C—3b
1895. NEW ZEALAND.
INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES REPORT.
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
No. 1. Mr H. A. Gordon, F.G.S., Inspecting Engineer, to the Dnder-Sbcretary of Mines. g IB _ . Mines Department, Wellington, 29th July, 1895. I have the honour to forward you covering report on the progress of the coal-mining industry for the year ending the 31st December, 1894. The output from the mines in the colony for the past year amounted to 719,546 tons, which shows an increase over the previous year of 27,998 tons. This output comprised 418,589 tons of bituminous coal, 102,389 tons of pitch-coal, 170,815 tons of brown coal, and 27,753 tons of lignite. Mining operations were carried on in 148 mines, in connection with which there were 1,899 men employed During the year there were twenty-three accidents, six of which terminated fatally; of these two occurred in the Coalbrookdale Mine, one in the Mokihinui Mine on the west coast of the Middle Island, one in the Homebush Mine in Canterbury, and two in the Kaitangata Mine in Otago Six of the other accidents the men received severe injuries, and eleven of them were not of a serious nature. I have, &c, . - _ Henry A. Gordon, M. A.Inst. M.B., The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Inspecting Engineer.
No. 2. Mr George Wilson, Inspector of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. g m Inspector of Mines Office, Thames, Ist May, 1895. I have the honour to transmit to the Hon. the Minister of Mines the following report on coal-mining in the Auckland district, made in compliance with section 67 of " The Goal-mines Act, 1891":— v Kawakawa Distbict. 1 Kawakawa Mine. —The Bay of Islands Coal Company worked this mine until the 31st March when their lease was surrendered, the output being 2,438 tons. Matthews and party, contractor's, continued operations on their own account until the 17th April, 1894, during which time the output was 528 tons of coal. The mine was then idle until August, when the New Bay of Islands Coal Company then acquired a lease of 640 acres, and continued the work of driving Matthews's dip. The dip was driven through the pillar discovered last year, and continued through other old pillars towards water-level. The output of coal from this part has been 2,078 tons, and there appears to be sufficient coal in sight to keep up a supply of 250 tons per week for another year at least. Total output for the year, 5,044 tons. Three men above and fourteen men below were employed. r Hikueangi District. 2 West Bryan's Mine. —The output of 6,659 tons during the year shows that increased energy has been devoted towards working the mine. This is due to > opening the railway to Hikurangi. Another drive has been put in to work the coal under Smith's house, and a commencement has been made to draw pillars by stripping the whole of the cover near the outcrop. The output of 500 or 600 tons per month can easily be maintained above water-level, and it is the intention of the owner to sink a shaft near the main road, in order to work the seam towards the dip of the coal The output for the year was 6,659 tons. Two men above and nine men below were 3 Hikurangi Goal Company's Mine. —This mine was opened on the outcrop of coal, about 7 chains from the railway-line ; a portion of the coal was stripped by removing the cover, and drives were put in to the north and to the south side of the coal, which have been stripped; the area of coal I—C. 3b.