mining .. .. .. .. .. 11 Appendices to the Mines Statement .. .. .. .. .. .. 12-59 Appendix A.—Reports relating to Metalliferous Mines and Stone-quarries .. . . 12-34 Report by Inspecting Engineer .. .. .. .. .. .. 12-19 I. Minerals : Produced .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Exported .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 11. Persons employed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 IV. Gold-mining : Bullion-production; Dividends declared ; Persons employed ; Number of Mines and Dredges .. .. .. .. 14 (1.) Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 (2.) Dredge Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 (3.) Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 V. Minerals other than Gold .. .. .. .. .. . . 16 Tungsten .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Iron . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Petroleum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 VI. Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Quarrying Operations .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Quarry Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. 17

i—C. 2.

0.—2

Appendices to the Mines Statement —continued. Appendix A —continued. Report by Inspecting Engineer —continued. page VII. State Aid to Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. 17-19 (1.) Subsidized Prospecting .. .. .. .. ..17,18 (2.) Government Prospecting-drills .. .. .. .. 19 (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 .. .. .. 20-29 Northern Inspection District .. .. .. .. .. '.. 20-24 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20-23 Quicksilver .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Oil-wells .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23, 24 Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast District .. .. .. .. 24-28 Quartz-mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24-26 Dredging .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Alluvial Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Iron .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 27 Petroleum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Quarries .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 27 Prospecting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Southern Inspection District .. .. .. .. . . .. 28, 29 Quartz and Alluvial Mining .. .. .. . . .. .. 28, 29 Dredge Mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Scheelite, Phosphate Rock .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Annexure B—Summary of Report of Government Water-race Manager .. .. 29, 30 Waimea-Kumara Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 29, 30 Annexure C—Report on Stone-quarries .. .. .. .. .. 30 Annexure D —Mining Statistics .. .. .. .. .. .. 31-34 (1.) Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained .. .. .. .. 31, 32 Northern District .. .. .. .. .. . . 31 West Coast District .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 Southern District .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 (2.) Statements of Affairs of Mining Companies .. .. .. .. 33, 34 Appendix B—Reports relating to the Inspection of Coal-mines . . .. .. 35-59 Report by Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector .. .. . . .. 35-41 Section I. Coal Output and Imports .. .. . . .. .. 35 Section 11. Persons employed .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Section 111. Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37 Section IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act .. .. .. .. 38-41 (a.) Permitted Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 (&.) List of Mines required by Law to use Permitted Explosives .. .. 38 (c.) List of Mines required by Law to use Safety Lamps .. .. . 39 (d.) Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. .. 39, 40 (e.) Electricity at Collieries .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 (/.) Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 41 Section V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining .. .. .. .. 41 Annexure A —Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines .. .. .. 41-54 Northern District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 41-45 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Prosecutions .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 44 Welfare .. .. .. .. .. . „ .. .. 44 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44, 45 West Coast District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45-49 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. . . .. .. 48 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 48, 49 Prosecutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49 Southern District .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49-54 Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 53 Dangerous Occurrences .. .. .. .. .. .. 53, 54 Annexure B—Colliery Statistics .. . . .. . . .. .. 55 59

II

C.—2

1925. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament my fifth annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended the 31st December, 1924. 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 1924 and 1923 : —

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 £3,237,331, as compared with £3,423,927 during 1923. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1924 amounted to £156,505,515.

I—C. 2.

1924. . 1923. Mineral. : 1 Quantity. J Value. Quantity, Value. £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 652,855 oz. 607,253 692,090 oz. 737,170 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 3 tons 126 5-2% tons 218 Iron .. .. •• 630 „ 4,725 Stone .. •• •• •• 373,827 .. 370,995 Pumice .. .. .. .. 1,629 „ 4,956 3,716 tons 10,029 Coal .. .. •• 2,083,207 „ 2,083,207 1,969,834 „ 1,969,834 Totals .. .. .. .. £3,074,094 .. £3,088,246 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unaeparated.

C.—2

2

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 1924 and 1923 : —

The quantity of gold bullion produced during the year was 39,235 oz. less than in the previous year, and the value less by £129,917. This reduction was principally due to the diminished returns from quartz-mining in Waihi Borough and Tauranga County, though decreases were also shown in the gold got from dredging and from alluvial mining. KAWARAU FALLS DAM. During the year the Kawarau Gold-mining Company (Limited) made a commencement with the damming of Lake Wakatipu. That work is to be effected by means of ten stony sluice-gates, each having an effective waterway 40 ft. in width by 7 ft. 6 in. in height, and eacli being supported at its end by massive concrete pillars, of which there are eleven, including the abutments. The object of this work is to keep back the water in Lake Wakatipu during certain months of the year, and thus enable mining operations to be carried out as far as possible in the Kawarau River. It must not be overlooked that the erection of the gates referred to will not lay bare the bed of the Kawarau River, as there are other streams and rivers from which water flows into the Kawarau River. The company has, it is understood, arranged to sublease, under tribute agreements, portions of the mining rights held by it in the Kawarau River. Substantial sums of money have been raised by the subsidiary companies for the purpose of carrying on mining operations in the river. It is, in my opinion, a matter for serious consideration by all those concerned to meet one another, before the gates are closed, for the purpose of devising and carrying out systematic mining operations, so that the most beneficial results may be obtained. lam sorry to say that misleading statements have been made in some of the prospectuses which have been issued by the promoters of several subsidiary companies in Australia. It was stated that the Kawarau Gold-mining Company (Limited) had obtained a license from the New Zealand Mines Department, issued by the Warden at Queenstown and sanctioned by the Minister of Mines, to dam Lake Wakatipu, which statement is not correct. The dam license was issued at the discretion of the Warden under the statutory powers conferred upon him, and the license did not require my consent or sanction as stated in the prospectus. It was also stated that the company's undertaking had for its purpose the shutting-off of Lake Wakatipu from the Kawarau River to lay bare the bed of the river. This statement is greatly exaggerated, as the damming of Lake Wakatipu could not by any stretch of imagination lay bare the bed of the river, for the reasons already mentioned above. It was also stated in prominent lettering that the scheme had been hall-marked by the New Zealand Government, which statement is also contrary to fact. The New Zealand Government has not in any way guaranteed the success of the scheme, and, although it wishes those who are finding the money every success, and would be glad to see their efforts amply rewarded, it cannot in any way take any responsibility therefor.

Dividends Number of ProducProduetion of Bullion. paid by Registered tive Claims and Class of Gold-mining. Companies. Dredges. 1924. 192:!. 1924. 1923. 1924. 1923. Oz. £ Oz. £ £ £ Quartz .. .. 625,162 490,850 661,468 609,993 50,790 24,795 23 22 Alluvial .. 14,357 57,863 14,834 59,174 6,180 2,266 273 130 Dredging .. 13,336 58,540 15,788 68,003 6,566 3,283 5 8 Totals .. 652,855:607,253 692,090 737,170 63,536 J 30,344 301 160

3

C.—2

MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD AND SILVER. The market price for scheelite was too low to permit the scheelite-mines to be operated during the year. The blast furnace at Onakaka was in operation for about a month, and 630 tons of pig iron were produced. Work was stopped pending the construction of a better means of transport between the wharf and the blast furnace. The search for petroleum in the Taranaki District is again being prosecuted. A well is being drilled at Tarata, and another at Moturoa, and expert oil geologists are searching for a favourable structure or structures in the vicinity of those localities. Similar field-work is being carried out in the Gisborne - East Cape district. COAL-MINING. The output of several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows : —

There were 2,083,207 tons of coal produced during 1924, as against 1,969,834 tons during the previous year, an increase of 113,373 tons. This increase was wholly of high-class bituminous coals, of which the output was 149,307 tons greater than in 1923. There were small decreases, 21,343 tons and 14,591 tons, in the outputs of brown and lignite coals. During the year the coal-mines in the Dominion have been free from any serious industrial trouble, and ample supplies of coal have been available for all the requirements of the country. Many of the mines are finding difficulty in marketing their outputs ; on this account, and as 674,483 tons of coal were imported from abroad, mostly from Australia, a Board has been appointed to investigate and report as to how far imported coals can be replaced by New Zealand coals on the Government railways. My attention has from time to time been called by my staff to serious losses of coal as the result of the bad methods which were followed years ago when the mines were being opened out. The number of fires which have occurred in coalmines has been rather alarming, and steps were taken last year to obtain parliamentary authority to require the owners of coal-mines to take suitable steps in future so as to more effectively control fires which may arise from time to time. There is still, however, a necessity for strengthening the existing law so as to enable more effective means to be taken to ensure that coal-mines shall be worked by such methods as to enable a very much larger quantity of coal to be extracted in future than has been the case in some of the mines in the past. Suitable provisions will be drafted, and I hope to be able to introduce same during this session of Parliament, in order that they may be considered during the recess and passed into law next session. Investigations, New Zealand Goals. With a view to the utilization of much of the slack from our collieries, for which at present there is no profitable market, an experimental briquetting-press was purchased from Yeadon and Son, Leeds, and installed at the Dominion Laboratory early in 1924. A series of preliminary tests showed that New Zealand brown coals cannot be briquetted without a binder, but that the lignites and possibly some of the bituminous coals can be so briquetted. A large amount of work has been carried out on the brown coals to determine the most suitable binder

Output of Goal during 1924. Total Output Class of Goal. Northern West Coast Southern _ 5° 5 h ® . District District District Total. ■ Hjna 01 iy^4 ' i (North Island). (South Island). (South Island). Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and sub-bitu- 129,927 955,077 ... 1,085,004 36,938,671 minous Brown... ... ... 507,598 35,173 296,246 839,017 18,990,027 Lignite ... ... ... 362 158,824 159,186 3,675,650 Totals for 1924 ... 637,525 990,612 455,070 2,083,207 59,604,348 Totals for 1923 ... 633,865 849,029 486,940 1,969,834 57,521,141

C.—2

4

or combination of binders, and the best conditions of working-—pressure, temperature, &c. Very promising results have been obtained, but it will be necessary to continuejthe investigations for some time longer until the best conditions for manufacture have been determined. When that stage is reached it is intended to commence systematic tests on the briquetting of bituminous coals and finally on lignites. In order to expedite the work Mr. W. H. A. Penseler, B.Sc., 8.E., was appointed in December last to carry out the investigation under the direction of the Dominion Analyst. At the present time the most satisfactory means for preventing explosions in coal-mines is the use of stone-dust for underground roadways. In order to acquire reliable information as to the relative inflammability of New Zealand coals and the amount of stone-dusting required to render the mines safe from the dangers of coal-dust explosions, arrangements were made with the British Mines Department in 1923 to carry out a series of tests on representative New Zealand coals at the Eskmeals Experimental Station. Seven samples of 10 tons each were sent, and were tested during last year. The report is now to hand, and with other data which is being obtained will be considered with a view, if necessary, to amending the present law in order to provide greater security against coal-dust explosions. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1924 and 1923

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at which 1,858 men were ordinarily employed, there were three fatal accidents, and three persons were seriously injured. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 1,748 men, there were four persons killed, and four persons met with serious injuries. There were 4,869 persons ordinarily employed about the coal-mines, and there were ten persons killed and twenty-five persons seriously injured. The most marked features of the fatalities for the year were that 70 per cent, were haulage accidents, this cause usually accounting for only 25 per cent, of the fatal accidents during any one year, and, secondly, that five of the fatal accidents were to men over sixty-five years of age. All the fatalities for the year were purely accidental, and unavoidable in the sense that they were due to causes which could not be forseen or provided against by law or otherwise. Of the twenty-five serious but non-fatal accidents a large proportion, as formerly, were eye accidents to miners at the coal-face. It is expected that as a result of the rapidly increasing use of eye-shields by the miners in the Northern District that this class of accident will be considerably reduced in future. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. • During the field season ended 31st May last the geological survey of the Rodney district was completed, and a detailed report on this and on the adjoining Dargaville district is now in course of preparation. The survey of the Motueka district has been carried on under considerable difficulties, due mainly to the mountainous nature of much of the country and to the lack of suitable labour. It will not be

Inspection District. Totals. Classification. I 0 ,, | T Northern West Coast (of , ° a f o n ,. 1Q9 . ncrease (North Island).! South Island).. (»* "£ South 1924. 1923. , or I v ' I ' Island). Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 963 535 332 1,830 2,027 Dec. 197 Ironstone and cinnabar .. 4 24 .. 28 7 Inc. 21 Coal .. .. .. 1,347 2,480 1,042 4,869 5,000 Dec. 131 Stone-quarries under the Stone- 1,179 234 335 1,748 1,644 Inc. 104 quarries Act Totals .. .. 3,493 3,273 1,709 8,475 8,678 Dec. 203

5

C. —>2

finished until next; season. The survey of the Kaitangata district was extended westward to include most of the northern part of Clutha County, and north-east-ward toward the Green Island coalfield. This survey also at the end of the field season was unfinished. The old fossil collections of the geological survey and those made during later years are being examined as rapidly as circumstances permit. In addition to the work done by the Palaeontologist, help is being given by outside scientists, both in New Zealand and abroad. During the year a detailed geological report (Bulletin No. 27) on the Whangarei - Bay of Islands Subdivision and palseontological reports on Cretaceous and Tertiary foraminifera and on Triassic fossils were sent to the printer. Detailed reports (with map) on the Egmont Subdivision, the Tongaporutu-Ohura Subdivision, and the Waiapu Subdivision are nearly ready for publication. Since each of these reports deals with possible petroliferous areas it is hoped that the important information contained in them will soon be available to the public, and more especially to those who are now endeavouring to develop the petroleum resources of this country. The only official publication of the Geological Survey issued during the year was its annual report, but several papers by officers of the survey have been published in the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute " and elsewhere. STATE All) TO MINING. As in previous years, considerable use was made of the Government prospectingdrills. They were hired by nine parties, and a total of 5,948 ft. was drilled. For the year a total of £15,411 lis. lid. was expended in subsidies for prospecting, and 105 persons were employed in connection therewith. £4,126 was expended by way of direct grants and subsidies for roads and tracks. The expenditure on schools of mines amounted to £3,501 lis. 3d., against £3,172 10s. 4d. during the previous year. The cash received for water sold from the Waimea-Ivumara and Mount Ida Government water-races, constructed to assist alluvial gold-mining in the Kumara and Naseby districts, amounted to £1,434 19s. 9d. (including royalty on timber), and the expenditure to £1,635 14s. Id. Gold to the approximate value of £3,544 was obtained. The control of the Mount Ida water-races was transferred to the Public Works Department on the Ist September. MINEE'S PHTHISIS ACT, 1915. The benefits under this Act are administered by the Pensions Department, and the following is a statement supplied by the Commissioner of Pensions showing the amount payable and the number of pensions in force and granted to the 31st March, 1925 Amounts paid since inception until 31st March, 1925- — £ From Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, 1924 . . 180,493 For year ended 31st March, 1925 . . . , 38,506 £218,999 Number of new grants for year 1924-25 . . . . 11l Annual value of new grants . . . . . . £7,800 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1925 . . 607 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1925 . . £37,934 Average pension payable per annum .. .. £62| Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1925.. 1,163 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1925, includes the following :— To unmarried miners . , . . . . 219 To married miners . . . . . , 441 To widows of miners .. .. . . 503 1,163

a—2,

6

STATE COLLIERIES. Working Portions of State Collieries on the Co-operative Principle. As honourable members are no doubt fully aware, an effort was made during the past twelve months to work three portions of the State collieries under co-operative agreements. Two of the sections so worked were isolated from other portions of the State collieries, but the third and remaining section formed a part of the James Colliery. One of the sections was worked under the co-operative system for a period of about six months and the other sections for shorter periods. The results obtained demonstrated clearly that the men obtained material benefits when compared with what they would have gained under the old system, and that such benefits were obtained by the good spirit and fine team-work that prevailed in carrying out mining operations. It was also manifest that under the co-opera-tive principle the relationship established between the men and the Department's officials was of a most cordial nature. One and all concerned did their best to make the new system a success ; but, unfortunately, those members of the Miners' Union who were not working on a co-operative system went out on strike as a protest against portions of the mines being worked under such a system, and by pressure from them the members of the co-operative parties were compelled to cancel their contracts with the Department, thus bringing to a termination for the time being an honest and earnest endeavour to better the conditions of the miners employed at the State collieries. Output and Sales. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended 31st March, 1924, are briefly reviewed hereunder. Liverpool Colliery.—The gross output for the year was 116,175 tons, as compared with 134,320 tons for last year, a decrease of 18,145 tons. James Colliery. —The gross output for the year was 28,995 tons, as compared with 25,797 tons for last year, an increase of 3,198 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown hereunder : —-

Note. —The difference between the gross and the net output is the allowance for mine consumption and waste. In addition to the above 1,291 tons of coal were purchased for resale, of which 195 tons were purchased from co-operative parties on the West Coast. The disposal, inclusive of stock on hand at the beginning of the year, was as follows : Supplied to —Depots, 36,507 tons ; railways, 5,760 tons ; other Government Departments, 8,092 tons ; shipping, 21,924 tons ; gasworks, 63,324 tons ; other consumers, 4,317 tons : total, 139,924 tons. The total sales of State coal from the Liverpool Mine for the year amounted to 112,197 tons, value £168,600, as compared with 129,329 tons, value £204,176, for last year —a decrease of 17,132 tons, with a decrease in value of £35,576. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £l 10s. 0-65 d., a decrease of Is. 6'24d. on last year's average. This decrease is due to sales to Christchurch depot being changed from a c.i.f. Lyttelton basis to f.o.r. Rewanui consequent upon the opening of the Otira Tunnel. The total sales of State coal from the James Mine for the year amounted to 27,727 tons, value £41,219, giving an average of £l 9s. 8-78 d. per ton, a decrease of 2s. 8-59 d. on last year's average. The sales of coal, &c., through the medium of the depots totalled 104,486 tons, value £210,619, as against 119,387 tons, value £246,976 for last year. The losses at the mines were £3,390, and the profit at the depots, &c., £4,211, making a net profit of £821. £4,552 was applied to the Sinking Fund Account out of the General Reserve. There was keen competition in the sale of coal during the year, owing mainly to large importations of coal by private enterprise from Australia.

Output in Tons, 1924-25. Output in Tons, 1923-24. Mine. j > 'I Gross. j Net. Gross. Net. Liverpool .. .. 116,175 111,487 134,320 129,663 James .. .. j 28,995 26,445 25,797 ! 24,036

7

C.—2

Losses on coal sold to miners, concessions in the form of special railway facilities, and of allowances for railway fares to miners and workmen amounted to £5,458, and this sum was allowed for in arriving at the net profit for the year. Tree-planting—State Coal Areas. As advised in my last Statement, the question of obtaining supplies of suitable timber for use at the State collieries is a most important one, and in order that requirements may be assured in future an area of about 84 acres has been planted at Waikokowai. An area of about 45 acres has also been planted on the State Colliery Reserve at Dunollie, and arrangements have also been made for the planting, this year, of an additional 50 acres adjoining that already planted. In addition, arrangements have also been made to plant up the blanks in the areas at Waikokowai planted in 1923 and 1924. The trees planted at Waikokowai consisted mainly of Finns radiata and Eucalyptus. Five different varieties of trees were, however, planted at Dunollie —viz., Oregon pine, Eucalyptus viminalis, E. Macarthuri, E. eugenioides, E. Gunnii. Unfortunately, during the recent summer the trees on an area of approximately 3| acres in the Dunollie Plantation were destroyed by fire, but how it originated was never ascertained. Items prom Balance-sheet. The following items taken from the balance-sheet, which has been audited, 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 off for depreciation for the year was . . . . 38,390 The payments for interest totalled . . . . . . . . 9,252 The payments for sea carriage of coal amounted to . . . . 59,727 The cost of railway haulage amounted to . . - . 28,497 The total wages paid for coal-winning were . . . . . . 79, 684 The amount paid for management and office salaries (Head Office and mines) totalled .. .. . . . . . . 3, 908 The gross capital expenditure on the whole undertaking to the 31, st March last was . . . . . . . . . . .. 578,411 The total depreciation written off to date (equal to 58 per cent, on the gross capital expenditure) amounts to . . . . . . 335,824 The debenture and loan capital stands at . . . . . . 227, 601 The net profits of the State Coal-mines Account from inception to the 31st March, 1925 . . .. .. . . . . . . 106,017 The net profit for the year ended 31st March, 1925, was . . 821 The sinking fund is in credit . . . . . . . . 41,669 General reserve stands at .. ~ .. . . . . 67,360 The amount at credit of Profit and Loss is . . . . . . 821 The cash in hand and in the Public Account at the 31st March last was (last year £17,389) . . , . . . . . 12,888 The present net book value of permanent or fixed assets is .. 242,587 TABLES AND REPORTS. The usual statistical tables and departmental reports are appended.

8

C.—2

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, 1923 abd 1924, 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, 1924. 31st December, 1923. IstJanuary, 1853, to the Name of Metal or Mineral. [ 31st December, 1924. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Precious metals— Oz. £ Oz. £ Oz. £ Gold* .. .. .. 133,631 551,788 169,512 698,583 23,176,091 91,414,828 Silver .. .. .. 578,217 71,981 514,655 02,851. 24,632,908 2,904,651 Total gold and silver .. 711,848 623,769 684,167 761,434 47,808,999 94,319,479 Mineral produce, including kaurigum — Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Copper-ore .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,504 19,390 Chrome-ore .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,869 38,002 Antimony-ore .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,781 55,045 Manganese-ore .... 6 36 8 43 19,380 61,994 Haematite ore .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 469 Tungsten-ore .. .. 1,156 13 875 2,340/ b 301,870 Quicksilver .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,336 Sulphur (crude) .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,927 13,241 Mixed mineralsf .. •• 1,971J§ 12,692 4,018,,% 16,622 72,306i§ 306,807 Coal (New Zealand) exported 88,981 161,432 173,833 5,469,660" 5,685,099 Coke exported .. .. 182 444 298 700 17,304 26,852 Coal, output of mines in Do- 1,994,226 1,994,226 1,874,198 1,874,198 54,134,688 34,553,610 minion (less exports) Oil-skale .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,444 7,236 Kauri-gum .. .. 5,261 443,576 6,598 596,222 389,052 21,108,085 Total quantity and value of 2,613,562 2,662,493 62,186,036 minerals Value of gold and silver, as above .. 623,769 .. 761,434 .. 94,319,479 Total value of minerals, including .. 3,237,331 .. 3,423,927 .. 156,505,515 gold and silver * In respect of gold, ounces of the fineness of 20 carats and upwards. t Including pumicestone and pumice-sand, 1,629 tons; also marble of weight unspecified by the Customs Department.

C.—2

9

No. 2. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold exported from New Zealand for the Years ended the 31st December, 1924 and 1923, and the Total Quantity and Value from 1857 to the 31st December, 1924.

No. 3. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Coalfields, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1924 and 1923, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.

2—C. 2.

Year ended Year ended 31st December, 1924. 31st December, 1923. Total Quantity and Value District and County or Borough. from Jan nary, 1857, to 31st December, 1924. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Auckland — Oz. £ Oz. £ Oz. £ County of Tauranga .. .. .. .. 4,593 19,330 16,219 67,953 County of Ooromandel .. .. .. 29 112 County of Thames County of Ohinemuri .. .. .. 256 952 County of Piako Borough of Thames .. .. .. .. 405 1,577 Great Barrier Island Borough of Waihi .. .. .. .. 77,474 325,961 93,986 394,550 82,757 347,932 110,205 462,503 7,164,017 27,772,725 Wellington .. .. .. .. . • ■. • • ■ • .. 188 706 Mablborough— Borough of Blenheim.. .. .. .. 23 92 County of Marlborough .. .. .. 4 18 32 127 27 110 32 127 105,479 410,754 t- . . ————————— Nelson— County of Waimea County of Collingwuod .. .. .. 77 299 225 846 County of Takaka .. .. .. .. .. 9 29 County of Murohison .. .. .. .. 71 277 366 1,514 148 576 600 2,389 1,741,101 6,903,363 West Coast— County of Buller .. .. .. .. 366 1,452 County of Inangahua .. .. .. 25,556 101,429 27,427 107,171 County of Grey .. .. .. •• 819 3,288 647 2,603 County of Westland .. .. .. .. 9,614 39,013 15,019 60,827 Hokitika Borough .. .. .. .. 2,312 9,417 1,764 7,124 Westport Borough .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 130 Kumara Borough .. .. .. .. .. .. 484 1,939 38,667 154,599 45,377 179,794 6,408,916 25,438,359 Canterbury— — -- ~—• — County of Selwyn .. .. .. .. 13 50 2 9 j 135 532 Otago— j County of Taieri .. .. .. .. i .. County of Tuapeka .. .. .. ■■ ! 2,553 10,169 3,926 15,766 County of Vincent .. .. .. ■■ 1,873 7,630 2,791 .11,341 County of Maniototo .. .. .. ..] 1,803 7,178 1,362 5,511 County of Waihemo .. .. .. .. ! 333 1,211 386 1,535 County of Waitaki .. .. .. .. j 29 118 183 730 County of Bruce .. .. .. .. i .. .. 1 4 CountyofLake .. .. .. ..j 707 2,862 458 1,836 County of Wallaoe .. .. .. .. 1,156 4,813 1,133 4,678 County of Fiord County of Southland .. .. .. .. 2,997 12,169 2,728 11,039 County of Clutha 11,451 46,150 12,968 52,440 7,748,510 30,856,822 Unknown .. .. .. .. .. 568 2,371 328 1,321 7,745 31,567 Totals .. .. .. .. 133,631 551,788 169,512 698,583 23,176,091 91,414,828

Output. Approximate Total Output Name of Coalfield. — — — Increase. Decrease. up to 1924. ! 1923. 31st D 1 e ™ mber ' Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. North Auckland .. .. .. 129,927 126,118 3,809 .. 4,386,439 Waikato (including Mokau) .. 507,598 507,747 .. 149 8,008,369 Nelson .. .. .. .. 10,843 8,997 1,846 .. 407,705 Buller .. .. .. .. 597,749 508,959 88,790 .. 18,791,869 Inangabua .. .. .. 34,659 38,107 .. 3,448 497,660 Grey .. .. .. .. 347,361 292,966 54,395 .. 11,329,174 Canterbury .. .. .. 15,164 20,716 .. 5,552 909,502 Otago .. .. .. .. 229,145 252,187 .. 23,042 11,038,669 Southland .. .. .. 210,761 214,037 .. 3,276 4,234,961 Totals .. .. 2,083,207* 1,969,834 .. .. 59,604,348 * Increase, 113,373 tons.

C.—2

10

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 Oilshale 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 1924. Imports.

The values shown are the current domestic values in country of export plus 10 per oent.

°" c P ut ' ! Approximate Total Class of Coal. Increase. Decrease, j Output to the 31st December, 1924. 1924. : 1923. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bituminous 1,085,004 935,697 149,307 .. 36,938,671 Brown .. .. .. 839,017 860,360 .. 21,343 18,990,027 Lignite .. .. .. 159,186 173,777 .. 14,591 3,675,650 Totals .. .. 2,083,207* 1,969,834 .. .. 59,604,348 * Increase, 113,373 tons.

Coal and Shale raised in r , !, llnnvtBf i tiie Dominion. Coal lm P° rt6d - Year. ip n Yearly Increase i m.,,. Increase over Decrease below ° s ' or Decrease. Preceding Year, j Preceding Year. Prior to 1878 .. .. 709,931 ... .. .. ! 1878 .. .. .. 162,218 .. 174,148 1879 .. .. .. 231,218 Inc. 69,000 158,076 .. 16,072 1880 .. .. .. 299,92.3 „ 68,705 123,298 .. 34,778 1881 .. .. .. 337,262 „ 37,339 129,962 6,664 1882 .. .. .. 378,272 „ 41,010 129,582 .. 380 1883 .. .. .. 421,764 „ 43,492 123,540 .. 6,042 1884 .. .. .. 480,831 „ 59,069 148,444 24,904 1885 .. .. .. 511,063 „ 30,232 130,202 .. 18,242 1886 .. .. .. 534,353 „ 23,290 119,873 .. 10,329 1887 .. .. .. 558,620 , 24,267 107,230 .. 12,643 1888 .. .. .. 613,895 . 55,275 101,341 .. 5,889 1889 .. .. .. 586,445 Dec. 27,450 128,063 26,722 1890 .. .. .. 637,397 Inc. 50,952 110,939 .. 17,124 1891 .. .. .. 668,794 „ 31,397 125,318 14,379 1892 .. .. .. 673,315 „ 4,521 125,453 135 1893 .. .. .. 691,548 „ 18,233 117,444 .. 8,009 1894 .. .. .. 719,546 „ 27,998 112,961 .. 4,483 1895 .. .. .. 726,654 , 7,108 108,198 .. 4,763 1896 .. .. .. 792,851 . 66,197 101,756 .. 6,442 1897 .. .. .. 840,713 „ 47,862 110,907 9,151 1898 .. .. .. 907,033 „ 66,320 115,427 4,520 1899 .. .. .. 975,234 „ 68,201 99,655 .. 15,772 1900 .. .. .. 1,093,990 „ 118,756 124,033 24,378 1901 .. .. .. 1,239,686 „ 145,696 149,764 25,731 1902 .. .. .. 1,365,040 „ 125,354 127,853 .. 21,911 1903 .. .. .. 1,420,229 „ 55,189 163,923 36,070 1904 .. .. .. 1,537,838 „ 117,609 147,196 .. 16,727 1905 .. .. .. 1,585,756 „ 47,918 169,046 21,850 1906 .. .. .. 1,729,536 „ 143,780 207,567 38,521 1907 .. .. .. 1,831,009 „ 101,473 220,749 13,182 1908 .. .. .. 1,860,975 „ 29,966 287,808 67,059 1909 .. .. .. 1,911,247 „ 50,272 258,185 .. 29,623 1910 .. .. .. 2,197,362 „ 286,115 232,378 .. 25,807 1911 .. .. .. 2,066,073 Dec. 131,289 188,068 .. 44,310 1912 .. .. .. 2,177,615 Inc. 111,542 364,359 176,291 1913 .. .. .. 1,888,005 Dec. 289,610 468,940 104,581 1914 .. .. .. 2,275,614 Inc. 387,609 518,070 49,130 1915 .. .. .. 2,208,624 Dec. 66,990 353,471 .. 164,599 1916 .. .. .. 2,257,135 Inc. 48,511 293,956 .. 59,515 1917 .. .. .. 2,068,419 Dec 188,716 291,597 .. 2,359 1918 .. .. .. 2,034,250 „ 34,169 255,332 .. 36,265 1919 .. .. .. 1,847,848 „ 186,402 391,434 136,102 1920 .. .. .. 1,843,705 „ 4,143 476,343 84,909 1921 .. .. .. 1,809,095 „ 34,610 822,459 346,116 1922 .. .. .. 1,857,819 Inc. 48,724 501,478 .. ' 320,981 1923 .. .. .. 1,969,834 „ 112,015 445,792 .. 55,686 1924 .. .. .. 2,083,207 „ 113,373 674,483 228,691 !

Country whence imported. Tons. Value. £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 4,925 5,535 Australia .. .. .. .. 669,558 773,975 Totals .. .. .. 674,483 779,510

C.—2.

Exports: Bunkers.

Exports: Cargo.

No. 7. Number of Persons ordinarily employed at or about Mines other than Coal-mines during the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

11

! Produce of New Zealand. ! Produce of other Countries. Country to which exported. j ; —— j Tons. ! Value. Tons. j Value. £ I £ United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 59,989 120,723 7,266 J 13,806 India .. .. .. .. .. 395 887 .. 1 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 18,156 23,089 1,070 2,423 Fiji .. .. .. .. .. . . 475 831 .. Tonga .. .. .. .. .. 160 424 ! New Caledonia .. .. .. .. 1,124 2,248 ! Tuamotu Archipelago .. .. .. .. 847 995 Tutuila .. .. .. .. 811 1,014 j Totals .. .. 81,957 150,211 8,336 16,229

Produce of New Zealand. Produce of other Countries. Country to which exported. — — Tons. Value. Tons. Value. £ ; £ United Kingdom Australia .. .. .. .. .. 4,692 7,507 Fiji .. .. .. .. 82 102 Tonga .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Western Samoa .. .. .. .. 13 33 Society Islands .. .. .. .. 1 3 .. Tutuila .. .. .. .. .. 2,234 3,574 Totals .. .. .. 7,024 11,221 .. j

Number of Persona ordinarily employed at Total. County or Borough. Gold-quartz Gold Gold- Mines other than 1(10 1Q0Q Mines. ! Alluvial Mines, j dredges. Gold and Coal. Northern Inspection District. County and Borough of Thames .. 52 .. .. .. 52 41 County of Ohinemuri .. .. 64 .. .. .. 64 73 „ Coromandel .. .. 33 .. .. .. 33 3f> Borough of Waihi .. .. .. 775 .. .. .. 775 963 County of Tauranga .. .. 39 .. .. .. 39 130 „ Whangarei .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 3 West Coast Inspection District. County of Marlborough .. .. 18 9 .. .. 27 5 „ Takaka .. .. .. .. I .. . . 1 1 „ Collingwood .. .. .. 8 .. 24 32 7 „ Murchison .. .. . . 41 .. .. 41 20 Buller .. .. .. 2 13 .. .. 15 10 „ Inangahua .. .. 287 12 .. .. 299 267 Grey .. .. .. .. 21 2 . . 23 14 ,, Westland .. .. .. 62 59 .. 121 133 Southern Inspection District. County of Taieri .. .. .. .. 2 | .. 2 1 „ Tuapeka .. .. .. .. 65 .. j .. 65 68 „ Vincent .. .... 3 37 9 49 71 „ Maniototo .. .. .. 57 .. .. 57 50 „ Waihemo.. .. .. 6 .. .. .. 6 7 „ Waitaki .. .. .. .. 9 .. .. 9 8 Lake ...... 2 41 .. I 44 26 Wallace .. .. .. 2 35 .. .. 37 30 Southland .. .. .. 54 8 .. 62 64 „ Ashburton .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. Totals .. .. .. 1,283 468 78 29 , 1,858 2,034 Summary of Persons ordinarily employed in or about New Zealand Mines during 1924 and 1923. —: "»>• Gold, silver, and tungsten mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,830 2,027 Dec. 197 Other metalliferous mines .. . . .. .. .. .. 28 7 Inc. 21 Coal-mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,869 5,000 Dec. 131 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 6,727 7,034 Deo. 307

C.—2

12

APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT.

APPENDIX A.

REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Insi'ecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir, — Wellington, 25th May, 1925. I have the honour to present my report 011 metalliferous mines and stone-quarries, together with statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1924. 111 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, 1924, to the 31st March, 1925. The reports, &c., are divided into the following sections :— I. Minerals produced and exported. 11. Persons employed. ill. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (1.) Quartz-mining. (2.) Dredge Mining. (3.) Alluvial Mining. Y. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarry Inspection and Statistics. VII. State Aid to Mining. (1.) Subsidized Prospecting. (2.) Government Prospecting-drills. (3.) Subsidized Roads 011 Goldfields. (4.) Government Water-races. (5.) Schools of Mines. Annexures :— (A.) Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines. (B.) Summary of Report by Water-race Manager. (C.) Summary of Report by Inspector of Quarries. (D.) Mining Statistics. I. 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 1924 and 1923 : —

192-1. 1923. Mineral. j Quantity. j Value. Quantity. j Value. Oz. £ Oz. £ Gold and silver (estimated) .. .. .. 652,855 607,253 692,090 737,170 Tons. cwt. Tons. cwt. Tungsten-ore .. .. .. .. 3 0 120 5 9 218 Iron .. .. • • • • ■ • 030 0 4,725 Stone .. .. .. •• •• 373,827 .. 370,995 Pumice .. •• .. •• •• 1,629 0 4,956 3,716 0 10,029 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 990,887 .. 1,118,412

13

C.— 2

The following statement shows the value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1924 : —

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

111. ACCIDENTS. I during 1924 three fatal and three serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,858 persons were ordinarily employed.

The following is a short description of the fatal accidents : — On the Bth February Frederick Archer, aged 20 years, met his death by being crushed between the revolving screen and the distributing-box of the Rimu dredge. The screen was well fenced off. There was no eye-witness to the accident, but from the evidence it appears probable that deceased,

J Total from the 1st 192+ ' 1923 - Increase or Decrease. | t^Xt^embS, 1924. l_ £ i £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 551,788 098.583 lX<o. 146,795 91,414,828 Silver .. .. .. .. 71,981 j 62,851 Inc. 9,130 1 2,904,651 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 1,156 j 875 „ 281 301,870 Kauri-gum .. .. .. 443,576 596,222 Dec. 152,646 21,108,085 Manganese-ore .. .. .. 36 43 ,, 7 61,994 Sand, lime, and building stone .. 7,625 13,609 ,, 5,984] , . Q Other minerals .. .. .. 5,067 3,013 Inc. 2,054} Totals .. .. 1,081,229 j 1,375,196 Dec. 293,967 j 116,232,718

Inspection District. Classification. : 1 Total, 1924. Northern. West Coast. Southern. ~ • - — ; : ! J ; j i Gold, silver, and tungsten .. .. .. .. 963 535 332 1,830 Cinnabar .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 .. .. 4 Ironstone .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 .. 24 Totals for 1924 .. .. .. 967 559 ; 332 1,858 Totals for 1923 .. .. .. .. I 1,252 457 325 2,034

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Cai,se * Number of Nnmhpr nf Number of Number of Separate r» 0 athe Separate Persons Accidents. Accidents, i injured. Falls of ground .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Miscellaneous, on surface .. .. .. .. 2 2 Miscellaneous, underground .. .. .. .. 1. ! I I Totals .. .. .. .. .. 3 3 3 3

C.—2

14

prior to the accident, had been working on the deck on the port side, and in order to get to the other side without walking round the railing had endeavoured to take a short cut by climbing the rail and walking along a timber stay above the screen, and that while doing so had lost his balance and fallen on to the screen. Deceased had no duty that necessitated him going inside the railing. On the 22nd May Richard William Ryder Hungerford, aged 23 years, was killed in the Woodstock chamber, Karangahake. Deceased with another workman was engaged in dismantling an air-receiver. He had disconnected the air-pipe, which probably knocked out the cradle under the end of the receiver, causing the latter to tilt, with the result that deceased fell and the air-pipe fell on top of him. On the 19th August Isaac Wade, aged 44 years, was killed in the compressor-house of the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Company's mine at Maratoto. From the evidence taken at the inquest it appears that the deceased, who was in charge of the compressor, had been engaged in oiling the compressor when a cast-iron pulley burst, and a piece struck him on the right temple, causingJaceration of the brain, from which he died. Prior to the accident the pulley seemed to be quite safe ; its failure was due to a flaw in the casting. Accounts of the serious but non-fatal accidents are given iti the District Inspectors' annual reports. IV. GOLD-MINING. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and the number of gold-mines and dredges :—

The value of gold produced during 1924 was less by £129,917 than during 1923. This decrease is made up of a decrease of £119,143 from quartz-mining, due to the reduced production from Waihi Borough and Tauranga County, a decrease £9,463 from dredging, and a decrease of £1,311 from alluvial mining.

