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2

The quantity of gold bullion produced during the year was 27,229 oz. less than in the previous year, and the value less by £61,227. This reduction was principally due to the diminished returns from quartz-mining in Waihi Borough and Tauranga County, though decreases were also shown in the gold got from dredging and from alluvial mining. COAL-MINING. The output of several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows :—

There were 2,114,995 tons of coal produced during 1925, as against 2,083,207 tons during the previous year, an increase of 31,788 tons. This increase was wholly of brown coals, of which the output was 72,408 tons greater than in 1924. The output of bituminous coal declined by 40,278 tons, and lignite was less by 342 tons. During the year the coal-mines in the Dominion have been practically free from any serious industrial trouble, and ample supplies of coal have been available for all the requirements of the country. The coal market, however, was dull during most of the year and short time was worked at some of the mines. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1925 and 1924 : —

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at whicli 1,749 men were ordinarily employed, there were three fatal accidents and one serious non-fatal accident whereby one person was seriously injured. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 1,972 men, there were three persons killed and five persons met with serious injuries. There were 4,777 persons ordinarily employed about the coal-mines, and there were eight persons killed and twenty-five persons seriously injured.

Output of Coal during 1925. Total Output Class of Coal. Northern West Coast I Southern „ S° Distriot District District Total. a 0 ly^s - (North Island). (South Island).j (South Island). Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bituminous and sub-bitu- 131,540 913,186 ... 1,044,726 37,983,397 minous Brown... ... ... 540,863 37,771 332,791 911,425 19,901,452 Lignite ... ... ... 439 158,405 158,844 3,834,494 Totals for 1925 ... 672,403 951,396 491,196 2,114,995 61,719,343 Totals for 1924 ... 637,525 990,612 455,070 2,083,207 59,604,348 _j : __

Inspection District. Totals. Classification. Q 77 Northern West Coast (of , . ( Increase (North Island). South Island). (rea T , of ®° uth 1925 - 1924 - or ' Island). Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 788 536 342 1,666 1,830 Dec. 164 Ironstone .. .. .. .. 83 .. 83 28 Inc. 55 Coal .. .. .. 1,326 2,394 1,057 4,777 4,869 Dec. 92 Stone-quarries under the Stone- 1,424 136 412 1,972 1,748 Inc. 224 quarries Act Totals .. .. 3,538 3,149 1,811 8,498 8,475 Inc. 23