C.-2

APPENDIX B. KEPOKTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Engineer of Minks to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 12tli April, 1922. I have the honour to present my sixteentli annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1921, 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. (b) 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: —

30

Output of Coal during 1921. Total Output to the End of 1921. Class of Coal. Northern District West Coast District Southern District (North Island). (South Island). (South Island). Totals. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bituminous 83,325 810,520 Brown .. .. .. 431,282 155 268,683 Lignite .. .. .. .. 200 214,930 Totals for 1921 .. 514,607 810,875 483,613 Totals for 1920 .. 483,492 821,507 538,706 Tons. 893,845 700,120 215,130 Tons. 33,949,532 Hi,580,317 3,163,639 1,809,095 53,693,488 1,843,705 51,884,393