3

C— 2.

PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1928 and 1927 : —

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at which 1,494 men were ordinarily employed, there was one fatal accident and six serious accidents. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 2,161 men, one person was killed and seven persons met with serious injuries. There were 5,376 persons ordinarily employed about the coal-mines, and there were nine persons killed and fifteen persons seriously injured. SOCIAL AMENITIES AT MINING TOWNSHIPS. During the past year additional amenities for the recreation of miners and others at mining townships have been provided. Further financial assistance was granted out of the State Coal-mines Account for making a croquet lawn, for improving the domain, bowling-green, and tenniscourts at Runanga, and also repairing the Seddon Memorial Institute in that township. At Rotowaro the Taupiri Mines Co., Ltd., provided a third tennis-court for the use of the mine's staff residing near the colliery, and at Huntly this company transferred to the Huntly Town Board 12 acres of land in close proximity to the town for recreation purposes. This land is being improved to provide football and sports facilities. At Waipa the Waipa Collieries and Railway Co., Ltd., assisted the miners and residents to lay down a standard bowling-green for the use of the miners and general public. At Pukemiro a swimming-pool, 100 ft. by 21 ft. by 6 ft. 9 in. to 2 ft. 9 in. in depth, the excavation of which was made in solid rock, concreted on the floor and sides, was constructed, with change-sheds, for the use of the general public at Pukemiro and Glen Afton. The total cost of this construction, approximately £600, was financed by public subscription, assisted by the Pukemiro Collieries Co., Ltd. At Millerton a bowling-green is nearing completion, and a football-field and recreation-ground adjacent to the school will be fit for use during the present year. These facilities were financed by the residents with the help of the Westport Coal Co., Ltd. Both the past and recent facilities are extensively used and patronized by the children, miners, and general public. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the field season ended 31st May, 1929, geological surveys were carried out in the Te Kuiti, Tongariro, and Upper Wairoa districts in the North Island, and in the southern part of the Murchison basin in the South Island. The examination of these districts will, it is hoped, be completed next season. Owing to the interest of the public in oil-prospecting, the Geological Survey was called upon, on several occasions in the past year to supply information on districts that are possibly oil-bearing. The explorations in the Murchison and Wairoa areas, which have been in progress for two and three years respectively, and a large part of the palaeontological work are directed chiefly to elucidating the succession and structure of the Tertiary strata, fundamental problems in the search for oil.

Inspection District. Totals. Classification. i I Northern I West Coast (of 1 , S . 0ut f h «| rn . K lnoo lno - Increase (North Island).! South Island), i ( res ' i of South 1928. 1927. or j Island). Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 723 420 318 1,461 1,663 Dec. 202 Ironstone .. .. .. .. 21 .. 21 70 „ 49 Cinnabar .. . . .. 10 .. 2 12 Inc. 12 Sulphur .. .. .. 12 .. .. 12 6 „ 6 Coal .. .. .. 1,606 2,844 926 5,376 5,374 „ 2 Stone-quarries under the Stone- 1,561 162 438 2,161 2,341 Dec. 180 quarries Act Oil .. .. .. 32 2 .. 34 32 Inc. 2 Totals .. .. 3,944 3,449 1,684 9,077 9,486 Dec. 409