C.--SB

1908. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1908.

Presented to both House* of the General Assembly in accordance with the requirements of Section 108 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1905."

W. C. Gasquoine, Esq., General Manager, State Coal-mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— New Zealand State Coal-mines, Wellington, sth June, 1908. I have the honour to submit the annual report on the transactions of this office for the period ended the 31st March last. The aggregate quantity of coal shipped, including briquettes and eggettes, was 237,309 tons 10 cwt. 3 qr., valued at £199,259 3s. lid. Figured separately, Point Elizabeth Colliery supplied to— Tons cwt. qr. ,- V1,1,,p--i s. d. Railways .. .. .. .. 87,283 8 0 88,497 17 6 Private consumers and shipping companies .. 65,046 8 2 35,951 17 7 Government Departments other than Railways 47,604 1 0 41,493 811 199.933 17 2 £165,943 4 0 Of this quantity, 41,205 tons 16 cwt. 3 qr., valued at £35,858 Bs. 3d., was disposed of through the medium of the depots, and 12,389 tons 11 cwt. 3 qr., valued at £10,016 9s. 4d., through the hulks. The excellent quality of this coal is now realised ; for household use it is daily gaining favour, as evidenced by the large increase in sales through the depots. For steaming purposes it has few if any equals. The Seddonville Colliery supplied to — Tons cwt. qr. , Value - . £ s. d. Railways .. .. .. .. 27,889 19 2 27,826 7 9 Private customers, and shipping companies .. 6,245 14 0 2,779 16 11 Government Departments other than Railways 3,237 19 3 2,709 15 3 37,375 13 1 £33,315 19 11 From the above, 5,094 tons 6 cwt. 3 qr., valued at £5,235 2s. 7d., passed through the briquette-works. The depots disposed of 2,860 tons 18 ewt. 2 qr., valued at £2,397 2s. 7d., of which 381 ton 5 cwt. 1 qr., valued at £389 3s. 7d., were briquettes or eggettes. This mine is now producing a first-class hard coal, and the Railway Department has increased its orders. The coal has given good results as a gas-producer, and there is an increasing demand for that purpose. The mine-manager reports that as the Cave Area is being developed the quality of the coal is improving ; a ready sale should therefore be commanded, both for steam and household use. There is every indication of a brighter future for the Seddonville Colliery. The completion of the briquette-works was somewhat delayed owing to parts of the machinery having gone astray in shipment from England ; as a result, operations were not commenced until July last, but the output has been fairly regular since that date. Private consumers have not yet had time to give this class of fuel a fair trial, but those who have done so speak of it as being very economical, and giving out a good heat. I—C, 3b.