MINES STATEMENT

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4483, 3 September 1940, Page 2

MINES STATEMENT

AVe have received the annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion as presented to Parliament bv the Hon, P. C. AA r cbb .Minister of Mines. The value of minerals ..including kauri gum, .exported and of the -coal used in the Dominion during the year 1939. .was £4.132.476 as compared with £3,672.075 during 1939. The minerals obtained by mining were gold and silver, platinum, ironore. stone, pumice, coal, tungsten ore (scheelite). manganese ore, silioia sand Fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth and mica. No quicksifver was produced during the year, as compared with 7601hsi (£190) in 1938. During the vear 569,2970z. of bullion valued at £1.566.977 was. produced, an increase in quantity of 59,538 ozs. and in value of £352,923 over that of .the previous year. The gold content of the bullion is, estimated at 178,955,0zs valued at £1,53(1,857. The number of persons ordinarily employed at or about mines in the Take County diming the year ended 31st December,, 1939, was as follows: gold-quartz mines. J: gold alluvial mines, 99; gold dredges. 6: mines other than gold or coal, 38: total 147. The Goldfield* (Big Beach) dredge was worked early in 1939. but later on closed down and the company went into liquidation. The dredge buckets had a capacity of 8 cubic feet, IS buckets being discharged a minute. The engine was of 395h.p., worked by electricity. The ' average depth of ground dredged was 23ft, 640z. of gold, valued at £5(00. mas obtained before the dredge closed down. Central Shotover Gold-raining Co, Ltd. produced 1790z of gold valued at £I3BO during the year- Sandhills, Gold-mining Co. Ltd obtained 940z valued at £72,4; Short and party Ltd. procured 55ozs (£384) and the Golden Arrow Mining Co. Ltd. obtained 86oz (£658). fn the Glenorchy district, sdieelite mining operations have been carried on during the major portion of the year. On account of the outbreak of Avar and the necessity of ensuring that New Zealand ore would not reach enemy countries', the export of scheelite concentrates was prohibited, and only a small proportion of the output was sold during 1939. AVork was not resumed at the Alooaxlight. Akiliev .Gold (No Liability) after last winter . During the year the major portion of the steel fluming on the Alaori Point beach, previously worked by Skippers Ltd. was dismantled and removed, together with other plant not required by the tribute rs. The sheet piling ]ias been sold to the Public AA'orks Department. During the latter part of the year the tributers reconditioned the plant. on. the river bed below Skippers township and operations were resumed in the river bed. 191 tons, of ore were sent to the treatment plant at Sawyers Gully from the Crystal Quartz mine Skippers, A total of 99 men (inclusive of the companies) has been employed in the alluvial mines of the Lake County winning 838oz 7 dwt. 16,gr. of gold valued at £6.476 3s’ 3d.