3

C—2a.

Stone-dusting. —To comply with the regulations under the: Coal-mines Act, 1925, it is now necessary that the roof, floor, and sides of every roadway or part of a road which is accessible shall be, treated either with incombustible dust or water in order to render the dust adhering thereto noninilammable. At these mines incombustible dust is used consisting of finely ground agricultural lime, 78 tons of which have been used during the year. The various roadways, &c, are marked off in zones, and from the various zones 371 samples have been taken and analysed. Any zone not complying with the regulations is re-dusted. In addition to the analysing of samples from these mines, forty-one samples from co-operative mines were also tested. Surface Work. —The plant and machinery in and about the mine has been maintained in efficient working-order, and during the year the following new plant and buildings have been erected : (a) The installing and housing of an additional Babcock and Wile;ox boiler at the middle brake power-house, also the fitting of same with a Wilton patent furnace ; (b) the removal of all plant and machinery from the old workshop at Dunollie, and the re-erecting of it in what was formerly the No. 3 mine change and bath house, situated near the storage: bin ; (c) the erecting of a separate power-line between the middle brake power-house and the No. 2 mine fan, also the installing of larger pulleys on the fan shaft and motor. This fan is now capable of producing over 100,000 cublic feet of air per minute ; (d) the installation of a plant for carrying out coal-analysis, also determining moisture and combustibility in mine dust; and (e) the erecting of an adjustable loading-jib for the prevention of breakage of coal when being loaded into wagons. Accidents. —Several minor accidents occurred during the year. There were: no accidents of a serious nature. The weekly payments made under the provisions of the Worker's Compensation Act, being at the rate of 66| per cent, of the wages earned prior to the accident, amounted to £3,143 6s. 4d. On the output produced for the year this works out to a cost of 5-24d. jier ton. Housing. —In my last annual report reference was made to the housing scheme introduced by the Department, whereby miners could borrow up to £300 to enable them to build their own houses. Up to the 31st March last seventeen houses have been built at Runanga, and three others are in the course of erection. The scheme under which these houses have been built has been most satisfactory to all concerned. James Colliery. Coal-winning.- —The gross total output for the year was 41,344 tons 19 cwt., an increase of 6,839 tons 18 cwt. compared with the previous year. After making allowance for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year, and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 40,048 tons 19 cwt., which is accounted for as follows :—

The gross output from this colliery since its inception amounts to 160,379 tons 6 cwt. Days worked. —The mine during the year worked on 225 days, being 10| days less than the previous year. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : Union holidays, 17 ; non-union holidays, 3 ; stop-work meeting, 1 ; funeral last Dobson victim, 1 ; delays to shipping, 3 ; want of wagons, 1\ ; breakdown of machinery, 2|-; lack of water for boilers, 1 : total, 36 days. In addition, the mine did not work on pay Saturdays (26) and back Saturdays (25). Employees. —In connection with coal-winning the average number of persons employed was 77, made: up as follows : Underground —Coal-hewers, 37 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 25. On the surface —13 men and 2 boys. In addition to those employed under the head of " Coal-winning " there were on an average 5 men employed on development work, making a total for the colliery of 80 men and 2 boys. Payments. —The total payments made in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation amounted to £24,454 18s. 6d., an increase of £2,502 6s. lOd. as compared with the previous year. In addition to the amount expended on coal-winning, £1,448 2s. 7d. was expended on development work. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The ■ coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 9s. 0-72d., and after deducting stores (explosives) the net return was £1 3s. 5-lld., an increase of Is. 3d. per day compared with the previous year.

Export Rail, Canterbury Local sales . . Sold to workmen Stock in bin . . Stock on wharf Stock in dump I Screened. Tons. cwt. qr. 14,265 3 0 12,618 4 1 404 11 2 Unscreened and Nuts. Tons. cwt. qr. 98 6 0 39 1 2 39 9 2 484 0 0 Tons. cwt. qr. 584 18 0 216 18 3 120 3 2 Small. Tons. owt. qr. 8,411 12 0 58 5 1 1,103 3 1 Slack. Tons. cwt. qr. 23,359 19 0 12,932 9 3 1,667 7 3 484 0 0 505 12 2 249 10 0 850 0 0 Total. 81 0 0 305 12 2 200 0 0 168 10 0 850 0 0 • • • ... 40,048 19 0 Used on works "Waste 27,368 18 3 660 17 0 1,227 12 3 10,791 10 2 3,350 0 0 3,350 0 0 852 6 0 852 6 0 Totals 27,368 18 3 1,513 3 0 4,577 12 3 10,791 10 2 44,251 5 0