(1.) Quartz-mining.

The average value per toil of ore treated during 1924 amounted to £1 17s. 7d., as compared with £1 16s. Id. during 1923. At the Waihi Mine 190,640 tons of ore were crushed of 566,097 oz. of bullion, an increase of 10,792 tons of ore and 42,562 oz. of bullion. The development work done during the year at the lower levels has not so far disclosed any reef comparable in width or in value with the reefs found in the higher levels. At the Waihi Grand Junction Mine 17,337 tons were crushed for a return of 27,391 oz., compared with 76,705 tons and 82,111 oz. during the previous year. Development work done during the year did not prove the existence of workable ore, and as the payable reserves became exhausted crushing ceased. Two boreholes were put down by diamond drill from No. 10 level, one a distance of 600 ft. and the other a distance of 756 ft., but without striking any payable reef. At Muir's Gold-reefs Mine no crushing was done during the year. Sinking was continued in the main shaft till a depth of 515 ft. from the surface was reached, and from the chamber at 500 ft. a total of 1,209 ft. of cross-cutting was done towards Muir's reef and the Massey reef.

! Production of Bullion, 1924.* (All Mines.) I Number of Persona ! Number of Dividends paid, 1924. 0 rdi n arilv Wd Productive Quartz(By Registered Com- and mines, Alluvial ! panies only.)t rfn JodnoW Minl Mines, and Quantity. Value. | Unproductive Mines. DredgeS} 1924 . Oz. £ £ Quartz-mining .. 625,162 490,850 50,790 1,283 23 Dredge mining .. 13,336 58,540 (>,566 468 5 Alluvial mining! .. 14,357 57,863 6,180 78 273 Totals, 1924 .. 652,855 607,253 63,536 1,829 301 Totals, 1923 .. 692,090 737,170 30,344 2,026 160 * In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word " bullion " is used in preference to " gold." t The profits of privately owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. X The bullion-production is from 262 alluvial claims, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that are the property of registered companies.

Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. "icreirCompinteonljl, 8 " Inspection District. 1924. 1928. 1924. 1928. 1924. 1928. £ £ £ £ Northern .. .. 209,481 288,036 374,085 508,545 49,590 24,795 West Coast .. .. 51,467 47,872 115,652 99,143 1,200 Southern .. 97 1,935 1,113 2,305 Totals .. .. 261,045 337,843 490,850 609,993 50,790 24,795

15

C.—2

At the Blackwater Mine 38,140 tons of quartz were crushed for a return of 18,550 oz., valued at £79,310, compared with 39,730 tons yielding 19,296 oz., valued at £75,438 during the previous year. A considerable amount of driving and development work was done, and the extent of reef and values disclosed were very satisfactory. A plant is being erected to treat concentrates, which in former years were sent to Australia for treatment. At the New Big River Mine the tonnage crushed was about the same as during the previous year, but the gold won showed an increase in amount of 1,010 oz., and in value of £4,430. Comparatively little development work was done, and no payable ore was disclosed in No. 12 level, but in two rises put up from this level good stone was got. (2.) Dbedge Mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket golddredges during 1924. (Note. —The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)

The Rimu Flat dredge has worked continuously throughout the year, and the operations of the company have been very successful. The gold won by this dredge, 10,606 oz., is 79§ per cent, of the gold got by dredging throughout the Dominion for the year. Besides operating the dredge the Rimu Gold-dredging Company has prospected other areas in Westland in order to locate another dredgingarea which along with another dredge on Rimu Flat might be worked from a larger generating plant than that at Lake Kanieri. (3.) Alluvial Mining. The following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends declared from alluvial gold-mines during 1924 :—

i, O co fn »co ; d M W)|q ■ "§ 03 {g 43 Ofi £.3 . d S ~ "C Dividends declared. So ! 2 m a « ®"S 33 g.g w'g w h --g &s Name of Dredge. Locality. £ otfo o »st> '"'■a . iss-s ■as s- ®a °a . „ 111 | |ll |I M fl III - g — 3 I K fc ®H ■< > Otago and Southland. Ft £ £ £ Rise and Shine No. 1 .. Clutha River . . 5| 10 20 8 40 146 .. - 53,700 Nevis Crossing .. .. Nevis River .. 3|- 10 12 S 10 1,455 McGeorge's Freehold No. 3 Waikaka Valley 6| 9 "20 S 35 4,956 W&st/ Cocist Rimu .. .. .. Rimu .. ..10 19 525 E 55 47,256 6,566 9,849 Awatuna .. .. Awatuna Beach ..8 15 20 S 25 4,727 Totals, 1924 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58,540 6,566 Unknown. Totals, 1923 .. .. 68,003 3,283 Unknown.

Dividends declared. K,m. nf (inmninv Estimated Value of i N ame ot Company. Gold prodnced During 1924. Total to End of 1924. I - £ £ ! £ Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company .. .. .. .. 1, 162 .. 1,050 Scandinavian Water-race Company .. .. .. 2,430 .. j Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company 3,783 2,000 I7,lil5 Lawrence Sluicing Company .. .. .. 710 1,000 2,000 W- R- Smyth . . . . .. . . .. 1,060 Golden Crescent Sluicing Company .. .. .1,028 .. 12,862 Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company.. .. .. .. 2,933 1,680 7,520 R.J.Cotton .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,230 Graham and Party .. .. .. .. .. 2,848 1,500 2,900 Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company .. .. .. 5,160 54,684 D. McLister . . .. .. .. . . .. i ,214 Round Hill Gold-mining Company .. 3,906 Hohonu Gold Sluicing Company .. . . .. 1,348 Stubbs and Steel .. . . .. . . .. 1,236 Havill Bros. .. .. .. .. .. 1,422 All other claims .. .. .. .. .. 2(5,393 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 57,863 0,180 Unknown.

C.— 2

16

V. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. Tungsten-ore. The price for scheelite throughout the year was round about 10s. per unit —too low to permit of this mineral being produced at the scheelite-mines in the Dominion, and consequently they were not worked. Only 3 tons were produced. Iron. The blast furnace at the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company's works at Onakaka was run for about a month, and 630 tons good-quality pig iron were produced. Difficulties in connection with the supply of coke and in transportation by road between the wharf and the works forced the company to shut down the blast furnace till additional coke-ovens could be built and a rope-road constructed from the wharf to the blast furnace. This work was put in hand, but the available funds of the company were insufficient, and the construction was stopped in October pending the raising of further capital. Petroleum. An Australian company was formed during the latter half of the year to further test the Taranaki oilfield. Acting under the guidance of Mr. F. G. Clapp, oil geologist, the company decided to put down two wells, one on the foreshore at Moturoa and another about a mile from the Township of Tarata. By the end of the year fully equipped standard rigs had been erected at the sites. It is considered that previous failures to get oil in payable quantities near New Plymouth have been to some extent due to the casing used having been too light, with the result that it collapsed, stopped the flow from, the well in which it was used, and seriously impaired the productivity of the surrounding portion of the field ; in the two wells now to be drilled the casing will be of much heavier section than in former wells. Field-work by expert geologists was energetically carried out, and still continues, with a view to discovering areas with a favourable structure for the retention of oil. 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 15ft. 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 following is a table showing the number of quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, also the number of persons ordinarily employed thereat, and the annual output and value of crude stone during 1924 : —

There were 104 more men employed than during the previous year, and the value, of the stone produced was greater by £2,832.

jail {3,3 Output of Stone. •a •+= o a; —— 12 > , t-. H I H Ss Ps g.a a g s ss s ■ O J?! Prnvincinl Name and Address of § § g'g € |j § ® • ® " ■ g S District. \ °t S«J * 82 ll !: H 1 * 8B S§ §| •>§ «g ng 5 « a« . jS.g a,am So ®s ®§ »s ■s a, 3po S'S fl o® ~ s 3 &> ® & ~ aw 3 8 °£S s & 3 s ~«i -o5 ■««! a ,* w iri CQkhkI Ph 3 i> Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. £ Auckland .. James Newton, Mines 122 699 385,624 58,250 2,147 18,132 196,800 .. .. 143,673 Dept., Auckland M. Paul, Mines Dept., 19 149 111,275 .. 477 35,006 W a i h i (Hauraki Mining District only) Hawke's Bay James Newton, Mines 16 73 11,929 12,084 460 6,160 .. .. .. 6,218 Dept., Auckland Taranaki .. Ditto .. .. 10 43 8,695 10,682 .. 3,492 Wellington.. „ .. .. 34 215 90,914 10,120 .. 7,000 .. .. .. 36,257 Canterbury.. J. BVDowney,Mines 13 123 111,283 4,246 9,682 5,976 42,583 Dept., Reefton Nelson "1 Westland Ditto .. 111 9,335 .. 92 15,256 23,537 .. 1,150 12,539 Marlborough J Southland } j" 35 335 126 > 903 8 ' : ' 99 6,316 86,210 40,620 1,575 .. 94,059 Totals 1924 .. 260 1,748 855,958 103,781 19,174 138,734 260,957 1,575 1,150 373,827 Totals 1923 .. 242 1,641 864,412 316,182 34,458 103,566 143,248 2,383 80 370,995

17

C.—2

Quarry Accidents. The following is a summary of serious accidents during 1924 at quarries under the Stone-quarries Act:

Of the fatal accidents the following is a short description : — On the 11th March a serious accident occurred at the Millburn Lime Company's quarry at Dunback by which two men, David McMillan, aged 25 years, and William Ernest Cox, aged 25 years, lost their lives, and William Mcintosh was seriously injured. A round of five holes was being fired electrically. The warning had been given, and before the shots were actually fired the quarrymanager had seen the workmen take shelter behind a concrete jig-wlieel stand 100 ft. distant from the shots. It appears that before the shots went off five of the men decided to leave the shelter of the jig-stand and go to another shelter further from the shots. Three of the men, McMillan, Cox, and Mcintosh, were out in the open when the shots went off, and were struck by material thrown from the blast, with the result stated above. The jig-stand provided adequate shelter, and the accident was wholly due to the men having left it without the knowledge of the person firing the shot and after the warning had been given. On the 25th November Alexander Brown, aged 69 years, was fatally injured at the Bruce County Council's quarry at Londen's Gully, near Raurekau. The deceased had been working by himself in the quarry, and had evidently slipped from a face about 10 ft. high and fallen on a crowbar which he had been using. The crow-bar entered his right breast and penetrated his lung, with the result that he died before the accident was known to any one. On the 16th December, at Auger's quarry, Penrose, George James Auger, owner and occupier of the quarry, was killed by a blasting accident. The quarry foreman had prepared and lit two shots, and then retired with deceased to a distance of approximately 3| chains from the shot-holes and there waited for the shots to go off. A flying stone from the blast struck deceased on the back, causing injuries from which he died. The charges fired were not heavy, and it was therefore thought that 3| chains was a sufficient distance away for safety.

VII. STATE AID TO MINING. (l.j Subsidized Prospecting. Upon subsidized prospecting operations 105 persons were intermittently employed during the year. The following is a statement showing the results of prospecting operations as reported by the Inspector of Mines.

3— 0. 2,

Number of Accidents. Number of Sufferers. Cause. Fatal. Serious. I Killed. Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. ' 2 2 3 3 Falls of ground .. .. .. .. .. . . .. j 1 .. 1 Miscellaneous .. . . 1 | . . 1 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 3 j 3 |

C.—'2.

18

Number Amount of Amount of Distance Name of Prospecting Pafty. of Pro- Locality of Operations. Subsidy driven Nature of Claim. Character of Operations. Remarks. spectors. j & expended. j or sunk. _ . ___ Northern Inspection District. £ s. d. £ s. d. Ft. ; Sylvia Gold-mining Company .. 6 ! Thames . . 200 0 0 j 185 18 0 429 ' Quartz . . i Rising .. . . Work suspended. Caledonia-Kuranui-Moanataiari Gold- 7 „ . . 433 6 8 j 329 15 4 761 „ . . Driving .. . . Testing the reef system on eastern side of main fault. mining Company I | So far nothing of payable character discovered. Monowai Syndicate.. .. • • 2 ,, .. 130 0 0 1 60 13 4 140 j »» • • „ .. .. j Work in progress. Renown Mine .. .. .. .. ,, • . 86 13 4 .. ! .. .. No work done. Majestic Gold-mining Company (£1 for 8 Maratoto .. 3,000 0 0 649 5 11 262 Quartz .. Driving and cross-cutting Work in progress. £1 ) | j Glen Isla Gold-mining Syndicate .. 5 Whangamata . . 43 6 8 j 43 6 8 100 ,, .. Driving .. . . Results proved very disappointing. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines .. 10 Maratoto .. 292 10 0 272 11 4 629 „ . . „ .. . . Driving on large lode ; so far nothing payable found. Thomas Parker .. ., .. j 2 Waitekauri . . 23 8 0 .. .. .. .. Work suspended. Hardy's Mine .. .. • • • • I Te Aroha . . 130 0 0 .. .. .. .. No work done. Muir's Gold Reefs, Limited (£1 for £1). . 1 39 j Te Puke .. 16,489 12 4 113,563 7 2 .. Quartz .. Sinking shaft and cross- Work in progress. cutting Four-in-hand Mine .. • • .. Waikoromiko . . 86 13 4 .. .. .. .. No work done. West Coast Inspection District. H. F. Chaffey .. .. • . 1 j Matawai S.D. . . 53 B 0 53 6 0 .. .. Prospecting .. .. Several small copper lodes located, but of no special value. No payable gold found. Foley and Lockhead .. . . 2 j Gallery Creek 50 14 0 ; .. .. Alluvial . . „ .. .. No work reported yet. Holmes and Barnett .. .. , 2 Alfred River . . 31 4 0 7160 .. „ .. „ .. .. Several reefs located, but no values. Kearns and party .. .. . . 2 Fall Creek . . 24 14 0 15 12 0 .. ,, .. j „ .. .. No discovery of any value reported. C. Lewis and party .. .. 2 Parapara 5183 5183 .. ,, .. „ .. .. Work proceeding; no payable values yet located. New Keep-it-dark Tribute party • .. .. Crushington . . 43 6 S .. .. Quartz . . Driving .. .. Work only just started. South Big River Mines, Limited (£1 for .. Big River .. 500 0 0 33 10 9 .. „ . . Driving and rising .. Work only recently started. £!) | . | | Southern Inspection District. R. T. Horner .. .. . . 2 Longwood Range 90 16 8 45 8 4 100 Quartz . . Driving . . . . Work in progress. Phelan and Donaldson .. .. I 2 Upper Nevis . . 31 4 0 15 12 0 „ Prospecting . . . . No gold-bearing reef found. Coal Creek Prospecting Association .. 2 Old Man Range .. 50 14 0 12 0 6 1 „ .. „ .. .. Good surface prospects, but no payable reef discovered. J. G. Black and party .. . . 2 South of Dusk}" 50 14 0 50 14 0 .. .. „ .. . . Nothing of any value found. Point Mount Moore Gold-mining Syndicate . . 3 Stoneburn . . 156 13 4 22 5 0 33 Quartz . . Sinking . . . . Work in progress. J. Reid and P. Lynch . . .. 2 Skipper's .. 128 16 8 18 3 4 40 ,, . Driving . - „ H. Denford and party . . .. ; 2 Orepuki . . 60 0 0 26 8 0 146 Alluvial . ,, . Narrow lead of auriferous gravel found. E. Oxenbridge .. . . .. j 2 Twelve-mile, Lake 63 10 2 .. .. „ . „ . . . . Work in progress. Wakatipu I 105 22,257 2 1 15,411 11 11 1

19

C.—2

(2.) Government Prospecting Drills. The following table gives details of the drilling done and the results obtained lor twelve months ended 31st December, 1924 : —

Drill Superintendents: W. H. Warburton, E. A. Wilson, G. Nelson, F. Carter, and H. Butland. Drills used: Schram-Harker diamond, hand-placer, and Keystone drills.

(3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfieijds. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £4,126, as compared with £2,867 during the previous year. (4.) Government Water-races. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, constructed by the Government for the purpose of assisting alluvial gold-mining in the districts of Kumara (Westland) and Naseby (Central Otago), showed a loss for the year ended 31st March, 1925, of £200 14s. 4d. Water was supplied to claims employing in all .an average of 16-33 persons, and gold to the value of £3,544 2s. 6d. was obtained. On the Ist September the Mount Ida Water-race was taken over by the Public Works Department, with the intention that water not being used in gold-mining be utilized for irrigation. 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 31st March, 1925:—

The amount outstanding on the Waimea-Kumara water-races on the 31st March, 1925, was £845 ss. 7d., an increase of £122 12s. sd. on the previous year. (5.) Schools of Mines. In addition to the schools already established at Coromandel, Thames, Waihi, Huntly, Reefton, Westport, and Dunedin, two other schools, with part-time directors, were started at Kaitangata and Nightcaps, with subsidies from the Department. These two schools were instituted to provide tuition in mining and allied subjects, the need for which was being keenly felt by mining students in these districts. A great deal of useful and necessary work continues to be performed by the Schools of Mines, but in those districts where mining has seriously declined and been replaced by other industries few of the students taking the classes are engaged or likely to be engaged in mining. The expenditure on schools of mines for the year ended the 31st March, 1925, was £3,501 lis. 3d., against £3,172 10s. 4d. during the previous year. This included a grant of £750 to the University of Otago for the Otago School of Mines. I desire to acknowledge the efficient help and co-operation which I have received from the Inspectors during the past year. I have, &c., J. A. C. Bayne, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

Diameter Mineral Character of Bocks Io whom lent Foo't'o/ ' ! „ „ tm°ed S SFCt! ofHoIe drilled through. | *<> whom lent, , Foot of ; T 2£jJ-J fcjtart | Inches. | is. d. s. d. s. d. : 1 1,156 2] Coal Muds tone, shales, ' J.Taylor ..3 0 0 3J 1 1(1 i Oft. coal at 1,149 ft. sandstone, and grits 1 307 2.', „ Ditto .. •• ! Grey Valley Col- 5 9 14 1 1IJ I lift. 6in. coal at leries (Limited) [ 293 ft. 1 564 2 J „ „ ■ • State Coal-mines .. 1 j Completion of work postponed temporarily. 2 j 1,350 j If , ,, Tuff, andesites, | Waihi Grand . . . I Testing character of and quartz Junction Gold | country; inconcluj Company (Ltd.) j sive. 16 ! 752 J 0 : GoJd Gravels .. i Clutha Develop- . . . . . . l^air; unfinished. j ment (Limited) 5 | 061 j 0 & 5 ; „ Mahakipawa 33 llf 3 10J .. , Good. Gold Company (Limited) 6 177 6 ,, Kimu Gold Dredg .. 1 Poor; unfinished. ing Company I i (Limited) 17 | 295 | 3J , ,, .. ! Clutha Develop- • ■ .. '' J^air; unfinished. ment (Limited) 3 380 j 0 „ Gravels, &c. .. Hokitika Pro- 13 0 2 2 . . > Traces of gold got. specting Asso- ' ' ' ciation • I '

i Average Upr-pintu Number ol Approximate Quantity I wnw 11 Expenditure., Debit Balance. Miners and Value of Gold (»aies ot water.) supplied with obtained. Water. £ s. d. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. Oz. £ s. d. Waimea-Kumara Wafcer-raoes .. 1,230 7 3*j 1,318 l'J 5 88 12 2 10-33 747 2,931 19 0 Mount Ida .. .. .. 204 12 6 ! 316 14 8 ! 112 2 2 6-00 159 612 3 0 Totals .. .. 1,434 19 9 I 1,635 14 1 j 200 14 4 16-33 906 [ 3,544 2 6 J ' ' ! * Including royalty on timber.

C.—2

20

ANNEXURE A.

SUMMARY OF REPORTS' BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northern Inspection District (Mr. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Waihi Gold-mining Company {Limited), (J. L. Gilmour, Manager). —No. IS Level (I,BBOJ ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft) : A crosscut north from the shaft was driven 131 ft. through soft heavy country containing several carbonaceous seams. A south crosscut was commenced from the east side of the north chamber and advanced 152 ft. At 66 ft. a vein of quartz 12 in. wide was intersected, dipping lin 3 north, value low. At 69 ft. there is a fault-fissure crossing the level from which water at the rate of 400 gallons' per minute is issuing. A carbonaceous seam 2 ft. wide and dipping north is exposed on the south side of the fault, and from this point to the face the country is bedded. No. 14 Level (1,752 ft). —-On the north section of Martha lode a total of 726 ft. has been driven. About 420 ft. of this length is payable, the average width being 7 ft. At 200 ft. east a connection to the south section drive was effected by a crosscut, the distance between the two drives being about 90 ft. A crosscut at 118 ft. west was driven 6 ft. south and 54 ft, north in unfavourable country. On the south section of Martha lode a total of 587 J ft. has been driven —i.e., 311£ ft. east and 276 ft. west. A length of 52 ft. eastward is payable, the remainder being low grade. No. 13 Level.—Martha Lode : The drive east was resumed and carried to within 31 ft. of the boundary. The quartz was not payable. In the Dreadnought west crosscut driving west oil the Empire lode was done for 90 ft., the width of quartz varying from 1 ft. to 5 ft. of low value. A crosscut was driven west from this point, and at 142 ft. a section of the Martha lode 13 ft. wide was intersected, value unpayable. At 159 ft. another section 8 ft. wide was cut, assay value low. Driving west oil the course of the Martha lode was continued to 136 ft., the value being low throughout. From this point the drive was carried in the foot-wall country, where a small low-grade vein was intersected and followed for 126 ft. The crosscut was then diverted to the south, and after driving 21 ft. the west section of Edward lode was intersected, width 12 ft., value low. At 16 ft. further the east section of lode was intersected, width 39 ft., average assay value 275. 3d. per ton. Driving south-west was done on this section for 82 ft., where a connection was effected to Trout winze. The average assay value for this distance was about 30s. per ton. No. 12 Level. —At a point 244 ft. in the crosscut from Nos. 2 to 4 shafts driving was commenced along the foot wall of the Martha lode ; at 244 ft. the drive was diverted diagonally across the lode, the width of quartz being 75 ft. ; the last 16 ft. of which is sulphide ore of an average assay value of 235. 4d. per ton. Driving was commenced east on this latter section, and at 3854 ft. connected with the west face of the old drive. The level has been widened to an average of 22 ft. from 300 ft. to 330 ft., the average assay value being 395. 4d. per ton. Driving west near the south wall from the widening was done in ore from a distance of 121 ft., the assay value being 455. lOd. per toil. No. 11 Level. —Edward lode : Driving south was continued to 808 ft. in quartz of low value, varying in width from 18 in. to a width greater than the drive. No. 10 Level. —Edward lode : The south drive was continued to 1,815 ft. The reef pinches out at 1,790 ft. At 1,813 ft. crosscutting was done for 8 ft. east and 13 ft. west in disturbed country. Driving is suspended. At 1,388 ft. a winze was sunk 102 ft. At 100 ft. down a crosscut proved the full width of lode to be 11 ft., average assay value 15s. 3d. per ton. No. 9 Level. —Edward lode : The south drive was continued to 1,438 ft. Good-grade ore exists to 1,356 ft., the width of the reef varying from 15 ft. to 21 ft. From this point onwards the width gradually decreases and at face is 6 in. wide. Driving is suspended. No. 8 Level.—Edward lode : The south drive was advanced to 512 ft. From 290 ft. to 475 ft. the average width is about 7 ft., and the average assay value 51s. 4d. per ton. At the face the width of quartz is about 18 in., and driving is suspended. Surprise lode : At 42 ft. up Thornton rise a crosscut proved a width of 25 ft. of payable ore. No. 7 Level. —Surprise lode : A good deal of exploratory work was done which shows about 20,000 tons of ore of an average assay value of 695. between Nos. 6 and 7 levels. At a point 144 ft. east of No. 2 shaft, north-west crosscut in the Martha foot-wall gangway, driving was done north-north-east for 94 ft. on a vein of ore. The average assay value for this distance is about 40s. per ton, and width of quartz varied from 3 ft. to a width greater than the drive. At Nos. 7 and 8 levels a considerable amount of driving was carried out on the nortli section of Martha lode in the east end of the mine. The assay value was payable. On the Regina section of the Martha lode at No. 8 level a block of good-grade ore was discovered about 30 ft. above the level, and shrinkage stoping is in operation here. Above No. 8 level on the Martha lode, near the east end, several crosscuts have been driven across the arch, and it is anticipated that a good tonnage of ore will be available. Above No. 7 level, on No. 2 reef, gangways are being run at three different points and several crosscuts driven across the ore that was left formerly. On the Martha lode a good deal of ore was won. Only a small quantity now remains in the western part. At No. 6 level on the North lode a stoping block of about 6,000 tons of payable ore has been opened up. At No. 5 level on the North lode another block containing 9,000 tons has been proved. Workings on West Side of Martha Hill.—During the year a considerable amount of work, consisting of driving and stoping, was carried out and produced a steady supply of quartz for the mill. An incline or dip 19 degrees from the horizontal was driven a length of 88 ft. and a large air-winch installed. This will enable the company to open a new level about 30 ft. below the Smithy level, from which all the lodes in the west end of the mine that have any ore left under the Lower Smithy level can be worked. A good deal of ore was won from the open cut and dip near Bull's pass. No. 4 shaft was sunk a further 122J ft., making 158jft. below No. 14 level, or l,9lojft. from the surface. It was intended to open No. 15 level at 148 ft. below No. 14 level, but owing to the country being soft and unsuitable the level was opened at 128Jft., or l,BBo£ft. from the surface. A total of 213,517 short tons were crushed and treated. The ore was obtained in the following quantities from the undermentioned reefs: —Martha, 71,003 tons; Edward, 30,052 tons; Royal, 29,531 tons; Empire, 19,320 tons; Jellicoe, 12,687 tons; Martha, North branch, 11,536 tons ; No. 2 reef, 10,930 tons; Alexandra, 7,956 tons; Dreadnought, 6,186 tons ; North, 3,457 tons; Empire, north section, 3,217 tons ; Surprise, 2,435 tons ; Bell, 1,921 tons ; Victoria, 1,038 tons ; Martha, south branch, 822 tons ; Albert, 455 tons ; Bates, 243 tons ; Cross, 238 tons ; Regina, 232 tons ; Welcome, 231 tons; Welcome, south branch, 27 tons; total, 213,517 tons. The total footage for the year amounted to 12,587^. Water pumped to the surface from Nos. 14 and 15 levels amounted to 424,516,000 gallons. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (A. J. Walker, Manager).—Development; A total footage of 673 ft. was accomplished, chiefly by driving.

21

0.—2

No. II Level [ ,639 ft. below surface): —The main south-east crosscut was advanced 171 ft. to 196 ft. from No. 1 shaft. At 70 ft. an 18 in. seam of quartz was passed through, assaying 9d. per ton. From 118 ft. to 127 ft. stringers of quartz through the country gave assays oi 2s. Id. with 90 per cent, of country in the samples. At 127 ft. a pug seam dipping 60 degrees to the south-east formed the northern wall of the Martha-Empire lode system. Assays from 127 ft. to 180 ft. averaged 3s. 6d. per ton, the highest assay being 13s. 3d., taken on the eastern side of the crosscut between 136 ft. and 140 ft. From 180 it. to 184 ft. was country rock, followed by a seam of quartz 23 in. wide, averaging Bs. 3d. From 186 ft. to 196 ft. the crosscut was in country rock. Empire lode : Driving east and west of the south-east crosscut on the south side of the lode, at 186 ft. from the shaft, exposed a length of 80 ft. of lode. Assays from crosscut to 33 ft. west averaged 6s. over 43 in., and to 25 ft. east, 2s. lOd. over 37 in, Martha lode : A drive was put out 17 ft. west of south-east crosscut at a point 127 ft. from the shaft. This drive exposed the north wall of the lode. Assays averaged 4d. per ton for a width of 71 in. No. 7 rise : This rise was put up 29 ft. and holed to the corresponding winze from No. 10 level. The holing of this rise improved the working-conditions of the south-east crosscut, but it was still necessary to keep ventilating - fans in operation. The north-west crosscut was advanced 129 ft.—total, 143 ft.—from No. 1 shaft. From the shaft-chamber to 118 ft. in was country rock. At 118 ft. a lode was cut, dipping to the shaft at a high angle. The first 8 ft. was low-grade, hard quartz, the balance of 12 ft. a mixture of quartz and* country rock of no value. The face of the crosscut is in country rock. High water-temperatures were experienced in this crosscut. No. 10 Level (1,540 ft.). —Empire lode : No. 7 winze was sunk 44 ft.—total, 66 ft. Assays from 10 ft. to 55 ft. averaged 6s. 3d. over a width of 41 in. The rise from No. 11 level holed to this winze. Crosscut at 290 ft. west on Empire lode, main drive : The crosscut at 290 ft. west, which was put out to intersect the Martha lode, passed through country rock to 66 ft. north of the main drive, where the south wall of the lode was found. 81 ft. of quartz was passed through, averaging 4s. 6d. per ton. The crosscut was advanced 109 ft.— total, 150 ft.—from main west drive of the Empire lode. The face of the crosscut is in country rock. No. 5 Level (944 ft.). —Martha lode : The foot-wall drive east of the 160 ft. crosscut east advanced 41 ft., total 217 ft. Assays from 178 ft. to 190 ft. east averaged £1 3s. 6d. over a width of 109 in. From 190 ft. to the face at 217 ft. the lode is mixed with country rock and is very low grade. Diamond drilling.—No. I borehole : A vertical borehole was commenced from a chamber north of No. 1 shaft, at No. 10 level, on the 15th July, 1924, and reached a depth of 600 ft. on the 21st October, 1924. The object of this borehole was primarily to discover the nature of the country below No. 11 level. At 353 ft. broken ground was encountered, necessitating casing. At 390 ft. quartz was met, probably the same as that found in north-west crosscut No. 11 level. Assays of core (390 ft. to 409 ft.) gave a value of 2s. per ton. " Bedded " country existed practically all the depth of borehole, consisting mainly of breccia and tuff, interspersed with layers of andesite. Tuff was still in evidence at bottom of borehole. No. 2 borehole : This borehole was started from No. 10 level, southern side of shaft, on the 31st October, 1924, laid out at an angle of 70 degrees from the horizontal, for the purpose of proving if the Martha-Empire lode system existed at depth, and in that event its value, and was drilled to a total depth of 756 ft. : At several points low-grade quartz was passed through with no improvement in the country rock. Work was therefore suspended. Recently a meeting of the New Zealand shareholders was held in order to obtain an expression of opinion as to whether it was desirable to endeavour to raise further capital to develop the western, or any other portion, of this property, or to go into voluntary liquidation. It was then decided to communicate with head office in London in order to ascertain the financial position of this company and the wish of the English shareholders in this matter before taking any further action. Rising Sun Gold-mining Company, Owharoa (A. McGruer, Manager).—During the year work in this mine has been confined to stoping between Nos. 2 and 3 levels : 1,210 tons of ore treated yielded bullion valued at £5,173 13s. 4d. An effort is now being made to raise further capital in order to extend the drives on the Rising Sun and No. 3 reefs, which gave promise of increasing in width and value. Argo Concentrates (Limited), (R. T. Sando). —This company was formed for the purpose of re-treating the tailings lying in the bed and banks of the Ohinemuri River, and is experimenting with a Leach and Gordon patent separator, which is a device worked entirely by water and designed to reduce low-grade bulks and save the concentrates therefrom, but owing to the tailings on the banks containing so much vegetable matter some adjustments are now being made to this machine, and the designer is confident that he will be able to eliminate this waste matter and obtain payable concentrates. Great Northern Waihi Gold-mining Company, IVharekirauponga (J. R. Paepker).—After spending a considerable amount of money prospecting the surface portion of this claim without locating anything of a payable character, work has been suspended, and the mine and plant is being offered for sale. Glen Isla Gold-mining Syndicate, Whangamata (J. McCombie). —This claim was being worked by a small syndicate who put in a low level between 200 ft. and 300 ft., but failed to intersect the reef. It was then decided to sink a winze upon it from a surface level, but at a depth of 46 ft. the reef split up into stringers, all of low grade. This convinced the manager that the reef had been passed through unnoticed in the low level and, the funds having been exhausted, work was suspended. New Zealand Crown .Mines, Karangahake (G. N. McGruer). —The Rose low-level crosscut has been extended a total distance of 779 ft. At 672 ft. a quartz vein about 9 in. in width was intersected, assay value £2 17s. 4d. per ton. This crosscut is being continued to intersect the Crown and Welcome lodes. A considerable amount of surface prospecting has also been done without locating anything payable. Woodstock Claim, Karangahake.—This was formerly a portion of the Talisman Gold-mine and was taken up by J. B. Morris and others, who have been prospecting the surface, but so far the results have proved disappointing. Imperial Syndicate, Karangahake.—This claim was recently taken up by a local syndicate with the object of testing a reef said to have been intersected in an old crosscut in the early days of this goldfield and to have carried payable assay values, but owing to a dispute between the owners nothing further was done to test the extent of these values. Talisman Claim, Karangahake.—A portion of this claim was let on tribute at and above No. 8 level to Rackham and party, who crushed 39 tons of ore for a return of bullion valued at £173 3s. 9d. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Maratoto (J. W. O'Sullivon). —The drive on the Camoola lode has been extended a total distance of 1,290 ft. south of the low-level crosscut, the object being to reach the section immediately under the chute of ore opened up at No. 2 level 200 ft. up. In order to accelerate progress the drive is being carried along on the hanging-wall of the lode just in contact with the ore-body, and in consequence very little quartz has been exposed. Several short runs of valuable ore have been exposed—one at 550 ft. showing a width of 25 ft., 14 ft. of which, lam informed, averaged £5 10s. per ton. At 650 ft. a crosscut exposed a body of ore about 70 ft. in width of low grade. The work so far done on the Camoola at this level shows it to be wider than in the upper workings, and the values are much better than those found in the same section overhead. The Camoola reef is the largest outside of Waihi, and has been exposed in the various workings for a length of over 1,700 ft. The management seem confident that payable ore will be obtained when the south drive reaches the point underneath where satisfactory assay values were met with in the level above. Majestic Gold-mining Company (H. Langdon, Manager).—During the year work in this mine has been confined to the erection of power plant, driving south on the Maratoto lode from Adam's level, and crosscutting from Mcßrinn's reef. At different points bands of sulphide ore have been met with in the drive on the Maratoto lode, and give promise that payable ore will be found when the point is reached where values were met with in the level above.

