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COAL-MINING. The production of coal for the past year is the highest yet attained, being 1,729,536 tons, which exceeds the output during 1905 by 143,780 tons. The output from the three mining districts is shown in the following table :—

Comparative Statement of Coal and Lignite, raised during the Years 1905 and 1906.

The comparative tonnage of the various classes of coal, &c, for the years 1906 and 1905 is summarised as follows :—

The total recorded output of the various classes of coal, lignite, and oil-shale is now 23,430,955 tons. The following statement shows the production, &c, of the principal collieries :—

Inspection District. Output for 1906. Increase or Decrease, ! , nntnut for 1905 Increase for 1906 and 1905. :j 0utput for 1905 - 1905 over 1904. Tons. Tons. Tons. Increase 41,310 : 259,876 17,359 106,688 856,227 19,277 Decrease 4,218 469,653 11,282 Northern ... West Coast Southern ... Tons. 301,186 962,915 465,435 Totals */ * 1,729,S36 Increase 143,780 1,585,756 47,918

Class of Coal. Output for 1906. Output for 1905. Increase for 1906. Bituminous and semi-bituminous ... Pitch-coal Tons. 1,077,408 24,961 521,003 106,164 Tons. 965,083 23,072 496,936 100,665 Tons. 112,325 1,889 24,067 5,499 Brown coal Lignite Totals 1,729,536 1,585,756 143,780

' I Total Number of Men ordinarily employed. Out (or | Total Output Name of Collierv. Locality. Class of Coal. to 31st December, 1906. _.___ Northern District. Tons. j Tons. Hikurangi Coal Company (Limited)... Hikurangi... j S emi-bitu- 52,709| 463,713 minous Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited) ... Huntly ... Brown ... 152,588 1,562,539 Northern Collieries Company (Limited) Hikurangi... S emi-bitu- 46,711, 185,473 minous West Coast District. ( Millerton, 264,001 2,036,706 Westport Coal Company (.Limited) Westport < \ bituminous (Coalbrookdale Collieries) (. i Denniston... 307,555,4,416,755 j Seddonvnle'Bituminous 36,713| 118,743 (Westport) New Zealand State Coal-mines . Point Eliza- „ 163,800 355,871 beth(Grey-i ' mouth) Blackball Coal Company (Limited) ... Blackball... „ 73,689 848,189| Tyneside Proprietary Coal Company Brunnerton „ 61,547 179,893, (Limited) 76 263 70 408 586 90 260 109 170 _ . Southern District. New Zealand Coal and Oil Company Kaitangata Brown ... 97,820 2,100,547 (Limited) Nightcaps Coal Company (Limited) ... Nightcaps...: „ ... 48,976| 518,439 Other collieries, in all districts ... ... I Various .. 423,427<10,644,037 331 83 1,246 Totals ... ... ... •■■ ... 1,729,536'23,430,955 1,729,536, 23,430,955 3,692