C.—2

PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1930 and 1929 :—

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. Despite the fact that every effort is made to maintain safe working-conditions at mines and quarries, the mining industry is not without its quota of accidents, but, fortunately, having regard to the number of men employed, the percentage is not large. In metalliferous mines, at which 1,740 men were ordinarily employed, one person was killed and three persons seriously injured. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 1,958 men, there was one fatal accident and seven serious accidents. In coal-mines, where 5,867 persons were ordinarily employed, fourteen persons were killed and twenty-three persons seriously injured. SOCIAL AMENITIES AT MINING TOWNSHIPS. Grants were authorized during last year from the State Coal-mines Account for street-lighting, renovating the Memorial Institute, and for improvements to the Domain at Runanga. At Seddonville a bowling-green has been completed, largely owing to the efforts of Mr. J. Smith, assisted by local residents ; a bowling trophy, known as the Williams Cup, has been presented by Mr. Williams, of Westport, for competition among the country clubs, and matches for this trophy are keenly contested; at Granity the local band, which runs the picture-hall, installed a "talkie motion-picture machine, and the enterprise has proved entirely successful. The Ohai Recreation Association acquired eight acres in Ohai Township, the cost of same being secured by subscription ; a football-ground and two asphalt tennis-courts have been put down on this area and are in use. The facilities previously provided are being well maintained and patronized by the miners and by their friends and families. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the 1930-31 field season the Geological Survey continued the detailed examination of the Te Kuiti, Eketahuna, and Amuri Subdivisions. In the Te Kuiti district lime is extensively quarried for agricultural purposes. There are many indications that petroleum is present in the Eketahuna district, oil companies have spent much time and money in detailed examinations, and in past years several wells have been sunk, unfortunately without success.. Large deposits of limestone occur in the Amuri district and some phosphatic layers of too low a grade to be profitably worked at present. The area is of great scientific interest, for here the mountain

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Inspection District. Totals. Classification. , n . I Southern I Increase (rest of South 1930. | 1929. j or (North Island). South Island). Island) _ j Decrease . Gold, silver, and tungsten ore 729 470 365 1,564 1,485 Inc. 79 Ironstone .. .. .. .. 120 .. 120 20 ,. 100 Cinnabar .... .. 54 .. • • 54 59 Dec. 5 Sulphur .. .. . . 25 .. . ■ 25 15 Inc. 10 Coal .. .. .. 1,814 3,120 933 5,867 5,497 „ 370 Stone-quarries under the Stone- 1,395 138 425 1,958 2,130 Dec. 172 quarries Act Oil .. .. .. 51 ! 51 30 Inc. 21 Silica-sand .. .. .. .. •• 2 2 2 Totals .. .. 4,068 | 3,848 1,725 9,641 9,238 Inc. 403