THE MINES STATEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12418, 30 July 1902, Page 5

THE MINES STATEMENT.

INCREASED OUTPUT OF MINERALS. (From Oup. Ows Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 29. According to the Mines Statement, which win presented by the Hon. Mr M'Gowan i to-day, during the year 1901 the production .of gold and silver and also of coal 'and 'lignite was considerably in excess of that of the previous year, whilst the output of kauri gum and miscellaneous minerals shows a falling-off, t 'I he gross values of the mineral produc-

tions, including kauri gum, for 1901, iiow-c-vev, show an increase of ovc-v £250,030 ns compared with those of the year 1900, and doubtless tho increase would have been greater still but for tbo fact that tho pbenoinenalljr high state of some of the rivers interfered with gold dredging operations during a considerable portion of tho year. The total production of gold and silver Was 1,026 ; 6950z, valued at £1,819,041, and shows an increase in value of £340,560, ns compared with tho production of the preceding year. The output of other minerals, in-' eluding coal and lignite, lias been 1,248,161 tons, representing a value of £1,126,842, or 141,030 tons in c-xcoss of the previous yeas'. Kauri gum to tho amount of 7541 "tons', valued at £456,114, wis obtained. The output of gold in 1991 was 455,461055, valued at £1,753,783, as against 373,G160z, valued at £1,439,602, in 1900, The total value of gold, silver, coal ,and other minerals (including kauri gum) produced up to tho end of 1901 was £79,060,964. The output of kauri gum lias fallen off very considerably • during the last year, tho returns showing a decreased output of 2617 tons (representing a. value of £176,179) as compared with that of the year 1900. The quantity of gold entered for exportation through the Customs during tho year ISOI was as follows:—Auckland, 191,9630z; _ • Marlborough, 1330ji ; Nelson, 1 72120z; West Const, 113,2560z; Canterbury, 220.».;, Otago and Southland, 143,9400z. ' The total number of dredges in the West ; Coast and southern district is as follows:— ' Working, 183; buildings 59; standing (some 1 having been sold for removal), 33; under- 1 going removal, 19;— total, 224. It is osti- 1 mated that this branch of mining finds direct J employment for over 2000 persons, apart altogether from the men employed in build- ' ing dredges and machinery and in effecting : tlmlr ivmntra. !

tiioiv repairs. | The sum of £1509 10s 9tl was expended in i subsidies for the year ending March 31, 1802, I to prospecting associations and parties of ? minors actually engaged in prospecting for minerals. Tlio total expenditure on Schools of Mines in the colony, including grants to (ho school in connection with, the Otago University, during the past 17 years amounts to £33,580 17s 3d. The output of coal and lignite for 1901 shows an advance of 133.618 tons os compared with the production o£ the previous, i year. To this the output of shale from' tli» mine of the New Zealand Coal and Oil . Company (Limited) at Orepuki, amouuting ■ to 12,048 tons, must ho added, thus swelling ; the increased production to 145,696 tons, the ' total tonnage being 1,239,G56 ton? as compaved with 1,093,990 tons for the year 1900. I The increases for the several districts are j as follows:—Northern district, 14,781 tons; • West Coast district, 75,352 tons; - southern ■ district, 55,563 tons. The total production i for the colony is represented l>y ah output of 754,953 tons of. bituminous and semi-bitu-minous coal, 14.584 tons of pitch coal, 405,152 tons of brown coal. 52,949 tons of lignite, and 12,048 tons of oil shale. It may lie interesting to note that the total recorded output o[ coal and lignite in tlie colony up to the end of last year was nearly 16.000,000 tons. i "In concluding my statement," remarks the Minister, 11 1 may venture- the opinion that the mining industry generally is in a Healthy condition. It is true that claims become worked out year by year, and the shallow gold diggings worked- by small parties or individual miners are being exhausted, but with jmproved appliances and

gold, ground whioh a few years ago was considered 'poor will yet ho worked to advantage. Several gold mining properties on which much capital has been spent in opening and development during the Inst few years are likely to be Steady producers for come years to conic. The coal mining industry is growing. the output year by year showing a decided increase. It is to lid hoped that the proposal to establish

works in tho colony for the manufacture of iron from the deposits of ore at Paiapara and ironsand at Taranaki will bo carried into effect and becomo a 'succcss. mi u "', CaM 'ninorals as yet unworketl y XT H!? a , s °uree of further prosperity to New Zealand." COAL MINING.

