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COAL-MINING. The output of several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows : —

PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1927 and 1926 : —

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at which 1,733 men were ordinarily employed, there was no fatal "accident and only one serious accident. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 2,341 men, one person was killed and five persons met with serious injuries.. There were 5,374 persons ordinarily employed about the coal-mines, and there were ten persons killed and twenty-seven persons seriously injured. SOCIAL AMENITIES AT MINING TOWNSHIPS. Further facilities for recreation of miners and others at mining townships have been provided during the past year. At Roa a tennis-court, financed by the residents of the district, has been constructed. The residents of Denniston, with the assistance of the Westport Coal Co., provided a bowling-green for the use of miners and the public. The facilities provided for athletic sports, &c, in mining towns continue to be extensively used and patronized by the miners and the general public.

Dividends paid by Registered Companiea. Number of Productive Claims and Dredgoa. Production of Bullion. Class of Gold-mining. 1927. 1926. 1927. I 1926. 1927. 1926. juartz .. lluvial ■redging Oz. .. 480,978 10,402 15,040 £ 449,281 40,154 60,731 Oz. £ 530,087 442,674 11,338 43,659 13,104 52,969 £ 49,591 2,155 6,766 £ 55,841 3,725 22 346 4 21 288 5 Totals 506,420 I 550,166 554,529 I 539,302 58,512 i 59,566 I 372 314

Class of Coal. Northern Distriot (North Island). Output of Coal during 1927. West Coast Southern Distriot Distriot (South Island). (South Islan ) Total. Total Output to the End of 1927. Tons. 172,348 Tons. 1,118,181 Tons. Tons. 1,290,529 Tons. 40,470,314 Bituminous and sub - bituminous Brown [ignite 575,182 37,792 218 341,462 121,557 954,436 121,775 21,761,713 4,094,055 Totals for 1.927 .. 747,530 1,156,191 463,019 2,366,740 66,326,082 Totals for 1926 .. 1,122,176 463,974 2,239,999 63,959,342 653,849

Classification. Inspection District. Northern West Coast (of i , S , ou f™,, (North Island). South Island). (re j s J^? Inspection District. Totals. Increase or 1927. 1926. Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten ore Ironstone Sulphur Coal Stone-quarries under the Stonequarries Act Oil sr, and tungsten o are 804 507 352 507 70 352 1,663 70 6 5,374 2,341 1,706 64 12 5,159 2,243 Dec. 43 Inc. 6 Dec. 6 Inc. 215 ,, 98 70 rries under the St i Ant, 6 1,478 2,935 961 tone- 1,671 274 396 2,935 274 961 396 : Act 29 3 3 32 23 ,. 9 Totals 3,988 3,789 1,709 9,486 9,207 Inc. 279