C.—2

22

New Waiotahi Gold-mining Company, Thames (H. F. Shepherd). —Work in this mine during the year has been confined to driving and stoping on small leaders from a winze sunk to a depth of 50 ft. below the lowest adit level. 20 tons of general ore and (50 lb. of picked stone yielded gold valued at £194 10s. A scheme for lowering the water to enable this winze to.be sunk another 50 ft. is now under consideration. Alburnia Gold-mining Company (Thomas Gillon). — This company has recently acquired further capital with the object of testing the Sons of Freedom reef under where a very rich deposit of gold was worked out in the early days of this goldfield. Nonpariel Gold-mining Company (George Crocker). —Two men have been constantly employed prospecting the Cambria lode. At different points good mineral indications have been met with, but no gold has been seen. Caledonia-Kuranui-Moanataiari Gold-mining Company (S. G. Baker, Manager).—On the eastern side of the main fault the drive seaward on the Cambria reef has been extended 209 ft., and hill ward 15 ft. In each face the reef is wider than the drive, and although some of the ore has a promising appearance no gold has been seen. Hill ward on the Caledonian reef the drive has been extended 288 ft. ,the lode averaging about 7 ft. in width of low grade. At 200 ft. up the rise a drive is in progress on a hanging-wall dropper out of the Cambria reef, width 4 ft. ; colours of gold have been frequently seen in the ore broken out. Kuranui Gold-mining Company.—Operations in this mine were recently resumed at a point only a short distance from where the first rich deposit of gold was discovered on this goldfield. A crosscut put in on the north side of the Shotover Creek intersected a lode formation of about 2 ft. in width. It has been reported that strong colours of gold were seen in the ore broken out. Occidental Claim (F. Sawyer).—The only work done in this mine during the year was cleaning up the low level and fossicking around the old workings. 22 tons of ore, valued at £164 ss. 4d., were treated. Jolcer Claim (George Fisher). —This claim is owned and worked by Mr. George Fisher, and for the year 3 tons of ore were crushed, and yielded gold to the value of £25 ss. lid. Sylvia Gold-mining Company (J. Benny).—A considerable amount of work was done on the Norfolk lode, but the results proved most disappointing. Recently the men have been engaged cleaning out and repairing a level driven upon this reef lower down the creek in order to reach a point where high-grade ore is said to have been left. Zeehan Consolidated (H. F. Shepherd).— During the year a3O horse-power gas-engine and suction gas-producer for generating gas from wood fuel were installed for the purpose of driving a 9 in. air-compressor (pressure 80 lb. per square inch), a circular saw for cutting timber for buildings, &c., and also a small Ross mill and Wilfrey table for determining the best method of treating the complex ore of this mine. Work in the mine has been confined to driving main crosscut to intersect the Paroquet lode, driving south on the Zeehan lode, rising on No. 3 lode, and driving north to try and locate the Zeehan lode on the other side of the fault. A little work has also been done in a winze on the Zeehan lode below the low level, but nothing of importance has been discovered during the year. The Superintendent paid a visit to Canada to inspect their methods of dealing with complex ores, and has strongly recommended the erection of a 40-ton-a-day Ross mill for the sliming of the ore for concentrating in a Mineral Separation Company's oil-flotation machine. These concentrates will be shipped either to Australia or Europe. It is the intention of the company to immediately erect a plant for crushing the ore and concentrating its gold, silver, and other metal contents by oil flotation. An order has been given for a 120 horse-power suction gas engine and producer for generating the necessary power, which will be transmitted from the power-station at the sea frontage to the treatment plant, to be erected near the mine. Monowai Mine (R. W. Adams). —A small syndicate has been formed with a capital of £700 to test, at a greater depth, a lode, about 2ft. Gin. in width, which was discovered near the mouth of No. 3 level. The quartz is heavily mineralized, and samples taken gave values up to £6 per ton. A low-level crosscut is now in progress. Four-in-hand Gold-mining Company, Coromandel (W. J. Patterson, Manager).—During the year an average of ten men has been employed prospecting the Four-in-hand, Tainui, and Cuirassier sections of this mine. A considerable amount of driving has been done on the reef-system on each of these sections, but the results met with proved most disappointing. The water-race was put into repair, and a ground tramway constructed round the lateral spurs —a distance of 17 chains—and a tunnel driven for 249 ft. ; from this an aerial ropeway was constructed to connect with the battery and so do away with the heavy cost of sledging, and enable the quartz to be delivered at the mill at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, owing to the heavy rainfall during the year causing a series of floods which carried away portions of the water-race and tramway on several occasions, and resulted in a considerable amount of money having to be spent to repair the damage done, work in the mine and mill has been retarded. A little prospecting-work has been done in the Try Again, Royal Oak, Iris, and Winnipeg claims, but nothing which calls for special mention has been discovered. Owera Gold-mining Company (W. F. G. Scott). —A considerable amount of work has been done in this mine in order to reach a point where is is stated payable ore was left some years ago ; but up to the end of the year the . desired point had not been reached. Other portions of this mine were also tried, but the results proved disappointing. 0. Andrews, Mahalcirau. —Mr. 0. Andrews, who has been prospecting in this locality for several years, crushed a parcel of picked ore for 16 oz. 11 dwt., valued at £50 55., won from a small quartz vein exposed on the surface. Muir's Gold-reefs (Limited), Te Pulce (W. MacConachie, Manager). — The main shaft was sunk 175J ft. during the year, making a total depth of 515J ft. below the surface. From 339| ft. to 420 ft. the shaft advanced through a hard country rock containing occasional small stringers of quartz. From 420 ft. to 430 ft. the ground was of a soft slidy nature, with greasy heads and slickensides having a slight dip to the north. From 430 ft. to 459 ft. the country rock was sold and free from slidy heads. At 459 ft. the country became softer and much closer timbering became necessary. This soft country continued to 474 ft. From 474 ft. to 515j ft. was firm country rock, containing some small irregular veins of quartz. Shaft-sinking was completed near the end of June, and a commencement was immediately made to cut out a chamber at 500 ft. down. Crosscutting from this chamber to both Muir's reef and the Massey reef was commenced early in July. The crosscut to Muir's reef was driven a total of 665 ft. from the main shaft. The first 30 ft. was through solid country. From 30 ft. to 285 ft. the crosscut progressed through broken country and soft slide material. This slide is nearly horizontal, having a slight dip to the south-east, and is probably identical with the soft ground met with in the shaft at 459 ft. down. The heavy swelling nature.of this slide necessitated close timbering in places, and repairs are being constantly effected to prevent the ground bursting the timbers. From 285 ft. to 560 ft. is hard country rock free from disturbance. At 560 ft. a flat slide with a slight dip to the west was met with. At 590 ft. the country became firmer. From 617 ft. to 665 ft. the crosscut has advanced through quartz and rubble containing a large portion of country rock of low grade. The crosscut to the Massey reef has been advanced 861 ft. from the shaft. At 800 ft. the course of the drive was altered and directed more to the west in order to avoid the swelling ground. From 310 ft. to 390 ft. the ground was soft and contained slidy heads, and timbering was necessary. From 390 ft. to 535 ft. is in firm country. From 628 ft. to 800 ft. the crosscut progressed through slidy ground of a heavy swelling nature requiring close timbering. In September a large flow of water was met with in the crosscut to Muir's reef, which proved more than the air-driven pumps then in use could handle. The water was allowed to rise to a point, about 300 ft. down the shaft, where it was found it could be held, and a start was made to install the pair of electrically driven 3-stage centrifugal pumps which were on hand in anticipation of an increased flow of water being met with as work progressed. Each of these pumps is capable of lifting 600 gallons per minute to a height of 230 ft. As soon as the mine was flooded out men were engaged enlarging the chamber and cistern at 280 ft. down the shaft, and installing one of the pumps there to lift the water to the drainage tunnel leading from the shaft, at, at 50 ft. down, to a gully on the surface. The other electrical pump was installed as a sinking-pump, being suspended on a wire rope and raised and lowered by an air-driven winch which had been recently erected for the purpose. This pump now raises the water from the bottom of the shaft to the cistern at 280 ft. down the shaft.

23

C—2

A delay of about eight weeks in crosscutting was occasioned while the electrical pumps were being installed, and the mine pumped out and crosscuts cleaned out and repaired after their submergence. A new transmission-line about one-quarter of a mile long had to be erected to carry electric current from the battery to supply the electric pumps. A steam boiler was also installed to operate the winch to handle the electric sinking-pump and prevent it being submerged in case of a failure of the electric power (and incidentally of the supply of compressed air) taking place during heavy storms, or for any reason whereby the transmission-line from Omanawa Falls might become damaged. Early in the year it was found that the supply of compressed air was insufficient, and in March last another air-compressor was installed, having a capacity of approximately 525 cubic feet of free air per minute compressed to 120 lb. pressure per square inch. The development footage for the year has been as follows : Shaft-sinking, 175 j ft.. ; crosscutting, 1,033 ft: total, 1,208J ft. Reported Gold-find, Tarawera Mountain. —On the 25th . August I visited a reported gold-find by the Natives situated in Pokohu Section No. 3b, Whakatane County, about forty miles from Matata on the eastern slope of the Tarawera Mountain. It consists of a formation about 10 ft. wide running east and west, dipping at an angle of 45 degrees, exposed in the bed of a creek, and is composed of silicified flinty quartz and country rock. Samples taken contained low values in gold and silver. Quicksilver- mines. New Zealand Quicksilver-mine, Puhipuhi.—No work has been done in this mine during the year. Mount Mitchell Mercury-mine, Puhipuhi.—Very little work has been done in this mine during the year, but I am informed by Mr. T. A. Black that four men have been engaged on the Wonder Clay Claim portion of the Mount Mitchell Block. Rising Sun, Puhipuhi.—No work has been done during the year. Oil-wells. Taranaki Oilfields (Limited). —On the 29th September, 1924, I was notified that a strong company had been formed in the State of Victoria for the purpose of testing the oilfields in Taranaki. Trained experts were engaged to examine and make a geological survey of the areas over which this company hold boring rights, who, after a thorough investigation, advised that No. 1 borehole be put down rather more tham a mile to the north and a little west of the Township of Tarata, near the north-east corner of Section 8, Block 3, Huiroa Survey Sistriet, and No. 2 borehole on the foreshore about 500 ft. south-east from the shore end of the New Plymouth Breakwater. At the time of writing No. 1 borehole had reached a depth of 1,055 ft., and No. 2 borehole, 50 ft. Standard rigs, with equipment supplied by the Oil-well Supply Company, New York, have been installed at both bores. The derricks are of Oregon pine, 82 ft. 6 in. in height above the floor and 20 ft. square at the base. The bed logs are sawn rimu, the main logs being 18 in. 18 in. The walking-beam is of steel, the bull-wheel, calf-wheel, and bandwheel being of wood. The plant is driven by a single-cylinder steam-engine, steam being supplied by a locomotive type of boiler carrying 110 lb. pressure. Several of the wells at Moturoa have been discharging petroleum intermittently during the year. No correct record has been kept of the quantity produced, but the caretaker of the wells formerly owned by the Taranaki Oil Company estimates the production of these wells during the year at 200 barrels. Experts claim that in the past the casing used in the wells drilled was too light to stand the pressure, and, to avoid this trouble in the future, the Taranaki Oilfields (Limited) have at considerable expense imported the best and strongest easing obtainable. The sizes of the casing are as follows :—*•

Two fatal accidents and two serious but non-fatal accidents occurred during the year. At about 2 o'clock on the 22nd May a fatal accident occurred in the Woodstock chamber at Karangahake whereby a young man named Richard William Ryder Hungerford, aged 23 years, was instantly killed by being struck by a heavy cast-iron air-pipe. The particulars are as follows : The deceased, in company with another worker named George Dixon, was at the time of the accident in the Woodstock chamber dismantling the air-receiver. This receiver was hung in a cradle at each end and supported by wooden trestles. Deceased was standing on the air-receiver removing bolts and nuts at the connection between the air-pipe and receiver. This air-pipe is 8 in. cast iron, and it is quite evident that he had taken out all the bolts at the connection and freed the air-pipe, which in all probability had a little strain on it, so that when it was freed from the receiver- it flew back, knocking the cradle from under the end of the receiver, causing it to tilt. As it tilted deceased fell with it, and the air-pipe, bolts, and straps supporting it also drew through the timbers to which it was suspended, and pinned diseased across the throat and. chest, fracturing his skull and his right lower jaw. It is also probable that his neck was dislocated. A fatal accident occurred at 7.40 a.m. in the compressor-house at the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Maratoto, on the 19th August whereby the man in charge, Isaac Wade, aged 44 years, lost his life. The particulars are as follows : This air-compressor, driven by a Pelton wheel, is situated about a mile from the mine, in which two shifts are being worked. The air-compressor is stopped at midnight, and the duty of the man in charge is to keep it oiled and reduce the speed when the men in the mine have bored out the face, also to see that the air-pressure is sufficient to commence boring at 8 a.m. At 7.40 a.m. the mine-manager, J. O'Sullivon, who was standing by the pressuregauge at the mouth of the tunnel, noticed that the hands of the gauge had not moved, and in order to ascertain the cause rang on the telephone which is connected with the mine and compressor-house, but could get no reply, and assumed that the driving-belt had come off, so at once proceeded down to the compressor-house to render assistance. On entering the compressor-house the manager found deceased lying on the floor with a deep cut on his right temple which was bleeding profusely. The Pelton wheel was still running, and the pulley which drives the air-compressor was broken. This is a geared belt-driven air-compressor. The diameter of the pulley driving the air-compressor is 2 ft. 4 in., which has been in use for over three years. The main pulley on the Pelton wheel is 4 ft. 9 in., and the distance between pulleys is 16 ft. 4 in. The driving-belt and pulleys are adequately protected, also the pinion -wheels. The deceased's duties were to oil the machinery, starting, and ease down the pressure when the Pelton wheel was not required for drilling. It is very difficult to determine how this accident occurred, but it is quite evident that deceased was engaged oiling the cups on the bearings of the pulley-wheel driving the air-compressor when it broke—a piece striking him on the right temple, causing instantaneous death. Nearly half this wheel carried away, leaving the " boss " on the shaft, and the cause of it breaking was evidently a defect in the casting, which was impossible to detect. An inquiry was held at Hikutaia before Mr. F. Piatt, Coroner, who after hearing the evidence returned the following verdict : " The deceased, Isaac Wade, met his death in the compressor building of the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mining Company, situated at Maratoto, oil Tuesday, 19th August, 1921, caused, by being struck on the forehead by part of a pulley, in my opinion the fatality was purely accidental, there being no evidence to show that any one was to blame."

«!»„ Weight per Foot Collapsing Pressure per j ' Wral) i n .i a.*, Weight per Foot Collapsing Pressure per JNommal awe. with Collars. Square Inch, External. ' with Collars. Square Inch, External. I | fu. lb. lb. In. lb. lb. 154 70 ! 790 8 i 1 38 2.880 12J 54 I 1,210 6J 28 4,070 10 48 2,030 Accidents.

C.—2

24

A serious blasting accident occurred to Alfred Brown in the Waihi Mine in a stope on the Bull reef —above tbe Western Smithy surface level—about 9.30 a.m. on the 29th February. This stope is being worked one shift with two men—Alfred Brown and Daniel Gardiner. At knock-off time the evening before Brown spit two holes which had been charged, but only heard one report. The next morning both men entered the stope and discovered that one hole had misfired. Brown, who was nearest the face, pulled out the burnt fuse with the unexploded detonator attached ;he afterwards commenced to work down the loose ground. Gardiner filled a truck and had just reached the mouth of the tunnel when he heard an explosion. On going back into the level he found that his mate had been seriously injured in eyes, chest, and arms. An examination of the stope showed that two holes had been bored, one above the other. The bottom hole missed, whilst the top one broke its burthen, and also shattered the quartz underneath. It is difficult to explain exactly how this accident happened, especially in view of the fact that the detonator had been withdrawn, and all that one can assume is that the whole face was shaken by the top hole, and that Brown miscalculated the position of the miss-hole and drove his pick into the charge, causing it to explode. Messrs. Brown and Gardiner are both careful and confident miners with many years' experience, and this accident can only be attributed to a error of judgment on the part of Alfred Brown, the injured man. R. Wood had an arm broken whilst working in the shaft at Muir's Gold-reefs (Limited) on the 23rd June. It appears that at the time of the accident G. Hayward, L. Thompson, and R. Wood were engaged putting in a set of timber at 474 ft. below the surface. The bucket cage in the centre compartment was at the surface, the north cage being about 30 ft. above the bottom of the shaft. The lines used for plumbing the timbers are hung from a set about 30 ft. above the bottom, and required adjusting. In order to do so Wood climbed the sets in the compartment under the north cage, omitting to give the signal of eight bells, which notifies the engine-driver to hold fast and not to move the engine. While Wood was so engaged the braceman signalled the engine-driver to raise the bucket cage on the surface to enable him to draw the bucket into the winding-compartment, with the result that the north cage was lowered slowly about 10 ft. Wood, who was under this cage adjusting the plumb-lines, was struck on the right arm, sustaining a compound fracture of the radius. From the above it will be seen that this accident was due to negligence on the part of Wood in omitting to give the signal of eight bells, which notifies the engine-driver to fold fast and not to move the engine. West Coast Inspection District (J. F. Downey, Inspector of Mines). Quartz- mining. MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT. Dominion Consolidated Mine. —Towards the end of 1922 the Dominion Consolidated Mining and Development Company, which had operated the mine for some years previously, went into liquidation, and for some time work was at a standstill. During the past year, however, a syndicate, formed mainly, I understand, by the debenture-holders, took over the property and resumed active mining. A great deal of work was found to be necessary to bring both mine and plant into proper working-order again, and this prevented any crushing being done. Mr. W. L. Dutton was appointed mine-manager, and it is his intention to work the reef on the shrinkage s3?stem as practised to some extent at Waihi. The reef is not of high grade, but it is of good width, and, as it breaks well and the walls are of exceptionally good-standing character, it is suitable for shrinkage stoping. The management has good hopes that by working it on that system an economy will be effected that will enable a profit to be won. By the end of the year most of the needed repairs had been effected, and it was expected a start would shortly be made to crush. In the meantime a large tonnage of stone had already been broken in the stopes ready for transport to the mill. Eighteen men were engaged in mine and plant. REEFTON DISTRICT. Blackwater Mine. —During the year the average number of men employed remained approximately the same as last year —namely, 140. Development-work was carried on systematically, but a shortage of miners prepared to undertake winzing somewhat retarded progress. The work actually carried out consisted of 1,237j ft. of driving, 904 ft. of which was on reef averaging 17-45 dwt. over in. ; 216£ ft. of rising, 108-J ft. of which was on reef averaging 17-11 dwt. over 19 in. ; S3-J of winzing, 10 ft. of which was on reef averaging 18-1 dwt. over 18 in. ; and 16 ft. of crosscutting. The details of the work are as follows :— No. 6 north level was advanced 15 ft., without disclosing anything ; No. 8 level north advanced 222-J-ft., 209jft. on reef averaging 18-58 dwt. over 28 in. ; No. 9 level north advanced 199 ft., 158 ft. of which was on reef averaging 14-08 dwt. over 22-7 in. ; No. 9 level south advanced 14 ft. in country rock ; No. 10 level north advanced 360£ ft., 248Jft. on reef averaging 17-06 dwt. over 42-6 in. ; No. 10 level south, advanced ft., 240 ft. on reef averaging 20-55 dwt. over 16-3 in. ; No. 8 level rise at 1,470 ft. north was risen 83-J ft. on reef averaging 18-1 dwt. over 18 in. ; No. 8 level rise at 1,670 ft. north was put up 18 ft. on reef averaging 14-9 dwt. over 24 in. ; No. 9 level rise at 640 ft. south was risen 32 ft., of which only 7 ft. was on reef ; No. 10 level rise at 440 ft. north was risen 83 ft. in country rock only ; No. 7 level winze at 1,470 ft. north was sunk 53 ft., 10 ft. of which was on reef averaging 18-1 dwt. over 18 in. The total footage of development was therefore 1,553Jft., of which 1,022Jft. was on reef averaging 17-44 dwt. over 26-4 in.—viz., 908£ ft. in payable reef averaging 19-35 dwt. over 27J in., and 114 ft. on reef averaging 3-23 dwt, over 17£ in., 531 ft. being off reef. This development cannot be looked upon as otherwise than very satisfactory, the extent of reef and the values showing on No. 10 level north being particularly so. This is so far probably the best level north in the mine since No. 4, and as it is the present lowest level the development speaks well for the future life of the mine. During the year some 38,140 tons of quartz were treated, which yielded 18,550 oz. 4 dwt. gold, valued at £79,310 Bs. 4d. The crushing showed a falling-off of about 1,500 tons on the previous year, but the value received represented an increase in the same period of £3,872 7s. lOd. A new Edwards roasting plant is being erected at the battery to treat accumulated and current concentrates, which for some time past have not been sufficiently rich in gold content to warrant their being shipped to Australia or elsewhere for treatment; but by treating them, at the mine a fair margin of profit is expected to be won. The new water-race extension to the Alexander River is nearly completed, and when this water is brought in additional economies that are expected as the result of its use will probably further assist the company in its future work. North Blackivater Mine. —During the year this mine was again unwatered and put in order, but the only actual mining done was the extension of No. 6 level a further 18 ft. easterly. This work was carried out with a view to locating the upward continuation of the reef found at 220 ft. in No. 7 level crosscut, and the object was attained. The reef was cut, but it was broken and of irregular size, due no doubt to the point of intersection being in close proximity to the same fault that displaced the reef on the lower level. Once the reef was found, in this level work again ceased, pending rearrangement of its finances on the part of the company. Murray Creek Mine. —Mining operations were resumed on this property by a small syndicate which took the property over from the liquidator of the former Murray Creek Gold-mining Company. The old No. 2 (battery adit level) was cleaned out and repaired for about 2,800 ft., and the rails were relaid in it for that distance. At this point which was but a few feet from the extreme end of the adit, some work was done on a small reef-track which evidently represented the southern limit of the Victoria shoot (the most southerly of three previously worked in the mine). A leading stope was taken off, and it was found that the track opened out and carried more quartz. This sign being considered encouraging, stoping was carried out further, but no further evidence of the widening of the track occurred, and as the stone was too small and broken, to be worked profitably operations at that part were suspended. Some prospecting was then carried out at a point in the adit about 400 ft. further back towards the mouth, and here at the

25

0.—2

side of an old branch drive and just behind the old timbers a reef was located which when opened out proved to be up to 4 ft. in width. This was driven on northerly for approximately 100 ft. to a point where it apparently overlapped what was lmown as the "30 ft. block " which was worked out some years ago. Stoping was started on this run of stone, but after several stopes had been taken off the stone cut out entirely. Subsequently an opening was made from an old rise previously put up to work the 30 ft. block, and an intermediate was driven out over the recently stoped ground, but the work was found to be entirely off reef and evidently in a fault. There is little doubt that this stone was cut off by a fault, and in ail probability would be picked up again if a rise were pub up along the fault-line, but the question arises as to whether such work would be justified. The stone taken out from the reef was all crushed at the battery, and if the results obtained are any criterion as to the values that might be found in the stone if it were located higher up they can scarcely be considered as encouraging the carrying-out of the work referred to. In all 329 tons are reported as being crushed, and the resultant gold from amalgamation and cyanide treatment only amounted to 114 oz. 13 dwt., valued at £383 6s. 3d., equal to 6-7 dwt. per ton. A portion of the tonnage crushed may have come from the smaller reef worked farther in along the adit, but by far the bulk of it came from this other reef. It may be mentioned that both the short runs of stone opened out on form part of the Inglewood shoot. The crushings nob being satisfactory, work at the mine ceased again at the end of the year. New Big River Mine.—Work was carried on steadily throughout the year, an average of forty-eight men being employed in mine and treatment plant. Comparatively little development was done, and this was confined to No. 12 level. Driving to the extent of about 226 ft. was carried out, and two rises put up, one to 70 ft. and the other to 80 ft. In the former no stone was met with till 70 ft. in height above the level was reached, but in the latter stone of fair size was followed right up from just over the back of the level. The first rise mentioned was 1,005 ft. from the shaft, the other 945 ft. At 70 ft. above No. J 2 level an intermediate was opened out, and from this the workings have revealed fairly large bodies of stone of good grade. During the year 4,101 tons of quartz were treated, as against 4,324 tons during 1923, but the better values recovered more than made up for the slight falling-off in tonnage, 4,814 oz. 19 dwt. 12 grains gold, valued at £20.039 14s. Bd., being won, as compared with 3,804 oz., valued at £15,609 7s. lOd. With the exception of about 300 tons the ore crushed came from the No. 12 level stopes. It is rather unfortunate that no payable quartz has yet actually been met with in No. 12 level itself, but further development during the coming year will probably give the mine a healthier appearance at this horizon. New Keep-it-dark Mine. —The tribute party that worked a short run of stone above No. 1 level during 1923 continued their operations and extracted a further 880 tons, which on treatment yielded 656 oz. 10 dwt. gold, valued at £2,530 6s. 9d. As the workings then approached the surface and the ingress of water became too heavy to make the work safe, operations ceased. The party thus did very well out of this tribute, taking out in about eighteen months 1,963 oz. 7 dwt. gold, valued at £7,598 6s. Bd., which showed good profit after all expenses were paid. Some sixteen men on an average were kept employed. Since work ceased in this part of the mine, another party took up a tribute in another section of it —viz., in the Old Golden Ledge adit in which no work has been done for something like forty years. Many years ago various parcels of quartz were taken from this part of the property, but no official data regarding them seems to be available. It is said, however, that about 1,300 tons were crushed for about 8 dwt. gold per ton, but in that far period the use of cyanide was, of course, unknown. The belief exists that good stone was left in the face of the adit, and it is with a view to proving the truth or otherwise of this statement, and also to make some further test of the value of the stone treated under modern conditions, the present party ha ve undertaken the work of opening up the old workings. Up to the end of the year 170 ft. of crosscut had been reopened and timbered, and about 220 ft. of the drive on the reef. During the progress of the repair work about 70 tons of quartz were recovered, in which it is not an uncommon thing for visible gold to be seen. An opening made into the old stopes shows stone to be there up to 3 ft. wide. It may be mentioned that none of the old plans in this office show the drive in the reef to have extended more tha,n 90 ft. from the crosscut, so that the party has been surprised to find it extending upwards of 200 ft. Four miners are employed, and it is proposed to put several more on shortly. North Big River Mine.—A little more work was done in this mine with a view to locate payable reef, but no success was met with. Connection was made by winze and rise between No. 1 intermediate adit and No. 2 adit, and several crosscuts were run out eastward on No. 2 adit. New Millerton Mine. —Work was carried on here in a small way for the greater portion of the year. The only development-work done was, however, the making of a short connection between the ends of the two branch drives on No. 3 level south. Stoping was continued on the small gold-bearing shoot in the south end of the mine, which was worked out up to the surface. The results of this work were not at all satisfactory, 263 tons of quartz being mined and treated for 54 oz. 3 dwt. gold, valued at £218 45., equal to an average of 4-1 dwt. gold per ton. The sands were not cyanided. Towards the end of the year operations ceased. South Blackwater Mine.—During the latter half of the year the commencement of what appears to be a serious attempt to prove the value or otherwise of this property was made. A site for a main shaft was located and levelled off, and a small winding-engine and boiler taken there. It is proposed to sink this shaft to a depth of at least 600 ft. The site of the shaft is approximately 6,760 ft. south of the Blackwater mine-shaft and a few chains to the west of the line of what is known as the Blackwater or Birthday reef. A track which is believed to be that of the reef referred to has been found in the south Blackwater ground, and an adit was driven on it for about 500 ft. southerly at an elevation a few feet above the level of Snowy Creek. Several other reefs, known as the Empire and the Snowy, have also been found in the South Blackwater holdings, and adits were driven on them for varying distances. In all the adits the records seem to show the reefs were small and much broken. As the collar of the proposed shaft is approximately 300 ft. above the level of the lowest of these adits—that on the Birthday line—the shaft will, consequently, if carried down to the full depth mentioned, penetrate to a depth of 300 ft. below any previous workings, and it is possible that if the reef is located at that depth it may be less disturbed and perhaps of better width than in the more superficial workings. New Discovery Mine.—After being idle for something more than a year work was also resumed on this property. From the end of the drive put in to the north on. the reef-track at 1,163 ft. in the low-level tunnel a rise was put up with a view to making connection with a winze previously sunk from No. 1 level, but up to the end of the year the connection had not been completed, although only a few feet of work remained to be done. The old workings of Nos. 1 and 2 adits were also repaired. Although the rise referred to was put up about 90 ft. no payable stone was discovered. Ready Bullion Mine. —No work was done here during the year. Big River Extended Mine. —This mine was also idle throughout the year. South Big River Mine. —After a period of inactivity work was resumed. No. 3 level, which had been previously put in for upwards of 600 ft., was cleaned out and repaired, and it is now proposed to connect a rise which was started from this adit with the No. 3 winze previously started from No. 2 adit. Reef is showing in this rise, but the stone is not solid, the formation having more the appearance of a fault in which such stone as occurs has been dragged and crushed. It is also proposed to continue the driving of No. 2 adit a further distance northwards of about 160 ft. to connect with No. 1 winze sunk from the surface. The object of this work is to prove whether or not the reef which outcrops on the surface between Nos. I and 2 winzes lives down to this depth. It is also intended to project a short crosscut from No. 3 adit to a point under No. 1 winze. To enable this work to be carried out the Department has granted a small subsidy. Scotia Mine. —This mine, otherwise known as the Justification, has been actively worked during the past year, a syndicate known as the Scotia Development and Prospecting Syndicate having taken an option over the property and spent something like £2,500 in endeavouring to locate the downward continuation of the reef formerly worked down to No, 4 level (No. 2 from shaft). Unfortunately, the larger portion of the small capital provided was consumed in the

4—C. 2,

0.—2

26

task of unwatering and repairing the Sir Francis Drake shaft. This latter was found to be in extremely bad order, not so much by reason of any decay in the timber, but owing to much of it getting adrift, and the continuous obstruction to the baling, together with the necessity of retimbering as the work progressed and of coping with the constant and fairly heavy influx of water from surface workings, made the work very costly. At 150 ft. below No. 4 level, or 480 ft. from the collar of the shaft, a chamber was cut, and a level, No. 5 (No. 3 from shaft), projected in a direction a little west of north for 143 ft. At 40 ft. from the shaft reef was met with and driven on for approximately a similar distance. This reef was about 3 ft. wide, but it was not solid stone, and consisted of a series of stringers of quartz with country rock between them. The material carried little or no value. Five samples taken by myself at 5 ft. intervals between 40 ft. and CO ft. in the drive showed on assay nothing more than a trace of gold. At 90 ft. from the shaft this formation cut out, but it made again a few feet further on and continued to the end of the drive, when it again cut out. No values of any consequence were, however, as far as I can learn, found in it. Work at this horizon was then abandoned, and No. 3 level was cleaned up, as was also a winze sunk many years ago from it to a depth of 50 ft. at a point about 450 ft. northerly from the shaft. A belief existed that payable reef had been located in this winze, and the syndicate desired to find out if possible whether it was justified or not. The winze was baled out, and the manager informed me that he found reef at a short distance in the western wall from the winze, and that he took several samples from it which showed payable results. Owing to the heavy influx of water it was found impossible to keep the winze open for inspection, consequently I did not have an opportunity of seeing this reef. As the syndicate's funds were exhausted it approached the Department for some assistance to try and reach the stone from No. 4 level, and as the distance to be driven was not great a small grant on a £1 for £1 basis was made, towards the closing weeks of the year, to enable the work to be done. Progress Mine.—No underground work was done, but at the battery-site the retreatment of some of the old tailings was continued, some 644 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, valued at £2,262 14s. 9d., being recovered. Wealth of Nations Mine.—Mining and crushing operations were carried out continuously, but work is said to have been retarded considerably by lack of good miners. Quite a lot of work was found necessary in the way of repairs to the shaft and various levels from No. 4 level down, and in the opening-up and restoring of old passes for ventilation purposes, and much expense was thereby incurred that had not been foreseen. Early in the year No. 13 south level reached the block of stone in which a winze had previously been sunk from No. 12 level to a depth of 80 ft., and a rise was put up which made connection with the winze. The block on No. 13 level was found to be of fair width —upwards of 14 ft. for a good part of its length —but, unfortunately, the stone was not found to carry the high values shown where it was driven on in No. 12 level or sunk on in the winze. On the contrary, it was discovered to be of such exceedingly low grade as scarcely to pay the cost of extraction. At first this was not thought a matter of great moment, as values in some of the Reefton mines have been often known to vary greatly from stope to stope, and it was expected that when stoping was begun better-quality stone would soon be met with. Four stopes had, however, been taken off before the end of the year without any material improvement showing in the gold contents of the quartz. As it had been quite reasonable to believe that the values shown in the winze would have lived down this unforeseen and quite unexpected result of the work has proved a grievous disappointment to the shareholders, most of whom are local people. There can be little doubt but that better values will come in again higher up, but in the meantime the company's finances are nearly exhausted, and great care will be needed to guide the venture over the intervening period. Stoping was carried on on the same shoot of stone above No. 12 level, but the values from here do not seem to have been much better than those from above No. 13. Some fair-grade stone was, however, won from stopes over No. 11 level. Altogether 7,754 tons of quartz were crushed, by far the greater portion of which came from the south shoot over Nos. 12 and 13 levels, for a yield of 2,740 oz. gold, valued at £10,907 3s. 7d., equal to a return of 7'oB dwt. per ton. Thirty-eight men were employed. Towards the end of the year a plant for treatment of a large accumulation of slimes at the mine was completed. When this is in full working-order a substantial addition should be made to the company's earnings. Alexander River Reefs. —A small syndicate, known as the Alexander Gold-mining Syndicate, consisting almost wholly of the original prospectors of the field and their workmen, has been making great efforts to bring this field into the producing stage. During the year a water-race 17 chains in length, most of which was in solid rock, was cut, and an overshot water-wheel, 20 ft. in diameter, erected, the latter being made from timber hand-sawn on the spot. A small battery of five head of 650 lb. stamps has also been erected. The water-wheel, which has been erected close to the Alexander River, is used to drive a small 15 horse-power generator, from which current is transmitted to the battery, which is situated at an elevation of about 1,000 ft. above the river. For driving the battery a 10 horse-power motor is installed. The getting-in of this plant proved a most laborious task. To assist the party in the work a grant of £400 was made by the Department, which enabled a rough track to be made from the head of Brown's Creek to the foot of the spur on which the mine is situated. The material was carted in drays up the bed of Brown's Creek to the new track, and snigged over the latter. Most of the work had to be done through the winter, which was an unusually wet one, consequently the men employed at the work had to put up with much hardship. From the Alexander River to the battery-site the party had at its own expense to construct a steep track up the range, up which the machinery had to be dragged by means of tackle. The whole of the work of erecting the various parts of the plant was practically completed by the end of the year, and in view of the many difficulties that had to be faced in the performance of the work the men are to be highly complimented on the rapid and skilful way in which it has been carried out. The mine itself is situated several hundred feet higher still than the battery and at a distance of about 20 chains from the latter. An aerial has been provided by means of which the stone will be brought down from mine to mill. Much development will, of course, have yet to be done before it can be known whether or not the reef is likely to be a permanent one, but the indications that it will live in length and depth are favourable. In the meanwhile there is in sight a considerable tonnage of stone for the party to work on, and as there is little doubt as to the good quality of this stone the coming year offers decided promise that the party will be well recompensed for its enterprise and hard work. Perseverance Mine.—During the year Messrs. T. S. and J. H. Roberts, two prospectors well known in the district, acquired this old. mining property, situated midway between the Energetic and Murray Creek Mines, and have done a good deal of work in cleaning out the old adit and doing further surface prospecting on the area. The Consolidated Goldfields some years ago located gold-bearing stone in driving south on the reef in No. 1 adit, and had carried in No. 2 adit nearly to the reef when for some reason not now discoverable work was stopped. The present holders have a high opinion of the prospective value of the area, and efforts are being made to form a company to provide capital to further test it. Dredges. Rimu Flat Gold-dredge.—The big dredge of the Rimu Gold-dredging Company continued active work during the whole of the year, but failed to turn over quite so large a quantity of ground as during the previous year, consequently less gold was won than in 1923. The operations were nevertheless very successful, some 10,606 oz. of gold, valued at £47,256, being recovered, and dividends to the amount of a further £6,566 were paid, making a total distribution of £9,849 since the dredge was started. The company has been vigorously prospecting by means of Keystone drilling various parts of the district within reasonable radius of Rimu Flat in the hope of locating a further area of payable dredging-ground. So far, however, the prospecting efforts have not met with any success. Some good ground has been penetrated by the bores, but no area of payable ground large enough to warrant putting a dredge on has been proved. As the company intends continuing this policy of active prospecting, it is to be hoped the coming year will satisfactorily reward its efforts. On an average forty-eight men were employed. Awatuna Dredge.—This dredge, working on the beach leads near Awatuna Railway-station, has also been operated continuously during the year, eleven men being employed. For the period 1,193 oz. of gold, valued at £4,727, were recovered. As the dredge is only constructed to work to a depth of 25 ft., it was found that some of the best ground in the area could not be bottomed. KingswelVs Dredging-area, Ngahere.—Some further drilling and general prospecting was done on this area on the Grey River, and efforts were made by the holder to procure capital for working it, but so far success in this direction has not been attained.

27

(J.—2

A lluvial Mining. This branch of the industry has shown some little advancement for the year, 167 men being employed, as against 132, and about £3,000 more gold being won and disposed of than recorded in 1923. Altogether 3,592 oz. 6 dwt. gold, valued at £14,267 25., were accounted for. The following details give some idea of the work done in the different fields :— Howard Diggings.—Returns show that twenty-one men were employed, winning 175 oz. gold, worth £703 13s. Bd. Murchison (including Lyell, Newton Flat, and Matakitaki). —Twenty men were employed, winning gold to the value of £533 14s. 9d. The Buller Sluicing Company, operating on the Glenroy River, which employed twelve of the number of men, has not yet passed the prospecting stage, but has not evidently met with much success. Westport District (including Charleston, Fairdown, and Waimangaroa).—Twolve men were employed, winning 299 oz. 1 dwt. 6 gr. gold, valued at £1,149 Is. Bd. Grey Valley (including Ahaura, Nelson Creek, and Blackball). —Fifteen men employed. 258 oz. gold were recovered, valued at £1,041 Bs. sd. Collingwood.—Eight men were employed at Parapara and Roekville, winning 86 oz. 2 dwt. 18 gr. gold, valued at £312 13s. 3d. Blenheim.—Seven men were employed in connection with prospecting on the old Mahakipawa field. Kumara (including Stafford, Greenstone, and Callaghan's).—This was the most active and productive centre, thirty-three men being employed. 1,570 oz. gold were recovered, valued at £6,223 lis., the most successful claims being the Hohonu Sluicing Company at Greenstone, Stubbs and Steel at Revell's Terrace, and Havill's at Callaghan's. Barrytoion.—Five men were employed working the beaches, 41 oz. gold being recovered. Reefton. —Gold amounting to 237 oz. 19 cwt. 14 gr. were recovered, valued at £913 19s. 3d. Twelve men were employed. Hokitika.—On the various old fields in this locality twenty-one men were employed, mining 401 oz. 3 dwt. 10 gr. gold, valued at £1,611 4s. 9d. Olcarito. —The beaches from Okarito to Gillespie's have apparently been fairly good, eight men winning from them 294 oz. 15 dwt. 19 gr. gold, valued at £1,149 Is. Bd. Gillespie's Beach was by far the most productive locality. Mining other than Gold. Iron.—During the year active smelting operations were again entered upon by the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company, and 630 tons of pig iron were produced, the whole of which was found to be of good quality and was disposed of to ironfounders throughout the Dominion. During the smelting run the furnace worked smoothly, three tappings being made daily. The consumption of coke was 1 ton to each ton of pig iron produced, and the daily output of the furnace was approximately 20 tons. Owing, however, to various serious obstacles the operations whilst entirely successful from a smelting point of view were not so from a financial aspect. The chief trouble lay in the company's inability to procure or produce coke at a sufficiently low price at the time to enable it to turn out pig-iron at a figure admitting of successful competition with the imported article. A supply of suitable coke could not be secured at a satisfactory price in the Dominion, and New South Wales coke proved too costly, so the company had to resort to making its own from coal brought by sea from Greymouth. This coal had to be carted from the company's wharf to its coke-ovens, a distance of about one mile and three-quarters over a bad road, and this handling proved over-costly. Further than that, there was no shelter for the coal, with the result that in the very wet weather that prevails in the locality it became loaded with moisture to such an extent that it took an unduly long time to coke when placed in the ovens. The normal time for a charge in the small beehive ovens used is forty-eight hours, but owing to its wet condition this coal was taking anything from sixty to ninety-eight hours to go through. The result of this was inevitably that the coking-costs reached a prohibitive figure. Realizing that it was impossible to carry oh under the existing conditions the company ceased its smelting operations, and set to work to procure better means of transport for the coal from the wharf to the ovens and to provide means also of keeping the coal in dry conditions. Plans were prepared for the laying-down of a tramway between the wharf and the coking plant, the erection of suitable sheds at both termini, and the erection of six more ovens in addition to the sixteen already built. A start was made with this work, and prior to the end of the year the formation of the tramway had been about two-thirds completed, and all the ties, rails, &e., had been delivered at the wharf. The additional ovens had also been partially built. Owing to the necessity of raising further capital work was again stopped in October. A debenture issue to provide the necessary funds is now being offered to the public, and, as I understand this is being taken up readily, it may be expected that an early resumption of active work will take place. As the whole success or otherwise of the venture depends on the production of coke at a satisfactory price, and as the improved facilities now being provided should enable the company to attain its objective in this direction, much better results should be forthcoming from the company's efforts when smelting is again started. Petroleum. —No active boring was done in this district in search of petroleum during 1924, but the possibility of finding payable deposits has not been lost sight of. In the Murchison district a mineral prospecting warrant, covering 9,829 acres, has been taken up by Messrs. D. Oxnam and party in Tutaki and Matiri Survey Districts with a view to prospecting for oil. It is generally known that strong oil seepages occur at various points in this locality. During 1922 Professor Cotton, of Sydney University, visited and reported on them, expressing the opinion that, whilst oil-bearing beds probably existed there, they were at a great depth —6,000 ft. or more—from the surface, and the strata was so dislocated by fractures that no area left between the latter would be sufficiently large to permit of the accumulation of a payable deposit of oil. The geologist referred to gave, however, his chief attention to the Warwick Saddle area, to which his remarks fairly apply. Messrs. Oxnam and party propose devoting their efforts to the Mangles River area, where they are satisfied the strata overlying the possible oil-bearing beds are not nearly so deep ana the faulting has not been so intense. They believe that an anticlinal structure stretches for miles through the country, with its crest passing through the Mangles River area and on to a point south of the Warwick Saddle. If this is so, there seems a strong probability that at some point or other along its strike payable oil-beds may be located, and inasmuch as the overlying conglomerates, sandstones, &c., have been entirely eroded at the Mangles River, leaving only the arkose grits as cover for the possible oil-beds, it is certain that drilling would not there have to be carried to so great a depth as would be necessary elsewhere on the field, hence it appears to be a favourable locality for initial prospecting. On behalf of the warrant-holders, Mr. J. A. Spencer, who has had field experience with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, has examined this area, and has reported favourably on it from a prospecting point of view, and a site has been selected for the first borehole. This is, I understand, near the junction of Blackwater Creek and the Mangles River. I am informed that the necessary capital for putting down this bore is available, and that negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of the drilling plant required. Other applications for similar warrants for prospecting for petroleum in the Murchison district have been lodged by Mr. J. Bassett and Mr. F. Creighton. In Grey County mineral prospecting warrants, covering 25,000 acres in Waimea and Arnold Survey Districts, have been granted to Mr. J. B. Donald for a similar purpose. General Remarks. Mining.—Mining generally throughout the district has shown a slight improvement. In the alluvial bx-anch 167 men were employed, as against 132 last year, and 711 oz. 10 dwt. more gold were won. In the quartz-mining branch forty-seven more men were employed. Some 51,467 tons were crushed, as against 47,872 tons in 1923, an increase of 3,595 tons, whilst the gold yield amounted to 27,574 oz. 14 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £115,651 18s. 4d., as compared with 25,290 oz., valued at £99,143 6s. 2d. Quarries. —In the various quarries in the district slightly fewer men were employed, but the value of the product went up to £55,121 12s. 2d., an increase of £13,763 17s. on the previous year's figures. No accidents of any kind were reported. Prospecting.—Apart from the work done by means of Keystone drills by the Rimu Gold-dredging Company, field prospecting either for reef or alluvial has not been active. Very few applications for prospecting assistance were e ceived, but such of these as seemed deserving were granted subsidies.

