63

0.—2

1912, when the New South Wales average was 751 tons. These remarkable averages, which greatly exceed those attained in other parts of the Empire, are due to the unusual thickness of the coalseams generally, which is favourable to coal-mining. An analysis of the total output for 1916 shows that whereas there has been an increase of 10'21 per cent, in tonnage, the number of persons employed at collieries has declined 4 per cent. The increase in tonnage may be attributed to more regular work at the collieries. The decline in the number of miners is due to voluntary enlistment. The quantity of coal imported into New Zealand during 1916 was 293,956 tons, as compared with 353,471 tons for 1915. During 1916 no new collieries entered upon the production stage, but preparations to lay down one small colliery were commenced near A.voca, on the Christchurch - Arthur's Pass Railway, a distance of sixty miles by rail from the former, and at an altitude of about 1,800 ft. or more above sea-level. This proposed colliery is the property of a newly formed English company named Mount Torlesse Collieries (Limited). The coal to be worked is a brown coal. At the following collieries operations ceased during the year owing either to exhaustion or the unprofitable nature of the operations: Ralph's, Mangapapa (Mokau), Springfield, and Allandale. The output of coal from each coalfield is as follows : —

The production from, and the number of persons employed at, the principal collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

Coalfield. Output during 1916. Total Output to End of 1916. r North Auckland Waikato (including Mokau) Nelson Buller Tons. 126,506 359,608 26,147 714,015 11,402 544,071 19,465 281,552 174,369 Tons. 3,512,634 4,560,665 308,671 14,401,071 264,509 8,710,458 718,597 8,853,137 2,760,429 Inangahua .. Grey Canterbury Otago Southland Totals 2,257,135 44,090,171

Name of Colliery. Locality. Class ol Coal. i for Total Output , to 31st December, 1916. Total Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Northern District. Hikurangi ... Hikurangi... Tons. Semi-bitu- 65,525 minous Tons. 65,522 Tons. 1,068,014 110 Taupiri Extended and Balph's Pukemiro ... ... ... Waipa ... Huntly Pukemiro... Glen Massey Brown ... 186,62c 81,585 qq mt 186,623 81,582 88,105 3,358,212 92,59-1 237,981! 386 122 108 88,10£ West Coast District. Millerton ... Deunisfcon Mangatini Dunollie ... Bituminous 274,785 274,782 245,659 189,430 140,917 4,972,665 ! 7,400,638 1,036,370 2,186,306 424 480 230 215 Coalbrookdale 245,655 1 on a o( Westport-Stockton I Point Elizabeth... State Coal-mines - (Liverpool Blackball Bewanui ... Blackball ... 189,43( Semi-bitu- 140, ■91'i minous Bituminous 136,921: flAO or i 136,928 203,811 243 325 326,615 2,455,865 203,81] Southern District. Kaitangata Nightcaps... Kaitangata and Castle Hill Nightcaps Brown ... 119,04* 119,045 84,166 3,400,221 1,181,011 325 113 84,16( Other New Zealand collieries All coalfields Various ... 440,56* 440,565 16,333,682 907 Totals 2,257,13! 2,257,135! 44,090,171 3,988