MINES REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1924, Page 4

MINES REPORT.

WKIXIXCTOX. Sept. Hi Tho annual statement of tho Minos Department, which was laid on tho table of tlio I louse to-day, shows that during tho past year tho value of minerals, including kauri gum, exported ami of eoiil used in the Dominion amounted to L‘3, 123,92". :is

compared with 1:3.1“1,10o during 1922. Tho total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1923 amounted to C 1 63.2ii5.1t'1. Bullion produced during the year was greater in value by L'132,182 than in I!»22. The increase was almost wholly from quartz mining in AYnilii borough. The yield from alluvial mining eontinued much the same as in the previous year. Dredging produeed 1 6.7 .“Mo/., compared with 16,-ltijoz during 1022, hut the continuo.l success of the Riirni dredge lias been an important factor in encouraging further prospecting for

dredging areas. C'oal mines on the West Coast were closed for the last quarter of the year. This mainly accounts for the reduced production per |>erson employed helotv ground for 192;*. Had such stoppage not occurred, there would have been a vcrv large increase over tlio previous year in amount. Bituminous coal imported was -l 10,702 tons, which is | 00,686 tons less than during 1622. Tho Blackball mine, which had to close down the greater part-afcCPrfs working area in December, Igoo, on

account ol a serious underground fire, was successfully reopened in March, and by the cud of the year practically all the workings had heen recovered. In or about the coal mines in the Dominion oODf) persons were ordinarily employed last year. Five fatal accidents occurred during the year, and thirty-two other persons were seriously injured. The fatal accidents were at the rate of one per thousand persons employed, hi the British Isles, where the fatality rate for coal mines is about the lowest in che world, the average rate for the last decade was 1.17. per thousand. Of serious uon-fatal accidents in coal mines in the Dominion, eye accidents form a very huge percentage. It is a matter for serious concern that roughIv one-half of the accidents to hewers are eye accidents.