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COAL-MINING. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows :—

The decline in the production of brown and bituminous coal is chiefly attributable to the considerable increase in the quantity of coal imported, which during 1921 amounted to 822,459 tons, of which 76| per cent, came from Australia, as against 476,343 tons, of which 97 per cent, was imported from Australia, during the previous year. The annual rate of coal-consumption in the Dominion—viz., about 2,300,000 tons —has been maintained notwithstanding that the utilization of hydro-electric power is constantly increasing. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1920 and 1921 :—

The shortage of labour experienced during previous years, more especially as regards coal-mines, has entirely disappeared. MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. At metalliferous mines, at which 2,070 persons were ordinarily employed, one life was lost by accident, and seven other persons received serious injuries. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, in which 1,561 persons were ordinarily employed, one person was accidentally killed, and four others received serious injuries. In or about coal-mines, at which 4,367 persons were ordinarily employed, it is regretted that ten fatalities occurred, three of which were unconnected with mining operations. Thirty-seven other persons received serious injuries. At all the mines and quarries the proportion of fatal accidents was 1-5 per 1,000 persons employed.

Output of Co; il during 1921. Class of Coal. Northern West Coast Distriot District (North Island). (South Island. Southern District (South Island). Total. Total Output to the End of 1921. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and semi-bitu- 83,325 810,520 minous Tons. Tons. 893,845 Tons. 33,949,532 Brown 431,282 155 Lignite ... ... ... 200 268,683 214,930 700,120 215,130 16,580,317 3,163,639 Totals for 1921 ... 514,607 810,875 514,607 810,875 483,613 1,809,095 53,693,488 Totals for 1920 ... 483,492 821,507 483,492 821,507 538,706 1,843,705 51,884,393

Inspection District. Totals. Classification. o ,, Northern West Coast (of , s [ m ™ f", (North Island). South Island). l i sl a n d) Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 1,147 481 393 Ironstone, cinnabar, and asbestos 11 36 2 Doal .. .. .. 1,220 2,026 1,121 •s-tone-quarries under the Stone- 1,060 88 • 413 quarries Act' Totals .. .. 3,438 2,631 1,929 1921. 2,021 49 4,367 1,561 1920. Increase. 1,914 107 16 33 4,078 289 1,468 93 7,998 7,476 522