NEW ZEALAND MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1927, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND MINES

MORE COAL PRODUCED. The gold production figures for 1926 emphasise the tendency toward diminished output which has been manifest over recent years, showing a decreased activity on the various fields 'throughout New Zealand. Coal on the other hand continues to hold its own in production, and records an increase over 1925. During 1926, 554,529pz. of gold and silver, valued at £539,302, were recovered, while during 1925 the output was 609,9640 z. of a total value of £533,137. Coal produced last year reached 2,233,463 tons, and in 192.5, 1,976,912 ■tons, the value being assessed on the 'basis of £1 per ton. Although the mining of .tungsten ore, which is known to exist in marketable quantities in the Dominion, fell off considerably after the war in sympathy with the decreased price on ■the Home market, a brightening of the steel-working trades in England seems. ,to indicate that there will again be a market -for this metal. Never can it he hoped, however, that the high figdire of £3 8/- per unit which prevailed during the war will be commanded again.

During last year, New Zealand produced 9 tons lewt. of tungsten ore, ■valued at £475, which represented a heavy drop from the previous year, when 31 tons 3cw.t., of a value of £2,255 were produced. Other figures are given: —

✓ £ Platinum 31oz 313 Iron • • • ,. ,3,997 tons 19,585 Stone — 516,075 Pumice .. .2,358 tons ' 8,081 Sulphur ... 594 .tons ,5,217,