MINING IN WAR TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 155, 30 June 1916, Page 2

MINING IN WAR TIME.

SLIGHTLY DECREASED OUTPUT. THE DOMINION'S COAL PRODUCTION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. In the course of the Mines Report presented to-day in the House by Mr. Mac Donald, the Minister remarked tliat, owing to abnormal conditions caused by war and shortage of miners, due to enlistment, there was a small but inevitable decrease in the value of our mineral production last year. This had, however, caused no appreciable inconvenience to our industries or the wel- ' fare of the Dominion. The value of mineral exported, together with that of the coal output, amounted to £3,374,523, being an increase of £631,794 above that recorded for the previous year. It had to be remembered, however, that the exportation of gold was prohibited on August sth, 1914, and was not resumed till the following year, when the accumulated supplies were reported. The actual value of gold and silver produced during 1915 amounted to £1,348,480, as compared with £1,502,649 in 19.14, a decrease of £ 154,160. The output of coal amounted to 2,208,624 ton 3, as compared with 2,275,693 tons during 1914, which was the highest annual output attained in the Dominion. The value of bullion obtained from quartz mines in 1915 was £1,030,524, as a result of treating 484,629 tons of ore, in addition to which scheelitc concentrate, valued, at £29,----989, was also obtained. Dividends distributed by gold quartz mining companies amounted to £237,165. Of this the Waihi Company paid £99,181, Waihi Grand Junction £46.047, Talisman £64,688, Blackwater £24,999, other ■ mines £2250. The value of production from alluvial claims totalled £153,360, as compared with £157,323 during the previous year. A steady decline continues in the dredge mining industry, the number of dredges in commission having fallen from 167. in 1906 to 52 at the beginning of 1916. Production ifrom gold dredging fell from £191,112 in 1914, to £ 164,605 last yeax. The number of lives lost at metalliferous mines during 1915 was ten, the proportion of deaths per 1000 persons employed being 2.3. At collieries nine lives were lost, being a rate of 2.16 per 1000. State coal business during the year ended March last resulted in a profit of £2515, as compared with a loss of £14,152 during, the previous year. Expenditure by the Department on Schools of Mines during the year amounted to £3652, the number of students attending classes at the seven schools being 284, though only 22 presented themselves for examination on any exclusively mining subjects. During the year 34 prospecting parties were granted subsidies totalling £5151. Although no discovery of much commercial value was made, ground had been proved in a few instances which might be profitably worked.