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APPENDIX B. INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. Mr. Frank Reed, M.lnst.M.M., Inspecting Engineer, to the Under-Seoretary fob Minus. Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, 3rd May, 1912. I have the honour to present the annual reports of inspection, together with statistical information in regard to the coal-mines of the Dominion, for the year ended 31st December, 1911. The reports are divided into the following sections : — 1. Output of Mineral. 11. Persons employed. Til. Accidents. IV. General Remarks. Annexures — (a.) Inspectors' Reports. (b.) Mine Officials' Examinations, and List of Certificate-holders. (c.) Miners' Baths. (d.) Statistics of Working Collieries. SECTION I.—OUTPUT OF MINERAL. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows : —

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been a decrease of 131,289 tons in the output as oompared with the previous year. The output during 1910 was unduly high, owing to the Newcastle (New South Wales) strike, which caused orders to be diverted to New Zealand, so that the decline for 1911 should not be regarded as serious, for the year's production was considerably greater than the output during any year prior to 1910.

Class of Coal, &c. Northern District. West Coast Southern Total District. District. Bituminous and semi-bituminous coal ... | Pitch-coal ... Brown coal... Lignite Totals for 1911... Tons. 139,159 258,713 397,872 Tons. Tons. Tons. 1,218,693 505 1,358,357 4,411 4,411 342,380 601,093 102,212 102,212 1,218,693 M9,508 2,066,073 Totals for 1910 ... 400,664 400,664 1,341,032 455,666 2.197.362 1,341,03-2 455,666 2.197.362