C.~ 2.

28

Accidents. —I have regretfully to record one fatal accident. This occurred early in the year, a young man named Frederick Archer, age 20 years, being crushed to death between the screen and the side of the distributing-box on the Rimu dredge. Deceased evidently fell on top of the revolving screen, and was carried around by it against the walls of the distributing-box, his body being found underneath the screen. An inquest was held, and the verdict of accidental death returned. No evidence was forthcoming as to how deceased came to get into the position. The screen was well railed off, and there was no occasion for deceased to go inside the railing at the time. He had been engaged in sweeping the deck on the port side of the screen, and the only inference is that instead of walking around outside the railing to resume his work on the starboard side he had attempted to take a short cut over the screen on portion of the gantry timbers, and while doing so lost his balance. Two other accidents of a much less serious nature were reported. One of these consisted of the gassing of a young man named Christopher Curtain at the Wealth of Nations Mine at Reefton. Ho was employed at the time in removing old timber from the top of a winze on No. 12 level, which was to be baled out. The winze was full of water charged with sulphuretted hydrogen, and it is presumed that he disturbed the water, causing the gas to be freed. Curtain was rendered semi-unconscious, but speedily recovered on removal to the Hospital. The other accident was to a man named F. C. Bell at the Hohonu Sluicing Company's claim at Greenstone. Some of the employees were putting in boxes near the face at the time. Bell, who was in charge of the working, was assisting them, but had just sat down on the edge of the race when a small slab fell away from a boulder of sandstone behind him. The material only fell a few inches, but it struck Bell on the back, causing injuries that necessitated him being taken to the Westland Hospital, where he remained for several weeks. Southern" Inspection District (Mr. A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines). Quartz and Alluvial Mining. WAITAEI COUNTY. Livingstone and Maerewhenua. —A long period of dry weather was experienced in the early part of the year, which caused a shortage of water for sluicing, consequently there has been a falling-off in the yield of gold. Returns show that nine men were employed, producing 87 oz. gold, valued at £338. WAIHEMO COUNTY. Golden Point Mine (Macrae's). —No work was done in the mine during the year. At the battery 1,100 tons of tailings, saved from the previous cruskings, were treated by cyanide for a yield of gold valued at £628, and 13 tons of concentrates, valued at £233, were shipped to Australia for smelting. Mount Moore Gold-mining Syndicate (Stoneburn). —This syndicate has taken up the Golden Bar Mine, and commenced to sink a vertical shaft to prospect the reefs at a depth of 100 ft. below the low-level tunnel. MANIOTOTO COUNTY. St. Bathan's.—The Scandinavian Water-race Company has reopened the Kildare lead at a depth of 177 ft. below the present surface level. The lead comprises a rich seam of quartz gravel, of an average width of 3 ft., which is dipping south-west at an angle of 45°. Two hydraulic elevators are required for lifting the gravel, and owing to the increasing depth other methods will have to be adopted for mining the lead at the deeper levels. The yield of gold for the year amounted to 019 oz., valued at £2,430. Cambrian. —Four sluicing and elevating claims employing eight men were in operation. The Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company was the principal producer with a yield of 280 oz. gold, valued at £1,102. Naseby and Kyeburn.—Twenty-six men were engaged in alluvial mining in these localities. The yield of gold amounted to 471 oz., valued at £2,088. Patearoa.—Three claims were worked during the year. The gold won amounted to 114 oz., valued at £448. TUAPEKA COUNTY. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Blue Spur). — Two sluicing plants have been treating auriferous cement throughout the year with payable results. Fourteen men were employed, producing 926 oz. of gold, valued at £3,783. Dividends amounting to £2,000 were paid. Lawrence Sluicing Company (Blue Spur). — This company is workingt he north section of the Blue Spur cement deposit, the tailings from sluicing operations being discharged into Munro's Gully. Six men were employed during the year, and the yield of gold was valued at £710. j Golden Crescent Sluicing Company ( Weatherstone). —This company has been treating low-grade cement throughout the year. The gold won amounted to 248 oz., valued at £1,028. Six men were employed. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company (Waitahuna). — Operations were confined to sluicing surface elay and weathered portions of the cement deposit in the company's claim. Gold valued at £2,933 was won, and dividends amounting to £1,680 were paid. j Havelock Sluicing Company ( Waitahuna). —Sluicing and elevating was carried on up to July. The last two paddocks taken out did not yield sufficient gold to pay working-costs. Additional plant was required before work could be continued, and as the prospects of meeting with payable ground were not considered favourable the company decided to cease operations. This company, which was registered in 1908 with £4,000 subscribed capital, produced gold valued at £38,838, and paid £11,400 in dividends. Waipori.—Five alluvial claims, employing nine men, were in operation during the year. The gold won amounted to 533 oz., valued at £2,189. It. J. Cotton was the principal producer, with 293 oz., valued at £1,230. VINCENT COUNTY. Old Man Range.—R. T. Symes, owner of the Advance Mine, crushed 75 tons of quartz from a winze and drive on White's reef, 35 ft. below the battery level, for a yield of 59 oz. gold, valued at £237. Nevis.—Returns from this locality show that seven alluvial claims, employing twenty-five men, were in operation during the year. The gold won amounted to 1,194 oz., valued at £4,723. Graham and party were the principal producers with 712 oz., valued at £2,848. Clutha River. —The Clutha Development Company (Limited) have been engaged in prospecting a large area of river-bed in the vicinity of Lowburn with one of the Government Keystone drills. The prospects obtained are considered to be very encouraging, and it is intended to continue drilling until the area is thoroughly tested. LAKE COUNTY. Shotover River.-—Nineteen men were employed at alluvial mining in this locality. The gold won amounted to 393 oz., valued at £1,570. Sandhills Gold-mining Company (Upper Sliotover). —This company is concentrating on the work of sluicing out an old channel of the Shotover River for the purpose of turning the river from its present course and working about 60 chains of its bed. Reid and Lynch (Sawyer's Creek). —Loose gold-bearing quartz was found in a slip at the head of Sawyer's Creek, and driving is in progress to prospect for the reef from which it was shed. Kawarau Gold-mining Company.—A license for a dam at the outlet of Lake Wakatipu having been granted to the company the work of preparing the site was commenced in the latter part of the year. The dam will be of the stoney sluice type, comprising ten gates each 40 ft. wide and 7 ft. high, operated by winches for controlling the flow of water from the lake. The company's special dredging claims in the Kawarau River have been subdivided into 128 claims, each one-quarter of a mile in length, which are being leased to subsidiary companies and parties.

29

0.—2

SOUTHLAND COUNTY. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Nokomai).—The company's claims in Victoria Gully are almost worked oat, there being only three claims 011 the lead remaining to work. To provide for future operations an area of 70 acres iu Nokomai Creek, which was formerly held by the Lion Gold-mining Company, has been taken up and two of the water-races are to be extended for working the area. The yield of gold amounted to 1,306 oz., valued at £5,160. Thirty men were employed. The Waikaia Deep Lead Mines (Limited), (Waikaia).—This company was formed to reopen and work the Break-em-all Claim at Winding Creek. A paddock 50 ft. deep which was sunk ten years ago by the Round Hill Gold-mining Company was cleaned out, and pumping and winding plant installed for sinking 011 the lead. After sinking 20 ft. it was found that the plant could not deal with the incoming water, and operations were suspended. The gold won amounted to 52 oz., valued at £211. Muddy Terrace.—F. Hamer and party produced 117 oz. gold, valued at £453. Operations were confined to ground sluicing in Maori Gully. D. McLister (Athol).—This claim is situated on the spur between Glenquoich Creek and the Mataura River. A deposit of old sandstone gravel 80 ft. in height was worked by ground sluicing until the face got too high for safe working with the available water-supply, which is small and irregular. Driving out the richest part of the deposit has been resorted to with payable results. Gold valued at £1,214 was won during the year. A. Mutch and Party (Athol).—This party is working a deposit of old sandstone gravel with payable results. A quantity of wooden fluming in the water-race, which was destroyed by fire in the early part or the year, has been replaced with steel pipe. WALLACE COUNTY. Round Hill Gold-mining Company.—A paddock was opened out 011 the boundary of the old Ourawera Claim. The ground is very stony and contains a lot of buried timber, but carries gold in payable quantity. Seventeen men were employed in the claim and attending to water-races. The yield of sold for the year amounted to 899 oz., valued at £3,906. Orepuki and Pahia.—Nine men were employed at alluvial mining in these localities. The gold recovered amounted to 161 oz., valued at £638. G. Shaw and Party (West Waiau).—This party has been engaged in repairing a race to bring water from the Grovebum for working an area in Block 7, Alton Survey District, for gold and platinum. The area comprises a small block of Native land which was recently ceded to the Crown for mining purposes. IDredge Mining. A company, with headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria, is erecting a suction cutter dredge on the Shotover River, at Maori Point, to work the claims held by Paterson and Searle. The dredge comprises steel pontoons 50 ft. long, 24 ft. wide, and 9 ft. deep, equipped with al6 in. gravel-pump suction-pipe and rotary cutter. The pump, which was manufactured by Thomson and Co., Castlemaine, will be driven by a 165 horse-power motor, and the cutter by one of 50 horse-power. Power will be provided by a 250 kw. alternating-current generator driven by water from Stony Creek under a head of 450 ft. It is estimated that the dredge will treat 50,000 cubic yards of gravel per month, allowing time for cleaning bottom, &c. The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge, which was purchased from the company by a Cromwell syndicate, sunk in the Clutha River in February after having worked only two months under the new ownership. The Lady Ranfurly dredge was destroyed by fire on the Kawarau River in March. This dredge, oil the 4th November, 1904, while owned by the Electric Gold-dredging Company, obtained 1,273 oz. of gold in six consecutive days, the greatest weekly output for a gold-dredge in New Zealand. McGeorge's Freehold No. 2 dredge, at Waikaka Valley, and the Nevis Crossing, at Lower Nevis, have been in operation during the year. The production of gold from this branch of mining amounted to 1,536 oz., valued at £6,557. Seventeen men were employed. Minerals other than Gold. Tungsten-ore.—-Two tons of scheelite were produced by the Golden Point Gold and Scheelite Company at Macrae's, and 1 toil by J. Tripp, Glenorehy. The price offered for scheelite concentrates—viz., 10s. per unit—is too low to enable the mines to be profitably worked. Phosphate Rock.—The Milburn Lime and Cement Company produced 1,575 tons of phosphate rock from the quarries at Clarendon. Accidents. No serious accidents occurred, at metal-mines or dredges in the Southern Inspection District during the year.

ANNEXURE B.

SUMMARY OF REPORT OF GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGER. Waimea-Kumaea Watee-eaces (Mr. Jambs Rochfoed, Manager). Waimea Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended 31st March, 1925, was £416 13s. 2d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £809 12s. Bd., showing a debit balance of £392 19s. 6d. 011 the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was 5-25, the same as that of the previous year, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 337 oz., valued at £1,322 14s. 6d., a decrease of £416 Is. on that of the previous year. The sales of water amounted to £539 14s. lid., a decrease of £21 Is. sd. as compared with the previous year. Blackmun and party worked their claim at Liverpool Bill's Terrace, Stafford, throughout the year with fairly satisfactory results, but were considerably handicapped with their tail-race, which did not work efficiently, and eventually they liad to construct a new one. The Linklater Sluicing Syndicate leased their claim and plant at Scandinavian Hill, Stafford, to Mr. W. Linklater in May, 1924, and he worked the property intermittently, and with a limited number of men, from that time until the end of the year, but, unfortunately, the gold returns did not come up to expectations, and unless a decided improvement takes place in this direction in the near future this party will be compelled to cease operations. Messrs. Parker Bros, and Williams, who purchased the Gillam's Gully Sawmill in January, 1924, worked the mill regularly during the year, and purchased water to the value of £205 25., an increase of £110 7s. on the previous year. In the month of May a rather serious break occurred in one of the tunnels at Fox's which completely cut off the supply of water from the miners and Parker Bros.' sawmill at Stafford for eight days. This race is now in fair order, but the section of open ditching immediately below the intake reservoir in the Kawhaka Creek must receive attention at an early date to ensure safety. Although the months of December, January, and February were exceptionally dry there was an excellent supply of water, and the Waimea inverted siphon, which has a carrying capacity of 30 cubic feet per second, was running full all the year. The cash received was £99 9s. 2d. less than the previous year, and the expenditure showed an increase of £1 2s. lid.

0.—2

30

Branch Race to Callaghan's and Middle Branch Flat. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended 31st March, 1925, was £101 12s. Sd., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £476 Is. 3d., showing a debit balance of £374 Bs. 7d. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was two, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained was 258 oz., having a value of £1,012 135., a decrease of £117 15s. on that of the previous year. Although the Havill Brothers did a certain amount of sluicing each month during the year, they only purchased water to the value of £101 17s. 6d. This party is very seriously handicapped by lack of pressure from the Callaghan's Water-race, and has to depend on flood-water from their high-level dam to break down the ground, otherwise considerably more water would be purchased each year. Notwithstanding this rather serious disability the gold returns were highly satisfactory. During the year a considerable amount of repair work was carried out by the staff to the flumings on this race, but the superstructure of practically all of them is in a rather bad state, and further repairs will be necessary from time to time during the ensuing year. The cash received was £13 7s. 4d. less than the amount received during the previous year, and the expenditure for the same period showed a decrease of £8 3s. sd. Kumara Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race amounted to £151 2s. Bd., and for royalty on timber cut on the Reservoir Reserve £560 18s. 9d., making a total revenue of £712 Is. sd. The expenditure on maintenance and repairs amounted to £33 ss. 6d., thus showing a profit of £678 15s. lid. on the year's transactions. No miners were supplied with water from this race during the year, the whole of the revenue derived from sales being received from the Okuku Sawmill Company for water supplied for power-development. As the company holds fairly extensive timber areas the present sales of water should be fully maintained for some years. Over seventy intermediate sets of timber and a considerable quantity of lining-boards were placed in position in the Kumara Head-race Tunnel during the year, but there are still certain sections that will require strict supervision and occasional repairs to minimize the probability of breaks taking place. With the exception of the sections of tunnel above referred to, the Kumara Water-race and the Nos. 1 and 2 Kapitea Reservoirs are in excellent order. Kumara• Trans-Taramakau Water-race. The Payne's Gully Sluicing Company was the only party supplied with water from this race during the year. This company maintains the trans-Taramakau pipe-line, and does its own gauging from the No. 1 Kapitea Reservoir, and in consequence is being supplied with water at a reduced rate. The numerous steel sections of piping, which unfortunately ara to be found along the line, have deteriorated very considerably since my last annual report, and breaks were of frequent occurrence during the year. These breaks, in addition to costing the company large sums for repairs, had the effect of stopping sluicing operations for over six months of the year, and in consequence the yield of gold showed a very decided falling-off, but considering the small quantity of material treated the returns must be looked upon as satisfactory. The water supplied to the Payne's Gully Sluicing Company is not included in the sales, as it was supplied in lieu of cash expended by the company on repairs to the trans-Taramakau pipe-line some years ago. With the exception of the badly oxidized steel sections of piping previously mentioned, the race and reservoir on the north side of the Taramakau River are in fairly good order. Wainihinihi, and Waimea Additional Supply Water-races. It is more than ten months since I made an inspection of these races, but the caretaker reports that, with the exception of a few intermediate sets of timber that are required in some of the tunnels, both races are in fairly good order. Waimea-Kumara and Callaghan's Water-races. The following is a summary of the revenue and expenditure of the above water-races for the year ended 31st March, 1925 : Sales of water, £792 ss. 9d. ; cash received, £1,230 7s. 3d. (including royalty on timber) ; expenditure, £1,318 19s. 5d.; approximate value of gold obtained, £2,931 19s. 6d.; average number of miners employed, 10*33. The sales of water show a decrease of £11 10s. 7d., and the cash received an increase of £42 3s. on the previous ye«*r. The total expenditure on the combined races amounted to £1,318 19s. 5d., as against £1,314 19s. lid. for the previous year, an increase of £3 19s. 6d. Comparing the cash received with the expenditure, the combined races show a loss of £88 12s. 2d., but when the £96 worth of water supplied to the Payne's Gully Sluicing Company in reduction of its account is taken into consideration the races show a profit of £7 7s. lOd. on the year's transactions.

ANNEXURE C.

STONE QUARRIES. Summary ojt Report by Inspector of Quarries for the North Island (Mr. James Newton). It will readily be understood that owing to the extended ai'ea that has to be covered, embracing as it does the whole of the North Island with the exception of the Hauraki mining-area, the quarries situated in the outlying districts can only be visited now and again ; and I do not think it is necessary to visit these areas more frequently, owing to the fact that nearly all such quarries are only operated intermittently and for a very limited time, mostly for not more than a few weeks in the year. However, I have planned, to visit them as often as possible during the time at my disposal, and I have managed to visit most quarries of importance twice and some more often. I am pleased to be able to report that an increasing regard towards carrying out the requirements of the law is apparent everywhere, even in the backblocks, and this I am persuaded is the result of the issue of the booklet entitled " Questions and Answers for Applicants for Quarry-managers or Foremen's Permits" (this book is now to be found scattered around in every district), coupled with the fact that it is now necessary for a quarry-manager to pass an examination prior to his being granted a " permit," which examination ensures that the applicant will have a reasonable knowledge of the regulations, &c. Generally, I have found the operations being carried out in a reasonably safe manner at the quarry-faces, and that much greater care is being exercised with regard to the dust nuisance at the permanent quarries. I still find, however, that section Bis very often not complied with (this section refers to the notification of commencing'and discontinuing of operations in a quarry), owing to the fact that in most cases the public bodies are not the " occupiers " of the quarry, the occupiers being mostly contractors, who operate a few weeks and then shift on. These contractors are, I may say, invariably bound by the terms of their contract to operate in accordance with the requirements of the law, and when each district is visited the county officers and others inform me where quarry-work is being undertaken. The period under review has not been free from distressing occurrences, and I regret to have to mention the following serious accidents that have happened : — On the 12th November a serious blasting accident happened in the Auckland City Council's Mount Eden Quarry, the result of gelignite exploding whilst James Hawkes was engaged lighting shots. The unfortunate man sustained serious injuries, losing his left hand and left eye. On the 16th December George James Auger, owner and occupier of " Auger's quarry " Penrose, was fatally injured by being struck by a flying piece of stone from a blast in the quarry.

31

C. —2

ANNEXURE D.

MINING STATISTICS. Table 1. Statement showing the Quantity or Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

SUMMARY.

Average Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. °' Quartz crushed. j i Value. ; employed. | Amalgamation. J Cyanide. Thames County and Borough. Tararu Creek— Tons cwt. qr. lb. Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. New Sylvia .. .. .. 6 100 0 0 0 .. 203 3 0 135 17 (i Waiotahi Creek— New Waiotahi .. .. 4 20 0 2 4 71 17 0 ... 194 10 0 Moanataiari Creek— Alburnia .. .. .. 3 2200 080 .. 0 19 3 Karaka Creek— Occidental .. .. . . 2 22 0 0 0 63 2 0 .. 104 5 4 Joker .. .. .. 2 3 0 0 0 9 9 0 .. 25 5 11 Prospectors.. .. .. i 12 .. 14 4 0 .. 31 9 10 Totals .. .. 29 147 2 2 4 159 0 0 203 3 0 552 7 10 Waihi Borough. Waihi — Waihi Goldmining Company* .. 629 190,640 3 2 8 .. 566,097 6 0 334,822 12 7 Waihi Grand Junction* .. 144 17,336 12 0 16 .. 27,391 11 0 31,897 3 3 Totals .. .. 773 207,976 15 2 24 .. 593,488 17 0 366,719 15 10 —_ Ohinemuri County. Owharoa — Rising Sun Goldmining Company 18 1,210 0 0 0 1,549 13 0 1,170 13 0 5,173 13 4 Karangahake— Talisman .. .. .. 3 39 0 0 0 .. 193 13 0 173 3 9 Imperial .. .. .. 2 0 15 0 0 .. 62 1 0 95 18 0 Totals .. .. 23 1,249 15 0 0 1,549 13 0 1,426 7 0 5,442 15 1 ! COROMANDEL COUNTY. Waikoromiko — Four-in-hand .. .. 10 42 0 1 17 121 10 0 .. 318 18 0 Mahakirau — O.Andrews .. .. .. 1 .. 16 11 0 .. 50 5 0 Totals .. .. 11 42 0 1 17 138 1 0 .. 369 3 6 Tauranga County. Te Puke— Mnir's GoldReefs _39 j 65 3 2 8 1 [ 341 7 0 ' 1,000 15 11 * Waihi and Waihi Grand Junction Mines: Gold won from these mines valued at £4 4a. per ounoe; silver, 2s. per ounce.

Tons cwt. qr. lb. Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. gr., £ s. d. Thames County and Borough .. 29 147 2 2 4 159 0 0 203 3 0 552 7 10 Waihi Borough .. .. 773 207,976 15 2 24 .. 593,488 17 Oi 360,719 15 10 Ohinemuri County .. .. 23 1,249 15 0 0 1,549 13 0 1,426 7 0 5,442 15 1 Coromandel County .. .. II 42 0 1 17 138 1 0 .. 369 3 6 Tauranga County .. .. 39 65 3 2 8 .. 341 7 0 1,000 15 11 Totals, 1924 .. 875 209,480 17 0 25 1,846 14 0 595,459 14 0 374,084 18 2 I Totals, 1923 .. 1,163 288,036 0 1 19 2,477 5 2 632,969 12 9 508,544 13 9

C.—2

32

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the West Coast Inspection District for the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

Summary of Inspection Districts.

I Average Gold obtained by Locality and Name of Mine. j of Quartz crushed. - — —, - j Value. employed. Amalgamation, j I I I j Nelson. Waiuta — Tons cwt. <jr. Oz. dwt. gr. Oz. dwt. sr. £ s. d. Blackwater Mines .. .. 140 38,140 0 0 15,498 11 0 3,051 13 0 79,310 8 4 Globe HillProgress Mines .. .. 2 .. .. 644 4 0 2,262 14 9 Murray Creek —• Murray Creek .. .. 7 329 0 0 94 14 0 19 19 0 383 6 3 Crushington—■ Keep-it-Dark .. .. 8 880 0 0 409 10 0 247 0 0 2,530 6 9 Wealth of Nations .. .. 38 7,7.54 0 0 1,847 4 0 892 17 0 10,907 3 7 fiukawai— New Millerton .. .. 5 263 0 0 54 3 0 .. 218 4 0 Big River— New Big River .. .. 48 4,101 0 0 4,129 19 0 685 0 12 20,039 14 8 Totals, 1924 .. 248 51,467 0 0 22,034 1 0 5,540 13 12 115,651 18 4 Totals, 1923 .. 237 47,872 0 0 21,062 3 0 4,228 15 0 99,143 6 2

Average Gold obtained by Locality and Name of Mine. ™er°f I Q™rU j employed. i Amalgamation. Cyanide. Vincent County. Old Man Range— I Tons cwt. qr. ] Oz. dwt. gr. I Oz. dwt. gr. | £ s. d. Advance .. .. .. ! 3 | 75 0 0 I 59 9 0 | .. | 237 4 10 ... , Waihemo County. Macrae s— Golden Point.. .. .. 2 .. .. 217 13 0 862 1 10 Deep Dell .. .. .. 1 22 0 0 3 13 22 .. 13 18 1 Totals .. .. 3 22 0 0 3 13 2 2 217 13 0 875 19 11 SUMMARY. Vincent County.. .. .. 3 7500 59 90 .. 237 4 10 Waihemo County .. .. 3 22 0 0 3 13 22 217 13 0 875 19 11 1 . 1 Totals, 1924 .. 6 97 0 0 63 2 22 217 13 0 ! 1,113 4 9 Totals, 1923 .. 9 1,935 0 0 542 13 22 | 187 4 0 I 2,305 4 11 I |

Inspection District. Persons employed' j Q uartz crushed. | Bullion obtained. Value. Statute Tons. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. Northern (North Island) .. .. 875 209,48] 597,306 8 0 374,084 18 2 West Coast (South Island) .. .. 248 51,467 27,574 14 12 115,651 18 4 Southern (Otago and Southland) .. 6 97 280 15 22 1,113 4 9 Totals, 1924 .. .. 1,129 261,045 625,161 18 10 490,850 1 3 Totals, 1923 .. .. 1,409 337,843 661,467 13 9 609,993 4 10 In addition, 1'54 persons were employed at unproductive quartz-mining.

Table 2. Statements of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Companies Act, 1908.

C.—2.

5-0. 2.

33

I j ~ 7 i i | Amount , S g Number j Number G Total Total Amount Name of Comnanv Date of Subscribed of Capital j 81 folders of Shares Amount paid ; Arrears of Share- of sin?e Keilstrathm Ex penditure Amount of of Debts Name of Company. Begistration. Capital. ! actually ; ™ per Share. ! of Calls, holders at I Men em- smce Registration. 8taoe Dividends owing bv paid up. ) cash allotted. present, ! ployed. , Registration. paid. Company. pa - a - ! Quantity. | Value. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. £,£;£: £ Oz. £ £ £:£ Great Northern Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) 13/8/14 j 22,000 [ 14,328 i 6,000 88.000 5/- Nil 186 Nil Nil i Nil 14,291 Nil 172 Hauraki Reefs (Limited) .. .. .. 28/4/10 | 12,416 111,6s! 1 5,083 175,000 1/8 and 2/- Nil 414 Nil .. 9,175 21,624 Nil 205 Horseshoe Mines (Limited) .. .. .. 20/8/20 j 5,862 1,121 J 7,500 80,450 ! 1/3, 1/-, and 181 31 Nil Nil : Nil 1,124 Nil 151 0/9 Kuranui Gold-mining Company (No Liability) .. 5/6/14 21,750 i 5,225 j Nil \ 87,000 ! 1/9,1/8,1/3, Nil 21 2 j 21* 5,862 Nil ' 30 and 1/1 Mount Welcome Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 21/10/20 3,600 . 1,505 2,500 24,400 2/1J 18s. 9d. 54 Nil Nil Nil 1,603 Nil 8 Muir's Gold-reefs (Limited) .. .. .. 14/5/20 77,375 1 77,375 j Nil 77,479 £1 and various Nil 131 39 ... 164,776 304,774 Nil 47,213 Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines (Limited) .. 1/6/14 100,175 j 31,077 I 55,175 200,350 10/-, 9/-, 7/-, 907 179 12 7,282 1,354 36,441 Nil and 5/Nonpareil Gold-mining Company (No Liability) .. 14/9/20 19,225 I 2,401 2,625 87,400 0/11 and 0/10 6 39 3 Nil Nil 2,414 Nil 21 Rising Sun Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 15/5/22 19,882 j 9,636 I 4,700 127,969 3/- 26 165 23 2,990 5,316 16,037 Nil 8,135 Zeehan Consolidated (Limited) .. .. .. 23/8/10 57,090 56,596 Nil 314,180 10/- Nil 121 17 .. .. 75,364 .. 18,767 New Waiotahi Gold-mining Company (No Liability) 21/8/22 30,635 j 4,505 4,000 125,090 0/11 and 0/10 227 150 4 174 468 4,000 Nil 102 The Caledonia - Kuranui - Moanataiari Consolidated 16/3/20 22,500 J 15,080 i 2,500 100,000 3/5 294 205 8 Nil Nil 16,642 Nil 412 Gold-mining Company (Limited) Four-in-hand (Limited) .. .. .. .. 31/7/23 20,000 7,875 2,500 80,000 5/-and 2/3 Nil 57 7 97 250 7,735 Nil Nil The Majestic Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 14/12/22 41,505 I 17,917 8,304 166,037 2/9, 2/6, and f 237 18 Nil ! Nil 17,971 Nil 130 ! ' 2/3 The Owera Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 7/6/23 5,102 2,979 i 10,000 60,410 5/-and 3/- 154 : 79 1 Nil Nil 2,643 i Nil 11 Argo Concentrates (Limited) .. .. .. 2/8/24 i 11,700 [ 4,187 I 5,000 11,700 £1 and 12/6 Nil j 235; 2 i Nil Nil 2,903 Nil 59 NELSON DISTRICT (INCLUDING WEST COAST) £ £ £ £ Oz. £ £ £ £ Dominion Consolidated Development Company (Li- 18/1/11 15,000 7,000 8,000 15,000 £1 Nil 47 Nil 13,746 55,233J 125,825 3,750 14,274 mited) Mount Greenland Gold Quartz-mining Company (Li- 21/11/14 5,000 4,803 855 10,000 10/- 30 75 Nil 2,031 7,792 10,839 499 120 mited) New Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 19/8/07 6,000 600 Nil 24,000 0/6 Nil 62 47 87,692 355,137§ 262,950 112,800 903 New Discovery Mines (Limited) .. .. .. 1/3/20 50,000 9,600 26,000 50,000 £1 and 8/- Nil 20 4 Nil Nil 6,614 Nil 1,690 North Big River Gold-mines (Limited) .. .. 29/10/19 50,337 11,138 34,000 50,337 11/9 and 12/3 20 76 2 Nil Nil 7,475 Nil 8 New Millerton Mines (Limited) .. .. .. 1/3/20 50,000 15,375 29,500 50,000 £1 and 15/- Nil 124 9 914 3,799 26,887 Nil 8,068 Reefton Gold-mines (Limited) .. .. .. 20/10/19 93,560 38,861 20,000 93,860 Various 6,056 384 .. .. .. Nil 171 Rimu Gold-dredging Company (Limited) .. . , 20/7/20 213,572 142,863 70,709 213,572 £1 Nil 35 55 35,046 154,350 100,929 9,823 2,488 South Blackwater Mines (Limited) .. .. 1/3/20 75,000 6,400 43,000 75,000 £1 and 4/- Nil 165 4 Nil Nil 3,859 ] Nil 939 Taylor's Creek Gold Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 26/8/14 2,500 2,500 6,250 35 £250 Nil 10 Nil .. 168 2,500 Nil 27 Wealth of Nations Mine (Limited) .. .. 15/7/22 20,000 13,237 5,000 20,000 19/- and 10/- Nil 104 46 2,864 12,147 29,796 Nil ||10,641 Howard Gold-sluicing Company (Limited) .. 30/10/23 6,000 2,250 3,750 24,000 5/- Nil 32 2 44 189 2,680 Nil 294 The New Murray Creek Gold-mines (Limited) .. 25/7/23 15,000 4,731 10,000 15,000 £1,17/6,15/-, 150 63 1 114 401 2,610 Nil 606 and 12/6 Buller Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. .. 30/5/23 10,000 2,013 2,001 10,000 5/-and 6/- 386 31 6 13 48 11,383 Nil 7,915 The South Big River Mines (Limited) .. .. 15/12/23 25,000 1,000 20,000 25,000 £1 and 4/- Nil 40 5 Nil Nil 568 Nil 568 Mahakipawa Goldfields (Limited) .. .. 12/10/23 8,515 5,692 15,025 384,563 1/-, 3/4 and 5/-, 2,823 205 4 Nil Nil 1,939 Nil Nil Victory Mines Syndicate (Limited) .. .. 20/2/18 15,000 8,252 3,750 15,000 £1, 14/, 11/3-33, .. 154 2 12 49 8,165 Nil Nil 10/-, & 4/1-33 I ; * Tribute percentage. t Third call, 3d., 14,400 ; second and third, 3d., 13,050. j In addition 438i tons scheelite, valued at £58,488. § In addition, concentrates treated yielded bullion valued at £17,916. || Includes debenture of £3,000.

0.—2.

Table 2—continued. Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordane with the Companies Act, 1908—continued.

FOREIGN COMPANIES.

34

Am mint, Value Scrip | Nnmhpr Number Quantity and Value of Total Total Amount \ame of Company i Date of SubsCTibed of Ca P ital I o? Shares Amount paid Arrears of Share- of Expenditure Amount of of Debts company. I Registration. Capital. actually I 8". pel'Share. ! of Calls. holders Menem- since registration. sjnce Dividends owing by paid up. ! ™ ch0ash ! all ° tted - I at present, ployed. ■ , p,'. « Registration. paid. I Company. I paia ' 1 I Quantity. j Value. OTAGO DISTRICT. | £ £ £ £ s. d. £ | Oz. £ . £ £ : £ Colossus Gold-mining Development Company (Limited)! 28/8/14 30,473 12,473 18,000 30,473 1 0 0 Nil 65 1 Nil Nil 33,623 Nil 3,500 Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Limited) .. ! 2/5/07 600 600 Nil 600 ! 1 0 0 Nil 9 14 . j 16,956 ' 66,914 ! 58,482 17,615 ! 475 Glenorchy Scheelite-mining Company (Limited) .. 6/12/11 3,000 Nil 3,000 3,000! 10 0 Nil 11 2 .. 313* 84,309 7,125 1,107 Golden Crescent Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 26/11/98 3,500 3,500 Nil 3,500, 1 0 0 Nil 20 6 12,222 48,965 40,644 12,862, 510 Havelock Sluicing Company (Limited) .. .. 3/3/08 4,000 3,400 600 4,000 1 0 0 Nil 13 Nil 9,877 38,838 32,686 11,400 320 Lawrence Sluicing Company (Limited) .. .. 18/3/18 5,000 5,000 Nil 5,000 1 0 0 Nil 24 6 4,003 17,134 17,485 2,000 177 Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) .. 26/3/98 24,000 7,000 17,000 24,000 1 0 0 Nil 73 31 55,307 210,503 165,412 54,683 3,179 Round Hill Mining Company (Limited) .. .. 30/7/02 28,245 6,753 21,491 5,649 5 0 0 I Nil 180 17 50,844 206,231 202,167 12,286, 750 Sailor's Gully (Waitahuna) Gold-mining Company 3/6/96 8,400 200 8,200 8,400 1 0 0 i Nil 26 7 9,712 38,677 32,021 7,520 174 (Limited) Sandhills Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 19/12/13 7,000 2,000 5.000 7,000 1 it II Nil 20 4 1,192 4,562 14,795 Nil 3,233 Scandinavian Water-race Company (Limited) .. 10/12/07 7 7 9,750 9,757 £1 on 7 ! Nil 20 6 10,254 40,490 42,876 Nil 9,222 Skipper's Sluicing Company (Limited) .. .. 20/11/11 3,450 345 3,105 3,450 1 0 0 Nil 30 2 1,940 8,198 8,980 Nil 1,242 Tallaburn Hydraulic Company (Limited) .. .. 3/12/04 1,200 1,200 Nil 12 100 0 0 Nil 9 1 2,046 7,974 10,364 1,380. 372 United M. and B. Water-race Company (Registered).. 23/4/72 7,600 7,600 Nil 152 50 0 0 Nil 9 2 16,909 69,138 74,507 3,534 Nil Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) 23/9/00 6,000 6,000 Nil 6,000 1 0 0 Nil 15 3 5,085 19,576 19,263 1,050; 1,135 St. Bathan's Channel Company (Limited) .. 4/1/82 4,590 4,590 Nil 81 £100, £40, and Nil 4 1,507 5,817 11,113 Nil 716 £30 Kawarau Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. 8/4/24 10,000 10s. : 9,999 200.000 0 1 0 Nil 61 28 Nil Nil 15,724 Nil 873 Lucky Chance Kawarau Claims (Limited) .. .. 29/11/24! 8,000 3,483 Nil 32,000 0 3 0. Nil 291 Nil Nil Nil 3.072 Nil Nil MeGeorge Bros. (Limited) .. .. .. 29/3/12 ! 11,400 11,400 Nil 11,400 1 0 0 ! Nil 6 9 28,875 123,300 71,938 45,000 Nil Vogel's Vision Gold Company (Limited) .. .. 19/11/24 15,982 3,273 Nil 63,930 1/-and 1/6 : Nil 141 Nil Nil Nil 3,210 Nil 2,296 Another Chance Kawarau Gold (Limited) .. ! 15/12/24 ! 8,000 3,034 Nil 32,000 0 3 0 Nil 344 Nil Nil Nil 2,273 Nil Nil Wairarapa Gold Claims (Limited) .. .. 18/11/24 9,700 970: 300 10,000 .. Nil 129 Nil Nil Nil 672 Nil 21 Henley Mining Company (Limited) .. .. 22/7/24 ! .. 1,225 .. j 4,000 .. .. 6 .. .. .. 1,202 ! * In addition, scheelite valued at £87,539 was produced.

