C—3b.

1909. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1909.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in accordance with the requirements of Section 118 of "The Coal-mines Act, 1908."

W. C. Gasquoine, Esq., General Manager, State Coal-mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — New Zealand State Coal-mines Office, Wellington, 23rd July, 1909. I have the honour to submit the annual report upon the transactions of the State Coalmines for the period ended 31st March last. The gross output of the mines for the year was 309,906 tons 15 cwt., which, allowing 9,870 tons 16 cwt. for mine consumption and waste, leaves 300,035 tons 19 cwt. for market: this shows an increase of 27,620 tons 3 cwt. over the preceding period. The Point Elizabeth Mine produced 239,887 tons 2 cwt. 1 qr. of marketable coal, which, after allowing for 3,253 tons 5 cwt. afloat, was disposed of in the following manner : — Weight. Value. Tons cwt. qr. £ s. d. To Railways ... ... ... 69,645 11 2 68,312 11 9 ~ other Government Departments ... 5,904 17 1 5,410 10 11 ~ depots ... ... ... ... 62,096 16 0. 55,010 16 2 ~ shipping companies and other private consumers ... ... 98,986 12 2 58,080 18 5 236,633 17 1 £186,814 17 3 Of this quantity, 11,087 tons 15 cwt. 3 qr., value £9,061 ss. 10d., was sold through the medium of the hulks. It will be observed that 161,083 tons 8 cwt. 2 qr. (or slightly more than two-thirds of the whole) was supplied to the general public. The excellence of Point Elizabeth as a household and steam coal has now been established, and the demand far exceeds the present output. The Seddonville Mine produced 60,148 tons 16 cwt. 3 qr. of marketable coal, which, after allowing for 1,105 tons 10 cwt. afloat, was disposed of as follows: — Weight. Value. Tons cwt. qr. £ s. d. To Railways ... ... ... 26,774 1 2 27,845 1 6 ~ other Government Departments ... 504 1 0 394 3 4 ~ depots ... ... ... 3,284 6 0 2,702 1 9 ~ shipping companies and other private consumers 16,592 18 1 9,838 15 5 „ briquette-works 11,888 0 0 3,269 3 0 59,043 6 3 £44,049 5 0 Of this quantity, 609 tons 4 cwt., value £567 10s. 7d., was sold through the medium of the hulks. The briquette-works produced briquettes and eggettes which were disposed of in the following manner : — Weight. Value. Tons li _cwt. qr. £ s. d. To Railways ... ... 10,104 5 0 10,576 13 1 ~ depots ... ... ... ... 1,739 14 3 1,762 6 11 ~ local customers at works ... ... 45 4 2 35 0 6 11,889 4 1 £12,374 0 6

I—C. 3b.