C.—2.

Palseontological work was continued, chiefly on fossils from the younger formations of New Zealand, which contain all the coal and possible oil, as well as a good deal of our gold resources. During the year a Palseontological Bulletin, No. 14, has been issued as well as the Twenty-ninth Annual Report. In addition, several papers by members of the staff have appeared in the Journal of Science and Technology. SCHOOLS OF MINES. Six scholarships, each tenable for four years at the University of Otago, are offered annually by the Department to students attending the various Schools of Mines within the Dominion. Three candidates sat for the annual Scholarship Examinations, held in November, 1934, but none was successful in gaining a scholarship.. The expenditure on Schools of Mines for the year ended 31st March, 1935, was £3,470, as compared with £3,269 for the previous year. MINERS' PENSIONS. The Pensions Act, 1926, as amended, provides for payment of pensions to miners seriously and permanently incapacitated by miner's phthisis contracted while mining in New Zealand. The rate of pension for a miner is £l 2s. 6d. a week, with 9s. a week added for his wife, if he is married, and a maximum of 9s. a week for each dependent child under fifteen, subject to a limit of £3 16s. 6d. a week for the family. The widow of a miner who dies of miner's phthisis while entitled to pension may be granted 15s. 9d. a week for the period of two years immediately following the husband's death. The scheme, which originated in the Miner's Phthisis Act, 1915, is administered by the Pensions Department, and the following summary of operations for the year ended 31st March, 1935, has been supplied by the Commissioner of Pensions £ Payments from Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, 1934 693,631 Payments, 1934-35 .. .. 58,740 £752,371 Number of new grants for year 1934-35 . . . . 130 Annual value of new grants .. .. .. £10,577 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1935 . . 783 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1935 £60,510 Average pension per annum . . .. . . £77 ss. 7d. Number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1935 . . 2,255 Dissection of pensions in force at 31st March, 1935 : — Unmarried miners . . .. . • 196 Married miners . . .. . • • • ■ • 472 Miners' widows . . . . . ■ • • . . 115 783 COAL-MINERS' RELIEF FUND. The Coal-miners' Sick and Accident Funds having been abolished as from the Ist April, 1926, and incorporated in the Coal-miners' Relief Fund, all accident relief payments are now made from the latter fund, which is administered by the Public Trustee. The rate of interest allowed on the fund was decreased from 4 per cent, to 3\ per cent, as from the Ist April, 1933. The interest earned for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1935, was £837 10s. 3d., as against £828 lis. lOd. for the previous year, while for the same periods the receipts from the |d. per ton contributions were £4,094 4s. sd. and £3,805 10s. Bd. respectively. During the year ended 31st March, 1934, the fund benefited to the extent of £595 14s. 10d., the balance from the Cardiff Mine Sick and Accident Fund which had not been previously transferred. The total expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1935, amounted to £4,199 3s. Id., as against £4,605 7s. lOd. for the previous year. The amount standing to the credit of the fund at the 31st March, 1935, was £24,482 os. 3d., as against £23,749 Bs, Bd, at the 31st March, 1934.

10