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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES REPORT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. J. Hayes, F.S.Sc, Inspecting Engineer, to the Undeb-Secretary, Mines Department. Sir, —■ Mines Department, Wellington, 7th May, 1901. I have the honour to submit my report (covering those of the Inspectors of Mines for the several districts) for the year ending 31st December, 1900. The output for the respective inspection districts was as under: —

In comparison with that of the preceding year, the output shows a net increase of 118,756 tons, made up as follows : —■

The number of mines in operation (including several lignite-pits from which fuel for private consumption is raised) is returned at 167, employing 2,460 persons. The average output per person employed was 444-71 tons. During the year there were four fatal accidents, or at the rate of one fatality for every 273,497-5 tons of coal, &c, produced, and one for every 614 persons employed. Very few, if any, non-fatal accidents which occurred during the year are likely to be attended with disablement of a permanent character. Accidents to eyes are not altogether uncommon in some mines, where pieces of coal have a tendency to fly from the face when the miner is using his pick. Mr. Green (Southern District) refers to this matter in his report. In his report on the coal-mines of the Northern District, Mr. Coutts mentions that no serious accidents have occurred during the year. Mr. Tennent (West Coast District), in referring to the marked decrease of accidents in the mines of the Westport Coal Company (Limited), attributes this result to the safe and more effective system of coal-getting by mechanical appliances which has been adopted by the company, together with efficient supervision. I—C. 3a.

Northern Distriot. West Coast Distriot. Southern Distriot. Total. I Situminous and semi-bituminous coal ... 'itch-coal ... irown coal... ignite Totals ... Tons. 79,679 80,'624 160,303 Tons. 594,183 Tons. 37,804 259,162 42,538 Tons. 673,862 37,804 339,786 42,538 594,183 339,504 I 1,093,990

Northern District. West Coast Distriot. Southern District. Total Increase. Total Decrease. Increase. Decrease. Increase. Deorease. Increase. Decrease. Tons. 13,405 Tons. Tons. 72,421 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 85,826 Tons. iituminous and semibituminous coal 'itch-coal 5',770 19,474 7,902 31 25',244 7,902 31 >rown coal iignite 185 185 Totals 19,175 72,421 185 27,376 31 118,972 216