Date of ! Amount. [ Value of Scrip j „ . f a™.,, £°8-§ Quantity and Value of T ., Total Amount of „ . _ Registration I Subscribed of Capital given to Share- 1 S h ares OTI Amount paid per J ,2" H ° 13 '3 Gold and Silver produced ir—iSsL™ Amount of | Liabilities Name of Company. j ' cStal actually holders on ] share > Dominion 1 ho " ers g - g,a since Registration. Bxp^' ture Dividends of Comas-: Bad-W- sac — ■ ess |jfeuu | «=-. ml. a i 1 • r 1 !ii!" ' 1 i 5 \" £ | £ £ £ s. d. 1 £ Oz. j £ j £ £ £ Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. .. j 7/12/87 247,953 9,606 53,333 235,775 0 10 0 .. 1,965 643 20,780,49514,390,913 8,269, 759 ,1,047,786 9,448 Clutha Development (Limited) ... .. .. j 27/8/24 ! 10,000 j Nil 5,000 2,060 I 1 0 0..: 10 4 I Nil I Nil j 2,032 ! Nil 516

C.— 2.

APPENDIX B. REPORTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector op Coal-mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 25th May, 1925. I have the honour to present my annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1924, 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. (6.) 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 : —

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

The gross output of coal for 1924 was 113,373 tons in excess of the output for 1923. This increase is wholly due to the increased output of bituminous coal, which is 149,307 tons in excess of the output of bituminous coal for the previous year. Brown coal shows a reduction of _21,343 tons, and lignite a reductiou of 14,591 tons. In the Northern District the output of bitminous coal from the Hikurangi mines was 3,809 tons over that for 1923, and the output of brown coal from the Waikato mines was 149 tons less. In the West Coast District there was an increase of 145,498 tons in the output of bituminous coal, a reduction of 3,537 tons in the output of brown coal, mostly from the Reefton mines, and a reduction of 378 tons of lignite, making altogether a net increase of 141,583 tons for the district. In the Southern District there was a reduction of 17,657 tons in the amount of brown coal produced, and of 14,213 tons of lignite, a total reduction of output for the district of 31,870 tons. The market for all classes of coal was dull throughout the year, and at many of the mines a considerable amount of slack time was worked. The industry was almost free from stoppages due to labour trouble. Co-operative mining still continues to be successfully carried out in the Northern and West Coast Districts.

35

Output oi Coal during 1924. " : Total Output Class of Coal. to the Northern District West Coast District Southern District T . u , End of 1924. (North Island). (South Island). (South Island). Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and sub-bituminous 129,927 955.077 .. 1,085,004 36,938,671 Brown .. .. .. 507,598 35,173 296,246 839,017 18,990,027 Lignite .. .. .. .. 362 158,824 159,186 3,675,650 Totals for 1924 .. 637,525 990,612 455,070 2,083,207 59,604,348 Totals for 1923 .. 633,865 849,029 , 486,940 1,969,834 57,521,141

Total Quantity of ! | Total Quantity of Year. 1 Coal produced. Coal imported. Coal produced and ' ! Year. Coal produced. Coal imported. Coal produced and imported. j imported. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons 1911 .. 2,066,073 188,068 2,254,141 1918 .. 2,034,250 255,332 2,289,582 1912 .. 2,177,615 364,359 2,541,974 1919 .. 1,847,848 391,434 2,239,282 1913 .. 1,888,005 468,940 2,356,945 1920 .. 1,843,705 476,343 2,320,048 1914 .. 2,275,593 518,070 2,793,663 1921 .. 1,809,095 822,459 2,631,554 1915 .. 2,208,624 353,471 2,562,095 1922 .. 1,857,819 50i,478 2,359,297 1916 .. 2,257,135 293,956 I 2,551,091 1923 .. !,969,834 445,792 i 2,415,626 1917 .. 2,068,419 291,597 2,360,016 1924 .. 2,083,207 674,483 2,757,690

C.—2

36

The j)rodaction from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.

The following statement shows the tons of coal raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about collieries, &c., to 1924.

Total , tlf . Total Output to Number of Name of Colliery. i Locality. Class of Coal. K , Slst December, Persons 1924. ordinarily employed. Northern District. Tons. Tons. Hikurangi (2 collieries) .. .. Hikurangi .. Sub-bituminous 56,706 1,496,994 175 Wilson's Colliery .. .. „ .. „ 56,189 178,989 145 Taupiri Extended .. .. Huntly .. Brown .. 13,754 3,110,064 38 Rotowaro .. .. .. „ „ .. 131,960 602,839 265 Pukemiro .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 136,232 1,018,294 240 Waipa .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 64,326 736,611 117 Glen Afton .. .. .. Glen Afton .. „ .. 131,330 179,632 235 West Coast District. Westport-Stookton .. .. Ngakawau .. Bituminous .. 99,425 1,998,422 263 Millerton .. .. .. Millerton .. „ .. 257,121 6,882,658 538 Denniston .. .. .. Denniston .. „ .. 187,375 8,690,586 470 Paparoa .. .. .. Roa .. „ .. 47,329 469,313 101 Blackball .. .. .. Blackball .. „ .. 103,565 3,270,254 280 Liverpool (State).. .. .. Rewanui .. „ .. 119,520 1,362,995 332 James (State) .. .. .. Rapahoe .. „ .. 29,764 48,270 75 Southern District. Kaitangata and Castlehill (3 collieries) Kaitangata .. Brown .. 104,895 4,254,518 320 Taratu .. .. .. „ .. Lignite .. 34,405 571,507 66 Linton (2 collieries) .. .. Nightcaps .. Brown .. 34,693 161,421 64 Wairaki „ .. .. „ .. „ .. 30,349 129,444 58 Black Diamond .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 29,970 111,574 40 Birchwood .. .. .. Ohai .. „ .. 24,944 60,485 59 155 other collieries .. .. All coalfields .. Vai-ious .. 389,355 24,269,478 988 Totals .. .. .. .. 2,083,207 59,604,348 4,869

Average Number of Persons employed during 1924. Inspection District. : ; —— Above Ground. Below Ground. j Total. Southern .. .. .. .. 323 719 1,042 West Coast .. .. .. .. 696 1,784 2,480 Northern .. .. .. .. 345 1,002 1,347 Totals, 1924 .. .. 1,364 3,505 4,869 Totals, 1923 .. .. 1,353 3,647 5,000

Lives lost by Accidents in or Persons ordinarily employed. Tons ralsed about Collieries. v Output, in per each Per- — Statute Tons. son employed Per Million Number Above Ground. Below Ground. ; Total. below Ground. Tons Persons of Lives produced. employed lost. Prior to 1900 13,444,437 j * * * * *. * 165 1900 .. 1,093,990 617 1,843 2.460 593 3-65 1-62 4 1901 .. 1,239,686 ; 688 2,066 2,754 600 2-42 1-09 3 1902 .. 1,365,040 803 2,082 2,885 655 1-46 0-69 2 1903 .. 1,420,229 717 2,135 2,852 665 2-81 1-40 4 1904 .. 1,537,838 763 2,525 3,288 609 2-60 1-21 4 1905 .. 1,585,756 833 2,436 3,269 651 3-78 1-83 6 1906 .. 1,729,536 1,174 2,518 3,692 687 3-46 1-62 6 1907 .. 1,831,009 1,143 2,767 3,910 662 6-55 3-07 12 1908 .. 1,860,975 992 2,902 3,894 641 2-68 1-28 5 1909 .. 1,911,247 1,159 3,032 4,191 630 3-66 1-67 7 1910 .. 2,197,362 1,136 3,463 4,599 634 7-28 3-48 16 1911 .. 2,066,073 1,365 2,925 4,290 706 6-77 3-26 14 1912 .. 2,177,615 1,130 3,198 4,328 681 4*13 2-08 9 1913 .. 1,888,005 3.053 3,197 4,250 590 3-18 1-41 6 1914 .. 2,275,614 1,176 3,558 4,734 639 2153 10-35 49t 1915 .. 2,208,624 1.050 3,106 4,156 711 4-07 2-16 9 1916 .. 2,257,135 988 3,000 3,988 752 2-65 1-50 6 1917 .. 2,068,419 1,090 2,893 3,983 715 1-93 1-00 4 1918 .. 2,034,250 1,102 2,892 3,994 703 2-95 1-50 6 1919 .. 1,847,848 1,095 2,849 3,944 648 5-41 2-53 10 1920 .. 1,843,705 1,152 2,926 4,078 630 0-54 0-24 1 1921 .. 1,809,095 1,218 3,149 4,367 574 5'52 2'28 10 1922 .. 1,857,819 1,191 3,365 4,556 552 3-23 1-31 6 1923 .. 1,969,834 1,353 3,647 5,000 540 2-53 1*00 5 1924 .. 2,083,207 1,364 3,505 4.869 594 4'80 2-05 1.0 Totals .. 59,604,348 .. .. .. .. [ .. 379 ■ : ' I * For returns for previous years see page 32, Mines Statement, 1921. t Year of Ralph's (Huntly) explosion.

37

C.—2

SECTION 111. —ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1924, with their causes :—

The fatalities being in the proportion of 2-05 per thousand persons employed, and 4-80 per million tons produced. A marked feature of the fatal accidents is that seven of them were haulage accidents, and that four of these were to elderly men over sixty-five years of age. The following is an account of the fatal accidents :— At Stockton Mine, on the 10th January, Treyton Potter, 32 years of age, employed as brakesman on the electric-locomotive road was crushed beneath the brake-car and killed instantaneously. After getting on the heavy grade across the Mangatina Creek the wheels of the electric locomotive skidded, and the train of trucks moved back till held by the Fell brakes on the centre rail. The deceased had also used the brake on the brake-car, but there is no evidence as to how deceased got off the brake-car, nor as to how he came to get under it. The Coroner's verdict was to the effect that the death was accidental, and that no blame was attachable to any one. At Rotowaro Mine, on the 13th February, William Maddison, 66 years of age, employed as a shiftman and trucker, was seriously injured and died the following day. A jig-pin pulled out and the full truck ran down the jig. Deceased, though warned to stand clear, gripped the full truck as it was passing him and held on to it till it tipped up on the landing at the bottom of the jig. Deceased was flung over the top of the truck and against the pillars on the low side of the level. The Coroner's verdict was to the effect that the death was purely accidental. At the Liverpool State Mine, on the 3rd March, John Kennedy, aged 65 years, was crushed by a full truck against an overhead tramway and died almost immediately. A truck had been taken off the main haulage-road and turned into the bunker road leading to the boiler-house. It Was moving slowly on a down grade when deceased stepped on to the bunker-road in order to pass under the overhead gangway. Deceased evidently did not hear the warning shouted to him and was struck on the back by the truck, and at the same time his head came in contact with the underneath side of the overhead gangway. At Pukemiro Mine, on the 4th March, Ernest Gardner, 18 years of age, met with a serious accident which resulted in his death on the 24th December. Deceased was engaged as a clipper, and at the time of accident was taking an empty truck from an endless rope haulage into a branch road. To do this he had to cross the full road of the haulage. Before he had got his empty clear it was struck by a full race travelling on the rope-road, and the empty was derailed and deceased crushed between the empty and the side of the pillar. Deceased sustained a fractured pelvis and serious internal injuries, to which he succumbed nine months later. At the Coroner's inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. At Cromwell Mine, on the 11th March, Robert Thomson, 55 years of age, died from carbonmonoxide poisoning. Deceased was manager of the mine. An underground fire had occurred on the previous day, and on the 11th deceased went down the mine to take steps to cope with the fire. On his way out of the mine deceased collapsed as a result of inhaling carbon monoxide from the fire. Though brought out of the mine he failed to recover and died. At Millerton Mine, on the 12th March, an old man named Thomas Riley, employed greasing roperoad rollers, was knocked over by a full truck, which passed over and fractured his left leg ; he died the following day in Westport Hospital. The haulage-rope is a slow-moving one, and there is sufficient space between the roads to allow a person to pass. Prior to the accident deceased had been treated for a serious liver complaint, and the medical evidence at the inquest was to the effect that cirrhosis of the liver combined with the shock from the injuries received in the accident was the cause of his death. At Millerton Mine, on the 9th June, William Gilmour, 69 years of age, was killed by a fall of roofcoal. Deceased was employed as a deputy, and at the time of the accident was engaged along with a miner in trimming the coal roof in a heading 9 ft. wide by 7 ft. high. From the evidence at the inquest it appears that deceased had endeavoured to bring down a bad piece from the low side with a bar, and then started to walk under it in order to get to the high side, when the piece of coal, which weighed about 10 cwt., fell out and caught him. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to any one. At the Liverpool State Mine, on the 23rd July, Joseph Higson, 57 years of age, was struck by a runaway empty truck and received injuries to his head from which he died on the 27th July. The deceased was employed as a shiftman, and part of his duties was to see that timber was taken to the working-places. A race consisting of a timber-trolly and two empties was sent up a jig and the full race landed. Deceased, who had been at the landing, apparently thought the empty race had also arrived at the top and started to walk up the jig, when lie was struck by one of the empties which,

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons Number of Number of Number of SepaSeparate Fata] Xlth, rate Non-fatal » Accidents. D Accidents. their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Falls of ground ...... 2 2 (i 7 Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Haulage ........ 7 7 7 7 Miscellaneous —Underground. .... 1 1 6 (i On surface .... .. .. 4 4 lotals ........ 10 10 24 25

C— 2

38

having become uncoupled, and the trailer failing to act, had run back the jig. The Coroner returned a verdict that the cause of death was [purely accidental, and that no blame was attachable to any one. At Manderson's Co-operative Mine, near Dunollie, on the sth September, Albert Manderson, 25 years of age, was killed by a fall from the roof. He had been engaged re timbering a place when a bump occurred which swung the sets and buried deceased. He died before he could be extricated from beneath the fall. The Coroner's verdict was that death was due to shock and asphyxia, that every care had been taken to make the workings safe, and that no blame for the accident was attachable to any one. At Denniston Mine, on the 25th September, Moses Harry, 71 years of age, was killed on the haulage-road. Deceased was employed at a curve between Denniston and Burnett's Face. There were no witnesses to the accident, but it would appear that deceased had endeavoured to cross the rope road and had been struck and dragged by a full truck. The Coroner in his verdict at the inquest stated that no blame was attachable to any one. Accounts of the serious but non-fatal accidents are contained in the District Inspector's reports.

SECTION IV.—WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a.) Pebmitted Explosives. (Regulations 128 to 134 inclusive.) The following is a table showing the quantity of permitted explosive used and the number of shots fired at New Zealand coal-mines during 1924 : —

Seventy-four per cent, of the coal produced in the Dominion during 1924 was broken down by permitted explosive, and the average production of coal per pound of explosive used was 4-5 tons, and per shot fired 4-1 tons. (b.) List of Mines bequibed by Law to use Pebmitted Explosives. The following is a list of mines as at the Ist December, 1924, required by law to use permitted explosives : — Northern Inspection District. Pukemiro Collieries, Pukemiro —throughout South Mine. Rotowaro Colliery, Rotowaro —throughout No. 1 Mine. Taupiri Extended Mine, Huntly—throughout the mine, but operations at- present suspended. Glen Afton Colliery, Glen Afton—throughout B, C, D, E, and F sections of the mine. West Coast Inspection District. North Cape Mine. Lankey's Creek Mine (Bolitho Bros.). Puponga Mine. Ferndale-Timaru Coal Company's Mine. Westport-Stockton Mine. Sherwood Mine. Westport Coal Company's Mine. Paparoa Mine. Regan and O'Brien's Mine. Blackball Mine. J. T. Dove's Mine. Armstrong and party's Mine. Coal Creek Mine (McGuire and party). Baddeley and party's Mine. Cardiff Bridge Mine. Boote and party's Mine. Old Cardifi (Clay Pit). Dixon and party's Mine. St Helens Mine "(McAllister and party). Clark and party's Mine (Hillside). Westport-Mokihinui Mine. Duggan and party's Mine. Chester and party's Mine. Hunter and party's Mine. Marris and Murray's Mine. Manderson and party's Mine. Ngakawau Mining Syndicate's Mine. Mclvor and party's Mine. Whiteclifis Mine. Moody Creek Mine (Simpson and party.) Reefton Coal Company's Mine. Smith and party's Mine. Phoenix and Yenus Mine. Spark and party's Mine. Victory Mine (now Caliope). James Mine. Woodlands Mine. Liverpool Collieries. Empire Mine.

tSKM? Number of Misfired Shots. | S o AT V ® ® ® <?•§ Number > > . > o Inspection District. — of !3 © S p< £ ® Shots fired. «> »-§ £ . <UM ®O3 ® . m L 1 H 2 S 'zj Total. "3 r 9 0 £ § ®ft ®J2 JP'S o° 1 & i of ng fig a-s M .9 ' 1 >. H >>fi 5* <j hi m m n « ■< Tons. Northern (i.e., North Island) .. 105,978 .. 105,050 8 140 21 169 409,315 West Coast (of South Island) .. 115,040$ 1,972$ 76,771 210.764 28 289 149 466 974,065 Southern (i.e., Canterbury, Otago, 29,512J 40 7,337f 57,464 4 72 9 85 156,480 and Southland) ! Totals .. .. 250,530f 2,012$84,108| 373,278 40 501 179 720 1,539.860

39

C.—2

Southern Inspection District. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata— throughout the mine. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine, Kaitangata- -throughout the mine. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine, Kaitangata- -throughout the mine. Wairaki No. 1 Mine, Ohai —throughout the mine. Birchwood Mine —throughout the mine. New Brighton. Mine, Nightcaps —throughout the mine. Mount Torlesse Mine, Avoca —Dip Section. (c.) List op Mines required by Law to use Safety Lamps, The following is a list of the mines as at the Ist December, 1924, required by law to use safety la'mps : —■ Northern Inspection District. Pukemiro Collieries, Pukemiro —Main North Heading Section (operations suspended). Rotowaro Colliery, Rotowaro —throughout No. 1 Mine. Taupiri Extended Mine, Huntly -throughout the mine, but operations are at present suspended. Glen Afton Colliery, Glen Afton—No. 1 Heading Section. West Coast Inspection District. State Collieries —Morgan Seam. State Collieries —Morgan Low-level Adit. State Collieries —No. 4a Mine. Hilton and Party's Mine. Hunter and Party's Mine. Manderson's and Party's Mine. Paparoa Coal Company's Mine. Millerton Mine. Southern Inspection District. Castle Hill Mine, Kaitangata —throughout each shift. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine, Kaitangata - -throughout each shift. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine, Kaitangata- -throughout each shift. Wairaki No. 1 Mine, Ohai.- —throughout each shift. Birchwood Mine, Ohai —throughout each shift. New Brighton Mine, Nightcaps —throughout each shift. Mount Torlesse Mine (Dip Section), Avoca- -throughout each shift. (d.) Dangerous Occurrences reported. (Regulation 81.) The following is a short account of the more serious of these. A full list is contained in the District Inspectors' reports. Taupiri Extended Mine.—ln December, 1923, consequent on an extensive crushing movement, a serious fire broke out on the west side, and the. whole of that portion of the mine had to be sealed off. At the beginning of the year under review crushing commenced on the north-west sections below No. 5, and these sections had to 6e abandoned. With the restricted area available for working mining could not be continued, and coal-winning ceased early in April. During the three succeeding months a few men were employed in the mine withdrawing plant and materials and preparing for hydraulic filling. A further crushing had developed in the workings off No. 5 heading west off the north-west rope-road, and resulted in a serious fire breaking out there towards the end of July. This fire could not be controlled, and operations were confined to withdrawing what materials were readily available, and a month later the whole mine was sealed off by stoppings in each of the shafts. In this mine an enormous amount of coal has been lost through crushing and subsequent fires, of which a large percentage would have been won had a better method of mining been adopted in the early stages of mining operations. The principal defect was the small size of the pillars left on the first working. Taratu Mine. —In May a serious heating close to the main haulage-road developed in the shaft section, arid all efforts to deal with it effectively failed. The heating became worse towards the end of the year, and finally led to this part of the mine being abandoned after December. Linton Mine. —On the 9th July heating was discovered in some pillared ground, and became an active fire on the following day. With considerable difficulty the fire area was sealed off by a line of five stoppings which prevented its spreading over the rest of the mine. Later on the first line of stoppings was reinforced by a second line of eight brick stoppings, which effectively controlled the fire and secured the safetv of the mine.

0.—2

40

Waipa Mine. —On the Ist September a serious fire was discovered in the return airway where itpasses the underground stables. Its spread was successfully prevented by enclosing it by means of temporary wooden stoppings. On the sth an unsuccessful attempt was made to recover the return airway, but this failed, and two of the stoppings were advanced to permit of a new return being used in place of the part of the old return enclosed in the fire area. The fire was not effectively sealed off till the 12th, after which work in the mine could be resumed. The temporary stoppings were later replaced by brick stoppings. Denniston Mine.—For a considerable time prior to October trouble had been experienced through heating in the old wide and high bords to the rise of No. 8 section of the Cascade Mine. iSome of these bords were over 20 ft. in width and about the same in height, and the pillars on each side were small and broken, with the result that it was almost impossible to erect effective stoppings. The old rise workings were sealed off on account of fires, and the fires were close to the stoppings sealing off these workings from No. 8 section. On the 20th October the fire broke through, and a large portion of No. 8 section had to be sealed off and abandoned. It will be noted that all the dangerous occurrences during the past year have been underground fires. These fires were almost entirely due to the bad methods of mining practised during the early days of these mines, and not to the workings of recent years. The principal defect in the old workings was the inadequate size of the pillars. After standing for many years these small pillars tend to crush, and the crushing results in fires, which have to be sealed off, with the consequent abandonment of areas, some of considerable extent, from which only a small percentage of the coal had been extracted. During the past year an investigation has been made by the officers of the Department into the percentage of coal lost at various mines. At one mine on the West Coast of the coal originally present in the now abandoned workings 45 per cent, only was extracted ; from another large mine in the same district the coal extracted amounts to approximately 40 per cent, of what was originally available. From both of these mines better methods of working would have enabled at least 65 per cent, of the coal available to have been extracted. An investigation of the old mines in the Waikato which have been shut down or worked'out and abandoned shows that the coal lost in that district has been enormous. If allowance be made for a 3-chain barrier which would have to be left between the abandoned workings of these mines and the workings of a new mine starting in the vicinity of any one of them, it appears that the highest extraction was only 35 per cent., and the lowest under 15 per cent., and that the average extraction was under 20 per cent, of the coal originally present in the areas now abandoned. The Waikato seams are thick and have generally a bad roof, so that a very high percentage extraction is not to be expected, but even with the thick seam and bad roof an extraction of over 50 per cent, should have been attained. In the early days of the field the market value of the coal produced did not permit of efficient methods of working, but improper methods were carried on with, no doubt, a temporary advantage to the mining company, but at a serious final loss. Ultimately the bad methods of working caused fires, and consequent high cost of working, with the forced abandonment of profitable areas of coal only partially worked, and finally led to the closing-up of the mines. During the past year the Inspectors, in their respective districts, have endeavoured with some success to get still better mining methods practised, both on the grounds of increased safety and increased economy. In several instances the size of pillar adopted has been increased, which should reduce the tendency to fire, and in some mines the panel system or a modification thereof has been adopted with a view to enabling any underground fire that breaks out to be safely and expeditiously dealt with and prevented from involving more than a limited area of the mine. The Inspectors have personally assisted at mine-fires and given assistance acknowledged, by the company concerned, to have been of value. (e.) Electricity at Collieries. (Regulation 160.) During 1924 there has been a further increase in the number or capacity of electrical installations. The following is a summary of the annual returns, in accordance with Regulation 160 (c), regarding electrical apparatus at collieries : — Number of collieries at which electrical apparatus is installed .. .. 21 Number of continuous-current installations .. .. .. 12 Number of alternating-current installations .. .. .. . . 10 Number of collieries electrically lighted .. .. .. . . 18 Number of collieries using electrical ventilating-machines . . . . 14 Number of collieries using electrical pumping plants .. .. .. 13 Number of collieries using electrical haulage plants . . .. . . 14 Number of collieries using electrical screening plants . . . 5 Number of collieries using electrical miscellaneous plants . . .. 8 Number of collieries using electrical locomotives .. .. .. 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface .. .. .. 3,109^Total horse-power employed from motors below ground .. .. .. 1,817§

41

C.—2

(/.) Prosecutions. There were sixteen prosecutions, against six for the previous year. The Manager of the New Brighton Mine was convicted and fined £2 and costs for failing to notify that a person had been injured by an ignition of fire-damp. A shot-firer in the Taupiri Extended Mine was convicted and fined £5 and costs for firing a shot without first seeing that all persons in the vicinity had taken proper shelter. A deputy in the Huntly Coal-mine was convicted and fined £1 and costs for examining the mine, prior to the shift commencing work, without a locked safety-lamp. The manager of the Huntly Coal-mine was prosecuted for not carrying out the requirements of the Coal-mines Act as regards the inspection of the mine before work was commenced, and for failing to provide trailers for a jig. On the first charge he was fined £25 and costs, and on the second charge convicted and ordered to pay costs. A miner employed in the Old Cardiff Mine was fined £3 and costs for failing to adequately timber his working-place. A miner employed in the Old Cardiff Mine was fined £5 and costs for taking into the mine explosives which were not in a securely covered case or canister. The holders of coal lease 5700 were fined £6 and costs for failing to pay £2 Is. 2d. to the Coalminers' Relief Pund. A miner in the Millerton Mine was fined £1 and costs for having cigarette-papers in his possession m a safety-lamp portion of the mine. A deputy in the Reefton Coal Company's mine was charged with failing to carry out the requirements of the Coal-mines Act as regards the examination of the mine before work was commenced, but the charges failed. The manager of the Golden Point Mine was convicted and fined £1 and costs for not examining the mine with a locked safety-lamp before the commencement of work. Two miners in the Golden Point Mine were each fined ss. and costs for entering the mine without being informed by the deputy that it had been examined. A miner in the Hikurangi Coal Company's mine was convicted and fined £5 with £4 costs for using threatening behaviour and abusive language against another workman. The manager of the A 1 Mine, Reefton, was convicted and fined £1 and costs for not examining the mine with a locked safety-lamp before the men entered the mine ; and two miners were fined ss. each and costs for entering the mine without being informed by the deputy that it had been so examined. SECTION V.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING COAL-MINES. The Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1924, requires a locality-plan to be filed with an application for a prospecting license or coal-mining lease, makes new provisions regarding the payment of royalty under coal-mining leases, empowers the Minister to grant relief from payment of rent to the holder of a coal-mining lease, provides for the sale of coal won during prospecting under a prospecting license, requires that the main intake and main return airways in a coal-mine shall be not less than 50 ft. apart, and that stoppings between the main airways and air-crossings shall be constructed of non-inflammable materials ; and makes further provisions regarding the erection of bathhouses, the preparation of mine plans, and the qualifications of inine-managers in small mines. The only alteration to the regulations was the addition of a new regulation authorizing the payment of a weekly allowance from a Sick and Accident Fund or the Coal-miners' Relief Fund to a miner who has been permanently totally incapacitated through an accident. I desire to ackowledge the efficient help and co-operation which I have received from the Inspectors during the past year. I have, &c., J. A. C. Bayne, Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.

ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OP MINES. Northern Inspection District (Mr. William Barclay, Inspector). During 1924 an increase of 3,660 tons occurred in the coal-production of the North Island, and the notable increase of 113,712 tons for the year 1923 was therefore fully maintained, the total output for 1924 being 637,525 tons. The average number of men employed, however, decreased by 150 as compared with the number employed during 1923. The decline was due to the cessation of mining operations in the Taupiri Extended Colliery which ordinarily employed a larger number in proportion to its output than other mines. Hikurangi District. Hikurangi Goal Company (Limited). —Hikurangi No. 1 (P.W.) Mine : Early in the year a party of eleven miners entered upon another agreement to work a faulted section of the coal that had been abandoned by the company as being unprofitable to mine. The machinery was provided by the company, and the party, working on co-operative principles, extended the east stone drive 130 ft, through hard sandstone to a seam of coal 7 ft. in thickness—proved by

6—o. 2,

C.—2

42

boring to exist through the fault. A return airway was driven to connect with the 70 ft. main ventilating-shaft Numerous small faults proved troublesome in developing a section, and a considerable amount of stone-mining was necessary in order to keep the roads on a workable grade. An average mine output of 40 tons per day has been maintained and delivered to the Hikurangi Coal Company's screens. The Act and regulations are properly observed by the management of this small party. Hikurangi No. 2 (New) Mine : During the year No. 2 downcast shaft was equipped with modern machineery. Th Robey winding-engine consists of 2-14 in. cylinders by 30 in. stroke and 0 ft. drum, and is fitted with automatic speedcontrollers and steam cut-off. A Davis signalling appliance lias been installed and indicates banksmen's and onsetters' signals both by sound and visible signals electrically operated. This completed shaft now deals with the output of the whole mine, but No. 1 upcast shaft still remains fitted with winding-apparatus, and is available at short notice to return the men to the surface should occasion demand its use. An influx of surface water necessitated the management installing additional electrical pumping machinery to cope with the flow, and considerable trouble was experienced in keeping the sumps clear of silt. Subsequently numerous subsidences occurred on the surface at a point 0 chains from the nearest working-place underground. These were due possibly to the surface water clearing the silt from the cavities known to exist in the limestone strata overlying the coal-seam. The east section bords are standing on the proved 00 ft. downthrow fault, and preparations are being made to extract the pillars in the section. The coal-seam was intersected through the 35 ft. downthrow fault in the west section, and electric power has been installed to supplant the steam pumps and winches. Consequent to an accident occurring on the surface haulage-road a safe-working track has been formed and provided for the use of employees. Considerable difficulty is being encountered in conducting the air-current in sufficient quantity to the farthest working-places. The two Waddle fans are inducing fully 30,000 cubic feet per minute at the fan-drifts, but there is considerable surface leakage, due to the wooden casing at the top of the upcast shaft and fans. The management contemplate enclosing the top of the shaft and the fan-drifts with brick or concrete casing, thus making same leak-proof. Wilson's Colliery.—During the year the output has been maintained from the pillars in No. 7 section and bords i n the stone drive section. Owing to various natural conditions, increasing temperatures at the faces of pillar workings have been experienced, despite the benefits obtained through the reheightening of the return and intake airways. A new stone drive for haulage and second connection for ventilating purposes, running parallel a distance of 500 ft. with the existing prospecting stone drive, was holed to the coal-seam through the 00 ft. upthrow fault. An intrusive band of fireclay of 2 ft. in thickness has been met in the coal-seam in the advanced dip workings. Percolating water coming from adjoining workings through the fault-line near the bottom of the upcast shaft continues to maintain its flow, and preparations are being made by the management to line the sides of the shaft with a concrete ring in order to dam the water back. The ventilation of the working-places has been maintained within the statutory limits, but the efficiency of the fan at the working-faces is low, owing to excessive leakage through the disturbed porous limestone barrier between the intake and the return. The increased distances between intake and return and fireproof stoppngs provided for by the Amendment Act, 1924, will undoubtedly in a large measure improve the condition of the existing and future airways. Driving from the base of the 60 ft. upthrow fault a crystalline limestone with marine fossils was exposed in the strata underlying the only known coal-seam. As the formation is similar to the overlying measures it is reasonable to assume that another coal-scam exists under the present working-seam. A fenced separate surface travelling-road has been formed and provided by the company for the use of employees travelling to and from the mine. Kerr and Co. (The Rocks Mine). —Development operations were confined to the West Byron section, which was reopened after thirty years' abandonment. A dip drive through the fault intersected a much-tilted coal-seam. Pillars continue to be extracted in the Rocks sections. Mining operations have ceased under the houses in this locality, and the surface owners of the land are being granted liberal freehold rights to the land affected by subsidences. Abnormal winter rains temporarily flooded the mine-workings on several occasions, the pumps being inadequate to cope with the inflow. The mine is adequately ventilated, by natural ventilation, by means of upcast shafts. Silverdale Colliery (Foot and DoeVs). —Owing to the lack of orders this small mine, operating on a Crown lease, produced only 450 tons during the year. Preparations are being made to win a block of coal of superior quality and of greater thickness than has been formerly mined. Upwards of 21,505 tons of coal have been won since the party commenced mining operations on the abandoned area formerly worked by a company. Northern Co-operative Mine (Cunningham's Crown Lease). —The workings have been safely conducted on this lease during the year. The outcrop pillar coal is almost exhausted, and boring operations did not prove a workable seam on the adjoining area secured under a coal-prospecting license. Glen Nell Colliery (Crown Lease). —Mining operations were suspended early in the year owing to an intrusive band of shale splitting the coal-seam into seams too thin to be profitably mined. Several shafts were sunk to determine the thickness of the seam in advance of the workings. Foot's Coal-mine (Crown Lease). —Pillars have been extracted under favourable conditions from this area which had been abandoned by a former owner. The roof consists of shaly beds, and is strong, permitting the whole of the pillars to be extracted. Props are systematically set, and the regulations properly observed by the management. The output is delivered to the Hikurangi Railway-siding by motor-lorries. Christie's Colliery (Freehold). —During the year operations at this mine were confined to the extraction of the pillars. A party of miners are contracting with the owners at a fixed price to hew the coal and truck and convey same over a surface tramway to motor-lorries. The mine-workings are in good condition and well timbered, and the regulations are properly observed by the certificated mine-manager in charge. Rautangata Colliery (Freehold). —The workings of this mine have been advanced in the direction of the old Kamo Mine workings to a fault, and the remaining available coal pillars are being withdrawn towards the free-drainage driveopening. The coal is clean and of an average thickness of 11 ft., and the output is used on the premises for the burning of fireclay bricks. All the working-places are closely timbered with chocks and props. Waro Colliery, Whangarei (Freehold). —This colliery is situated about three miles from Whangarei. The main dip has been advanced to develop a thicker area of coal about 4 chains from the bottom level. Pillars are being extracted from bords of the first working, and the ventilation of all working-places has been good. The 200 ft. downcast windingshaft is in good repair, and the appliances and machinery for operating the shaft are in good order. The output is disposed of principally in Whangarei for household purposes. Kawakawa Colliery.—A party of miners are operating on a Crown area at Kawakawa, comprising the old workings formerly mined by the Bay of Islands Coal Company during the years 1880-94. Boring operations disclosed a workable block of eoal along the fringe of the eastern outcrop and above the water-level of the abandoned colliery workings. The coal is of good quality and is sub-bituminous, and the proximity of the freezing-works, railway terminus, and the deep-water harbour wharf at Opau would warrant the development of a large coal-producing mine in the district. Waikato (including Mokau). Taupiri Extended Colliery.—On the 11th April, 1924, coal-production at this colliery was suspended after being in continuous operation for a period of thirty-five years. A total output of 3,101,064 tons of superior brown coal was obtained solely from the bords and headings of the first working. On the 27th June the West District, embracing Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 0 sections, was sealed off with substantial brick stoppings at a point below the entrance to No. 1 section. These stoppings were erected to isolate the disturbed crushed and fire-affected sections from the No. 1 development dip headings, which were at that time being vigorously extended to develop a large unworked area between the west and north sections. A system of hydraulic sand filling of the bords in the north section had been adopted by the company as a means to arrest a creeping movement already commenced in No. 5 section north, and to subsequently provide for the practicable working of the top seam and future extraction of pillars. Operations were in process to flush the bords with sand when an unlocated fire broke out on the 26th July, supposedly to have originated in the bords of

