c.—2a.

Cool-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 16s. lid., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £1 13s. 10d., an increase of 2s. lOd. per day when compared with figures of last year. Daily Output.—The average daily mine output was 685 tons 8 c.wt., and the coal-hewers'average daily output was 8 tons 2 cwt., as compared with 686 tons 12 cwt. and 8 tons 3 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £50 2d. Accidents. —During the year two serious accidents occurred. On the 25th May a shiftman received a fractured spine. A piece of coal, falling from the rib-side, struck him on the back. On the 22nd June a collier, while working in a pillar, was struck by a fall of coal and had his spine fractured. In both cases good recoveries were made. The total payments made under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act amounted to £2,406 19s. 3d. On the output produced, this works out to a cost of 4-34 d. per ton. Underground Workings.—The bulk of the output during the year was obtained from pillar-extraction. Development-work was carried out to the dip in the Anderson East and West Sections, and a small amount of coal was also won from four solid places in the Morgan Seam. In the Anderson Dip the varying of the contours of the seam, together with stone and dirt intrusions, have compelled an alteration in the direction of development to the dip. The seam has maintained an average thickness of 13 ft. throughout, and the coal is of good quality. Pillar-extraction. —The extraction of pillars has been continued along set lines. A considerable amount of pillar coal has been left behind underneath the creek-beds to prevent an influx of surface water. A suspected heating was traced to the old workings lying to the rise of the Kimbell East Level. Stoppings were erected and the area sealed off. No diffculty is anticipated when it becomes necessary to reopen the district in order to extract the pillars. Future Developments.—lt is proposed to continue the dip workings in the East and West Kimbell Seams. No preparations are yet being made to drive the dip in the Morgan Seam, as it is considered that the development-work now in hand is sufficient to maintain the output for some time to come. Stone-dusting.—Work under this head has been continued, and the total number of samples analysed from the various zones was 561. In addition, 78 samples from co-operative mines were analysed. Plant and Machinery. —The whole of the plant, machinery, and buildings has been maintained in good order. The work of reconstructing in concrete the power-house at the middle brake has been completed. A new concrete store has been erected, ancl the old wooden building has been dismantled and re-erected on an adjacent site. Coal-bin. —The coal-storage bin has been altered, and the slack-bin enlarged to hold an additional 800 tons. A slack shaker-conveyor has been installed. Viaduct. —The work of rebuilding the viaduct on the main haulage road in steel and concrete has been continued. During the year a somewhat serious subsidence between the tunnel and the top of the viaduct has given trouble, and workmen have been constantly engaged in erecting flumes and cutting drains to prevent the continued surface movement. James Colliery. Coal-winning. —The gross total output for the year was 40,690 tons 6 cwt., an increase of 6,188 tons 1 cwt. when compared with the figures of last year. After making allowances for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 41,163 tons 17 cwt. 1 qr., which is accounted for as follows : —

The gross total output from this colliery since its inception amounts to 489,570 tons 7 cwt. Days worke(L'<— r Yla.e mine during the year worked on 222J days, an increase of 30| days when compared with the previous year. The possible working- days, excluding pay Saturdays and union holidays, were 272. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for

2

— Screened. j SmalL Sla ° k " TOtal " Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons owt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. 11,346 14 3 1,968 13 1 .. 12,623 18 0 25,939 6 0 Railed Canterbury .. 9,691 18 3 857 8 0 2,092 0 3 284 6 3 12,925 14 1 Local sales .. .. 164 6 3 6 18 3 .. 48 18 0 220 3 2 Mine sales . . .. 17 17 0 8 0 0 .. . . 25 17 0 Sold to workmen and .. 514 0 0 .. • • 514 0 0 free issues Stock in bin and yard 69 0 0 56 0 0 20 0 0 260 0 0 405 0 0 Stock on wharf .. 148 18 2 36 12 0 .. 73 6 0 258 16 2 Stock on dump .. . . ■ • ■ • 875 0 0 875 0 0 21,438 15 3 3,447 12 0 2,112 0 3 14,165 8 3 41,163 17 1 Used on works .. .. 349 0 0 . . ■ • 349 0 0 Waste .. .. .. 1,296 16 0 .. .. 1,296 16 0 Totals .. 21,438 15 3 5,093 8 0 2,112 0 3 14,165 8 3 42,809 13 1 I