C—3a,

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Coal-shipping Ports. The following is a summary of the principal items of interest in connection with the coal-shipping ports of Westport and Greymouth during 1910 : — Wostport. Greymouth. Receipts .. .. .. .. .. .. £118,964 £34,049 Expenditure .. .. .. .. .. £80,272 £32,865 Coal exported (tons) . . .. .. .. 831,115 407,129 Coke exported (tons) .. .. .. .. Nil 2,800 Steamers visiting .. .. .. .. .. 1,217 765 Sailing-vessels visiting .. .. .. .. 10 34 Aggregate tonnage .. .. .. .. 711,881 383,816 Average depth of water on bar during the whole year .. 23 ft. 1 in. 21 ft. 3 in. Average depth of water in river during the whole year .. 29 ft. 9 in. 19 ft. 7 in. Total rainfall in inches .. .. .. .. 76-4 125-79 I have, &c, Feank Reed, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

ANNEXURE A. REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF MINES. Mr. Boyd Bennie, Inspector of Mines, Northern Inspection District, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Inspector of Mines' Office, Thames, 30th March, 1911. In compliance with section 78 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, I have the honour to present my report on the coal-mines in the Northern District for the year ended. 31st December, 1910. Kawakawa Colliery (Mr. Samuel Neill, mine-manager). —Early in the year some pillars were extracted from Moody's outcrop section. Owing to the presence of a band of fireclay in the seam, and the thinness of the seam, it was found unprofitable to continue these operations, and the section was closed down towards the end of the year. It is proposed to open up a new section. Four men were employed. Ruatangata Colliery (Mr. J. McLelland, mine-manager).—During the year a ahaft was sunk to a depth of 40 ft., when a coal-seam 7 ft. thick was proved. Levels have been driven for some distance, and expose coal of good quality and free from bands. Unfortunately, the area of coal appears to be very limited, an upthrow fault occurring near by. A steam-engine has been erected at the mine for winding and drainage purposes. Ventilation is fair. General rules posted, and report-book kept. Hikurangi Coal Company (Limited) (Mr. W. R. Dunn, mine-manager). —Western area : Operations are confined to pillar-extraction. The seam is thin, and may be exhausted within twelve months. A good supply of timber on hand. Ventilation fair. New Dip section : There is a large area of coal lying under and behind the Waro limestone outcropping rocks. A dip, or incline drive, has been driven, and levels have been extended some distance. The coal-seam is from 9 ft. to 11 ft. thick, and is of good quality. A second outlet has been made, considerably improving the ventilation. No. 1 section (old mine) : The only work done in this section during the past twelve months was pillar-extraction. It is expected that the section will be worked out about the end of the year. Ventilation is good and the timbering well done. No. 2 section (Crown lease) : The coal-seam is thin, and the haulage of great length, so the cost of production will be very high. Very little coal was mined during the year from this section. The check-inspectors examined the mines during the year, and although they complained of a shortage of timber, I always found plenty on hand, and had no cause for complaint in this regard. Rules posted, report-books kept, and reports regularly entered. The output of coal for the year was 62,840 tons. Ninety men were employed. Northern Coal Company (Limited) (Mr. W. Morgan, mine-manager).—No. 1 section : Experienced miners were employed at this section extracting pillars, consequently the work was carried out with due care. Drainage section : The coal still maintains its quality and thickness. Ventilation has been fairly well maintained. The check-inspectors made two inspections during the year, and, although they measured the ventilation with an anemometer, they failed to record the quantities in the report-books. On the 22nd October, 1910 (No. 1 district) the check-inspectors reported : " Ventilation fair, timbering good, road in a very neglected state. No. 2 district: Ventilation good, timbering good, road neglected. No. 5 district: Ventilation in intake good; very badly distributed," &c. And on reading the manager's report for the same day I found this entry : " No. 5 district: 4,376 cubic feet for nine men, or 486 cubic feet per minute per man." I examined the mine three weeks later, and took these measurements : No. 1 district: 562 feet of air per man per minute ; Nos. 3 and 4 districts,