MINES STATEMENT. BY THE HON. R.J. SEDDON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1893 Session I, C-02

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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT. BY THE HON. R.J. SEDDON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Me. Speaker,— In making this my third Statement, it gives me great pleasure to state that the mining industry is steadily progressing. The productions from our mines have hitherto consisted principally of gold and coal, which are not affected to any extent by fluctuations in price, as are most other articles of colonial produce. In every country there are periods of prosperity and depression, enterprise and stagnation, which cannot always be foreseen ; but the principal element that affects the produce of gold is an inadequate supply of water in dry seasons. This could be provided against to a great extent if the water was more carefully conserved. There is no country in the world better watered than this colony, and in some seasons there is plenty and to spare; but if a system of conservation was effected, and all available sites used for dams and reservoirs, there would always be plenty of water to carry on mining operations. At the present time the water from every stream in the vicinity where mining is carried on is utilised to a certain extent by the miners, and where the water can be brought to command ground at a moderate cost it has been done; but there are many instances in which water is allowed to run to waste without being utilised, the whole of which should be conserved as far as practicable. It is true there is a difficulty in the way of persons holding inferior water-rights constructing dams or reservoirs in the bed of streams, notwithstanding there may be a splendid site where a large body of water could be stored at a small outlay. Those holding superior rights would not contribute to the cost; and those holding inferior rights would in dry seasons be compelled to allow a sufficient quantity of water to flow out of their reservoir to supply those holding prior rights, even were that quantity not coming into the reservoir from the stream from which these rights were granted. It is, however, possible to regulate this difficulty, so that a person holding the first rights from any stream could only claim his quantity if it was flowing into any dam or reservoir, and accordingly give more encouragement to parties to conserve the water. There are numerous rivers and streams flowing at high velocities which, if properly utilised, are capable of giving a cheap motive-power to work the whole of the mining and other machinery in the colony, and, as there arc generally only short distances between those rivers and streams, they can easily be used as a motive force to generate electricity as a motivepower for transmission to the different places where machinery requires to be erected, where direct water-power is not available, and thereby save the cost of fuel where steam machinery has to be employed. By this means, a lower grade of ore could be reduced and treated at a profit than at present. It is gratifying to find that, by improvements in gold-saving appliances, both auriferous drifts and lodes can now be worked at a profit which a few years ago were considered almost valueless, and that the spirit of enterprise which has always characterized those interested in mining from the early days of the goldfields still continues to he of a progressive character. Mining has in the past been a great source of revenue to the colony, and will be so in the future. Were it not from the revenue derived from mining, a number of County Councils could not possibly maintain their roads and construct necessary works in their districts. Were it advisable, it would be impossible to induce those who have been mining for years to leave off that occupation and follow another calling. They are content to work for I—C. 2.

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long periods for a bare subsistence, undergoing hardships and privations with the hope, which leads many on the road to success in life, that they will come on ground which will return them sufficient wealth for all their labours. The genuine miners are a hardy, honest, and independent class of men. They are too proud to appeal for aid, and prefer to endure the greatest hardships rather than surrender their self-reliance. Aged as many are, the most of the prospecting is done by them. The young men do not take kindly to the bush, and prefer other occupations where there is less hardship and privation. The diggers of to-day are not of the same migratory character which distinguished them in the early days of the goldfields. They are now taking up,plots of land on occupation-license tenure, and making for themselves comfortable homes. When they cannot work their gold-mining claims, for want of water or other reasons, they find employment in cultivating the land. The number of holdings under this tenure at the present time is 593, comprising an aggregate area of 16,934 acres. The genuine gold-digger has done much in promoting settlement and developing the colony's vast resources, and he has strong claims for our best consideration and encouragement. