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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1910.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly m accordance with the requirements of Section US of the Coal-mines .In. 1908.

\Y. ('. Gasquoine, Esq., General Manager, State Coal-mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department. Wellington. Sin. New Zealand State Coal-mines Office, Wellington, 27th June, 1910. I have flu- honour to submit the annual report ami balance-sheel ofthe New Zealand State Coal-mines lor the period ended :ilst .March last. The gross outpul of these mines fur the year was 289,U73 tuns, which, after allowing lor mineconsumption and waste left 281,630 tuns lvi market, being a decrease of IN. 106 tons \. hen considered as against the figures of the preceding yearly period. The Point Elizabeth Mine produced 207,449 tons is cut. I qr. nf marketable coal, which was disposed of in the following manner : Tonnage. Value. Tuns cwt. qr. t s. d. Railways .. .. .. 19,466 <i :i .. 18,590 5 6 Depots .. .. .. 58,293 ii :; .. 52,214 In f OtherGovernmenf Departments .. 6,322 It :i .. 5.9211 5 5 Shipping and private consumers .. 93,367 16 0 .. 55,476 8 II Totals .. .. 207.119 IS 1 .. 162,210 19 2 Of this quantity, 12:5 tons II cut. 2qr. screened, 1,539 tons 12 cwt. I qr. unscreened, 6,027 tons IS cwt. 2 qr. steam. 6,484 tons 12 cwt. I qr. small, of a total value of £12.033 :ss. Sd.. were disposed of through the medium of the hulks. This has proved a very profitable means of sale, as well an providing ,i very necessary outlet for surplus small coal. The coal maintains its excellent quality, ami the demand far exceeds the present output. The year's result would have been very much more satisfactory were it not for tlie strike at the mine, which not only caused a considerable reduction in the output, hut entailed large expenditure maintaining the. machinery, and pumping to keep the pit dear nf water. The Seddonville Mine produced 71.150 tons Hi cwt. I qr. of marketable coal, which was disposed of as follows :— Tonnage. Value. Tons cwt. qr. £ s. d. Railways .. .. .. 20,396 2 2 .. 20,983 11 s Depots .. .. .. 8,392 19 3 .. 5,695 13 0 Other Government Departments .. 5:59 17 2 .. I2<i 5 I Shipping and private consumers .. 11,303 II 2 .. 21.74:5 19 II Briquette-works .. .. .. 3,548 5 o .. 975 15 0 Totals 71.150 16 1 .. 19.525 4 11 Of this quantity, 5 tons screened. 1,918 tons 12 cwt. 2 qr. steam. 82 tons 17 cwt. lip-, small, of a total value of £1,802 Bs. 9d.. were sold through the medium of the hulks. The briquette-works produced briquettes ami eggettes, which, after allowing fur those afloat and in stock last year, were disposed of in the following manner : Tonnage. Value. Tons cwt. qr. £ s . d. Railways .. .. .. 3,269 5 2 .. :S.:SS-| t; n Depots' .. .. .. .. S7u 17 11 .. 1,088 0 0 Consumers at works 19 12 n 16 5 (i Totals .. .. .. 1.159 II 2 .. MS* 1| 6 I—C. 3b.

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