THE MINES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12867, 27 July 1907, Page 5

THE MINES OF NEW ZEALAND.

(special to "the fkss.") WELLINGTON, July 26. The grow value of nil minerak produced during 1906 amount«d to £3,871,811. being £349,025 in excess ot 1905. The Mince Statement statee that the colony -has nw tho distinct-ion ot posv-eseing in the Waihi Gold Mining Company and the \\estport Coal Company the most- productive gold mining and* the third most productive coineiy company in Australasia. The quantity of gold entered for exportation through the Customs for the year 1906 wae as follows:— Oμ. Auckland 295,417 Nelson ... ... '2.944 "West Coast ... 104,743 Otago and Southland 160,739 Total 563,848 In tho Mines Department's annual report it is stated in regard to quartz milling that as developments prooeea satisiactory premise of the future p;esperky of tho quartz mining industry, is obtained. At"°thr> 'Waihi mine rne Martha ami-other r*s>Ls are maintaining their valuta, while T '» v depth at the Tiilisniau ltulir. 15,01)3 fee-tvertical, has boon j»rov>ed on the vein, and th« dividends deoianpd» are increasing in value. On ih6 'JL'hames field puyable gold has been obtaine<l in th© May Vueen mine ate depth of 7i'O feet, and at the Weiotahi "mine development work at the lower levels is meeting with success. At neetton a depth ot 17.000 feet has'taen<-attiiined, and divi<lend» are still forttlcoming at one mino after thirty-fhreV .years" sucoeestul operation-s - . In "the tMato of Victoria reof .mining is now lieing carried out profitably at a depth of 51 7~> feet, and from the evidence tho above mines supply it may reasonably be anticipated that tho otrong quarts veins of this country will prove as permanent as those- now worked in Victoria. Operations at the State coal mine* have been extended, and depots are now established at Wellington, Christchurch and Wanganui far the sale of the ooiil to the The result of prospecting on the coal reserve in tne vicinity of the Point Elizabeth oolliery luts disclosed valuaole seams of coal or v highly bituminous nature. The profits of both State minre during the financial year amounted to £8460. The increase in the kauri gum export continues. The total export had at the end of 1906 reached 275,319 tone (value £13,443,017), and about f.H thousand diggers are engaged on. the gum fields of the colony.