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The mineral production for the year ending 31st December, 1892, including kauri-gum, shows an increase in value of £25,620 over that of 1891. Very little has been done in opening up the metalliferous mines, but more attention is now being given to ores containing minerals other than gold and silver. It is a difficult matter to establish any new industry on a firm footing, and its development for some time is necessarily slow. In some instances, where capital has been expended in starting a new branch of mining, expectation has been nipped in the bud by buyers in foreign markets offering a high price for the mineral, and, when the industry was commenced, reducing the price to such an extent that it would not pay. Such was the case with scheelite. A company which erected a plant at the head of Lake Wakatipu for the production of this mineral, found, after their plant had been erected, that they could not get more than about one-third of the price paid for the mineral when the mine was first opened up. At the present time there are inquiries from large firms in London and Liverpool for this mineral, a good price being offered for it. There are large quantities of scheelite in Otago, and it is probable that the day is not far distant when fresh mines will be opened to supply the demand. There are difficulties in opening up new mines of all descriptions, which are generally situated in rough, broken country, sometimes very mountainous and difficult of access, requiring roads to be constructed before either machinery can be brought on to the ground or the ore taken to a place where it can be forwarded cheaply to a port of shipment. With ail these drawbacks, it requires considerable capital to commence with. The depression existing during the past year in the Australian Colonies has to some extent detrimental) y affected the mining industry in New Zealand, for it has in some cases prevented money being expended in its development. Some persons connected with the Mercantile Bank in Victoria have, it is said, been compelled to withdraw their capital from some mining ventures they had in this colony, and, just when they were on the eve of getting returns, to sacrifice a property which cost them over £16,000 for less than one-fifth of that amount. The value of the mineral productions, including kauri-gum, for the year ending the 31st December last, was : Gold, £954,744 ; silver, £3,996 ; antimony-ore, £4,900 ; manganese, £1,239 ; other minerals, £631 ; coal exported, £80,225 ; coke exported, £5,691 ; coal consumed in the colony, £297,202; and kauri-gum, £517,678; making a total of £1,866,306 : while the value for the previous year was £1,840,686 ; thus showing an increase in the value of mineral products last year of £25,620. Taking the value of the whole of the gold and minerals obtained in the colony since the Ist January, 1853, up to the end of 1892, it is as follows: Gold, £48,387,861; silver, £144,144; copper-ore, £17,866; chrome-ore, £37,367; antimony-ore, £46,040; manganese-ore, £55,164; ha3matite-ore, £226; other minerals, £69,672; coal exported, £587,183; coke exported, £23,590; coal consumed in the colony (value at the mines), £3,531,202 ; and kauri-gum, £6,349,421 : making a total of £59,249,736', the details of which will be seen in Tables Nos. 1, 3, and 4, annexed. GOLD-MINING. In referring to this branch of the mining industry, I would call the attention of honourable members to its importance, and the advantages the colony has derived from the discovery of gold. This has been the means of bringing many thousands—l may, in fact, say hundreds

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of thousands —of persons to our shores who never would otherwise have come. There is a charm about gold-mining that no other class of mining possesses : the reason being that in the early days of the goldfields, both in this and other countries where gold has been discovered, it was usually easily got; the ground in general was of a shallow depth, and in many instances rich patches were found requiring but little labour to get it. Gold, also, being in a metallic state, is always a marketable commodity, with no variation in its value when its assay is known. It is a class of mining that has enriched many of our colonists; and probably some of those who are indebted to this branch of industry for all the wealth they possess fail to recognise its importance, and even set it down as a gambling transaction. The shallow placer-workings where the gold was easily obtained are now getting worked out, and more capital is required to carry on operations than in the earlier days : large areas of superincumbent drift have to be removed before the auriferous layers can be reached. A pick, shovel, tub, cradle, and tin-dish were at one time all the implements a digger required to enable him to earn his livelihood and make good wages ; but those days are past. Every claim that is now taken up requires capital to open it up ; some claims requiring thousands of pounds to be expended in placing a proper plant on the ground before any gold is ever obtained. The expenditure in testing and developing the gold-mines in the colony is becoming greater year after year, as the lode-workings on the upper