2

C—3

The Seddonville Mine produced 56,557 tons of marketable coal of the following grades : Screened, 18,417 tons : unscreened, 15,386 tons ; nuts, 4,187 tons : bunker, 5,123 tons ; small. 13.444 tons. The following table shows the quantity disposed of : —

The sales from this mine exceed those of last year by 5,697 tons, which was due to the demand by shipping companies, on account of the scarcity of coal for steaming purposes, during the period under review. Owing to the quantity of soft or unsaleable coal in this mine the time is fast approaching when operations will have to be abandoned. The briquette-works manufactured briquettes and eggettes, which were disposed of to —Railways, 2,292 tons : depots. C9B tons ; private consumers, 17 tons —in all 3,007 tons, or 5,557 tons less than the previous year. This decrease is due to the works having been closed down early in the year on account of the cost of manufacture and transmission to the various centres exceeding the price at which this fuel could be disposed of. Of the total quantity of coal handled from our mines the Railway Department had 44,990 tons screened, 7,627 tons unscreened, 2,072 tons screened nuts, and 2,292 tons of briquettes and eggettes. and only 7 tons of small ; whereas other consumers had 73,269 tons of steam and small coal. The Railway coal is sold freight paid to the various centres, but the steam and small is mostly sold f.o.b. Greymouth and Westport. The sum of £52,293 18s. 6d. was paid for carriage by steamers during the year. The railway and development works at Point Elizabeth No. 2 Colliery are being pushed ahead and, as previously stated, should be turning out coal very shortly. The ways, working-plant, &c, in and about the mines are being maintained in good order. I am pleased to be able to report that the officers and men connected with the various branches of the State coal-mines have all worked energetically and well. Attached are the reports of the Managers at Point Elizabeth and Seddonville, giving necessary detailed information. In conclusion I would point out that the increase in steamer freights and the extra cost of winning coal from the mines will render necessary the raising of the price to consumers. I have, &c, W. C. Gasquoine, General Manager.

The Manager, Point Elizabeth State Coal-mine, to the Under-Seckktary, Mines Department. Wellington. Sir,— Greymouth, 14th May, 1912. I have the honour to forward my annual report on the work done at the Point Elizabeth State Collieries during the year ended the 31st March, 1912. No. 1 Colliery. Coal-winning. The gross total output for the year was 204,872 tons, of which the No. 1 section produced 74,672 tons 15 cwt. and No. 2 section 130,199 tons 5 cwt. ; and, deducting mine consumption, there remained for disposal 187,921 tons. The colliery worked on 236£ days : thus the net average output was just over 808 tons per workingday —just 100 tons per day less than for 1910-11. The difference between time worked and the possible working-time is accounted for as follows : (a) Pay Saturdays, 26 days ; (6) other union holidays as per agreement, 17 ; (c) cavilling. 2 : (d) bar unworkable, 19 ; (c) want of shipping. 9 : (/) accident. 2] : (g) funeral of union member. 1 day : total time lost, 76J days.

To whom i Depots New Zealand railways Other Government Departments Briquette-works Private consumers B ] Screened. Ui Tons. 202 17,850 19 366 Insoreened. Tons. 50 418 209 14^718 Nuts. Tons. 1.222 2.072 99 815 ruts. Bunker. Tons. 5,129 inn] :cr. r. ) _L Small. Tons. 802 7 2,924 9,721 Imal , Total. Tons. 2,276 20,347 327 2,924 30,749 Totals 18,437 15,395 4,208 5,129 — 13,454 56,623