37

C—2

In the West Coast District the output of bituminous coal increased by 82,233 tons, the output of brown coal increased by 6,205 tons, and the output of lignite increased by 731 tons, a total increase of 89,169 tons. The coal-mines in the West Coast District, and particularly those in the Buller County, suffered considerable damage from the earthquake of the 17th June. There were many large falls of roof and sides, and some damage to plant. Following the principal shock there was a succession of minor shocks at short intervals during the succeeding ten days. The apprehension of still another major earthquake caused by these after-shocks, and the damage done to roads, railways, and communications by the principal shock, rendered the mines in the Buller district idle for a fortnight, and greatly reduced the output for the months of June and July. In the Southern District the output of brown coal increased by 18,390 tons and the output of lignite by 3,583 tons, a total increase of 21,973 tons. The capacity of the mines operating in the Waikato is well ahead of the market, with the result that much short time is worked, particularly in the summer months. Through the increasing use of hydro-electricity for power purposes in the North Island it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a market for Waikato slack. The Waikato coalowners are attempting to solve this problem by erecting near Rotowaro a plant for the low-temperature carbonization of slack. The number of co-operative parties working mines is increasing, likewise the output from these. They work areas where the coal is too thin or too faulted to be worked by a company, and a remarkable fact is the output per man produced under the adverse conditions under which they work. Increased use is being made of coal-cutting machines, and excellent results are being obtained in some cases. Good examples of what can be done with arc-wall machines in rapidly opening out a mine are given in Inspector Barclay's report on the Renown and Rotowaro Collieries. This type of coal-cutting machine is also being installed in at least two mines in the Grey district. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.

Total Oiitnnt for Total Output to Number of Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. 1/wu 0 31st December, Persons 1929. ordinarily employed. Northern District. Tons. Tons. Hikurangi .. .. .. Hikurangi .. Sub-bituminous 8,227 347,989 45 Wilson's .. .. .. ,, .. ,, 66,468 487,355 187 Rotowaro .. .. .. Huntly .. Brown .. 155,521 1,359,939 271 Pukemiro .. .. .. ,, .. ,, .. 156,786 1,759,503 278 Waipa .. .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 56,438 1,038,275 124 Glen Afton .. .. .. Glen Afton .. „ .. 167,197 1,003,129 294 Renown .. .. .. Waikokowai .. ,, .. 72,535 99,090 138 West Coast District. Westport-Stockton .. .. Ngakawau .. Bituminous .. 151,716 2,642,442 320 Millerton .. .. .. Millerton .. „ .. 203,071 7,903,371 465 Denniston .. .. .. Denniston .. ,, .. 200,399 9,785,949 507 Westportmain .. .. .. Westport .. ,, .. 36,227 128,068 55 Cardiff Bridge .. .. .. Seddonville .. „ .. 25,518 165,436 27 Paparoa .. .. .. Roa .. Semi-bituminous 20,436 624,845 35 Blackball .. .. .. Blackball .. Sub-bituminous 79,845 3,801,351 230 Liverpool (State).. .. .. Rewanui .. Bituminous .. 137,593 2,031,397 346 James (State) .. .. .. Rapahoe .. Sub-bituminous 41,592 227,137 80 Dobson .. .. .. Dobson .. Bituminous .. 139,461 328,152 299 Wallsend .. .. .. Brunnerton .. ,, .. 46,316 252,426 141 Southern District. Shag Point .. .. .. Shag Point .. Brown .. 13,290 263,160 48 Kaitangata and Castlehill (3 collieries) Kaitangata .. „ .. 89,194 4,690,364 269 Taratu .. .. .. .. ,, .. Lignite .. 21,621 701,623 35 Linton (2 collieries) .. .. Nightcaps .. Brown .. 115,334 614,639 160 Wairaki (2 collieries) .. .. ,, .. ,, .. 52,809 326,926 110 Mossbank (2 collieries) .. .. ,, .. ,, .. 49,640 263,882 74 147 other collieries .. .. All coalfields .. Various .. 428,630 6,781,022 959 Collieries abandoned or suspended, &c. Various .. ,, .. .. 23,671,249 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 2,535,864 71,298,699 5,497

Average Number of Persons employed during 1929. Inspection District. — Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Southern .. .. .. .. 227 699 926 West Coast .. .. .. .. 768 2/264 3,032 Northern .. .. •• •• 375 1,164 1,539 Totals, 1929 .. .. 1,370 4,127 5,497 Totals, 1928 .. .. 1,366 4.010 ! 5,376