levels on old-established reefs are getting taken out; and the time is not far distant when lower levels on some of those lodes will have to he opened up, and assistance given in some instances to prove the value of the deep ground in large gold-mining centres. The population is now in these centres; the colony has expended iarge sums of money in erecting schools, public buildings, and the conveniences necessary for permanent settlement; and every effort should be made to get the value of the mineral lands tested before the miners leave for other fields. The advantages the colony has already obtained through the influx of a large mining population, and the prospect of further valuable discoveries being made in lands still belonging to the Crown, or which might possibly be acquired from the Native owners— lands which in most instances are valuable neither for agricultural nor pastoral purposes, but which would nevertheless prove of far greater value if gold were discovered—are well known; and efforts to extend the present workings to a greater depth deserve encouragement, as by such extensions the goldfields are made capable of supporting a larger population, and of giving profitable employment to the labouring classes. A good goldfield rush would do more than anything else to satisfactorily solve the unemployed question. The yield of gold last year, though not so much as for the former one, shows, as a matter of fact, that there has been a definite increase, for a portion of the gold in the former year should have been credited for the year 1890-91. The quantity obtained during the financial 1892—93, as taken from the returns of gold entered for exportation, was 228,6590z., representing a value of £917,467 ; while the return for the former year was 276,5350z., representing a value of £1,107,177; but of this gold a large quantity was held by the banks in the Middle Island pending the abolition of tie gold duty, which took effect from the Ist April, 1891. As compared with year 1889-90, which was 201,7600z., valued at £803,174, last year's return shows an increase of 26,8990z., valued at £114,293. Of the gold produced last year, the Auckland District contributed about 1795 per cent.; West Coast, 44 - 45 per cent.; Otago, 35 - 04 per cent.; and Nelson and Marlborough, 256 per cent. It will be seen, therefore, that nearly one-half of the gold is obtained on the west coast of the Middle Island. The total yield of gold from each of these districts last year being: Auckland, 41,0520z.; Marlborough, 3,0550z.; Nelson, 2,7920z.; West Coast, 101,6360z.; and Otago, 80,1240z. Earnings of the Gold-miners. According to the returns furnished to the department, the number of miners employed in gold-mining in the different districts last year was 12,197, details of which will be found in Table No. 11 annexed, while the number for the previous year was 12,724. This shows a decrease in the number last year of 527. This decrease has been from the Marlborough District, 118; Nelson, 188; Westland, 248; and Auckland, 1; while there has been an increase in the Otago District of 28. Taking the value of gold exported last year— namely, £917,467, it shows the average earnings of the miners to be £75 4s. sd. a man per annum; while the earnings for the previous year amounted to £80 12s. This shows a decrease in the earnings last year of £5 Bs. 7d. per man. To take the different districts, with the number of miners employed in each, and the value of the gold obtained, the earnings of the miners would be as follows : Auckland, £116 2s. 6d.; Marlborough, £49 14s. 6d.; Nelson, £52 10s. 4d.; West Coast, £77 10s. 3d.; and in Otago, £63 ss. 9d. per man per annum.

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QUARTZ WORKINGS. As the auriferous quartz-lodes may be said to be the most prominent branch of goldmining, it may be interesting to honourable members for me to show the progress made in this particular branch during last year. Previous to this year there was no regular record kept of the quantity of stone crushed and the yield of gold obtained; but by the provisions of " The Mining Act, 1891," requiring the registration of quartz-crushing machinery, and returns to be furnished, a comparison can be made in future year by year. According to the returns forwarded to the department, details of which will be found on pages 74—89 of the report of the Inspecting Engineer, it is shown that in the Auckland District there were 95,931 tons of quartz, and 23,719 tons of tailings crushed, which yielded 47,1890z. gold, representing a value of £123,872, and 44,1890z. bullion, having a value of £63,300; also, ore was sold to the value of £2,222, making the total value of the product £189,394. In the Marlborough District 950 tons of quartz was crushed, yielding 112oz. gold, representing a value of £448. Iv the Nelson District 5,547 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 1,0970z. gold, representing a value of £4,388. In the West Coast District, 49,036 tons of quartz and tailings was crushed, which yielded 27,0190z., representing a value of about £105,000. And in the Otago District there was 10,637 tons of quartz and tailings crushed, which yielded 5,2630z., having a value of £21,052 : representing a total of 184,820 tons of ore crushed