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of men employed averaged 178, being a decrease of sixty-five as compared with the previous year, due no doubt to the labour troubles towards the end of the year. In the Taupiri West section the main haulage-road has been connected with Ralph's main haulage-rope system.. The Lake Rotoiti Crown lease has been partly developed, and twenty men have been employed hewing coal thereon. A number of bores have been put down, proving this seam in advance of the drive. The main haulageheading is now under the Lake Wahi lease. The remaining sections of the mine are developing coal of good quality. I examined the mine-workings several times during the year, and found them in fair order, while the ventilation was very good on the whole, though at times dull in isolated places. Extended Mine : From this section was produced 142,355 tons of coal, being a decrease of 668 tons below the output for 1911. The number of men employed was 226. During the year I examined the mine several times, and found the roads and working-places in good order, and the ventilation adequate and well distributed. To provide better ventilation for the future extension of the mine there is now in course of erection a 92-in.-diameter double-inlet Sirocco fan, capable of producing 200,000 cubic feet per minute with a 2-5 in. water-gauge, with a speed of 150 revolutions per minute, belt-driven from a Tangye engine. This installation is expected to be completed early in the year. The airways in the mine arc being enlarged and improved to accommodate the increased volume of air, and where possible the travelling-roads will be in the fresh intake air. For the drainage of the mine a 5-in.-diameter borehole has been put down in the vicinity of the water-lodgment, and to the borehole-pipes a Cameron pump is now being connected. This pump is designed to work against a 600 ft. head. A supplementary air-compressing plant, for underground pumps, haulage-winches, and coal-cutting machines, has been installed at the No. 2 Extended shaft, where five air-compressors were previously in use, the latest addition being an Ingersoll Rand compressor of the AA2 class. Two new multitubular boilers have been installed, and when this plant is completed all the power required underground at both mines will be transmitted therefrom. Piikemiro Collieries (Limited). —The property of this company is situated almost west from the Taupiri Company's mines, about eight miles from Huntly, where the Public Works Department are now constructing a combined railway and traffic bridge over the Waikato River. It is proposed to construct a branch railway to the colliery, and thereby provide facilities for opening up the country between the Waikato River and the west coast. In the meantime work at. the mine has been confined to prospecting the coal-area and initial work incidental to development. A large portion of the machinery is on the ground, and the buildings for the workshops and electric power-house are completed. A township in the mos , * convenient position has been surveyed, and post and telephone communication with Ngaruawahia effected. An average of eighteen men have been employed above ground. Waipa Railivay and Collieries (Limited). —This company's branch railway connecting their mine with the Main Trunk Railway is well advanced, but nothing has been done at the mine. Contracts have been let for the surface haulage-incline, screening plant, and various machinery. It is anticipated that the company will be in a position to market coal during 1913. Kawakawa Colliery. —This mine is some distance from the township, and is connected therewith by a mile and a half of tram-line. An adit level is being opened up on what is known as Moodie's section. The coal-seam is about 5 ft. thick, containing a band of fireclay of about 9 in. in thickness. The coal is sold locally. I found the new drive well timbered, and safe. For the year 237 tons were mined, giving employment to three men. The Mangapapa Colliery produced 3,762 tons of coal. I found the roads and working-places in good order. Ventilation by fan is satisfactory. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Fatal. George Bain: Killed on the 7th March, 1912. Deceased, a trucker, was in the act of spragging a truck just landed when the empty trucks going up the incline became detached from the wire rope and descended the incline, crushing Bain, who died within an hour. James Leigh Mount, a miner, was on the 2nd July killed by a fall of coal from the pillar-side. Non-fatal. William Wilson : Loss of right .eye, on the 6th May, 1912. Frank Duncan : Fracture of pelvis, on the 23rd July, 1912. Thomas Baker: Bruise of abdomen, on the 13th August, 1912. Samuel Carey: Bruise of hip and abdomen, on the 3rd October, 1912. All the above accidents occurred at the mines of the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited). West Coast Inspectorate : Me. James Newton. Point Elizabeth State Colliery No. I. —The output from this colliery amounted to 188,835 tons, being a decrease of 57 tons on the previous year's operations. No. 1 section :An area is being developed to the eastward of the crosscut. The coal opened up is of good quality and thickness. The dip of the seam is very steep, necessitating a great deal of labour and care. The main dip heading and the bottom levels in this section have been standing for a considerable time. The remainder of the coal won from this section during the year has been by pillar-extraction. The available area is very limited, consequently only a limited number of colliers have been employed. Pillar-extraction in the third level has ceased, the coal having been brought back to a point sufficiently near to the main haulage-dip. The remainder of the coal will be left to support boreholes that are being put down from the surface for pumping purposes, to unwater a section