43

G.—2

No. 5 section, where the crushing movement had commenced. The volume of smoke issuing from the fire precluded all efforts to attack and suppress the outbreak or surround it with stoppings in a position that would leave an area suitable for extensive stowing operations. Consequently the management decided to short-circuit the ventilation from the affected part, and withdraw the skips, winches, and pumps to the surface. On the 29th August close-fitting scaffolds were fitted in the downcast and upcast shafts at a point 8 ft. from the surface, and sand fillings on top of the platforms effectively sealed off the mine-workings, thus temporarily rendering inaccessible the two thick workable seams of superior brown coal existing under the Crown and privately owned lands in the vicinity of the shafts. The occurrence of numerous fires and disturbances due to the crushing of the pillars caused serious monetary loss to the mine-owners, and in the interest of those concerned it is to be hoped that other approaches will be considered in the near future for the development of this extensive coalfield. Rotowaro Colliery.—During the year the output of the colliery was derived from Nos. 1 and 2 mines. No. 1 mine continues to be the most productive, upwards of thirty pairs of miners are employed in the extraction of pillar coal. The irregularity of time worked and the consequent slower rate of extraction of the thick coal pillars is seriously affecting the roof-pressure, leading to additional timbering of the faces, greater breakage of the coal, and liability to spontaneous combustion in the goaf. Development in the west section has disclosed the continuity of the thick seam through the faulted area. A separate unit of endless-rope haulage is installed to operate from the surface to bords in the east section. A heating of the goaf in No. 3 pillar section was successfully arrested by the erection of effective brick stoppings. A stone drive dipping lin 5 intersected, at a distance of chains from the surface, the proved bottom seam, which is locally termed the Taupiri coal-seam. A return heading is being driven in the seam-gradient to connect with a prospecting-shaft for ventilation purposes. This new coal-seam has been proved by boring to extend over a large area. Electric energy has been substituted for steam in the mine, and an additional unit of electric power, boilers, and transmission cables is being installed to operate the Taupiri seam section. Oldham's electric safety-lamps have been in use for two years, and both the management and the workers commend the increased benefits derived from the lamps, Fa'cemiro Collieries.—During the year 90 per cent, of the coal-production from this extensive field was obtained from the bords in the first working. In the North Mine section the headings have reached the outcrop boundary of the seam. The several districts are separated by panels of solid coal, and each advancing district on completion of the bords is immediately isolated by brick stoppings erected at the entrances until such time as the removal of the pillar coal is practicable. This system conduces greatly to the general safety of the mine in preventing access to old workings, minimizing danger from coal-dust and underground fires, and the consequent shortening of the air-circuit increases the volume and purity of the ventilation in the working-places. Several pillars have been successfully withdrawn from the North-east section, and a high percentage of marketable pillar coal is being won. An incipient heating was arrested by the exclusion of the air from the goaf. In the South Mine section the west headings are extended 45 chains from the south haulage-road. The increasing roof-cover (500 ft.) tends to throw "weight" on the pillars, and the distances between the headings have been increased in order to strengthen the cover-supporting pillars. Machinery for cement "gunning " of the roof and sides of the main haulage and travelling roads is in process of being installed in order to arrest further fracturing and oxidation of the coal in the pillars, and also to prevent the accumulation of fine coal-dust. A third mine section, locally named the East Mine, is being developed by a stone drive from the surface with free drainage. This district will be separated from the adjoining approaching east workings by a barrier of solid coal. All the machinery at this colliery is electrically driven. The efficiency of the ventilation induced by the two Chandler fans is high, and the results are mainly due to judicious splitting of the air-currents and the erection of brick stoppings in the disused cut-th roughs. Glen Afton Colliery (Proprietors, New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Limited).—The main headings are advancing in northerly, easterly, and westerly courses in the undulating coal-seam. Sections A, B, C, D, E, and F have been opened out to provide an output of upwards of 600 tons daily. The bords in Section A are being stopped as they reach the outcrop boundary, and the seam is be'ng followed to the eastward in this section. The coal-seam maintains a varying thickness of 14 ft., and faults of small displacement are occurring in the west section, necessitating the grading of the roadways. The panel system of laying out and working is being adopted in all the sections. The main haulageroad, which has been extended 70 chains from the surface, is roomy, with sufficient space for walking between the rails. The area of the original returns is much diminished owing to falls and creeping of the sides, and an additional return airway is being driven parallel with the existing one in order to provide a cross-sectional area in excess of the intake. The commodious bathhouse of standard design is extensively patronized. The effective ventilation is high, that result being due to GO ft. pillars between the intake and return and long intervals between the cross-holding connections. A marked feature of employment at this mine in comparison with other local mines is the number of days worked, for, with the exception of award holidays and several hours lost through shortage of railway-trucks, the mine worked full time. Graham,''s Colliery.—Operations have been vigorously conducted at this mine by the party of mine-owners. The seam averages 6 ft. in thickness, is friable (requiring no explosives), and the output of 50 tons per day is conveyed by horse-wagon a distance of half a mile to rail way-trucks at Glen Afton Station. On two occasions the ventilation was dull, and mechanical appliances have been requisitioned to induce adequate air-currents. Pukemiro Junction Colliery (Crown Lease; Co-operative Party).—Pillar-extraction in the east section continued throughout the year with a minimum of waste. The natural ventilation, efficiently effected by the return drive being 40 ft. higher than the -intake, is sufficient for present requirements. Fifteen men are ordinarily employed, and the output is approximately 50 tons per day. An approved magazine, bathhouse, and change-house have been erected by the mine-owners. Brickmaking was commenced and abandoned during the year. The venture proved that modern machinery is required to eliminate the moisture, which causes shrinkage in the finished brick. Waipa Colliery. —At this mine normal coal-production was steadily maintained during the year from the first workings in Nos. 1 and 3 west sections and Nos. 2 and 3 east sections. The main dip heading has been advanced to an upthrow fault of 10 ft. displacement, and a seam of coal similar in quality to the present workings has been discovered through the fault. A stone drive affording means for a second escape for workmen has been holed to the surface and is available for use. Old standing workings comprising Broadway and Khyber Pass sections have been sealed off at the entrances and isolated in accordance with precautions instituted to prevent spontaneous combustion in old workings. On the 2nd September an underground fire of serious, proportions broke out in the vicinity of the underground stables. The fire travelled across the return airway towards the separation stopping-door in the intake airway, where the management was successful in suppressing the outbreak and surrounding it with temporary stoppings. The return airway was subsequently recovered, and sixteen substantial brick stoppings with sand filling between the walls were erected in selected positions to permanently enclose the fire-affected area. Approximately thirty brick stoppings have been erected in the cross-stentions between the intake and the return airways in accordance with the amended Coal-mines Act of 1924. Waikato Extended Mine. —Owing to the available solid coal being exhausted splitting of the pillars was commenced in order to maintain the output. Sixteen men are employed, and approximately 50 tons per day are produced and delivered to the banks of the Waikato River, where the company's steamers load same for river stations. The two. working jig-inclines are properly equipped ; the shot-firing regulations are strictly enforced ; and the ventilation of the working-places has been good throughout the year. Huntly Coal-mine. —This mine is operating on a lease from the Auckland University College Council. The available coal is almost exhausted, and driving towards the outcrop proved the seam to be soft and inferior. The ventilation has been maintained by shallow holes to the surface. The main jig and ropes are in good order. An average of six men has been employed at the mine during the year.

C.— 2

44

Huntly Brickworks (Huntly Brick and Fireclay Company, Limited). —Fireclay-supplies for the manufacture of building and fire-bricks were steadily maintained during the year from the opencast quarry and by endless-rope haulage to the kilns. The quarry is carefully worked, and all explosives are in charge of and fired by competent workmen. Kimihia Colliery.—The right to work this mine has been the subject of proceedings in the Supreme Court. The mine was formerly developed by Johnson and party, and operations were suspended at the instigation of the Auckland University College Council. The mine was subsequently reopened and worked by the Taupiri East co-operative party. The coal-seam is of an average thickness of 16 ft. with a 4 in. parting at 10 ft. from the floor, leaving a strong roof. The main heading has been advanced 4 chains in the coal-seam. Taupiri East Coal-mine.—A party of miners, working on co-operative principles, prospected an area of their lease on the Auckland University College Council endowment by boring to the rise of the Kimihia Lake (a portion of the coal-seam existing under the lake was formerly worked by the Taupiri Coal-mines, Limited). The operations proved an extensive field of workable coal, and a development heading in the coal-seam has been, advanced 5 chains. The output is carted four miles to the Huntly Railway-station. The mine is within easy reach of the Main Trunk Railway, and the party propose laying a surface tramway to connect with the railway at Kimihia Station. Bombay Colliery.—The co-operative party of miners who developed and worked this mine discontinued operations early in the year, as the thin seam (3 ft. in thickness) proved too faulty and stony for profitable mining. 300 tons of coal were mined and sold from this lease. Hunua Colliery.—A small output was produced by two miners from this mine. The seam is separated by an intrusive band of shale, which hindered the sale of clean coal from the 4 ft. coal-seam. Campbell Colliery, Whatawhata—During the year boring operations have been vigorously conducted on the property. Twenty holes have been put down, ranging in depth from 90ft. to 285 ft., coal being found in twelve holes, varying in thickness from 6 ft. to 14 ft. Mining operations continued intermittently, a limited amount of coal being carted owing to a prohibitive road-tax being imposed by the counties controlling the roads. Old Stockman Mine. —This coal-mine, situated on Chambers Bros.' estate, twenty miles up the Mokau River, continued to work spasmodically throughout the year and supply local requirements. The seam is 4 ft. in thickness with a strong, hard sandstone roof. The limited output is conveyed by motor-launches to Mokau. Greencastle Colliery. —A creep, due to the extraction of pillars in this mine, was responsible for the cessation of mining operations, but a new section has been opened out in the solid coal to the dip of the old workings. The seam averages 8 ft. in thickness, and a small output is produced for local requirements. Welfare. The re-establishment during the year of classes and lectures in connection with the local School of Mines was attributable to handsome donations from the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Pukemiro Colleries (Limited), Waipa Railway and Collieries (Limited), and the Glen Afton Collieries, each of the companies granting £50 towards the welfare of the school. The Mines Department moiety on the sum donated enabled the local Council to engage a full-time Director. The educational facilities afforded to mining students at Huntly, Glen Masse y, and Pukemiro were properly appreciated, and ninety students were enrolled for the commencing lectures. These companies also prepared and constructed tennis-courts and football-grounds, conveniently situated to the mining townships, and these recreation areas are a great boon to local and visiting players. Prosecutions. On the 10th April, 1924, a shot-firer was convicted and fined £5 and costs for failing to see, prior to firing a shot in the mine, that all persons in the vicinity had taken proper shelter. On the 10th April, 1924, a deputy was convicted and fined £1 and costs for failing to use a locked safety-lamp when making the statutory inspections of the mine. On the 10th April, 1924, a mine-manager was convicted and fined £25 and costs for failing to see carried out the provisions of the Coal-mines Act relating to the statutory daily inspection of the mine. On the 10th April, 1924, a mine-manager was convicted and ordered to pay costs on a charge of failing to provide a back staJHor skips ascending a jig-incline. On the Ist December, 1924, a miner was proceeded against for (1) using threatening behaviour, and (2) abusive language, towards a shot-firer whilst such person was engaged in the execution of his duties, contrary to Regulation 69 of the Coal-mines Act and Special Rule 57 respectively. The defendant was convicted and fined £2 10s. on each of the two charges, and Court costs totalling £4 were also imposed. Dangerous Occurrences (Regulation 81). Rotowaro Colliery.—On the 20th June, 1924, Manager A. Penman reported an outbreak of fire in a solid pillar contiguous to No. 8 bord, No. 1 section of the mine. Taupiri Extended Colliery.—On the 26th July, 1924, Manager J. Makinson reported an unlocated outbreak of fire in the No. 5 north-west old workings. Waipa Colliery.—On the Ist September, 1924, Manager Thomas Thomson reported a serious underground fire in the vicinity of the mine stables. Pukemiro Colliery.—On the 12th November, 1924, Manager A. Burt reported a heating in the gob in Vickary's pillar place, north-east section, North Mine. Fatal Accidents. Rotowaro Colliery.—On the 13th February. 1924, William Maddison, aged 66 years, employed as a shiftman and trucker in the Rotowaro Colliery, sustained serious internal injuries through attempting to control a full runaway skip which had become uncontrollable due to the wheel breaking away from the anchor on a jig-heading. When the skip struck the rib at the bottom of the heading he was holding the corner of it and was carried over the top, colliding with the solid coal pillar on the level. Maddison succumbed to his injuries in the Waikato Hospital on the following day. Pukemiro Colliery.—On the 4th March, 1924, Ernest Gardner, aged 18 years, employed as a rope-road clipper in the Pukemiro Colliery, whilst taking an empty skip from the main endless-rope haulage-road into a branch road intercepted a race of three full skips on the main road, which forcibly collided with his empty skip, jamming him against the rib of the branch road. He sustained a fractured pelvis, and was taken to the Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, where he succumbed to his injuries nine months later. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Rotowaro Colliery.—On the 14th April, 1924, Thomas Cooper, a roadsman employed in the Rotowaro Colliery, sustained a fractured collarbone and severe injuries to his knee, due to being struck by a fall of unsupported roof-coal which broke without warning in a bord where the floor was being lifted and where at the time of the accident longer props had not been substituted. Cooper was incapacitated eight weeks. On the 13th October, 1924, F. Wilkinson, surfaceman, sustained a severe wound (now septic) of his second finger of left hand, due to same being punctured by some rusted metal. Wilkinson is still unable to resume work. Pukemiro Colliery.—On the 9th January, 1924, Edward Hall, miner, sustained the loss of his right eye, due to being struck by a piece of flying coal which embedded therein. Hall was incapacitated 135 days. On the 11th January, 1924, J. Dowling, miner, was incapacitated 172 days with a ruptured teno-achilles muscles of his left leg, due to slipping and falling whilst trucking a skip.

45

C.—2.

Glen Afton Colliery.—On the 26th June, 1924, Hugh Roberts, aged 16 years and employed as a tipper, sustained the loss of two fingers, due to his hand being caught and the fingers crushed between the rail and wheel of a railway-wagon. Roberts was off work seventy-five days. On the 6th October, 1924, Robert Fleming, aged 24 years, and employed as a trucker, sustained a fracture of the left radius and ulnus, due to his wrist being jammed whilst unloading timber. Fleming was incapacitated forty days. Waipa Colliery.—On the 20th June, 1924, Peter Crawford, miner, sustained serious injuries to both his eyes, due to being struck and burnt by a premature explosion of blasting-powder whilst engaged charging a shot-hole in his working-place. Crawford is still unable to resume work. Hikurangi Colliery.—On the 13th February, 1924, John Henderson, trucker, sustained a severe wound of his left leg, due to being struck with the buffer of a skip. Henderson was off work 100 days. iff] On the 17th May, 1924, Thomas Murray, fitter, sustained a severe left inguinal hernia, due to a fall caused by a spanner slipping whilst he was engaged tightening a big nut. Murray is still unable to resume work. Kerr and Wyatfs Mine.—Consequent to serious injury to his right eye, due to flying fragments of coal embedding therein on the 3rd August, 1923, William Crackett, miner, subsequently lost the total vision of his eye. He returned to work in Wilson's Colliery, but was later compelled to cease owing to sympathetic weakening of his left eye, and he is now almost totally blind. West Coast Inspection District (Mr. C. J. Strongman, Inspector). Coal-output. During 1924 the coal-output for the combined Grey, Reefton, Buller, and Nelson districts was 990,612 tons, being an increase of 141,583 tons over the previous year, made up as follows: Grey district, increase 54,395 tons; Reefton district, decrease 3,448 tons; Buller district, increase 88,790 tons; Nelson district, increase 1,846 tons. In the Reefton district the decrease was due to the closing-down of several small mines owing to slackness of trade. Number of Men employed. The total number of men employed during the year was 2,480, being an increase of eighty-five for the year. Grey District. STATE COAL-MINES (LIVERPOOL COLLIERIES). No. 1 Mine.—This mine includes the No. I and Morgan seams. During the year coal-winning has been confined entirely to pillar-extraction in both seams. The roof being tender and the pillars narrow, great care had to be exercised to avoid " creep." Fourteen pairs of colliers were employed in the top or No. 1 seam, and eighteen pairs in the Morgan seam. Ferguson's Dip and No. 2 Mine.—Work in Ferguson's dip has been confined to the splitting of pillars. The seam developed many dirty bands, and further winning from places had to be abandoned. The complete extraction of pillars is not practicable, as the escarpment is close to the No. 2 mine haulage-road. Only two pairs of colliers were employed. This mine will cease production early in 1925. No. 2 Mine.—During the year the stone headings in the No. 2 mine cut two workable coal-seams. The first or Anderson seam is 10 ft. thick ; the second or Kimbell seam is 16 ft. thick. A third seam, the Morgan seam, should be reached with another 5 chains of driving. The measures in the Kimbell seam when first struck were pitching about 26°, and the strata at the face of the stone heading is now about 20°. A few places have been driven in the Anderson seam. Driving proved the seam dipping in all directions, and mining operations have ceased until power is available to work the haulage-winch and pumping plant. The Kimbell seam though steeply inclined is free from stone and is of good quality. Levels are being driven east and west, and connections are being made for ventilation. Four pairs of colliers are employed on development-work, but this number will shortly be increased as the winning-places advance. The third or Morgan seam should be reached some time in March. A new lamp-cabin and bathhouse in concrete are under construction at the middle brake and will be completed early in 1925. A supply of electric safety-lamps has arrived, and these will shortly be issued to the miners. No. 3 and No. 3 Extended Mines.- —-Work in the No. 3 mine has been confined to the extraction of pillars. The endless-rope haulage has been dismantled and self-acting jigs installed. Six pairs of colliers were employed. No. 3 Extended Mine.—All winning-places in this mine have been stopped, stone bands and dirt in the coal having rendered further development unprofitable. The seam has thinned in many places to a height of 2 ft. 6 in. Work is now confined to pillar-extraction. All work in this mine is now being carried on under co-operative contract, the contractors performing all necessary repair work, &c., and delivering the coal to the storage-bin at a fixed price, the State-mine management retaining the supervision and direction of mining operations. James State Mine.—The main heading is now in a distance of 58 chains and is 6 chains distant from borehole No. 1 and 15 chains from the Nine-mile Creek. At the face a roll running nearly parallel with the drive has thinned the coal to 10 in. Power-drills of the Jack Hammer type are used to brush the floor. To the right of the main heading the roll has been crossed and the seam found to exist at the normal thickness. Development-work in the old dip has been stopped by an upthrow fault (estimated to be 200 ft.), and the workings are now being extended in the direction of No. 8 borehole, where 11 ft. of coal has been proved. A new dip has been started inbye 8 chains from the old dip. The floor is undulating, making the construction of haulage-roads difficult. At Kennedy Creek a place has reached the outcrop, thus shortening the length of the intake airway. The mine is not fully manned, only fourteen pairs of colliers being employed. Blackball Mine.—This mine has now practically recovered from the effects of the fire which stopped mining operations from November, 1922, until April, 1923. No. 9 dip having been unwatered and the timbering renewed, coal-winning operations have been resumed to the dip. The coal at the face is of a soft friable nature. Forty-three pairs of colliers are employed on two shifts. The major portion of the output is obtained from pillar-extraction on the No. 1 level. Owing to heating in an old bord in No. 10 bank stoppings were erected between Nos. 9 and 10 banks, sealing off the area. A rise at a grade of lin 1 from the bottom of No. 9 dip to the surface, a distance of 525 ft., has been commenced, primarily to provide another outlet for the miners in case of an outbreak of fire; it will also enable the electric cables to be brought over the surface and down the rise, thus removing the cables from the return airway. The main rope in the No. 9 dip has now been extended to the second level. Paparoa Colliery.—During the year all the coal won has been from pillar-extraction. Fourteen pairs of colliers were employed, twelve pairs on day shift and two pairs on back shift. At present a pair of colliers are picking up an old heading, 5 chains in length, in the bottom section on the right of the main haulage-road; this will open a fairly large area of solid workings, and in addition the new heading will provide another travelling-road from the mine. A fall occurred in the fan-drift on the 16th September, rendering the mine idle for a period of five days. It was impossible to repair the old drive, as the fall extended to the surface. A deviation was therefore made through stone and the fallen drive stopped off. The safety-lamp cabin situated at the middle brake was accidently destroyed by fire on the 15th December and seventy safety-lamps destroyed.

C.—2

46

During the year extensive prospecting and surveying operations have been carried out on the No. 2 seam between the present workings and the main fault. An area of good coal (approximately 25 acres) with an average thickness of 20 ft. has been located, and it is intended to commence with the development of this area immediately. Between the present workings and the new area the coal is very dirty and is valueless as a commercial asset. A drive, 16 chains in length, will be necessary to connect the present workings with the new area it is proposed to develop. A borehole has been put down from the No. 2 seam to cut the No. 1 seam. This hole is now down 170 ft., and as the distance between the two seams is only 180 ft. it should not be long before the No. 1 seam is met with GREY VALLEY COLLIERIES (LIMITED). Dobson Mine.—Operations have again been resumed at this mine. The stone dip is now down a distance of 16 chains, but the coal-seam has net yet been reached. Mount Buckley Section, Dobson Mine.—A few tons of coal was won from the pillars of this section during the year, and was used on the works for power purposes. The coal being of a soft friable nature this section is now abandoned. CO-OPERATIVE PARTIES. Scott and Party''s Mine, Blackball.—This small mine forms part of the Blackball Coal Company's freehold. A party of miners has contracted with the company to delivef the coal at the railway. Working to the dip the party were unable to cope with the water. A siphon that had been installed was discarded, as the sulphuric acid in the water rapidly corroded the pipes. The party then commenced to remove the pillars. In order to win the coal to the dip it is intended to drive a low-level adit from the railway side of the ridge, a trial survey having proved this possible. Number of men employed, six. Boustridge and Party.—This mine is on the bank of the Grey River and forms part of the old Brunner lease. The coal has been reached by driving a tunnel into the hill through slipped ground. A water-balance is used to raise the coal up to the bin-level; from there it is carted to the Brunner Railway-station in drays. The loading and unloading into drays and wagons is done by hand ; the output, being small, does not warrant the installation of machinery. Two men are employed. Dixon and Party, Brunner. —All the pillars have been extracted, and the mine is now closed. Allan and Party, Brunner. —This party, consisting of seven men, have secured part of the old Brunner lease known as the Coolgardie section. Height of coal worked is 8 ft. Kiwi Shaft, New Tyneside Mine (Smeaton, Cummings, and Party).—During the year this party commenced operations in the Kiwi shaft at Brunner, but, unfortunately, during November an influx of water from the old Tyneside workings compelled the abandonment of coal-winning operations. Armstrong and Party, Dunollie. —The stone band in the rise coal continues to increase, and work in this direction has been temporarily stopped and the workings to the dip restarted. Two levels off the main dip are being driven east and west. The main incline going north now shows 14 ft. of clean coal. Ten men are employed. To work the dip a boiler, winch, and pump have been installed. Moody Creek Mine (Simpson and Party), Dunollie. —Development in this mine has been restricted by faults, and work during the year has been confined to the. upper seam. Seven men were employed. Hunter and Party, Dunollie.—Prospecting operations on the upper seam have been abandoned, and development is confined to the bottom seam. In the main incline the coal is irregular, varying from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height ; overlying the coal is 18 in. of shaly coal and stone. The main level shows an average height of 3 ft. 3 in. of coal. Eight men were employed. Brae Head Mine (Boote and Party), Dunollie.—This party by continuing a dip drive in stone have reached a seam of coal 12 ft. to 14 ft. in height. A main level is now being driven in a northerly direction. A Hayes fan coupled to a small steam-engine has been installed. Eight men were employed. Hillside Mine (Clark and Party), Dunollie.—The main dip is down a distance of 11 chains and has been stopped in 2 ft. of coal. The levels to the right and left of the dip have also thinned, and a band -of stone near the roof has increased in thickness. In consequence Of these drawbacks the driving of winning-places has ceased and pillarextraction has been commenced. The party have installed a 15 in. steam-driven Sirocco fan. Eight men were employed. Mclvor and Party, Dunollie.— During the year this party have experienced considerable difficulty with water in the dip workings. Only four men were employed. Baddeley and Party, Dunollie.—The solid workings to the rise are nearing the boundary of the lease, and it is the intention of the party to drive through the fault in the main level. Eight men were employed. Manderson and, Party, Dunollie.---Pillar-extraction in both top and bottom seams continues. Nine men were employed. Smith and Party, Dunollie. —Pillar-extraction continues in the rise workings, but it is the intention of the party to intercept the coal-seam at a lower level by means of a stone drive. Eight men were employed. Duggan and Party, Rewanui. —Two seams of coal are being worked, the bottom or No. 3 seam, and the upper or Compressor seam. All solid workings in the No. 3 seam are now practically completed, and a start has been made to develop the upper seam, which shows an average thickness of 5 ft. of soft friable coal. An overlying bed of fireclay which swells on exposure to the air makes mining difficult. In order to reduce haulage costs, a flume 10 in. by 8 in. was contracted from one of the mine-openings to a new bin near the Rewanui Railway-station. Owing to the steep gradient (1 in 2J) near the bin and the friable nature of the coal this means of transport had to be abandoned. Seven men were employed. Spark and Party, Rewanui. —The coal worked forms part of the No. 4 seam, and is of good quality, varying from 6 ft. to 8 ft. in thickness. The main level has been continued in a north-easterly direction. A new Sirocco fan, 35 in. in diameter, driven by a Pelton-wheel, has been installed, and the ventilation in consequence has been considerably improved. A storage-bin of 200-tons capacity has also been erected near the Rewanui Railway-station. Eight men were employed. Buller District. Westport-Stockton Colliery.—ln the Fly Creek area, E Field, the main south headings have advanced a total distance of 18 chains, and the east and west headings 10 chains in their respective directions; The coal is solid and unbroken with a thickness averaging 20 ft. An 8 ft. Waddle fan is being installed to supersede the electrically driven Sirocco fan now used to ventilate this section. The Waddle fan will be operated by a Boving water-wheel under pressure due to 140 ft. of head. Seventeen chains of fluming connects the circular concrete dam to the surge chamber. In the old No. 1 section pillar-extraction continues, four to seven pairs of colliers having been engaged constantly during the year. Old Mine : Operations in this mine have been chiefly confined to pillar-extraction in the C Tunnel. Six pairs of miners were employed. D Extension : This is a new area of 70 acres under development similar to the old D section. The average height of seam is 10 ft. The output from this seam is delivered by a flume, one mile in length, to a receiving bin near B Tunnel rope-road. Six pairs of colliers were engaged in this section driving out winning headings in readiness for an increase of output. The construction of the main flume continues and should shortly be completed. The full length of the flume is five and a half miles, four miles of which have been erected and are now ready to receive the galvanized-iron casing. When completed the whole output from the mine will be carried by water from the new 750-ton bin near the new mine to the receiving-bin at Ngakawau.

47

C.—2

Millerton Mine. —In the north-east section adjoining the Stockton area the winning-places are nearing the boundary. Two pairs of colliers are engaged on pillar-extraction, and nine pairs on solid work. Dnring the year permission was granted to withdraw the safety-lamps from this section, and naked lights are now being used. Mangatina section : During the year two pairs of colliers were engaged removing top coal near the blacksmith's shop. Across the creek a small area, containing approximately 1 acre out off from the main Mangatina area by an upthrow fault, is being worked. The coal is 40 ft. in thickness, and the overburden varies from 3 ft. to 12 ft. Where the overburden does not exceed 4 ft. stripping is in progress. Sixth west section : This small area, 7 acres in extent, is now being developed. The coal is 30 ft. in thickness, and ten pairs of colliers are employed. Second Mangatina : This section lies to the south of the Mangatina boardinghouse, and has not been worked from the main seam because of an upthrow fault; three pairs of colliers are employed. Fourth west solid section : This section is now approaching what is known as the barren area, and the coal is thinning ; eight pairs of colliers were employed. Third west pillars : Six pairs of colliers are employed in this section on pillar-extraction. The coal is 50 ft. in thickness. Evans Daylight Section : Five pairs of colliers are employed in this section on pillar-extraction. The coal is 30 ft. in thickness, and the overburden varies from 20 ft. to 60 ft. No. 1 Dip Pillars : Four pairs of colliers are employed on pillar-extraction. Indications of heating in this section are still being found. During the period under review two Babcock and Wilcox boilers have been erected at Mine Greek Power-station, making in all eight boilers at the power plant. A three-phase 250 K.V.A., 3,300-volt geherator has been installed for power and lighting purposes. Electric safety-lamps, both cap and hand, have been procured and will shortly be issued to the miners. A new lamp-cabin in concrete and wood, 45 ft. by 24 ft. has been erected to accommodate the lamps and charging-raeks. DENNISTON COLLIERIES. Coalbrookdale. —In the Wareatea section of this mine the workings are still being extended, the main south headings having been driven a distance of 37 chains. So far little ordinary mining has been done, work having been confined to development. This also applies to the headings being driven south-west. This section will in the near future be the main source of output. As the coal is liable to spontaneous combustion the panel system of mining has been adopted, and it is hoped that this method will result in a more complete extraction of the coal. Preparations are well advanced for the extension of the main haulage-system. Wareatea Extended.—The output from this section is maintained from solid workings and pillar-extraction. The solid workings are trending south-west. The area of coal is known to be small, and much faulted. It is anticipated that a holing will be effected to Wareatea section within the next few months. Cascade Section, Calligan's Dip : This area is now practically exhausted. No. 8 Section : The whole of the output is derived from pillar-extraction. During the year considerable trouble with fires has been experienced in this section. Owing to the crushed nature of the coal and the thickness of the seam the stoppings erected have not been effective. The stoppings are in places 20 ft. high and 0 ft. in thickness. During the latter part of the year it was found necessary to seal off a large portion of this area and shorten the haulage. As the roof in the vicinity of the latest fire-stoppings is of an exceedingly hard nature it is only a matter of time when another retreat will be necessary. To attempt to extract the pillars as the matter now stands will be a difficult undertaking. Ironbridge Mine. —Coal-winning operations in this mine are now confined to pillar-extraction in Kruger's, Kiwi, and No. 1 sections. In Kruger's section twelve pairs of colliers are engaged in pillar-extraction. In the lower part of the section, known as Kruger's Right, pillars are being prepared for extraction. The top seam, 6 ft. thick, and the bottom one, approximately 20 ft., are separated by 1 ft. to 2 ft. of fireclay and mudstone. The top seam was pillared some years ago, also the top portion of the bottom one, leaving a sufficient thickness below to be again worked. This is now being done by opening out narrow places 6 ft. to 9 ft. wide, and 6 ft. to 7 ft. high. The coal roof thus formed appears to be effective in keeping up the waste ground overhead. No. 1 section : Three pairs of colliers are engaged on pillar-extraction. The coal is from 16 ft. to 18 ft. in thickness, and is not liable to crush, as the main roof breaks readily. Kiwi section : Five pairs of colliers are engaged on pillar-extraction. The coal-seam in this section is over 30 ft. in thickness and of an extremely hard nature. In consequence of the thickness and nature of the coal the upper portion is being worked first, leaving the lower portion to be extracted later. Deep Creek (New Mine). —This mine consists of a series of small areas of coal, in each of which development has been rapid. Owing to breaks and gutters in the roof the main headings in the Cliff section had to be stopped. It is intended to commence driving a pair of new headings more to the centre of the field. Kiel's Flat: This section has been opened up during the year. In all twenty pairs of colliers are employed in the Deep Creek new mine sections. Workmen's Cottages : Seventeen new cottages have been erected by the Westport Coal Company during the last eighteen months, thus establishing a new township called Marshallvale on the plateau between Denniston and Burnett's Face. Clydevale Coal-mines (limited), Seddonville.—The plant to be used in the working of this mine is now in course of erection. It is intended to commence operations in the most northerly portion of the lease, from which point to a site near the State Mine bin an aerial ropeway of a capacity of 40 tons per hour (mono-cable system) is being erected. Trestles for the ropeway are constructed of steel and vary in height from 12 ft. to 70 ft. There are thirteen of these trestles, the longest span, 10 chains, being across Chasm Creek. A bin of 600-ton capacity has been erected at the. railway. To facilitate the transport of coal from the mine-trucks to the aerial a second bin of 100-tons capacity has been erected at the upper end near the mine. From this bin a tramway, 9 chains in length, has been laid to the mine-mouth. At the present rate of progress coal should be produced by the end of May, 1925. Regan and O'Brien's Mine. —AH pillars having been extracted from this area the mine is now closed. Shortly after the mine was abandoned fire was discovered in the fallen ground, and attempts were made by the parties interested in the adjoining properties to seal off the fire, but only with partial success. Prospecting is now being carried out on the northern portion of the lease. Dove's Mine (Old Cardiff). —Coal-winning during the year has been confined to pillar-extraction. On the 6th September a fire broke out in the portion of the lease known as Regan and O'Brien's Mine ; stoppings were erected, and a line of pillars extracted to sea! off the fire. Coal Creek Mivs. —Work during the year has been confined to pillar-extraction in the south-western portion of the area. During the latter portion of the year mining operations were suspended owing to slackness in the coal trade. Cardiff Bridge Mine.—The workings in this colliery are now trending south-west, but no particular plan of development is in progress. From a point near the mine-mouth where a gully forms a natural bin a flume has been constructed to the bin at the railway. This flume is approximately one mile in length, and is built of 12 in by 1 in. planks supported on frames. The bottom of the flume is lined with iron plates i n - in thickness. So far this method is successfully dealing with the output of 600 tons per week. Westport-Mokihinui Mine.—This party has made very little progress during the year, coal-winning being principally confined to winning outcrops and bottom coal. Zealandia Mine. —Only 302 tons of coal were won during the year, mining operations having been suspended. Murray's Mine, —Slackness of trade has caused the closing-down of this mine.

C.— 2

48

Chester's Mine.—Three men have been employed continuously throughout the year. Ngakawau Mining Syndicate.—Very little work has been done on this property, as the party have been unable to dispose of the output. Westport-Granity Mining Syndicate.—This syndicate hold an area of approximately 90 acres on the western boundary of the Westport Coal Company's lease. A bin of 200-ton capacity has been erected one and a quarter miles south of the Granity Railway-station. Coal is conveyed from the mine to the bin by means of jigs, four in number. First jig, length 13 chains, grade 7° ; second, 22 chains, maximum grade 38°, deflection 30° ; third, 12 chains, maximum grade 38°, deflection 10° ; fourth, 18 chains, maximum grade 19°. The average thickness of coal has not yet been ascertained, but will probably be 30 ft. A considerable area will be worked opencast. The mine will produce coal early in January, 1925. Whitecliff Mine, Buller Gorge.—Very little work has been done in this mine during the year. Rocklands Mine, Buller Gorge.—No work of any consequence has been carried out in this mine during the past year. Inangahua District. Reefton Coal Company, Burke's Creek.—During the year the greater part of the output was produced from the old dip section. Preen's Jig : The pillars in this section are nearing exhaustion, and this section will shortly be closed. Anzac Section : This section has been let to a party of co-operative contractors ; four men were employed. Sherwood Mine (Morris and Learmonfs). -No new work has been done at this mine during the year. Calliope Mine.—Preparations have been made to construct an aerial tramway from the mine to a point near the Reefton Railway. A considerable amount of plant has arrived but is not yet installed. All mining operations are suspended. Phoenix and Venus Mine. —The output for the year was 1,975 tons which, was disposed of locally. Big River Mine ( Big River). —The main drive going north is in very loose ground. Crosscutting has proved the coal in a westerly direction. Going east the coal becomes thinfand dirty. As the coal-lies at a very steep angle the stoping method is used. Doraris Mine, Capleston.—This mine is at present closed. Ferndale-Timaru Coal Company, Burke's Creek.—Work on the No. 4 seam (Lockington's lease) has been practically suspended during the year, only 632 tons of coal being extracted. The No. 2 seam (Lishman's area) was opened up in October and a main heading extended 10 chains. Development to the rise in a south-easterly direction has been continued to within 1 chain of the Empire Coal Company's boundary. A fault running south-east has now been pierced, and coal of a fair quality proved, but this coal still contains stone intrusions. The main dip was stopped after being driven a distance of 3 chains. During the year the following plant has been installed : One gravity screen, one 35 in. steam-driven Sirocco fan. The mine has suffered considerably during the year through lack of trade. Mr. A. R. Ayson, general manager of the Ferndale-Timaru Coal Company, with a view to utilizing the slack coal, which is now being dumped, has for some time past been experimenting with a view to producing a household coke and oil on a commercial basis. With a small cast-iron retort, 5 J lb. capacity, a large number of tests were made, with the following results :—

The oil has been analysed and found to be of good quality. Further tests are being carried out with the object of improving the coke. Empire Mine. —This mine has closed down owing to financial difficulties. Woodlands Mine. —This mine has been temporarily closed owing to lack of trade. Nelson District. Puponga Mine.- —Development continues to the rise. In the B mine five colliers are engaged on pillar-extraction. The coal in this section is 7 ft. in height, but is split by a stone band 15 in. to 18 in. in thickness. This section will shortly be exhausted. In the C mine, lying to the west of B mine, the main level has been extended in a westerly direction as a prospecting level. The thickness of coal is 3 ft. 6 in., split by two stone bands each 4 J in. thick. The coal in the incline going south has been cut by a fault. Two stone headings driven through the fault intercepted a coal-seam 5 ft. in thickness, split by two stone bands 2 in and 1 in. respectively. North Gape Mine. —A new seam approximately one mile south-west from the old mine is being developed. This new seam dips irregularly from 75° to 80°, the thickness of coal being 6 ft. to 8 ft. The coal is of a soft friable nature. A dip on a gradient of 1 in 3J is being driven north-east. Levels 30 ft. apart have been extended 500 ft. in each direction. The stoping method is being used to win the coal. Golden Bay Mine.—The main level is being driven in a westerly direction. Very little development-work has been done during the year. Waikohatu Mine. —This mine has been closed during the greater portion of the year. O'Rourke's Mine, Murchison. —Only a few tons of coal were produced from the rise workings. Dangerous Occurrences, notified under Regulation 81. Blackball Mine.—On Wednesday, 7th May, signs of heating were noticed in an old bord in the No. 10 bank No. 3 dip of this mine, and the area was immediately sealed off. Regan and O'Brien's Mine.—On the 6th September a fire broke out in the old workings known as Regan and O'Brien's mine. As these workings were connected with those of Dove's mine, stoppings were immediately erected, and the fire sealed off. Later a line of pillars was extracted and the fire area thus completely blocked off. Cascade Mine, Denniston.—On the 20th October an old fire in the No. 8 section of the Cascade mine at Denniston broke through the stoppings. Additional stoppings were erected, and the fire again sealed off. New Tyneside Mine, Brunner.—During November water was noticed issuing from a break in the roof of the workings in the New Tyneside mine. The water had the smell common to water from old workings. As the mine is adjacent to the flooded area of the Old Tyneside Mine operations were suspended. Fatal Accidents. Seven fatalities occurred to workmen employed in or about the mines of the West Coast Inspection District during the year, and in addition two other persons not employed in mining lost their lives on the haulage-roads. A striking feature was the number of accidents on the haulage-roads whereby elderly men lost their lives. On the 10th January a young man named Treyton Potter, employed as brakesman on the Stockton locomotive road, lost his life through being crushed between the brake-car and the centre rail, There was no evidence to show how deceased was caught by the brake car,

Ooal £rom Slaok - Coke Produced. A^5a-water. Oz. Oz. Oz. No. 2 seam .. .. .. 311 172 82 No. 1 seam ...... 77 42 22 No. 4 seam .. .. . . 169 95 45 No. 4 seam . . .. . . 152 103 31

