0.—3

The coal supplies for a very large proportion of working-dredges are drawn from small pits, worked in a very hand-to-mouth fashion. To any one experienced in the economics of coal-mining it is painfully apparent that these small pits are not worked to anything like the best advantage, and that considerable quantities of coal have been, and under existing conditions are likely to be, irrecoverably lost. This cannot be otherwise where coal-mining is on such a small scale, and owners of pits are forced, by very shortsighted competition, to accept prices which will barely more than pay working-expenses at the mine, their profits having to come out of cartage. It is impossible, under such conditions as these, to open out and work coal-mines properly. The multiplication of coal-mines (underground mining is being considered) means the multiplication of fixed charges ; and this is a point which very few people appear to grasp. If a reliable and economical supply of fuel is to be depended on in years to come, the coal areas must be worked more comprehensively and systematically, and on a scale which will admit of the seams being worked to the very best advantage and with a minimum loss of coal. This would allow of the erection of central electric-power stations at the coal-mines. With modern high-pressure boilers fitted for forced draught, inferior coal (now unsaleable) could be used up, and triple-expansion condensing-engines used for driving dynamos. Thus maximum results would be obtained at a minimum expense, and the power so generated might be distributed for several miles in every direction, coal bagging and carting, with their attendant expenses, being entirely dispensed with. In the southern district Coal Creek (near Boxburgh), Alexandra, Cromwell (or Bannockburn), Waikaka, Waikaia, and Gore are places which readily present themselves to the mind as suitable for enterprises of the kind suggested. At the 31st March the number of dredges is returned as follows: —

Four accidents, attended with fatal results, occurred during the year at dredges working in the southern district. The special rules (which were framed some time ago) in the interests of safety for employes are, on the whole, fairly well observed, although here and there men are to be found who, either through stupidity, ignorance, or conceit in their own cleverness, or a combination of two or more of these qualifications, ridicule the necessity of safety provisions. However, the greatly decreased number of accidents in proportion to the number of persons employed which have been reported since these special rules were established amply justifies the action taken by the department. It has been found in many instances that when boat-hooks and life-buoys are lost, and lightlines used up for odd jobs, they are not promptly renewed. This being a breach of Special Eule 3, dredge-masters should note that it is an offence which Inspectors are not likely to pass over. At a recent inspection by Mr. Green, Inspector of Mines, it was found that many dredges which were well provided with safety appliances a year ago are now very deficient in that respect. Notices have been served on the managers requiring them to promptly comply with regulations. In cases of failure it is the intention of the department to institute legal proceedings. Prosecutions were instituted during the year against two dredge-managers in the Lawrence district for neglecting to provide proper safety appliances, and convictions obtained on all charges. A new dredge was built at Ophir two years ago. Its operations not proving successful, it is being removed to Charlton Creek, Southland. The Mountaineer dredge (Crookston and party) being too small for the Clutha Gorge, below Cromwell, has been moved to near Mataura. Several others have been or are being removed. Full returns of dredges working, standing, undergoing removal, and building in the southern district are given in the report of Mr. E. E. Green, Inspector of Mines. In Dunedin the several engineering-works are running night and day in consequence of the large demand for dredge material. Orders are also being filled by engineering firms in Invercargill, Christchurch, Wellington, and Greymouth, whilst a considerable amount of machinery (apart from engines and boilers) is being imported from Melbourne and Great Britain. Desceiptions op Deedges. Messrs. Morgan and Cable, of Port Chalmers, have designed and built a type of dredge for working alluvial flats and shallow rivers which is much simpler in its general arrangements than many of the large river-dredges. A general drawing of this is given. Mr. F. W. Payne, consulting engineer, of Dunedin, has favoured me with a drawing of a dredge which is to work on Fraser Flat, near Alexandra, and also gives the following description of this very large plant : — This is the largest dredge yet under construction for working any claim in the colony. The hull is 119 ft. long, 35 ft. 6 in. wide at bow, and 50 ft. wide at stern. Depth of hull forward, 6 ft. 6 in.; depth aft, 9 ft. 6 in. The approximate amount of timber to be used in the hull is 130,000 ft. The engine is a 25 nominal horse-power compound surface-condensing. The boiler has been specially designed to combine large heating-surface and grate-area, and is of the multitubular externally fired type, with a working-pressure of 150 lb. per square inch. The ladder is of sufficient length to dredge 40 ft. below water-line. The buckets are of 7-cubic-feet capacity, and are speeded to run ten buckets per minute. The winches for lifting the ladder and for shifting the dredge are of specially

43

Working. Standing. Undergoing Bemoval. Altering. Building. Total. iouthern district Vest Coast district 81 4 3 3 12 1 101 58 198 65 Total 85 12 159 263