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1902. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES REPORT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. J. Hayes, F.S.Sc, Inspecting Engineer, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department. Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, 23rd April, 1902. I have the honour to submit my annual report (covering those of the Inspectors of Mines for the several districts) for the year ending 31st December, 1901. The output for the respective districts is summarised as follows : —

Compared with the output of the previous year, this shows an increase of coal and lignite amounting to 133,648 tons, which, together with 12,048 tons of oil-shale from the mine at Orepuki (Southland), brings up the total net increase in the production of the mines to 145,696 tons. The following table will show the ratio of increase and decrease in the output of the various classes of coal produced in the districts under the supervision of the several Inspectors of Mines :—

The approximate total quantity of coal, &c, raised at the several mines of the colony up to the 31st December last is 15,792,556 tons. The number of mines at work is returned at 149, the number of persons employed being 2,754. This shows that fewer mines were worked than was the case in the previous year, but it is to be remembered that in many instances small lignite-mines (many of these being mere quarries) are worked in a very spasmodic fashion for private consumption and limited local requirements. The decrease in the number of the mines worked is thus largely explained. The number of persons employed shows an increase of 294 as compared with the previous year.

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Glass of Coal, &o. Northern Distriot. West Coast District. Southern District. Total. Situminous and semi-bituminous coal* ... 'itch-coal ... Tons. 87,055 Tons. 667,898 Tons. Tons. 754,953 14,584 405,152 52,949 12,048 Jrown coal... ignite )il-shale ... ... ... 88,029 1,637 14,584 315,486 52,949 12,048 Totals ... 175,084 669,535 395,067 1,239,686

Class of Coal, &c. Northern District. West Coast District Southern District. m l i Total Total D Increase. orease Total Net Increase. Increase, crease. Increase. Decrease. Inorease. Decrease. Tons. 7,376 Tons. Tons. 73,715 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 81,091 Tons. Tons. bituminous and semibituminous coal 'itch-coal 23,220 23,220 irown coal jignite )il-shale ... 7,405 1,637 56,324 10,411 12,048 65,366 10,411 12,048 Totals 14,781 75,352 78,783 23,220 168,916 23,220 145,696