GOLD PRODUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 276, 19 November 1913, Page 8

GOLD PRODUCTION.

Advance sheets of the " New Zealand Official Year Book," relating to mining, manufactories and works, have 'been issued iby Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician. The decrease in gold production during the past year—nearlyhalf a million sterling—was largely due to the prolonged strikes at Waihi, Eeefton, and Blacicwater. by which most of the principal quartz mines were rendered idle from the 13th Hay to 2nd October, 1912. Dredges also "showed a decline in gold production to the extent of £40,5G7. There are still S7 gold dredges at work in tho Dominion, of which 72 arc operating in Otago and Southland, and 15 on the W&st Coast. Five dredges were dismantled. During the year dividends amounting to £38,840, were paid by 2S dredges, the property of registered companies. The profits of privately-owned dredges are unobtainable, though it is stated in Dunedin that many of them pay handsomely. The number of alluvial mining claims worked in New Zealand last year was 25fi. and these produced gold" to the vaJue of £266.322, as compared with £275.210 for the year 1011. and £158,464 for the year 1910. This class of mining, is greatly nffected by the rainfall, which has been more eopiom; during the past two years than it was in l!) 10. By the systematic testing of alluvial ground •with the kerbstone drill? obtained from the United States by the Mines Department and private owners, this system of mining haA been rendered less speculative -than, it ha* btea ia tic past.