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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR, ENDING 31st MARCH, 1911.

Presented to both Houses of the Gemnd Assembly in accordance with the Requirements of Section 118 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908.

The General Manager. State Coal-mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department. Wellington. Sir, — New Zealand State Coal-mines Office, Wellington, 27th June, 1911. I have the honour to submit the annual report and balance-sheet of the New Zealand State. Coal-mines for the year ended the 31st March last. The gross output of the mines for the year was 281.525 tons, which, after allowing for mine consumption and waste, left 260.803 tons for market, being a decrease of 20.827 tons when considered against the figures of tin , preceding yearly period. The Point Elizabeth Mine produced 209,253 tons of marketable coal of the following grades : Screened, 59,754 tons ; unscreened, 79,399 tons ; bunker. 14,599 tons ; small, 55,501 tons. The following table shows the tonnage disposed of : —

There is a falling-off in the hulk sales, but this was on account of the large quantity of steam-coal required in the previous period to assist in maintaining communication with Australia during the Newcastle strike. The sales from this mine are within 164 tons of those of the previous year. It should, however, be noted that, as the workings are extended, so must the working-expenses increase. The demand for the coal has not diminished, and far exceeds the output of screened and unscreened, but considerable difficulty is experienced in disposing of the very large quantity of small coal made from the screened supplied to railways. The Seddonville Mine produced 51,550 tons of marketable' coal of tin- following grades : Screened, 14.703 tons; unscreened, 3,650 tons ; bunker, 9,535 tons : nuts. 4,345 tons ; small. 19.317 tons. The following table shows the tonnage disposed of : —

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Sold U> Soreened. Unscreened. Bunker. Small. Total. Depots New Zealand railways Other Government Departments Private consumers and shipping companies Tons. Tons. Tims. 28,738 28,254 20.098 29,389 819 3.989 1,419 9,934 17.721 11.703 Tons. 5.901 1 59 49,161 Tims. 62,893 49,487 6,386 88,510 Tons 59.589 79,353 13.122 55.221 207.285

Sold to ! Screened. UnHoreened. Bunker. Nuts. Small. Total. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tona. Tons. Tone )epots .. .. .. , 279 1,014 .. 1,077 1,348 3,718 few Zealand railways .. .. 13,698 977 .. 2,839 7 17,521 )ther Government Departments 165 239 65 . . .. 469 Jriquette-works . . . . . . . . . . .. 8,316 8,316 •rivate consumers and shipping 127 1,484 8,968 470 9,853 20,902 companies Tons .. .. 14.269 3.714 9,033 4,386 19,524 50,926 _