C.—2A

The gross output from the colliery since its inception amounts to 622,519 tons 9 cwt. During the year the colliery worked on 246 days 6 hours, an increase of 20 days 6 hours when compared with the previous year. The possible working-days, excluding Saturdays and union holidays, were 266.* The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : Anzac Day, I day ; May Day, 1 day ; strike re truckers, 4 days 2 hours ; electrical defect, 1 day ; Labour Day, 1 day ; funeral of victims of Kaye and party disaster, 1 day ; Christmas holidays, 10 days. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 42 men and 2 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Hewers, 16 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 21. On the surface : 5 men and 2 boys. Expenditure.-^The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £17,885 14s. 2d., as compared with £20,353 14s. Bd. for the previous year. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £1 14s. Bd. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £1 Bs. 2d., a decrease of Is. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 92 tons 19 cwt., and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 8 cwt., as compared with 109 tons 11 cwt. and 6 tons 12 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £117 os. lid. Stone-dusting.—Work under this heading has been continued. The total number of samples taken from the James and Strongman Collieries and analysed was 161. Underground Workings. —Coal-winning operations during the year were carried on in both pillar and solid workings. Pillar-extraction has been continued to the east and west of the main north headings. Development Work. —Development work is still proceeding in a north-easterly direction, and to the west has been stopped adjacent to the fault, as the coal at this point is of an inferior quality. East of the main north heading the places are approaching a fault-line which will cut off all development in this direction. Repairs. —All necessary repairs to haulage-roads, &c., have been carried out. Serious Accident.—The only serious accident at the James Colliery occurred when a collier fell from a canch, struck the end of a rail, and injured his spine. Strongman Colliery. Coal-winning. —The gross output for the year was 77,862 tons 7 cwt., as compared with 43,836 tons 9 cwt. for the previous year, an increase of 34,025 tons 18 cwt. After deducting mine consumption and waste, and making allowances for stocks on hand, there remained for disposal 77,054 tons 8 cwt. 1 qr., which is accounted for as follows : —

The gross output from the colliery since its inception amounts to 123,196 tons 6 cwt. During the year the colliery worked on 247 days 6 hours, an increase of 22 days 6 hours when compared with the previous year. The possible working-days, excluding Saturdays and union holidays, were 266*. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : Anzac Day, 1 day ; May Day, 1 day ; strike re truckers, 4 days 2 hours ; Labour Day, 1 day ; funeral of victims of Kaye and party disaster, 1 day ; Christmas holidays, 10 days. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 165 men and 19 boys, made up as follows —Underground : Hewers, 47 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 81, boys, 7. On the surface : 37 men and 12 boys. Expenditure.- 'We total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £72,754 9s. 7d., as compared with £4-1,201 18s. lid. for the previous year. Capital expenditure, £13,337 ss. 6d., as compared with £15,558 17s. 2d.

* Includes five back Saturdays worked.

3

Screened. | Unscreened, j Nuts. j Peas. 3Fines. Railway. J Mixtures. Total. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. 14,842 17 2 5,104 10 3 6,870 11 2 10,159 0 3 3,493 0 3 2,323 10 0 ... 42,793 11 1 Railed Canterbury 11,969 4 2 1,196 2 3 3,343 11 1 3,177 3 1 2,083 11 0 695 9 0 .. 22,465 1 3 Local sales .. 2,249 7 1 979 15 2 1,125 11 2 239 1 3 481 9 3 3,976 0 1 .. 9,051 6 0 Mine sales .. • • 70 13 3 .. .. .. . . . . 70 13 3 Sales to workmen, .. 1,655 93 .. .. .. .. .. 1,655 9 3 and free issues Stock in bin and yard .. 25 0 0 35 0 0 43 19 2 40 0 0 .. .. 143 19 2 Stock on wharf .. 255 19 0 7 9 0 6 8 0 173 9 1 .. .. .. 443 5 1 Stock" on dump .. .. .. . • • • 431 1 0 .. .. 431 1 0 29,317 8 1 9,039 1 2 11,381 2 1 13,792 14 2 6,529 2 2 6,994 19 1 .. 77,054 8 1 Used on works .. . . 430 0 0 .. . . .. .. .. 430 0 0 Waste .. .. .. 1,502 7 0 .. .. .. .. .. 1,502 7 0 Totals .. 29,317 8 1 10,971 8 2 11,381 2 1 .13,79214 2 6,529 2 2 6,994 19 1 .. 78,986 15 1