The output of coal and lignite for 1901 shows ail advance of 153,648 tons, as compared with the production of the previous ye.av. ,° *J ie output of shalo from the mine of the how Zealand Coal ami Oil i . at Orepuki, amounting to 12,048 tons must be added, thus swelling the increased production to 145,696 tons, the to'al tonnage being 1,239,696, as compared with 1,093,990 tons for tho''year 1900.' lho increases for the several districts are as foUow:-Northern district, 14,781 tons; West C«ist district, 75,352 tons; southern district, 55,563 tons, The West Coast of the Middle Island continues to occupy tho pro* micr position in tho coal industry, the output of the Westport Coal Company's collienes alone being 433,572 tons for the year, or ovor 20,000 tons m excess of one-third of the total production of the entire colony. Tho output of the Brunnor colliery was 127,016 tons, ami that of tbo Blackball colliery 79152 tons, whilst an output of 20,257 tons was obtained at Mokihinui by the party of miners who are working the mine. There appears, however, very little prospect of bTttaparty outpufc maintained Li the southern district the collieries of he Now Zealand Coal and Oil Company (Limited), at Kaitangata, tako first place, tlio output for tho v »nr being 114,383 tons "I Nightcaps Coal Company (Limited) following with an output of .31,845 tons. The Allandalo colliery is next in order, its output bei tie 18,469 torn, and that of Sh«tr oint colliery 14,584 tons. The decrei.se of tho last-named colliory is due to the exh&ustton of some of the scams and difficulties l v « r ' -l' ovo "' s Flat colliery produced ,14,484. tons, Walton Park colliery 11,042 tons Freeman's colliery 10,843 tons, and Jubilee, colliery, Fairfield, 10,577 tons. The ?flt£o mine nt 0re P ulci had an' output of 10,662 tons of coal, in addition to 12,048 10ns of Shale, already mentioned. At Ban- 1 nockburn, three small mines, formerly worked by separate parties but now amalgamated, produced 10,593 tons. None o£ the .other mine 3 in the district had an output of 10,000 tons, but it is worthy of note that at ono of the open-cast lignite pits noa-r Mataura this figuro was almost reached, tho production for the year being returned at 9477 tons.

The number of coal mines in the colony which were working last year is 149, giving employment to 2754 persons. Many of the mines are very small, and aro woriced fer purely local demands, whilst quite a number on. private lands avo worked lor the requirements of the owners only. Owing to tho number of eye accidents in coal mines tho department is preparing a leaflet for distribution, while calico posters are to bo placed at the various coal mioes giving directions as to the methods to be adopted for the prevention of such accidents, and pointing out the need for medical consultation at the earliest possible moment after an accident occurs.

Shalo Oil.—The new works at Orepuki 3iave now got into full working order, and oils of various grades, adapted for both burning and lubricating purposes, as well aa other products obtainablo from the distillates Of shale, have been produced. Doubtless ifc will take a littlo time to find a market! for the entire; production of tho works, but it is to bo hoped that the enterprise ot the company will bo rewarded in the near future.

■ State Coal Mine.—ln nciordatice with the desire that t the Government should possess and work its own collieries, primarily for the supply of its own requirements, a careful examination was made by officers of the Mines Department and other experts of several properties on the west coast of the Middle'lsland; and the "Cave Area" (a portion of the ground formerly held under l lease by tho late Westport-Cardiflt Ccai Company, Limited, and not, worked) at Seddonvillo, together with-the property formerly bojd under lease by tho Greymouth-Poinfc Elizabeth Rainway and Coal Company, Limited (aixl forfeited for non-compliance with conditions), were selected as suitable ulticea for the establishment of State Collieries. Prospecting works at Seddonville have proved satisfactory, the seam averaging upwards of 14ft in thickness, and work Sms. been commenced, with a view to the development of the property. It is intonded to complete tho unfinished railway to the Point Elizaboth property near Grey- . mouth, .and to open out the coalfield there. In order that these collieries may be worked economically, safoly, and in an efficient mariner, with the least possible amount of waste, .tho mistakes which have been com l mon to some of the mines in the colony .must lie avoided, and the workings developed in a comprehensive and systematia ; manner beforo a large output is demanded-