C.—2

49

On the 3rd March a general labourer named John Kennedy, aged 65 years, employed at the Liverpool State Mine, Rewanui, was crushed between a full truck and an overhead tramway, and died shortly afterwards as a result of his injuries. On 12th March an elderly man named Thomas Riley, a rope-road attendant, was run over by a full truck on the Mine Creek rope-road, Millerton Mine, and died in the Westport Hospital the following day. Medical testimony attributed his death to cirrhosis of the liver combined with the shock of his injuries. On the 9th June a deputy named William Gilmour, 69 years of age, was killed by a fall of coal on the Mine Creek rope-road, Millerton Mine. Deceased was engaged trimming the roof and had succeeded in loosening a large piece of coal when he decided that it would be safer to work from the opposite side. He was passing underneath the loosened coal when it fell on him, killing him instantly. On the 23rd July Joseph Iligson received injuries from which he died four days later in the Greymouth Hospital. Deceased was engaged as a shiftman in the No. 3 mine, Liverpool Collieries. He had commenced to walk up a jig that was working when two trucks became detached from the rake and ran down the grade, striking deceased. On the sth September a collier named Albert Manderson was killed by a fall of stone in Manderson's Co-operative Mine at Dunollie. Deceased and his mate were engaged retimbering a level when a bump displaced several sets, thus allowing the roof to fall. Strenuous attempts at rescue had partially succeeded when a second fall occurred and deceased was slowly crushed to death. On the 25th September Moses Harry, a rope-road worker, 71 years of age, was run over and killed on the Denniston rope-road. It is surmised that deceased attempted to cross over the roads while the rope was in motion, and was knocked down and run over by a full truck. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. On the 21st February W. Morgan while jigging a truck in the Millerton Mine met with an accident resulting in a broken leg. On the 9th June Charles Thompson, a trucker, employed at the James Mine, State Collieries, slipped whilst pushing a truck, fell, and fractured his pelvis. On the 13th June C. Gillespie, a collier, employed in the Taipo section of the Ironbridge Mine, Denniston, received a fracture of the small bone of his leg. A piece of stone fell from the roof striking his leg. On the 12th August W. Heslop and his mate, P. McFadgen, both had their legs broken by a fall of roof-stone in the Hawkin's section of the Cascade Mine. On the 23rd July Edward McCaffrey, pump attendant, received a compound fracture of the right leg. McCaffrey was attempting to board a train on the Stockton electric locomotive road when he slipped, with the above result. On the 30th August Charles Dobson, a bushman, employed by the Reefton Coal Company, received a fracture of the right leg through a tree swinging and striking him. On the 13th September Henry Griffiths, a fitter, employed by the Westport Coal Company, fell a distance of 11 ft. 3 in., severely injuring his head. On the 18th September Samuel Short, a miner, employed in the North Cape Mine at Puponga, received a compound fracture of the right leg. A piece of stone fell from the hanging-wall, striking him on the leg. On the Ist December Isaac Malpas, a miner, employed in Hunter and Party's Co-operative Mine at Dunollie received a fractured pelvis and two broken ribs through a piece of stone falling from the roof and striking him. Prosecutions. On the 14th May two colliers employed in the Old Cardiff Mine were convicted and fined —(1) £3 and costs for failing to erect roof-supports in a systematic manner; (2) £5 and costs for taking into the workings explosives not in a securely covered case or canistei*. On the 14th May the owner of coal lease No. 5700 was fined £6 for failing to contribute to the Coal-miners' Relief Fund the sum of £2 Is. 2d., being the sum equivalent to -|d. per ton on all coal sold during the two preceding periods of three months. On the 9th July a collier in the safety-lamp portion of the Millerton Mine was fined £1 and costs for having in his possession cigarette-papers. On the 23rd October the following charges were laid against a deputy employed by the Reefton Coal Company : (1) That he did fail to inspect the mine with a locked safety-lamp two hours before commencement of work in the mine ; (2) That he did fail during his rounds to examine the roof and sides of such mine ; (3) That he did fail to mark with chalk the day of the month upon each working-face. All charges failed. On the 20th November the mine-manager of the Golden Point Mine, Soldiers' Road, Reefton, was fined £1 and costs for failing to inspect the mine with a locked safety-lamp before the men entered the mine ; and two men employed at the mine were each fined ss. and costs for proceeding towards their working-face before it had been intimated to them by the fireman-deputy that the mine had been examined. On the 18th December the mine-manager of the A 1 mine at Burke's Creek, Reefton, was fined £1 and costs for failing to inspect the mine with a locked safety-lamp before the men entered the mine ; and two workmen employed at the mine were each fined ss. and costs for proceeding towards their working-face before it had been intimated to them by the fireman-deputy that the mine had been examined. Southern Inspection District (Mr. George Ditggan, Inspector). Goal-output. The output of coal for the year, 455,070 tons, shows a. decrease of 31,870 tons to that of 1923. This decrease is not confined to any one portion of the district, Canterbury having suffered to the extent of 5,552 tons, Central Otago 1,719 tons, and North Otago 541 tons. The mines in the South Otago field are the principal sufferers, as 20,782 tons less than 1923 were produced there. Southland's output, which is 3,276 tons less than last year, would probably have shown an increase had not labour trouble occurred in the Obai Coalfield from July to September. On the 9th July the Birchwood, Linton, and Wairaki miners oeased work. They resumed on the 21st July, but the Birchwood men again stopped on the 29th and resumed on the 2nd August. On the 27th August the Linton Mine was again idle, the men resuming work on the 14th September. Mount Torlesse Mine.—On account of the very disturbed nature of the country the mine-workings became very restricted during the year, and in November only one place on the west side was being worked. The coal in this place was of fairly good quality and about 9 ft. in thickness. Safety-lamps continued to be used during the year. In Sittleton's heading, on the east side, 500 cubic feet of 4-per-cent. mixture was reported on the 16th June inflammable gas was reported on several other occasions during the early part of the year. Springfield Mine.—A few tons were won from the remaining coal near the surface. Homebush Mine.—A few pillars in the 7 ft. (main) seam are now being extracted, as the 3 ft. seam workings became exhausted. Bush Gully Mine.—Three miners continued extracting a few pillars from the upper seam. They also drove into the lower seam, 40 ft. below the upper, which shows 3 ft. of clean coal with 6 in. to 12 in. of stone above and then 12 in. of top coal. The party purchased a 1 J : t-on motor-truck, which was used to convey the coal to Coalgate Railway-station. They sold their interest to another party of working-miners towards the end of the year.

7—C. 2.

C.—2

50

Steventon Mine.-—Arrangements are in hand to cross the downthrow fault, of 14 ft. displacement, at which the main dip was stopped. A crosscut was driven through the standing pillars early in the year, and this is now used as the main haulage-road. The fault will be crossed at the face of this crosscut. Owing to the coal on the south side becoming stony and unprofitable to work no further development was done in that direction. A level going north was being driven, practically following the fault-line, but as the pillars had been extracted above this level there was no return airway, and the manager was instructed to stop the place until a return could be provided. Clearview Mine.—The incline and shaft to the surface were completed early in the year, and the ventilation was considerably improved thereby. Although the face of the main level is over a quarter of a mile from the mineentrance, it is only a narrow strip of coal-bearing country with about 4 chains from the main level to the outcrop on the west side. The main level met poor coal, but, after driving about a chain in this, good coal was again met. Places are driven narrow ; about 7 ft. in width. Tripp's Mine.-—The coal is proving very soft and contains much stone. The former pillar area is now closed owing to large falls. The present workings are being driven narrow. Burnivell Mine.—Worked intermittently during the year. Development is confined to the two levels and the necessary cut-throughs. A large " roll " was met in the main level, and the coal was very soft and friable, with a steep inclination to the north-west. The face of this level is about 2 chains from the northern boundary of the lease. Albury Mine.—The underground fire in the old workings to the west proved very troublesome during the year, and fears are entertained that it will eventually reach the coal underlying the traffic-road. As there are only a few feet of cover it is impossible to seal off the fire. As a possible means of confining the fire all the coal is to be removed for a width of at least 12 ft. and for about 7 chains in length parallel with the road. This will afterwards be filled in with clay and gravel, which will form a barrier to the fire. The coal to the north is dirty and unsaleable, and the workings are at the boundary on the east side, so little workable coal appears to remain. Woodbank Pit.—This is a small opencast pit, opened during the year, about 12 chains east of the Albury Mine. The coal is dipping to the south, and the cover is rapidly thickening, so drives will have to be put in and the mine worked bord and pillar. Allanholme Mine.—The main dip has been stopped for some time, and the water has been allowed to rise to within 4 chains of the mine-entrance. A level about 3 chains down, and going west, has been continued, and places are also going to the north off this level. All the places are 8 ft. high and 12 ft. in width. Meadowbank Mine.—No output for the year. Wharekuri Mine.—The extraction of the small pillars, formed in the workings about sixty years ago, was completed. Early in the year two stone prospect drives were put in at a lower level than the old workings. One of these drives was soon abandoned, and the other, which was anticipated to be entering virgin country, met old workings. The prospects of this mine are now very poor. Prospecting at Awahokomo Creek.- —This is about two and a half miles south-east of the Wharekuri Mine, and a coal lease of 100 acres has been applied for. The coal outcrops near the north bank about 10 ft. above the bed of the creek. The coal will be conveyed by motor-lorry to Kurow. A road can be cheaply formed near the bank of the creek to connect with the Omarama-Kurow traffic-road. Prince Alfred Mine.—The remaining pillars are being split south of the main dip. The return below these places is closed through " creep," and, although the air down the old dip is rather warm, there is no sign of heating. To again work the dip area many of the timber supports will require renewing. Ngapara Mine.—Development was continued during the year in the places north of the main haulage-road, and no work was done on the west side. Shag Point Mine.—The coal at the face of the south level, the only working-place, is now 5 J ft. in thickness. This level was being driven too wide, so instructions were given to reduce it to 12 ft. Shag Point Coal-mining Company's Mine.-—During the first half of the year the outlook for the mine was very discouraging. The coal in the bottom west level was then only 3 ft. thick, and that in the east level 3£ ft. thick. Work on the east side has been discontinued, but on the west side the coal has thickened to 7J-ft., and six workingplaces are being driven there. A dip, going north-west, is now 6 chains below the bottom west level, and the coal at the face is 3 ft. 8 in. in thickness, clean, and of excellent quality. In the No. 1 level west an upthrow fault of 28 ft. displacement was met. A short steep jig was made to cross this fault, and the coal is now about 5 ft. thick. Owing to the lengthy and circuitous haulage from the face to the inine-mouth, it is proposed to put down a stone drive from the surface at Hailstone Gully, about half a mile nearer the Shag Point Rail way-station than the present entrance. This drive will dip at a grade of lin 3. It will be 450 ft. in length, and it is expected to intersect the seam at a point 5 chains ahead of the north-east dip, the most northern working-place. If this drive is proceeded with, the screening plant will be removed to a new site on the branch railway near Hailstone Gully. A borehole was put down near the seashore about 5 chains north of Hailstone Gully. It was stopped at 390 ft., no workable seam having been met. Kyeburn Diggings Mine.—A small mine supplying local requirements. Oimmerburn Coal-pit.—Another opencast pit for local supplies. Rough Ridge Pit.—A small output was got for local use. Jdaburn Pit.—The output, which has considerably decreased during the previous year, again rose to normal during 1924. Oturehua Pit (Becker Bros.). —An opencast pit worked for local supplies. Dillon's Pit.—A small pit worked for private use. St. Bathan's Pit.-—This pit continues being worked opencast. The overburden is light and is used for road-metal. Cambrian Pit.—Trade for this lignite has considerably decreased ; opencast workings. Lauder Lane Pit.—A small output is still being produced from opencast workings. Alexandra Mine.—Pillaring is now being done on the east side, that on the west having been stopped. Owing to the heaving floor and the roof being of running sand a large percentage of coal will be lost. When the pillars, at present being worked, are extracted another return airway must be driven, as all the former working-places between the present return airway and the main dip are closed through the heaving of the floor. McPherson's Pit.—An opencast pit worked in benches. Water is laid on to combat the fire, which has been burning for years. Cromwell Mine.—A small output was produced early in the year. In endeavouring to seal off an underground fire the mine-manager was overcome by carbon monoxide, from which he died. The mine has not been worked since and it will most probably not be reopened. Shepherd's Creek Mine.—Three miners on pillar-extraction. Ventilation fairly good, but the * stoppings needed renewing. Cardrona Pit.—A small output was produced early in the year. A large slip came from the hillside and covered the pit, and this is now being sluiced away. Nevis Pit.-—An opencast pit from which a small output is produced for local use. Nevis Crossing Pit.—Another opencast pit for local requirements. Doolan's Creek Mine {near Gibbston).- —A thick seam of lignite has been proved near the south bank of the creek. A drive, 6 ft. by 6 ft., going south, is now in 30 yards. This mine is very inaccessible. The output is hauled in drays up to the top of the Gibbston Hill, 1,000 ft. above the mine, and from there to Gibbston, a fall of 2,000 ft. If the outlook warrants it, a fluming for conveying the coal could be constructed down Doolan's Creek, thence down the Nevis River to its junction with the Ka »varau River. Fernhill Mine.-—A level, going north, has pierced into old workings driven about 1880 and sealed off owing to an underground fire. These places are almost closed, and the fire is long since dead. The old level will be cleaned out to Shaw's old main drive. That also will be reopened and used as a main haulage-road, it being a shorter and better route out than the one now in use. A lot of old standing pillars, sealed off owing to the fire, and a few acres of virgin ground to the east can also be worked from Shaw's drive.

(J. 'I.

Freeman's"Mine.-—!Thejhaulage plant, near the railway terminus, was dismantled early in the year, and t.he output is nowjconveved through the low level on the south end of the mine. The pillars are being extracted near the old haulage-road. A little heating was apparent recently in the low-side pillars ; if it increases these pillars can easily be stopped off from the rest of the mine. Jubilee Mine.—The workings on the south side of the main dip, in the lower seam, adjoining and including portion of Messrs. Christie Bros.' area, are now completed. Pillaring has been resumed in the first north level section, and six miners are working there. Two boreholes were put down with a percussive (Keystone) drill—one about 3 chains south of the line of the dip. No coal was met, the borehole, being apparently in a washout, was stopped at 95 ft. In the second borehole, near the eastern boundary, 3 ft. of coal was pierced and a large volume of water met at 128 ft. A new dip has been commenced from the surface going, in an easterly direction. Saddle Hill No. 1 and Walton Park Mines. —All the available coal having been extracted these mines were closed and all entrances filled up early in April. Mosgiel Mine.—A prospect drive was put down by Messrs. Christie Bros, towards the end of the year, between Sneddon's old Mosgiel workings and the East Taieri Mine. After dipping about a dozen yards, at a grade of lin 5, the coal was struck. This drive will command the few remaining acres of unworked coal in this locality. East Taieri Mine. —This is another mine which, after many years' production, has become exhausted. It was closed down on the 6th December after all the available coal near the entrance was extracted. Willowbank Mine.—An air-shaft, 6 ft. by 4 ft., was sunk for a depth of 50 ft., and the natural ventilation was much improved in consequence. All places are driven narrow—about 6 ft. The coal in the upper seam proved very soft, and efforts are now concentrated on the dip, which is being driven to work the bottom seam. If this does not prove profitable to work the mine will be closed down. Harris's (Burnweil) Mine.—The dip drive, which Messrs. Christie Bros, put down, has been continued and a few places broken away on the east side. These are in from 25 to 30 yards, but as the coal thinned rapidly they soon became unprofitable to work. At the face of the dip, which was under water, lam informed, there is only about a foot of clean coal. A shaft has been sunk 60 ft. from the surface, and the mine is now well ventilated. Brighton Mine. —The cloth-brattice separation-doors have been replaced by wooden ones, and the return aiwayr a"ain cleaned up of debris carried in during floods. The stoppings around the heated area are all cool and well attended to. A level is being driven to the west, and a couple of places have been broken away on the north side. These places are narrow, about 7 ft. in width, and only 6 ft. in height, so no timber is needed. Owing to the pitch of the seam water accumulated in them, and they have been stopped until a lower level intersects them. Waronui Mine. —The prospecting dip was continued and a fault of from 1J- ft. to 2 ft. met. The dip was stopped in August, as the coal became too thin to work, being less than 2 ft. in thickness. A crosscut has been driven southwest off the dip to open up a section called No. 5. One place in this section, going south-east, is in good clean coal, 6 ft. to 8 ft. in thickness, but the others are in stony and mushy coal. Two places are still going north-east off the dip, but only a small workable area is anticipated there. A few places are also being worked near the old No. 1 mine workings. These are in good hard coal 7-J ft. thick. A drive is also being put down from the surface to some pillars which remain in the No. I mine. Two boreholes, put down from the surface near a swamp—one 7 chains north-east and the other 9 chains south-east from the face of the prospecting dip—proved disappointing. One borehole was stopped at 136 ft., and the other at 142 ft., no coal being met in either. Grichton Mine. —This mine was worked intermittently during the year. At present the output is being produced from, an outcrop on the west side. A little stripping has been done, and a drive to the north-west will later be driven into this area of coal. The old workings have been fenced off. Taratu Mine.—Shaft section : The temperature outside a concrete stopping, in a cut-through only 16 yards from the main haulage-road, and about 200 ft. from the bottom of the winding-shaft, registered 114° F. on the sth May. Two cylinders, each holding 40 cubic feet of C0 2 , were emptied behind this stopping. Then another reinforcing stopping was built. This was successful for seven months, but on the 2nd January, 1925, a large fall occurred on the main haulage-road, which allowed air to enter the heated area. After endeavouring to beat back the fire for a week the shaft section had to be closed. All machinery and plant that could be recovered—a good deal was lost in the dip workings—was sent to surface. Both winding and return air-shafts are being filled in. Pillars had been worked during the year both north and south of the dip extension. Taratu Mine.—Barclay's section : The pillar section south of the solid workings showed signs of heating on the sth August, so fire-stoppings were built around the area, thus effectually segregating it. A barrier pillar 45 ft. wide has been left in, east of the pillars, and on the north side a narrow barrier, 20 ft. to 40 ft. in width, has also been formed. Ten chains west of the first-mentioned barrier another will be formed, but the width of the panel will depend on the nature of the country met during development. On the west side the places are temporarily stopped, owing to inferior coal in the vicinity of an upthrow fault of about 30 ft. displacement. Development is proceeding in the east and south sections, and the coal continues clean and hard except in one place going south. Owing to an old fire from Barclay's old mine, which was sealed off years ago, breaking through to the outcrop, a good deal of work had to be done to stop off the coal adjacent to the fault, which crosses at the mine-entrance. This was replaced by fine sand and gravel to form an incombustible barrier. Tuakitoto Mine. —A small output, conveyed by motor-lorry to Kaitangata, was produced for the year. Kaituna Mine.—ln the level driven on the east side, and about 3J chains from the crosscut, thick clay partings are showing in the coal. The crosscut, down about 7 chains from the junction, is in good clean coal, and the west side places are also in clean coal, averaging 6|- ft. in thickness. In September the Kaituna Coal Company went into liquidation, and the mine and plant were put up at auction, but passed in without a sale being effected. Mining was again resumed near the end of the year. Wangaloa Mine,.- —No coal mined during the year. Kaidale Mine. —The dip, going north-east, was driven about a chain during the year. It has now entered the south-east corner of the Kaibrook lease, a portion of which has been sublet to permit this dip being continued in a direct line. Bords to the north and south have been broken away and driven a short distance. Kaibrook Mine.—No work was done in the main dip, but another, going to the full dip and in a more northerly direction, was started from the bottom level. This has only been driven a pillar length. Pillars were extracted on the east side. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. —Owing to the slackness of trade miners on tonnage rates were only employed from May to September, when a section of pillars was worked out in Pimblett's dip. This section was then stopped off. Pillars have also been extracted at the bottom of Stamford's dip, and a section was also sealed off there. North of the stone drive, in No. 3 seam, coal has been proven of good quality, and the levels are now in about 10 chains. A large " roll" was met, running alongside the back level and almost parallel with it. The fourth north heading was driven through this " roll " and good coal again found. The air-shaft was sunk another 140 ft. and down to the 6 ft. seam. On the completion of the sinking the whole of the Barclay's drive section was then sealed off. This section has alwavs been a difficult one to supervise owing to spontaneous heating, and its sealing-off has resulted in a considerable improvement of the mine. Kaitangata Nr.. 2 Mine.—The No. 1 section, m which pillars are being worked, will soon be exhausted. A new dip, going almost due north at a grade of lin3, is being driven from near the bottom of the present dip. This will prove the area north of the fault met in the No. 1 section workings. No. 4 section : A dip has been driven to the north-west into the No. 4a seam, and levels are now being extended northward. They will connect, when driven another eight chains, with the forme - No. 4 section workings, which are of very small extent and in which a fair area appears to remain to be worked. Some of the old south side pillars in the Kaitangata No. 1 Mine are immediately over portion of the former No. 4 section workings. They can probably be extracted through these workings.

51

0.—2.

52

No. 5 section: Development is progressing to the south in No. 5 seam. A dip has been driven a distance of 000 ft., and an upthrow fault was met running south-west. Levels are being driven to the south from this dip, and there .is every indication of a large area of good coal to be worked. The places going east in No. 5 seam met a large fault and are now stopped. A good deal of work was done to prove the extent of the fault, but without definite results. The workings to the north and east have therefore been stopped off. Castle Hill Mine.—The only section working during the year, and that only for a few months, was the No. 5 dip section on the north side of the main extension, where a few pillars were extracted. A good deal of repair work was done on the main haulage-road, including another 72 ft. of concrete arching, where it passes through, the 11 ft. seam, which effectually seals off the old workings in that seam. The air-shaft and all old workings connected with it were securely sealed off on the 28th June. The new inclined return airway being completed the air-shaft was no longer required. In June the two air-compressors were removed from their old site to another and more suitable one, and a third compressor from Orepuki was put up alongside the others. The mine was only coal-producing for three months during the winter season, and work is now confined to supervision and general upkeep. Benhar Mine. —A small section of pillars, on the south side, were extracted during the year. The main dip has been extended a distance of 50 yards, and two downthrow faults were met, of 3 ft. and. 7 ft. respectively. Many clay backs are showing at the face of the dip. One of the levels on the north side is in over 15 chains. A stone band came in about 3 ft. from the floor and has thickened to 4 ft. Puk&rau Mine.—No coal was produced during the year. Whiterig Mine.—Owing to the haulage difficulties experienced through the main drive not having been driven on the full dip, another drive will soon be commenced, going north-west. The output of from 70 to 80 tons per week is still being maintained. Green's Mine.—The main haulage-road was only extended a few yards during the year, and all the output was produced from the south side of the main dip. One of the south levels is now in 8 chains in good lignite 20 ft. in thickness, on which 12 ft. is being worked. Riverview Pit. —A small opencast pit worked for private use. Springfield Pit.—A small output was produced early in the year from this opencast pit. Glenlee Mine.—Three levels have been driven into a strip of ground between two sets of opencast workings. Ramsay's Pit.—Recently they have stripped the few feet of overburden from the standing pillars, so this is now an opencast pit. Rossvale Mine. —The old workings are exhausted, and the owner was recently putting in a small drive through the large "slip" to work a supposed block of coal which a "diviner" claimed to be ahead. The drive was only timbered for about 25 yards, so he was instructed to timber the drive right to the face. Shortly after this the lease was surrendered. Melver's Pit. —A small patch of lignite is being worked opencast. The wash overlying the coal contains a little gold, so it is being put through boxes. Landslip Pit.—An occasional ton or two of lignite is being mined. The stripping [is about 15 ft. in thickness, and the seam is only a thin one. Argyle Pit.—The south end of the face has rather heavy stripping, and a large portion of the face was covered by a slip which, owing to lack of water, could not then be sluiced away. There appears to be about a couple of years opencast work yet in sight. Terrace Mine, Kingston Grossing.—The output from this small mine showed a considerable decrease, being 317 tons less than the amount produced during 1923. Princhester Greek Pit.—A small opencast pit worked for local supplies. Lynwood Pit.—An opencast pit; output used by the Tourist Department for the steamer plying on Lake Te Anau ; seam 6 ft. with 7 ft. of overburden. Mataura Colliery.—North of the main dip four of the levels were further advanced about 3 chains, and the required -cut-th roughs were driven. Owing to lack of trade the mine was closed in November. Boghead Pit. —Most of the output was produced from opencast working. One of the old standing pillars was split to release some water which when drained away would permit further opencast work. Mataura Lignite-mine.—No work has been done to extend the main dip for two years, development being confined to the places east and west off the bottom, of the dip. Those on the east side are almost at the boundary of the freehold. The lower west levels are in 4 chains. Pillars are now being made 15 yards by 11 yards. Sounding-rods have been procured for the high working-places. The manager was instructed to replace the cloth-brattice stoppings near the fan-drive with more substantial ones of stone. Ota Creek Pit.-—An opencast pit from which 423 tops were mined for the year. The seam is 5 ft. to 6ft.. in thickness, overlain by gravels varying from 2 ft. to 15 ft. Clarke's (Wyndham) Pit.—About 2to 3 acres have been worked at this opencast pit. There is about 13 ft. of lignite, overlain by 6 ft. of gravel and 2 ft. of mixed clay and sand. Diamond Lignite Pit. —An opencast pit from which 1,351 tons were produced for the year. Wattle Mike (formerly Nightcaps No. 1 Mine). —The results of the circular prospecting-shaft proving disappointing it was stopped and efforts confined to work in the little dip section. This dip for a time was driven through coal containing many clay backs, and also a band of stone 4 in. in thickness. At the face of the dip the coal is now fairly clean, and a level, broken away on the west side, is now in over 2 chains and showing 8 ft. of clean coal, the bottom 6 ft. of which are being worked. A place on the west side was stopped when in 12 yards owing to meeting a large clay " back." Some of the clay later fell away, proved the " back "to be only a foot in thickness, and exposed good coal ahead. The miners are discussing hiring plant to prove whether or not another seam underlies the one at present being worked. Black Diamond Mine.—The seam is 40 ft. in thickness, and the manager is considering working another set of places immediately over the present ones. The pillars are now being made 16 yards square, and a modified panel system has been adopted. New Brighton Mine. —The main haulage-road has been advanced 7 chains beyond the upthrow fault, but since September no work has been done there. The face of the dip is now 23 chains from the surface. The levels on the west side, near the bottom of the dip, met a large " roll " when about 30 to 40 yards in. One of these levels has been continued through the troubled ground and is now in good clean coal. On the east side in the higher levels a large fault, apparently a downthrow, was met. After some months it was decided to prove this fault, and after driving sor 6 yards the coal was again met, and is flow 4 ft. to 5 ft. in thickness. In the lower levels on the east side the pillars have been split. A lease of the Wairio-Moretown Railway is being arranged, thus avoiding the construction of a long surface tramway to connect with the Wairio-Ohai Railway. Ftiiling this arrangement it was stated that it would be unprofitable to continue working the mine. The management will soon have to decide whether to install a larger haulage plant or put down a new dip drive from the surface to the unworked coal south of the present workings. Early in the year an ignition of fire-damp occurred, and a miner was slightly burned. As a consequence safetylamps had to be installed. Numerous reports of inflammable gas have since been recorded by the examining deputy Wairio Mine. —'The few remaining pillars in the old section were exhausted by September, and a new section was opened near the top of the hill. Five level drives were put in from the outcrop. Near the outcrop the lower 2 ft. is splint, but at the face of one of the levels, in 3 chains from the entrance, the coal is 4 ft. thick and fairly clean. 1 anticipate the seam to again thin as driving proceeds and that very little coal will be produced from these workings. Mossbank Mine (No. 2). —Coal-mining in this mine was confined to pillar-extraction, and, as the available area is now very restricted, within a few months the mine will be exhausted.

53

C.—2

Mossbank No. 1 Mine.—On a 20-acre lease, east of the Wairaki No. 1 Mine and about 5 chains from the Linton Tramway, a dip is being put down, going south-west at a grade of lin 5. Two chains from the surface 6 ft. of clean coal was showing in the face with 4 ft. of stony coal above. The floor has not been reached, and it is expected that there are 10 ft. of coal below that now showing. Wairaki No. 1 Mine.—ln the main dip drive, 19 chains from the surface, a band of stone is now showing about 6|- ft. from the floor. The coal below the band is being worked and is very hard and clean. On the west side, 4 chains from the face of the dip, a pair of levels have been driven 4 chains in clean coal. The eastern workings entered a stony area, but in the bottom east level the coal is much improved, and the dirty " backs " are less in number. Wairaki No. 2 Mine.-—The only development now being done is in the north level off the bottom of the main dip. This went through a small downthrow fault. The coal beyond is 9 ft. thick and fairly clean. To further prospect this area another dip, going about due east, will be driven from near the face of the level and a small compressedair plant installed for haulage and pumping. A few miners are also engaged in splitting the pillars under the swamp area on the east side. A section of pillars on the west side, sealed off some time ago owing to heating, was reopened at Easter with the intention of working the pillars, but as signs of heating again appeared the section was resealed. Linton Mine.—Development in the No. 4 section was continued, and the main drive is now 14 chains from the surface and in excellent coal, 36 ft. in thickness, with 4 ft. of stony coal above. A small band of stone came in, 3 ft. 9 in. from the floor, and the places are now being driven above the band. This section is to be worked panel system, the panels being 6 chains by 10 chains. The ventilation is good, as brick stoppings are being built between the intake and return airways. The largest of these stoppings is only 8 ft. by 7 ft. A Robinson ventilating-fan has been ordered for this section, with a capacity of 04,000 cubic feet of air per minute at a W.G. of £in. This fan will be equipped with means for air-reversal. A new Sullivan 14 in. by 12 in. single-stage air-compressor has been installed, compressing 500 cubic feet of free air per minute to 75 Jb. per square inch. A slight ignition of inflammable gas occurred on the 30th July without injury to any person, and on the 16th October and 28th November small quantities were reported by the examining deputy. Inflammable gas was also reported, for the first time, in the 6ft seam. This section was shortly afterwards stopped. In the main-seam pillars better methods of timbering have been adopted. Some top coal is being worked, and a few pillars are being split. Ohai Coal Company's Mine.—The seam at this mine is dipping almost due west, and, so far, has been much faulted. The main dip drive did not reach workable coal until it was down 3 chains. At about 8 chains from the surface an upthrow fault of about 30 ft. displacement, running north-west and south-east, was struck, and in consequence a good deal of regrading-work has had to be done. On the north side the places are in stony coal, and in the third north level troubled ground was met when about 4 chains in from the dip. This proved to be a large " roll," and after driving through it, and another 12 yards in coal more troubled ground was met, and the coal was found to be thinning. A small quantity of inflammable gas was reported in this place on the 11th October. Only a few places are being worked on the south side, going towards the Morley Stream, and these are in good coal. Until recently the coal was conveyed by horse haulage along a surface tramway to the Linton Mine haulage-system. The owners have now constructed their own surface tramway to the Ohai Railway, thus shortening the haulage by 60 chains. Production from the mine was suspended while this new tramway was being made. Birchwood Mine.—The prospects of this mine are very bright, as the coal continues clean, and it has thickened to 9 ft. in the lower levels. No faults, except the one near the top of the dip, have been met, and the grade has flattened to lin s|-. The roof, which formerly appeared to be a good one, commenced to flake and go up into potholes between the props, so sets are now being used. The main dip is down 13 chains, and most of the output is obtained from the east side, where four of the levels are in over 9 chains. A modified panel system of working is being adopted. The first barrier pillar on the cast side is at No. 7 level, and that on the west side at No. 1 level. The panels will be about 5 acres each. A borehole was put up from the dip about 9 chains from the surface, and at 10ft. above the present workings a 4 ft. seam of mushy coal was met. The heated area in the old pillar section of the upper seam has been well sealed off. The breaks to surface were filled in and a good brick stopping built in the old horse level. Bridgehead Mine.—Near the six-mile peg on the Wairio-Ohai Railway two miners have commenced to put down a drive at a grade of lin 5 and dipping to the north-west. The coal was struck within a few yards, but the drive is in between two clay backs, and the thickness of the seam has not yet been ascertained. Boring at Morley.—A borehole was put down with the Keystone drill about 12 chains north of the traffic-road and to the north-east of the deep borehole. This second borehole was in papa for 350 ft., them it entered broken country, and it was stopped at 550 ft. without any coal being met. A third is now being drilled three-quarters of a mile south-east of the second one and near the traffic-road. It is now down 550 ft., and lam informed that coal has not yet been met. Fatal A ccident. Cromwell Mine. —11th March : Robert Thomson, 55, permitted mine-manager, died from the effects of carbonmonoxide poisoning. Heating was noticed in a confined place in the old workings of the Cromwell Mine, which is naturally ventilated. The deceased had, with a young man named Conn, been endeavouring to seal off the fire, and they had been working there from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. On their way to the surface both were overcome, but the younger man soon recovered. Although deceased appeared to revive slightly when artificial respiration was applied, he never regained consciousness, but died shortly after. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Shag Point Coal-mining Company's Mine.—l4th January : William Wilde, 27, miner—hernia caused through slipping whilst turning a truck on a flat sheet. Waronui Mine. —26th February : Henry Chilvers, miner—fracture of the right tibia, caused through a lump of sandy claystone falling from the roof of his working-place. Prior to the lunch-hour he had been trying to pull the piece down, but without success. He recommenced working after lunch at the face, when the piece, which weighed about 1 cwt., fell, striking his leg. Black Diamond Mine. —16th April ; Samuel Lee, 65, miner—received an injury to his eye from a piece of coal flying from his pick. He resumed work on the 21st July. Black Diamond Mine,—Herman Braithwaite, 32, miner—was injured in the left eye by a piece of coal flying from the face. His eye had subsequently to be removed owing to the accident. Kaitangata No. 1 Mine. —Samuel Worsley, shiftman —fracture of the right tibia and fibula by being struck by a derailed empty tub which was being lowered into a laybye. He was employed that day detaching the empty sets of six tubs and attaching the full sets to the rope. The empty set had been stopped 20 ft. above the crossing and Worsley signalled for it to be lowered. On going over the crossing the fifth and last tub became derailed, and Worsley, who was standing alongside the rail, was struck on the shin, breaking both bones. Dangerous Occurrences notified under Regulation 81. New Brighton Mine. —17th January: Andrew C. Dixon, a miner, and George Dickson, blacksmith, were slightly burned by an ignition of inflammable gas. The cloth brattice, conducting air into a level, was down while these men were laying a crossing from the dip into the level. On completion of the work they commenced to replace the brattice, and Dickson, the taller of the two, was holding it up for Dixon to nail when the ignition occurred. As a consequence naked lights were then debarred from use in the mine.

C.—2

Taratu Mine.—ln May the temperature at the outside of a concrete stopping, only 16 yards from the main haulage-road in the shaft section, registered 114° F., having risen from 102° F. in a couple of weeks. Two cylinders of CO 2, each containing 40 cubic feet, were emptied behind the stopping and a reinforcing stopping built outside the concrete one. This enabled work to continue shaft section for the remainder of the year. Mount Torlesse Mine. —23rd May : While making the morning inspection the mine-manager discovered smoke in the main level of the Rise section and that ajfire had broken out in the return airway. It had started from a fall in the old workings overhead. A large fall to the surface occurred south of the seat of the fire and checked it from spreading in that direction. Breaks to the surface were filled in with clay, a strong stopping put in near the mouth of the drive, and the section completely sealed off. Birchwood Mine. —7th May : At 5 p.m. a little smoke was seen rising from a hole at the surface above the old pillar workings in the horse level. The hole was closed up immediately. Stoppings had been put in the entrances to this section a month previously. Linton Mine. —10th July : Falls had occurred in the top coal near the prehistoric fire area, and this, together with dross left in the first working a couple of years ago, caused heating. Five stoppings were put in the first line, three of brick and the last two of timber. These timber stoppings were reinforced by 9into 12 in. of sand, then another wooden stopping was put up, then 6 in. of ashes, and finally a third stopping of wood plastered with clay on the outside. This first line of stoppings confined the fire, and was completed at midnight on the 12th July. A second line of eight brick stoppings was then built, with a small opening left in two of them to permit of inspection between the two lines of stoppings. These eight stoppings are 9 in. thick and plastered on the outside. These stoppings are regularly examined, and the warmest temperature recently recorded, about 60° F., was at No. 5 stopping. Albury Mine. —The underground fire which has been burning for years past in the old workings to the southwest came through the hill, and unless it can be segregated it will eventually reach the coal underlying the MacKenzie Pass traffic-road. Efforts are being made to beat the fire back, but if this cannot be accomplished the road will have to be closed.

54

C.—2

55

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1924.

