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1898. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES REPORT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. Geoege Wilson, Inspecting Engineer, to the Under-Seceetaey for Mines. Sic, — Mines Department, Wellington, 25th May, 1898. I have the honour to forward you covering report on the progress of the coal-mining industry for the year ended the 31st December, 1897. The output of coal from the mines throughout the colony for the past year amounted to 840,713 tons, being an increase on the previous year of 47,862 tons. The output comprised 504,764 tons of bituminous coal, 34,969 tons of pitch-coal, 268,020 tons of brown coal, and 32,960 tons of lignite. Mining operations were carried on in 153 mines, in connection with which 1,912 men were employed, the average output being 439 tons per man per annum. Four fatal accidents occurred during the year, but they were all due to misfortune and not to negligence. The Act and regulations are strictly adhered to in most of the mines. I have, &c, Geo. Wilson, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspecting Engineer.

No. 2. Mr. James Coutts, Inspector of Mines, to the Under-Secretary for Mines. Sir, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Thames, 4th May, 1898. I have the honour, in compliance with section 67 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1891," to report as follows on the coal-mines in Provincial District of Auckland for the year ending the 31st December, 1897 :— Ngungubu. Kiripaka Colliery. —This mine has been continuously worked during the year, employing forty-four men in and about the mine. The seam of coal has varied from 2 ft. 10 in. to 10 ft. in thickness, and, as a number of the men have been employed on the thin part of the seam, the output of coal has been considerably decreased. Air-shafts are sunk from the side of the hill as the workings proceed, and the ventilation is good. There is always plenty of timber on hand for the miners' use, and every attention is paid to their safety. The output of coal for the year was 16,248 tons, being a decrease of 3,985 tons as compared with the previous year. No accidents reported from the mine during the year. Whangaeei. Kamo New Mine. —The work in this mine has been limited, the operations being confined to working out small blocks of coal that were near the surface, left by the previous company. The ventilation was good and the mine safe. The output of coal was 1,037 tons, an increase of 164 tons over the previous year. Five men were employed. No accidents. Hikurangi. West Bryan's Mine.- —There has been very little work done in this mine for the last eight months, operations being limited to prospecting and boring for coal. The output of coal for the year was 2,142 tons, a decrease of 7,397 tons as compared with the previous year. Hikurangi Coal Company's Mine. —This mine has been very successfully worked during the year, having produced 30,663 tons, being an increase of 2,683 tons over the previous year. The mine is well opened up, and everything in connection with it is carried out in a systematic manner. The levels and bords are carried along narrow, and large pillars are left; consequently, very little timber is required to keep the workings secure. The ventilation was good and workings safe on my last inspection of the mine, and no accidents of any kind were reported to me during the year.

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