C.—2a,

Employees.—lji connection with coal-winning the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 314, made up as follows: Underground—Coal-hewers, 93; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 135 ■ boys, 3. On the surface —66 men and 17 boys. Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine-timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on railway tickets and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £83,408 Is., as compared with £69,773 Bs. Bd.' for the previous year. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 14s. 5d., and, after deducting stores (explosives), their net return was £1 lis., an increase of 2s. l|d. per day when compared with the figures of last year. Daily Output.—The average daily mine output was 686 tons 12 cwt., and the coal-hewers' average daily output 8 tons 3 cwt., as compared with 719 tons 4 cwt. and 7 tons 17 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause during the year was £8 10s. 9d. Accidents.—During the year there were several minor accidents, and one of a serious nature. The latter refers to a miner who received severe back injuries through a fall of coal when working at the coal-face. The total payments made under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act amounted to £2,186 os. Id., as compared with £3,799 Bs. 4d. for the previous year. On the output produced this works out to a cost of 4-32 d. per ton. Underground Workings.—The bulk of the output during the year was obtained from the extraction of pillars in the Kimbell and Morgan Seams, the balance being obtained from three small development sections known as No. 3 Morgan west; No. 8 bank; Kimbell east; and Anderson dip sections. Development work in the No. 8 bank, Kimbell east, is now completed and pillar-extraction has been commenced. In the Anderson section workings are being extended to the dip, the coal being of excellent quality and approximately 13 ft. in thickness. Development work in the No. 3 bank, Morgan west, is nearing completion, and pillar-extraction in this section should be commenced during the ensuing year. Pillar-extraction.—As both seams are overlain by creeks, it is necessary to leave in pillars of coal to support the roof in their vicinity. The compulsory adoption of this course results in the loss of a large quantity of coal and interferes to a certain extent with straightline _ pillar-extraction thus rendering roof-control difficult. Fairly good results are being obtained with the extraction of pillars in the Morgan Seam, due mainly to its comparative freedom from dirt-bands and its good roof. In the Kimbell Seam conditions are not so favourable, owing to the upper portions of the seam being interspersed with dirt and stone-bands, and the seam having in most places a bad roof. Future Developments.—The future developments of this colliery, so far as the underground workings are concerned, will be mainly carried out to the dip in the Morgan Seam, also to the dip from the Kimbell west level. In anticipation of this work being carried out, a new air-compressor with a capacity of 1,000 cubic feet of air per minute has been installed, and arrangements have been made for the purchase of two suitable winches for this development work. It will also be necessary to replace the present 4 in. air main with a 6 in. one to as far as the Kimbell east junction, and from, that point relay the 4 in. main into the Morgan Seam.. Stone-dusting.—Work under this head has been regularly carried out, the number of samples analysed from the various zones at this colliery was 455. In addition to the latter, 101 samples were analysed from co-operative mines. Plant and Machinery.—The whole of the plant, machinery, and buildings have been maintained in an efficient working-order, and the following new plant and buildings have been erected during the year: A steam-driven air-compressor with a capacity of 1,000 cubic feet of free air per minute has been erected and housed in a new concrete building, which was built large enough to house also the other compressor, which has a capacity of 500 cubic feet of free air per minute. The latter machine has been dismantled, thoroughly overhauled, and erected in the new building. The new engine for the cable-car has been housed in a concrete building, and the replacement of the wooden power-house building at the Middle Brake by a modern reinforced concrete structure is in hand. The landing at the upper end of the Main Haulage Road at the Middle Brake, formerly built of wood, has been regraded and rebuilt on concrete piers and steel girders. A large concrete drain to carry storm-waters was also constructed in conjunction 1 with this work. The following housingaccommodation was also completed during the year: Four double and three single huts, and a small concrete building for the Rope Road boys at the Middle Brake. James Colliery. Goal-winning.—The gross total output for the year was 34,502 tons 5 cwt., an increase of 7,657 tons 3 cwt. when compared with the figures of last year. After making allowances for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year and deducting mine consumption and waste, also taking into account 3,000 tons of slack written off, there remained for disposal 33,688 tons 5 cwt. 1 qr., which is accounted for as follows: —

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