ANNEX U RE B.

| ! Number of Persons £-*j| Total ! Total Output Total Output j ordinarily employed. Kasse of Mine and Locality. Name and Address of Owner. | J | 0 " | f cSSSs' wkT ! Un Jiif n °™ <i || f~l j g FT TeSta.. g |i g J • i g i ' ! 1 I 1 !_]_ |J NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. North Auckland District. \ I Tons. Tons. Tons. j Hikurangi P.W. Mine, Hikurangi A. Ball .. .. Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., Auckland 32 Bituminous 1 6-|-' 6 b' Bord and .. 6,530 1,420,010 1,426,540 J 2 11 13 Natural. pillar | ' Hikurangi New Shafts, Hikurangi E.Nelson .. Hikurangi Coal Co., Ltd., Auckland 2 ,, 1 10' 6" 8' Ditto .. 2 50,176 20,278 | 70,454 | 34 128 162 Waddle fans (2) Kerr & Co. (McLeod's), Hikurangi A.H.Taylor .. j Kerr & Wyatt, Hikurangi .. 4£ „ 1 4'to 6' 4'to 6' „ .. i 6,147 16.298 j 22,445 ; 5 15 20 Natural. Silverdale Colliery, Hikurangi .. J. Doel .. .. Foot & Doel, Hikurangi .. 6| ,, 1 3'6" 3'6" „ 456 21.049 j 21,505 1 5 6,, Northern Co-operaMve, Hikurangi E. A. Cunningham(P.) E. A. Cunningham & Co.,Hikurangi 6 „ 1 4' 4' 505 27.707 28,212 : 1 2 3 „ Christie's Co-operative, Hikurangi H.Tipton .. Bey burn Lime Co., Whangarei .. 4£ ,, 1 5'to 6' 5'to 6' „ .. j ..' 3,759 17,698 21,457 2 15 7 „ Foot's Colliery, Hikurangi .. S. G. Foot .. Foot Bros., Hikurangi .. 2£ „ 1 4' 4' „ .. .. : 2,295 1,501 ■ 3,796 i 2 3 5 „ Wilson's Colliery, Hikurangi .. G.Davidson .. Wilson's Colls., Ltd., Auckland ..7 ,, 1 8' 8' „ .. I .. 56,189 , 122,800 178,989 j 34 111 145 Sirocco fan. Waro Colliery, Whangarei .. J. Cadman .. N.Z. Coal & Cement Co., Ltd., 14 1 5'to 9' 5'to 9' „ ..1 2,291 39,548 j 41,839 ; 2 6 8 Natural. Whangarei Rautangata Colliery, Kamo .. R. Dickson (P.) .. Kamo Potteries, Ltd., Whangarei 4£ „ 1 10' 8' „ .... 1,126 1,148 j 2,274 .. 3 3 „ Glen Nell Colliery, Hikurangi .. J. Mclntyre (P.) .. J. Mclntyre, Hikurangi .. 1 ,, 1 4' to 5' 4' to 5' „ .... 300 104 404 1 2 3,, Kawakawa Colliery, Kawakawa.. S. G. Foot .. Wm. Tunstall & others, Kawakawa i „ 1 10' 8' ,,.... 153 771 j 924 ! 4 3 7 „ Waikato District (including Mokau). Taupiri Extended Mine, Huntly .. J. Makinson .. Taupiri Coal-mines, Ltd., Auckland 35-2- Brown .. 2 10' to 34' 20' Bord and 2 13,754 3,096,310 3,110,064 10 28 38 Sirocco fan. pillar i Rotowaro Collierv, Rotowaro .. A. Penman .. Taupiri Coal-mines, Ltd., Auckland 7 ,, ..2 6'to 19' 6'to 13' Ditto .. .. 131.960 470.879 602,839 i 57 208 265 Waddle fan and j Sirocco fan (2). Pukemiro Collieries, Pukemiro .. A.Burt .. .. Pukemiro Colls., Ltd., Auckland.. 9 „ -.1 5' to 18' 5'to 14' ,, .. .. 136,232 882,062 1,018,294 ! 75 165 240 Fans (2). Waipa Colliery, Glen Massey .. T.Thomson .. Waipa Railway and Colls., Ltd., 11 „ .. 1 8' to 10' 6'to 8' „ .. .. 64,326 672,285 736,611 | 29 88 117 Sirocco fan. j Wellington Waikato Extended, Huntly West D.Nicholson .. j Roose Shipping Co., Ltd., Mercer 8| ,, .. 1 16J' 15' „ .. .. 7,823 36,588 44,411 ! 4 9 13 Natural. Glen Afton Colliery, Glen Afton .. P. Hunter .. N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. Ltd., Auckland 4| ,, .. 1 8'to 17' 8'to 9' „ .. .. 131,330 48,302 179,632 68 167 235 Sirocco fan. Pukemiro Junction Mine,Pukemiro C. V. Molony .. Clare & partners, Pukemiro June. 4 ,, .. 1 2'to 25' 2'to 18' „ .. .. 11,304 22,456 33.760 | 6 9 15 Natural. Huntly Coal-mine, Huntly .. J. Lamont .. Lamont & Starr, Huntly .. 3£ „ .. 1 14' 12' „ .. ..: 2,420 9,970 12,390 j 2 5 7 „ Taupiri East Mine, Kimihia .. J.Thomson .. Holland & party, Huntly .. 3 „ .. 1 17' 10' „ .. .. 1,700 1,998 3,698 j 4 4 „ Campbell Coal-mine, Whatawhata W.Wood .. Campbell Coal Co., Hamilton .. 2£ ,, .. 1 11' 8' ,, .. .. 442 3,845 4,287 i 1 2 3 „ Greencastle Colliery, Aria .. A. Morgan (P.) .. A. Morgan, Aria .. .. 8 „ .. 1 15' 10' ,, .. 226 1,924 2,150 | .. 2 2 „ Old Stockman, Mokau .. .. C. Wright (P.) .. Chambers Bros., Awakino .. 4 „ ..1 4'6* 4'6" „ .. : ..j 100 1,096 1,196 j .. 1 1 » Graham Colliery, Glen Afton .. W.Mills .. .. Graham Coal Co., Pukemiro .. li ,, ..1 5'9" 5'6" ,, .. .., 5,682 300 \ 5,982 I 3 12 15 Bombay Colliery, Bombay .. W. Brown (P.) .. W. Brown, Bombay .. 1 „ 1 6' 4£' „ .. j .. j 150 163 | 313 1 4 5 „, Hunua Colliery, Hunua .. E. R. Ellens (P.) .. Hunua & Opaheke Coal Co., Ltd., 4£ „ .. J 5' 3' „ .. : . .j 19 1,934 I 1,983 ,1 1 2 „ | Auckland j * | j Kimihia Colliery, Kimihia .. J.Connelly .. ! R. Johnson, Huntly .. .. „ .. ! 1 11' 7' „ .. .. 100 341 j _ 441 3 3 „ Output of collieries included in previous statements at which operations are abandoned or suspended .. I .. .. — .. .. .. 4,817,938 | 4,817,938 I WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT. Nelson District. i M.G.O. .. .. .. .. M.G.O. Proprietary, Ltd.. Colling- 1 Bituminous 1 .. .. Bord and .. 195 .. 195 2 4 6 wood " pillar Puponga .. .. .. A. J. McHardy .. Puponga Syndicate, Puponga .. 21 „ 2 q" Full height/ Ditto .. .. 7,079 236,253 243,332 6 14 20 Natural. North Cape .. .. .. R.Alison .. North Cape Coal Co., Nelson ..14 „ 1 5' ,> Stoping .. .. 3,065 99,721 102,786 20 15 35 „ Golden Bay .. .. .. J. McDougall (P.) .. J. McDougall, Takaka .. .. 5 Lignite ..1 4' 6" „ Bord and .. 320 1,718 2,038 .. 2 „ pillar Waikohatu .. .. .. R. Stone (P.) .. Stone Bros., Takaka .. ..5 „ 2 19" to 22" Ditto .... 18 680 698 .. 2 2 „ O'Rourke's .. .. .. 1 J. Burgess (P.) .. A. O'Rourke, Murchison .. 5 Brown .. 1 2' 6" „ Stoping .. .. 166 236 402 .. 2 2 „

C.—2

56

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1924—continued.

<*-> cj I Number of Persons ?'S! ?*£ 1 q va f PT vi nf S J Total Total Output Total Output ordinarily employed. __ , __ , _ ... Name of Mine- at a kaa n £ 2 I Classification § > Thickness of Thickness rTnrLr<Trrmnri Ontnntfnr to 31st to 31st Means of Name of Mine and Locality. manager Name and Address of Owner. 3* of Coal f „ Coal-seams. worked. £ 3 December, December, ,5 l ,■ Ventilation. S 2 51 worKing. s- »•>-•*. 192.;. 1924. ft | ! ' * J I »Sj *3 z ? ] 5 I I j 3 S* I . *4 23 H WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT —continued. Butter District. \ \ Tons, i Tons. Tons. Westport-Stockton .. .. J.Fletcher .. Westport-Stockton Coal Co., Christ- 16 Bituminous 2 -J-' to 30' j Full height Bord and .. 99,425 1,898,997 1,998.422 98 165 263 Fan. church pillar Millerton .. .. .. ; T.King .. .. Westport Coal Co., Dunedin 33 j „ 1 4'to 20' 12' .. .. \ 101 fi0 - Keif? a qqo «kq in 407 kq Q W.Pearson .. Westport Coal Co., Dunedin ..33 „ 1 .. .. .. ../ 257 > 121 6,62o,537 6,882, 608 111 42, 538 „ Ironbridse .. .. ..I G.Smith .. Westport Coal Co., Dunedin .. 33 „ 2 3'to 30' Full height Bord and ..1 f 70 160 230 ,, pillar y 187,375 8,503,211 8,690,586 1 Coalbrookdale .. .. 1 W. Hewitson .. Westport Coal Co., Dunedin 44 „ ...... .... J t 70 170 240 „ Regan & O'Brien's .. .. 1 G.Gilbert .. J. T. Dove, Seddonville ..4 „ 1 20' Full height Bord and .. 6,255 ~) if 5 9 14 Natural. pillar I- 58,687 80,987 <j Dove's .. T.Murray .. „ „ ..3 „ 1 .. „ .. .. 16,045 J ' j L 4 16 20 Coal Creek .. .. .. W. McGuire .. McGuire & party. Seddonville .. 9 ,, 1 4'to 50' 8' Bord and .. 6,855 61,899 j 68.754 3 12 15 „ pillar Cardiff Bridge .. .. J. Dymond (P.) .. j Mulholland & party, Seddonville 4 ., 1 8'to 20' 12' Ditto .. .. 14,342 20,514 ! 34,856 10 17 27 „ St. Helens .. .. .. I C. R. Martin (D.) .. McAllister & party, Seddonville .. 6 ,, 1 4' Full height ,, .. .. 1,201 18,728 19,929 .. 3 3 „ Westport-Mokihinui .. .. W. O'Rourke Westport-Mokihinui Coal-mines, 4 1 6'to 12' 6' ,, .... 3,506 7,762 11,268 3 6 9,, (Second) j Ltd., Seddonville Zealandia .. .. .. T. L. Bennett (P.).. T. L. Bennett, Seddonville ..2 ,, 1 6' to 12' Full height „ .. .. 302 259 561 .. 4 4 „ Murray's .. .. .. O. Murray (P.) .. F. E. Murray,. Seddonville ..4 ,, 1 7' „ ,, .. .. 434 3,141 3,575 1 2 3 ,, Chester's .. .. .. W. Jenkins (P.) .. Chester <fe party, Seddonville ..5 ,, 1 3' ,, ,, .. .. 1,456 6,771 8,227 1 2 3,, Ngakawau .. .. .. G. H. Williams (P.) Ngakawau Mining Syn., Ngakawau 3 1 2'to 12' „ ,, .... 1,787 1,076 2,863 1 3 4 „ Quinn and party's .. .. T. Quinn (P.) . . T. Quinn & party, Seddonville 1 „ 1 5' „ ...... 898 .. 898 1 3 4 „ Wynn's .. .. .. G. Wynn(P.) .. G. Wynn, Seddonville .. ..1 .. 1 4' 6" „ ,, .... 375 .. 375 .. 3 3 „ Whitecliffs .. .. .. J. H. Burley (P.) .. J. H. Burley, Berlin's, Buller Gorge 2 Brown .. 1 18' 12' „ .... 55 147 202 .. 2 2 „ Rocklands .. .. .. John P. Burley (P.) John P. Burley, Berlin's, Buller 22 „ ..1 27' 8' „ .... 293 8,137 8,430 .. 2 2 „ Gorge Mitchell's .. .. .. F. T. Mitchell (P.).. F. T. Mitchell, Charleston .. 2 Lignite ..1 8' Full height Opencast.. .. 24 12 36 1 1 „ Reefton District. Coghlan's .. .. .. J. Coghlan (P.) .. J. Coghlan, Reefton .. ..28 Brown ..1 12' 9' Bord and j .. 940 10,720 11,660 1 2 3 „ pillar j Doran's .. .. .. J. J. Doran (P.) .. J. J. Doran, Capleston ..4 ,, .... .. .. 1 Ditto .. .. 247 1.421 1,668 1 2 3 „ Reefton Coal Co's. .. .. E. W. Tattley (First) Reefton Coal Co., Reefton .. 23 „ .. 1 7'to 12' Full height j „ .. .. 18,846 90,883 109,729 16 42 58 Fan. Phcenix <fe Venus .. .. L. W. Kearns (P.) Collins & Kearns, Reefton ..33 ,, .. 2 1' to 40' 10' „ .. .. 1,975 51,555 53,530 2 . 2 4 Natural. 'Clele .. .. .. I. Rhodes (P.) .. Alborn & Pascoe, Reefton ..38 .... .. .. I „ .... 583 21.654 22.237 3 3 „ Big River .. .. .. W. Kirwan (P.) .. Big River G.M. Co., Reefton ..12 ..2 9' .. Stoping .. .. 1,202 9,087 10,289 1 2 3 „ Sherwood .. .. .. J. Baxendale .. Morris & Learmont, Reefton ..12 ,, .. 2 16' to 20' 8' j Bord and .. 3,592 26,427 30,019 ; 3 8 11 pillar Woodlands .. .. .. j A. Chadwick .. McKenzie & party, Reefton ..4 „ ..1 9' 1 5' Ditto .. j .. 624 2,224 2,84S ; 1 j 2 3 „ Lankey's Creek .. ..1 J. Bolitho (P.) .. Bolitho & Nicholls, Reefton .. 3 ,, .. 2 2'to 8' . Full height „ .. 1 .. 1,097 1,806 2,903 .1 3 4 ,, Ferndale-Timaru Co.'s .. .. W. Lowden .. ! Ferndale-Timaru Co., Reefton ..22 ,, .. 3 8'to 20' „ „ .... 5,265 28,505 33,770 6 19 25 ,. Slab Hut . . .. .. A. J. Griggs (P.) .. A. J. Grigg, Reefton .. 2 . . 1 4' „ „ 210 60 270 1 1 Golden Point .. .. C. Curtis (P.) .. T. S. Patterson, Reefton ..11 „ 1 4' 6" „ „ .... 12 16,091 16,103 134,. White Rose .. .. .. W. Osborn (P.) .. W. Osborn, Merrijigs .. .. 1 . 1 I 4' „ | ,, .. .. 20 .. 20 1 1 „ Empire .. .. .. H. L. Morgan (P.) .. D. Blackadder, Reefton .. 4 „ .. 1 20' „ 1 „ .... 6 4,669 4,675 .. 1 1 „ Loughnan's .. .. E. W. Loughnan .. E. W. Loughnan, Reefton 1 ,, .... .. .. j .. .. j 40 .. 40 1 1 „ Greymouth District. Paparoa .. .. .. A. O'Donnell .. Paparoa Coal Co., Wellington .. 16 Bituminous 2 | 5'to 25' 8'to 25' Bord and .. 47,329 421,984 469,313 31 70 101 Fan. pillar Blackball .. .. .. W. Parsonage .. Blackball Coal Co., Christchurch.. 33 „ 2j 17' 15' Ditto .. .. 103,565 3,166,689 3,270,254 55 225 280 Armstrong and party .. .. V.Armstrong .. Armstrong & party, Runanga j.. 3 „ 2 j 3' to 14' 9' „ .. | .. 4,786 9,041 13,827 2 8 10 Natural. Baddeley's .. .. .. J. Rowse (D.) .. Baddeley & party, Runanga ..4 „ 11 5' Full height ,, .. .. 3,312 9,530 12,842 2 6 8 Fan. Brae Head .. .. .. R. Gore (D.) .. Boote & party, Runanga .. 3 „ 2 I 6'& 12' „ „ 2,863 4,499 ! 7,362 4 4 8 „

57

C.—2

B—C.8 —C. 2.

Dixon's .. .. .. G. R. Dixon (P.) .. H. E. Hothersall, Wellington .... „ 1 14' „ „ .... 1,517 1,250 2,767 1 2 1 3 Natural. Duggan's .. .. .. W. Richmond (I).) Duggan & party, Runanga ..3 „ 1 4' 6" „ „ .... 3,600 6,502 10,102 .. 7 7 „ Hillside .. .. .. W. S. Clark (U.-V.) Hillside Co-op. party, Runanga .. 4 ,, 1 5' ,, „ 3,721 14,608 18,329 2 6 8 Fan. Hunter's .. .. .. A. Hill (D.) .. Hunter & party, Runanga ..4 ,, 1 3' 8" „ „ .... 3,106 7,253 10,359 1 7 8 „ Manderson's .. .. .. P. Manderson (U.-V.) Manderson & party, Runanga .. 3 „ 2 5'& 10' 5'& 8' „ .... 5,836 4,439 10,275 2 7 9 „ Mclvor's .. .. .. G. Little (D.) .. Mclvor & party, Runanga ..4 ,, 1 5' Full height „ .. .. 1,279 2,034 3,313 1 3 4 Natural. Moody Creek .. .. .. W. Robertson (D.) Moody Creek Syndicate, Runanga 2 Bituminous 1 8'6" „ Bord and .. 4,723 3,551 8,274 2 5 7,, pillar Smith's .. .. .. T. Halliday (D.) .. Smith & party, Runanga ..4 „ 1 6' ,, „ 6,161 12,481 18,642 3 5 8,, Spark's .. .. .. S. A. Butler (D.) .. Spark & party, Runanga ..2 „ 1 9' „ „ 2,628 3,422 6,050 2 6 8 Fan. Boustridge's .. .. .. H. Boustridge .. Boustridge & party, Brunnerton.. 1 „ 1 9' „ 716 .. 716 .. 2 2 Natural. Allan's .. .. .. I J. Allan (P.) .. Allan & party, Brunnerton .. 1 ,, 1 9' 6 to 9 „ .... 600 .. 600 2 5 7 „ Dobson .. .. .. W. Leitch .. Grey Valley Collieries, Christchurch -2 „ 1 9' Full height ,, .. .. 1,513 2,774 4,287 2 4 6,, Kiwi Shaft .. .. .. D. Tennant (P.) .. H. E. Hothersall, Wellington 1 „ 1 9' ., „ .. .. 822 .. 822 5 7 12 Liverpool No. 1 .. .. 0. J. Davis .. N.Z. Government .. ..12 ,, 2 6'to 20' ,, ,, .... 79,718 1 f 79 130 209 Fan. Liverpool No. 2 .. .. O.J.Davis .. N.Z. Government .. ..11 „ 2 8' to 16' 8' „ .... 14,594 )- 1,243,475 1,362,995 «j 17 44 61 Liverpool No. 3 & Extended .. O.J.Davis .. N.Z. Government .. ..3 „ 2 4'to 12' Full height „ .. .. 25,208 J 17 45 62 „ James .. .. .. J.Armstrong .. N.Z. Government .. ..3 ,, 1 4' to 8' „ „ .... 29,764 18,506 48,270 23 52 75 „ Output from mines shown in previous statements, but since closed down .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,176,119 7,176,119 SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. Canterbury District. , ! Mount Torlesse, Avoca.. .. G. G. Littlewood .. Mount Torlesse Coll., Christchurch 7 Brown .. 3 12' All Bord and .. j 3,575 62.596 66,171 7 9 16 Fan. pillar Springfield, Springfield.. .. James Taylor (D.).. J. Taylor, Springfield .. 44 „ ..1 4' „ Ditto .... 74 92,710 92,784 1 1 2 Natural. Homebush, Glentunnel.. .. A. Smith (P.) .. Homebush Brick & Coal Co., Ltd., 51 „ ..1 SV j „ „ .... 1,750 341,157 342,907 2 4 6 ,, Glentunnel Bush Gully, Coalgate .. .. James McQueen (P.) Homebush Brick & Coal Co., Ltd., 7 „ ..1 5' 5' „ .. .. 874 37,785 38,659 1 2 3 ,, Glentunnel St. Helens, Whitecliffs .. .. J. Sutherland (P.).. J. Sutherland, Glentunnel 43 „ ..1 6' 6' „ .... 763 31,822 32,585 1 3 4,, Steventon, Whitecliffs .. .. J. T. Leeming (D.) Campbell & Leeming, Glentunnel 5 „ ..1 W All „ .... 3,377 8,911 12,288 2 6 8,, Clearview, Glenroy .. .. George Aitken (D.) Smith & Marsh, Glentunnel 5 ..1 9' 6J' „ .... 1,352 4,062 5,414 2 3 5 ,, Tripps, Mount Somers .. .. J. B. Harris (P.) .. Burnwell Coal Co., Mount Somers 58 „ ..1 20' 8"' ., .... 1,510 79,802 81,312 1 4 5 Burnwell, Mount Somers .. Thomas Harris (D.) -Burnwell Coal Co., Mount Somers 2 ..1 6' 6' „ .... 774 856 1,630 .. 2 2 „ Cavendish, Mount Somers .. G. Harris (P.) .. Mrs. F. J. M. Morgan, Mount Somers 5 „ ..1 14' 6'to 8' „ .... .. 1,186 1,186 Albury, Albury .. .. T. F. Slowey (P.) .. T. F. Slowey, Albury .. ..33 Lignite ..1 15' 8' 389 24,228 24,617 1 1 2,, Woodbank, Albury .. .. W. H. Hogue (P.) .. W. H. Hogue, Albury .. 1 „ 1 7' All Bord and.. 221 8 229 1 1 2 Opencast. pillar and I opencast Allanholme, Waihao Forks .. James Craig (D.) .. Allanholme Coal Co., Waimate 9 „ ..1 16' 8' Bord and .. 505 9,799 10,304 1 1 2 Natural. pillar Meadowbank, Waihao Forks .. A. E. Kirk .. A. E. Kirk, Waihao Forks 7 „ ..1 26' 8' Ditto .... .. 3,077 3,077 „ North Otago District. Wharekuri, Wharekuri.. .. Peter Campbell .. J. C. & T. D. Shanks, Wharekuri.. 5 Lignite ..1 30' 6' Bord and .. 467 3,520 3,987 .. 3 3 Natural. pillar Prince Alfred, Papakaio .. A. Beardsmore (P.) Mrs. J. E. Willetts, Papakaio ..55 „ .. 1 7'to 12' 6'to 7' Ditto .... 803 69,556 70,359 1 1 2 „ Ngapara, Ngapara .. .. W. Nimmo (P.) .. W. Nimmo, Ngapara .. ..46 ., ..1 25' 8'to 10' „ .... 1,078 37,968 39,046 1 3 4 „ Shag Point, Shag Point .. W. McLaren (P.) .. Waronui Coal Co., Dunedin .. 10 Brown ..1 4' All „ .... 686 413,227 413,913 1 2 3 ,, Shag Point C.M. Co., Ltd., Shag J.Hughes .. Shag Point C.M. Co.,Ltd., Dunedin 16 „ .. 1 4' „ 16,123 142,589 158,712 13 49 62 Fan. Point Central Otago District. Gimmerburn, Gimmerburn .. C.Dougherty .. C. Dougherty, Gimmerburn .. 68 lignite ..1 12' All Open .... 24 3,409 3,433 Opencast,. Wedderbum, Wedderburn .. M. Shea (P.) .. M. Shea, Wedderburn .. 1 1 5' „ „ .... .. 120 120 Botting's, Idaburn .. .. G. Bottillg .. G. Botting, Maseby .. 2 „ .. 1 20' 12' „ .. .. .. 74 74 Bough Eidge, Oturehua .. E. Beck (P.) .. Margaret Beck, Oturehua ..38 „ .. 1 20' All 21 35,508 35,529 1 .. 1 Idaburn, Oturehua .. .. R. K. Deaker (P.).. It. K. Deaker, Oturehua .. 54 „ .. 1 20' „ „ .. .. 884 51,113 51,997 3 3 Oturehua, Oturehua .. .. J. R. Becker (P.) .. Becker Bros., Oturehua ..30 „ .. 1 17' 7' „ .... 156 4,799 4,955 2 2 „ Dillon's, Blackstone Hill .. J. Dillon .. .. J. Dillon, Blackstone Hill ..27 „ ..1 12' i All 12 325 337 1 1 Wade's, Blackstone Hill .. w. J. Wade .. W. 3. Wade, Blackstone Hill .. 2 1 8' ! „ „ .... .. 14 14 Armitage s, Blackstone Hill .. J. Armitage .. 3. Armitage, Blackstone Hill ..44 „ ..1 16' „ .. 4,734 4,734 St. Bathan's, Blackstone Hill .. J. Enright (P.) .. J. Enright, St. Bathan's . . 27 ..1 30' „ „ .... 89 6,946 7,035 2 2 Cambrian, Cambrian .. .. o. Jones (P.) .. Vinegar Hill Hydraulic S. Co., St. 63 ..1 18' ! „ 223 50,827 51,050 1 1 Bathan's Lauder Lane, Cambrian .. M.Andrew .. F. Kippenberger, Beck's .. 20 ..1 12' j 6' „ .... 117 2,858 2,975 1 .. 1 Alexandra, Alexandra .. .. D. Mathias (P.) .. Alexandra C.M. Co., Alexandra . . 43 „ ..1 9' 6' Bord and .. 869 107,511 108,380 1 2 3 Exhaust steam. McPherson's, Coal Creek Flat .. N. Harlewich (P.) .. N. Harlewicli, Roxburgh ..54 „ ..1 6' All Open* 11 .. . .j 1,885 83,890 85,775 2 2 Opencast. Cromwell, Cromwell .. .. R. Barber (D.) .. Alfred Scott, Cromweli.. ..10 „ ..1 12' 7'up to 10' Bord and .. 126 10,960 11,086 1 1 2 Exhaust steam. pillar Shepherd's Creek, Bannockburn.. J. Hodson, jun. .. Bannockburn C.M. Co., Bannock- 47 „ ..1 12' to 6' j 7' up to 10' Ditto .. .. 2,068 111,060 113,128 1 4 ' 5 burn

C.—2

58

COLLIERY STATISTICS, 1924—continued.

I Number of Persons f? ! Svsfpm of °* Total Total Output Total Output ordinarily employed. Name of Mine and Locality. Name and Address of °™ er " | * "oaf 011 f * "earns' ! wled* 8 * I December, December, ~ • vSation. IS la WOr mg - £l 1924 * 1923. 1924. Ill £i * £ S S 2 02 I <1 ffl H SOUTHERN INSPECTION^ DISTRICT —continued. Central Otago District —continued. Tons. 5 ? I Tons. Tons. lardrona, Cardrona .. .. R. McDougall .. R. McDougall, Cardrona .. 40 Brown .. 2 20' to 30' All Open .. .. |44 26,698 26,742 1 1 Natural. Jevis, Nevis .. .. .. E. J. Williams (P.) E. J. Williams, Nevis .. 24 „ ..1 10' 6' Levels .... 47 I 7,326 7,373 1 1 „ fevis Crossing, Nevis .. .. R. Ritchie (P.) .. R. Ritchie, Nevis .. 21 „ ..1 16' 6' Open .. .. 480 j 15,906 16,386 2 2 Opencast, reorge's, Naseby .. .. P. George .. P. George, Naseby .. .. 1 Lignite 1 6' 6' „ 90 .. 90 1 1 „ Eenderson's, Gibbston.. .. D.Henderson .. Henderson & others, Arrowtown 1 Brown ..1 15' 6' Bord and 21 .. 21 .. .. Natural. pillar South Otago District. 'ernhill, Abbotsford .. .. James Dunlop (P.) Fernhill Coal <fc Sand Co., Dunedin 47 Lignite ..1 8' 6' Bord and .. 2,357 177,580 179,937 1 4 5 Natural. pillar 'reeman's, Abbotsford.. .. William Evans (U.) Freeman's Coal Co., Abbotsford .. 44 „ .. 1 10' to 14' All Ditto .. .. 3,063 591,137 594,200 1 5 6 Furnace, ubilee, Saddle Hill .. .. T.Barclay .. Jubilee Coal Co., Dunedin ..27 „ .. 1 7'to 11' „ „ .... 19,924 436,614 456,538 9 20 29 Fan. addle Hill (No. 1), Saddle Hill .. R.Hill .. .. Christie Bros., Mosgiel . . 52 „ ..1 20' „ „ .... 1,670 284,021 285,691 3 3 6 ,, [arris's Burnweil, Saddle Hill .. Adam Harris .. A. Harris, Saddle Hill .. ..35 ,, ..1 20' „ „ .... 668 80,149 80,817 1 2 3 Natural. Valton Park, Fairfield.. .. R.Hill .. .. Christie Bros., Mosgiel .. 4 „ ..1 10' „ „ .... 3,334 13,536 16,870 6 15 21 Fan. last Taieri, Riccarton .. .. E.Charles .. East Taieri Coal Co., Riccarton, 13 „ ..1 7' 6' „ .... 2,151 39,427 41,578 1 5 6 Natural. Mosgiel Villowbank, Riccarton .. M. Tikey (P.) .. G. Scurr, Riccarton, Mosgiel 4 „ ..1 7' 5£' „ .... 1,942 441 2,383 1 4 5,, Brighton, Brighton .. .. R. C. Wright (P.) .. Smith & Wright, Brighton 9 „ ..1 7' 6' „ .... 385 8,155 8,540 1 1 2 ,, Milton .. .. J. Carruthers, jun. Bruce Rly. & Coal Co., Dunedin 20 „ ..1 7' 6' „ .... 16,169 284,060 300,229 8 28 36 Fan. 'res Bon, Milton .. .. A. Woodhouse .. Wo odhouse & Mulrine, Milton 8 „ ..1 10' 7' „ .... 50 32,142 32,192 .. .. .. Natural. r iewbank, Crichton .. .. N. Greaves (P.) .. Nathan Greaves, Crichton, South 5 „ ..1 30' 8' „ .... 440 2,555 2,995 .. 1 1 „ Otago 'aratu, Lovell's Flat .. .. J. Hadcroft .. Sargood & Cheeseman, Dunedin.. 23 „ .. 2 15' to 35' 7'to 15' „ .. j. 34,405 537,102 571,507 18 48 66 Fan. 'uakitoto, Tuakitoto .. .. J. Throp (P.) .. J. Throp, Kaitangata .. 14 ,, ..1 18' 7' „ .... 176 3,876 4,052 1 1 2 Exhaust steam kaituna, Kaitangata .. .. A.Cain .. .. Kaituna Coal Co., Kaitangata 16 „ ..1 15' 6' „ .... 2,020 23,088 25,108 4 5 9 Fan. Vangaloa, Wangaloa . . . . T. Gage (P.) .. - T. Gage, Kaitangata . . 5 „ 1. 11' 7' „ .... .. 834 834 .. .. .. Natural, ummerhill, Kaitangata .. T. Gage (P.) .. T. Gage, Kaitangata .. 2 „ 1 10' 6' „ .... 11 152 163 .. .. .. „ kaidale, Wangaloa .. .. Charles Milne (D.).. Morrison Bros., Kaitangata .. 6 ,, .. 1 10' to 14' 61' „ .. .. 175 '8,052 8,227 .. 2 2 „ [aibrook, Wangaloa .. .. T. Gage (P.) .. J. Gage, Kaitangata .. 5 „ ..1 11' „ .... 310 2,088 2,398 1 2 3 „ [aitangata (No. 1), Kaitangata .. A. S. Gillanders .. N.Z. Coal & Oil Co., Ltd., Dunedin 48 Brown .. 2 6' to 12' All „ .. .. 1 kaitangata (No. 2), Kaitangata .. F.Carson .. N.Z. Coal & Oil Co., Ltd., Dunedin 12 „ ..3 6'to 25' „ „ .... y 104,895 4,149,623 4,254,518 73 247 320 Fan. iastle Hill, Kaitangata .. Jas. Donaldson (U.) N.Z. Coal & Oil Co., Ltd., Dunedin 31 „ 3 12' to 20' „ „ .. .. J .enhar, Benhar .. .. J.Walls.. .. P. McSkimming & Son, Benhar .. 61 Lignite ..3 114' 10' „ .... 8,687 229,443 238,130 1 6 7,, Southland District. Phiterig, East Gore .. .. R. Craig (P.) .. R. Craig, East Gore .. ..46 Lignite .. 1 24'' 14' Bord and .. 3,576 89,145 92,721 1 2 3 Exhaust steam? pillar rreen's, Gore .. .. James Mason .. T. Green & Co., Ltd., Gore ..36 „ 1 19' 12' Ditto .. .. 12,174 280,882 293,056 3 8 11 Fan. Overview, Gore .. .. J. J. Nichol (P.) .. J. J. Nichol, Gore .. ..37 „ ..1 10' All Opencast.. .. 10 2,094 2,104 .. .. .. Opencast, pringfield, Waikaka Valley .. R. L. Reid (P.) .. R. L. Reid, Waikaka Valley ..28 „ ..1 10' „ „ 142 59,759 59,901 2 .. 2 „ lenlee, Waikaka .. .. F. W. Edge (P.) .. A. A. Edge, Waikaka .. ..31 „ ..1 14' 9' Bord and .. 1,209 25,017 26,226 1 1 2 Natural. pillar Ramsay's, North Chatton .. P. Ramsay (P.) .. P. Ramsay, North Chatton ..21 „ ..1 20' All Bord and .. 2,550 101,797 104,347 .. 2 2 Opencast. pillar and opencast andslip, Waikaia .. .. T. Northcoat (P.) .. T. Northcoat, Waikaia ..25 „ ..1 5' „ Bord and 59 36,877 36,936 1 1 Natural. pillar -ossvale, Waikaia .. .. James Henderson (P.) James Henderson, Waikaia ..21 „ .. 1 15' 8' Ditto .. .. 146 48,604 48,750 1 1 2,, rgyle, Waikaia .. .. John Hutton (P.) .. Mrs. M. C. Hutton, Waikaia ..33 „ ..1 10' All Opencast.. .. 336 8,566 8,902 2 2 Opencast, errace, Kingston Crossing .. G. Daley (P.) .. G. Daley, Kingston Crossing ..6 „ ..1 24' 11' Bord and .. 937 7,333 8,270 1 1 2 Natural. pillar rinchester Creek, The Key .. J. A. Denton (P.) .. J. A. Denton, The Key ..22 „ ..1 5' All Opencast.. .. 149 2,256 2,405 1 1 Opencast, lataura Collieries, Mataura .. R.Brown .. Mataura Colliery Co., Gore ..28 „ .. 1 15' to 18' 10' to 12' Bord and .. 5,137 244,653 249,790 2 5 7 Fan. pillar oghead, Mataura .. ,. D. R. Gaudion (D.) C. E.Ro we, Mataura .. .. 19 „ 1 15' All Opencast.. ,. 6,963 28,058 35,021 3 2 5 Opencast.

C.— 2

59

By Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.:— 1925.

Approximate Cost of Payer.—Preparation, not given ; printing (675 copies), £99 10s..

Price Is, 3d.)

Hataura Lignite, Mataura .. Thomas Barclay, jun. Beattie, Coster, & Co., Ltd., Mataura 48 „ •• I 1 18' 12' B o rd and •• 14,701 201,702 276,403 4 5 9 Pan. I pillar 3ta Creek, Wyndham .. .. E. Genge (P.) .. E. Genge, Wyndham .. ..44 „ ..1 8' All Opencast.. .. 423 28,218 28,641 1 1 Opencast. JIarke's, Wyndham .. .. William Creighton(P.) Hunter Bros., & Rice, Wyndham 17 „ .. 1 10' „ „ .. .. 738 20,419 21,157 1 1 „ Diamond Lignite, Asher's .. A. McMillan (P.) .. S. McMillan, Invercargill ..22 ,. ..1 32' 26' 1,351 28,549 29,900 1 .. 1 „ Wattle, Nightcaps .. .. E. Mason (U.) .. Wattle Coal Co., Nightcaps .. 43 Brown .. 1 9£' 7' Bord and .. 1,144 417 1,561 1 2 3 Exhaust steam. pillar Black Diamond, Nightcaps .. B.W.Duncan .. Black Diamond Coal Co., Inver- 9 „ ..1 25' 8' Ditto .. .. 29,970 81,604 111,574 16 24 40 Fan. cargill Mew Brighton, Nightcaps .. W.Dixon .. Southland Coal Co., Invercargill.. 18 „ . . 1 10' 7' 12,095 104,299 116,394 7 18 25 „ Wairio, Nightcaps .. .. James McKenzie (D.) W. Smith & Co., Nightcaps 19 | „ ..1 4' All „ .... 4,170 139,799 143,969 2 4 6 Natural, itossbank, Ohai .. .. T. McMillan .. Mossbank Coal Co., Invercargill.. 10 „ ..1 8'to 9' 5i' „ .... 16,374 79,918 96,292 12 16 28 Fan. Wairaki No. 1, Ohai .. .. A. W. Whittlestone Wairaki Coal Co., Gore ..11 „ ..1 10' 7' „ .. .. \ ,,,, nAK ... / 6 22 28 „ Wairaki No. 2, Ohai .. .. A. W. Whittlestone Wairaki Coal Co., Gore 6 „ ..1 16' 8' „ .. ../ 30,349 99,09o 1-9,444 1Q 2g g0 Linton (freehoMlt'bhaf 1 !! }g. S. Langford .. Linton Coal Co., Invercargill ..9 „ ..2 7'to 25' All „ .... 34,693 126,728 161,421 35 29 64 Birchweod, Ohai' .. .. J. B. Boss .. Bircliwood Coal Co., Ohai 4 „ ..1 18' 8' „ .... 24,944 35,541 60,485 17 42 59 „ Lynwood, Te Anau .. .. J. Jennison (P.) .. E. C. Govan, Te Anau .. 14 Lignite .. 1 6'to 8' All Opencast.. .. 160 3,150 3,310 1 1 Opencast. 3hai Coal Co., Ohai .. .. H.Talbot .. Ohai Coal Co., Invercargill .. 2 Brown ..1 20' 8' Bord and .. 6,142 1,048 7,190 3 14 17 Fan. pillar Mclvers, Waikaia .. .. B. Mclver (P.) .. R. Mclver, Waikaia .. .. 1 Lignite ..1 8' 6' Opencast.. .. 99 .. 99 1 1 Opencast. Bridgehead, Ohai .. .. A. Hunter .. Hunter & McKenzie, Nightcaps .. 1 Brown 1 5i' AU Bord and.. 20 .. 20 Natural. ! pillar Outputs of mines included in previous statements at which operations have been abandoned or suspended .. .. .. .. .. 4,801,879 4,801,879 Totals, Southern District, South Island .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 455,070 15,540,419 15,995,489 1 323 719 1,042 Totals, West Coast District, South Island .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 990.612 29,926,745 30,917,357 ! 696 1,784 2,480 Totals, Northern District, North Island .. ... .. .. .. .. 11,757,303 12,394,828 345 1,002 1,347 Grand totals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,083,207 57,224,467 59,307,674 1,364 3,505 4,869 Output of collieries prior to 1890 not included in the above statement .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 296, 653 Shale exported, 1914 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 59,604,348 ; •