C.—2A.

Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £6 16s. Accidents. —The following serious accidents occurred in the Liverpool Colliery : — A trucker received a fracture of both bones in the "Sight leg, through being struck by a runaway truck. A trucker received injuries to his head and pelvis, through being struck by a truck whilst jigging. M.ine Workings, Morgan Seam.—The major portion of the output from the Morgan seam was won from extraction of pillars in the Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 banks, Morgan West, and the Nos. 2 and 4 banks, Morgan East. Development in the Morgan West cut has been carried on to approximately 2 chains from the fault, where the coal got dirty and was steeply inclined, the top places having a grade of 1 in 1. Preparations are now in hand for pillar-extraction in this section. The Morgan East dip has been extended to a distance of 18 chains, and developing levels are being driven east and west of the main dip heading. Arrangements are in hand for the installation of a new haulage winch, as the present winch, will not handle any increase in output. Arrangements have been made to use coal-cutting machines in this section, which should give an increased output per working-face. Fire Stoppings.-- These have all been kept in good order. Kimbell and Anderson Seams.—Anderson Dip Section : Development has been carried on in this section, but has been somewhat retarded owing to the high inclination of the seam (approximately 65 degrees), the soft nature of the coal, and the giving-ofi of an abnormal quantity of gas. Kimbell East: All the coal has been won from pillar-extraction. Kimbell West Dip : The coal is being won partly from solid and partly from pillar-extraction, the solid places developing in a southerly direction. Dangerous Occurrences. —During August a heating took place in the lower workings of the Anderson dip section, and the heating area was sealed by stoppings and made safe. The water has been allowed to rise in this section above the heated coal. Stone-dusting. —Work under this heading was continued during the year. The total number of samples taken from the Liverpool Colliery and analysed was 445. In addition, 125 samples from co-operative mines were analysed. James Colliery. Coal-winning. —The gross output for the year was 25,573 tons 12 cwt., an increase of 2,637 tons 8 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After making allowance for stocks on hand and slack taken on charge, and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 26,778 tons 17 cwt. 2 qr., which is accounted for as follows : — Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 13,070 7 3 Railed Canterbury .. .. .. .. 12,822 16 3 Local sales .. .. .. .. ■ ■ • • 356 7 L Mine sales Sales to workmen, and free issues Stock in bin aiid yard .. .. .. • • 120 0 0 Stock on wharf Stock on dump .. .. .. .. .. 409 5 3 26,778 17 2 Used on works . . .. .■• ■ ■ • • 98 0 0 Waste .. •• 641 12 0 27,518 9 2 The gross output from the colliery since its inception amounts to 648,093 tons 1 cwt. During the year the colliery worked on 241 days 4 hours, a decrease 5 days 2 hours when compared with the previous year, when 5 back Saturdays were worked. The possible working-days, excluding Saturdays, was 261. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day, Good Friday ; 1 day, Easter Monday ; 1 day, Anzac Day ; 1 day, May Day ; 1 day, dispute re wet-time train ; 1 day, bathhouse cold ; 1 day, dispute re stopping truckers' lamps ; 1 day, dispute re conveyance rope-boys ; 1 day, dispute re truckers ; 1 day, Labour Day ; 1 day 4 hours, electrical fault; 7 days, Christmas holidays ; 1 day, shortage of wagons. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 44 men and 2 boys, made up as follows —Underground : Hewers, 16 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 23. On the surface : 5 men and 2 boys. Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £20,830, as compared with £17,885 for the previous year. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. — The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 18s Bd. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £1 lis. Bd., an increase of 3s. 6d. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.- The average daily output was 105 tons 16 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 17 cwt., as compared with 92 tons 19 cwt. and 6 tons 8 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £7 15s. 6d. Development Work.—All development work to the north and east was completed during the year, and pillar-extraction adjacent to the fault line was commenced. Repairs.—-All necessary repairs to haulage roads, &c., have been carried out.

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