3

C—2A,

Boring. —With the object of ascertaining whether the Morgan seam existed below the one now being worked in the Anderson dip section, two holes were put down by means of the diamond-drilling plant. Although the measures passed through in these boreholes correlated with those of previous holes drilled on other parts of the reserve, the seam proved to be of an unworkable thickness. Tree-planting. —During the past few years a good deal of work has been carried out in connection with reafforestation on a portion of the State Coal Reserve at Dunollie. The trees experimented with were : Douglas firs, Pinus radiata (insignis), Eucalpytus Gunnii, Eucalyptus Viminalis, and Thuya plicata. Although every care was taken in preparing the ground, together with the planting of the trees, the results obtained have been most disappointing. Some trees of all species have grown fairly well, but the larger percentage failed, and it would be safe to estimate that not more than from 10 to 15 per cent, of the trees planted are growing. James Colliery. Coal-winning. —The gross total output for the year was 43,964 tons 13 cwt., an increase of 4,860 tons 3 cwt. compared with the previous year. After making allowances for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 44,240 tons 1 cwt. 3 qr., which is accounted for as follows : —

The gross output from this colliery since its inception amounts to 243,448 tons 9 cwt. Days worked. —The mine during the year worked on 222-| days, being 7| more than the previous year. The possible working-days, based on eleven days per fortnight and excluding union holidays and pay Saturdays, were 268. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : Extra holiday at Christmas, 1 ; back Saturdays, 25 ; want of wagons, 1 ; funeral of employee, 1 ; earthquake, 5 ; cold-bath house, 2 ; wet bus-seats, 1 ; stoppage over filling dirty coal, 1 ; fan stoppage, 1 ; gangway dispute, 2 ; Blackball dispute, 2 ; bath-house attendant dispute, 3 ; accident to employee, 4 hours : total, 45 days 4 hours. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 79, made up as follows : Underground—coal-hewers, 34 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 28. On the surface —14 men and 3 boys. In addition to those employed under the head of coal-winning there were on an average 2 men employed on development work, making a total for the colliery of 78 men and 3 boys. Payments. —The total payments made in connection with coal-winning, for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, amounted to £26,843 lis. 3d., an increase of £1,912 2s. 4d. when compared with the previous year. In addition to the amount expended on coal-winning, £716 ss. lOd. was expended on development work. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. — The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 lis. 4d., and after deducting stores (explosives) the net return was £1 ss. Bd., an increase of 2s. Id. per day compared with the previous year. Days worked by Coal-hewers. —The total number of days that could have been worked by coalhewers was 8,995, the days worked were 7,466, and the number lost, including those lost through sickness and not working on back Saturdays, was 1,529. Daily Output. —The average daily mine-output was 197 tons 6 cwt., an increase of 15 tons 6 cwt. per day compared with last year. The daily average output per coal-hewer was 5 tons 17 \ cwt., an increase of 13J cwt. per day compared with the previous year. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause during the year was £406 13s. 4d. : this works out to a cost of 2-22 d. per ton.

—— Screened. Small. Slack. Total. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Export .. .. 14,341 4 0 379 8 0 15 2 0 6,291 2 0 21,026 16 0 Rail to Canterbury .. 13,329 2 1 203 0 2 1,626 11 3 363 14 0 15,522 8 2 Local sales .. .. 513 3 1 .. .. 5,025 10 2 5,538 13 3 Mine sales .. .. 500 14 0 54 10 0 7 0 0 22 0 0 584 4 0 Sold to workmen and .. 553 0 0 .. .. 553 0 0 free issues Stock in bin.. .. .. 40 0 0 220 0 0 276 14 2 536 14 2 Stock on wharf .. 48 2 0 .. .. 30 3 0 78 5 0 Stock in dump .. .. .. .. 400 0 0 400 0 0 28,732 5 2 1,229 18 2 1,868 13 3 12,409 4 0 44,240 1 3 Used on works .. .. .. 273 0 0 .. 273 0 0 Waste .. .. .. 741 13 0 .. .. 741 13 0 Totals .. 28,732 5 2 1,971 11 2 2,141 13 3 12,409 4 0 45,254 14 3