C.—2

14

extension of our commerce that these steamers are required. The total consumption of coal in the colony, therefore, last year was 784,701 tons, as against 770,599 tons for the previous year. This shows the increased consumption for last year to be 14,105 tons. There has not been a great fluctuation in the import of coal for the last twelve years. During that period the import has ranged from 128,063 tons to 101,341 tons. Last year about 8,000 tons less than the previous year were imported. The import of coal is principally from New South Wales; and, as that colony is an outlet for a considerable quantity of New Zealand produce, kauri timber, &c, coal is carried as return cargo instead of ballast. Thus, if only the cost of loading and unloading be obtained, it Jtays better to carry coal than to come back in ballast, which has to be bought in the first instance, besides which there must be reckoned the cost of loading and discharging. Notwithstanding that bituminous coal is the class we have to look to for an increased output, the last year shows a decrease in the quantity raised of 25,927 tons, while there was an increased output of 41,526 tons of pitch-coal and 6,694 tons of brown coal. The decrease in the output of bituminous coal last year was in a great measure due to the faults which have been met with in the Brunner Mine, and the flooding out of the Coal-pit Heath Mine. The latter mine has now been abandoned, but operations in the Brunner Mine are now being extended by opening up new workings. Operations have also been suspended in the Mokihinui Mine for most of the year. Two new mines have, however, been opened up, viz., the Blackball and the Cardiff, both of which now send coal into the market. The Westport Company also are constructing an incline to open iip the Granity Creek Mine, and four sections of the railway from Cobden to Coal Creek are in course of construction ; and when completed these works will enable coal to be put into the market from the Coal Creek and Hamilton and Smith leases. The output from the Brunner Mine was 40,065 tons less than the year previous. The Blackball Company have constructed an aeriel tramway for three miles to connect their mine with the railway, over which about 400 tons a day can be sent. The same tubs used for bringing the coal out of the mine are hooked on and carried across on a wire rope to the bins, which are erected alongside the Greymouth-Ileefton Railway at Ngahere. It is a pleasure to see this tramway working; and when people become better acquainted with the working of tramways of this description they will be mflre extensively used in transporting the coal from the mines to where it can be taken away. The cost of construction of tramways of this description is, in the first instance, not one-half that of a railway; and they can be taken across rough country, where grades for an ordinary railway could not be got. A new coal-lease has been granted to a company at Hikurangi, and the work of opening up the mine is being rapidly proceeded with. There are two other coal-mines in this locality, and another lease has been applied for. The railway between Kamo and Hikurangi has recently been completed, so that coal from this field can now be brought to a port of shipment. At Kawakawa the Bay of Islands Coal Company have abandoned the mine, but a lease of the area lately held by the Bay of Islands Company, of 640 acres, will shortly be issued to a new.company. It is to be regretted that the Kamo Company, at Whangarei, had to abandon their mine in the beginning of the present year. This company carried on operations for several years at a loss, and finally had to succumb to circumstances. The land is freehold, and there is little hope of the mine being opened again. Last year the output from the Kamo Mine was considerably larger than it had been for some years previously. At Ngunguru a small mine has been opened, having the best class of coal in the North Island, but, at the same time, it is inferior to the bituminous coal on the West Coast. However, the output will never be large, as vessels of more than about Bft. draught cannot come into the port. Earnings of the Coal-miners. It is very difficult to get at the exact earnings, of the coal-miners. fn previous years it has been arrived at on the basis that it cost the mine-proprietors 6s. per ton to put the coal in the trucks or wagons ready to send it away to market or a port of shipment. If the same basis be taken this year, the earnings of the miners would be .€202,464 Bs. The average number of men employed in the coal-mines last year being 1,888, this would give an average wage of JSIO7 4s. Bd. a man per annum. The number of men employed in the coal-mines for the previous year being 1,693, the average wage was equal to £119 7s. Id. a man per annum. The average output per man last year was 366 tons, as against 400 tons