MINES REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1927, Page 2

MINES REPORT

o LAST YEAIUS OUTPUT £3,329,047. WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. An increase in the value ot the output of the Dominion's metalliferous mines and stone quarries last year is noted in the annual report of the Mines Department, which was presented to Parliament to-day. Last year’s products were valued at £3,329.047, compared with £3,142,279 in 1925. The value of minerals including kauri gum, exported, and of the coal used in the Dominion amounted to £3,254,372 as compared with £3,170.282 during 1925. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1926 amounted to £162,930.715. The Dominion’s coal output last year was 69,959,342 tons, against 61,719.343 tons in 1925. The increase was wholly due to the increased production of bituminous coal, which was 151.652 tons in excess of the amount produced in the previous year. 'llie output of brown coal showed a small decrease of 5600 tons, and of lignite a. decrease of 21,058 tons. In the northern district the output of hitumiiiious coal for llio year was 19.622 tons loss than in 1925. due to the flooding of Hikurangi shaft colliery workings. The output of brown coal showed a. small increase of 10G8 tons, making a not. decrease of 18,554 tons for the district for the year. In the West. Coast district there was an increase of 171,283 tons of bituminous coal, a. decrease of 32] tons of brawn coal, and a decrease of 183 tons of lignite, making together a. net increase for the year of 170,780 tons for the district. In the southern district there was a. reduction of 6317 tons in the amount of brown coal produced, and a reduction of 20,875 tons of lignite, a total reduction of 27,222 tons for the year in the output, of this district. During part of the year the market was not able to absorb all the coal that was offering, and consequently many of the mines had to work short time. Prospects improved towards the end of the year iiv reason of the fact that the Railway Department was able to take larger quantities of local coals in place of Australian coal for locomotive purposes.