and tailings treated, the whole yielding 80,6800z. gold and 44,1890z. bullion; which, together with the value of ore sold —namely, £2,222 —had a gross value of £320,282. Taking, therefore, the value of the gold and bullion exported last year, the returns show that 66 per cent, of it was obtained from the alluvial drifts, and 34 per cent, from our auriferous lodes. I will now refer to the different fields where quartz-mining operations are being carried on. Puhiptjhi. This district, where great excitement once prevailed on the discovery of lodes carrying silver, is now in a stagnant state as regards working the mines. The only men employed on the field last year were merely prospecting. Whether this field will yet be made to support a mining population is a question which time will solve. But it must be admitted that the original prospectors, by erecting obsolete and unsuitable machinery, committed a serious error of judgment, and one which has militated against these mines being properly tested. It was not only a great loss for those directly interested in the plant erected for the treatment of the ore, but it disheartened any one who had any interest in the field, and stopped capital from being invested in the development of the mines. Some of the holders have allowed ground on which a considerable amount of work was done to be forfeited; and when once a field has the reputation of being what is termed a " duffer," it takes a long time before confidence can again be restored, even should the field be a really good one. The original prospectors at Puhipuhi have still hope of being able to float their property into a company, so as to provide sufficient capital to work the ground and to erect a suitable plant to treat the ore. Coromandel. The yield of gold from Coromandel proper —that is, including the Tokatea Range and Kapanga, fell off considerably during last year. The Kapanga Company has hitherto been the mainstay of this district; but last year the gold returns from both these mines—the Kapanga and Coromandel —shows a falling-off as compared with the previour year. There was also a considerable decrease in the yield from the claims in the Tokatea Range last year. Taking the whole of the mines in the Coromandel County, exclusive of those on the Kuaotunu field, the yield of gold last year amounted to 3,4470z., as against 3,3950z. for the previous year. The increased yield last year was chiefly owing to the Owera Company, who obtained 1,9210z. gold from the Kauri Syndicate property. The English company who hold the Kapanga and Coromandel Mines deserve better success than they have experienced, as they have expended about £60,716 in the colony alone, exclusive of the purchase of machinery in England and the expenses of the London office. They have worked nearly all the known lodes in their ground down to a depth of about 420 ft., and they have recently sunk their shaft to a total depth of 600 ft., without coming on any stone carrying sufficient gold to pay for working. During last year one of the oldest mining companies in the Coromandel County—the Tokatea —sold their property, including the crushing-plant, for a merely nominal sum, as it was found that a considerable amount would have to be expended on the mine before it would be likely to become a profitable investment.

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KUAOTTJNU. This is the most promising field in the Coromandel County. The lodes do not contain rich ore, but their great width, and the easy means of transporting the ore from the mines to the crushing-batteries in most of the principal claims, make them payable ventures. At the Try Fluke Company's claim they have abandoned grinding and amalgamating the tailings in pans, and have erected a Cassel plant, and are now treating the tailings by the cyanide process. The first clcaning-up gave them sufficient money, within a few pounds, to pay for the erection of the plant, after defraying all expenses in connection with working. Since this plant was erected, another plant has been put up at the Great Mercury Company's claim, and other companies are likely to follow suit, the Cassel process being specially adapted for the treatment of the Kuaotunu ore, where the gold is in an extremely finely divided state. The only difficulty in the way of dealing with the treatment of ore by the Cassel process is the amount of slimes which the ore from certain claims contains, preventing filtration. This appears to be the weak point in the Cassel process. During last year there were 10,093 tons of stone crushed, and 2,760 tons of tailings treated, which yielded 9,5070z. of gold ; and for the former year there were 11,227 tons of stone crushed, and 200 tons of tailings treated, which yielded 8,794i0z. of gold. In referring to the yield from this field last year, I omitted to include the stone crushed by tributers, and the yield of gold from the same. None of the lodes on this field are yet worked to any great depth, but they carry the shots of gold-hearing stone for a far greater length than any other lodes in the Coromandel County; and, though none of the lodes contain rich ore, the gold is very regularly distributed, and the lodes being of great width ores of very low grade can be made to pay, especially -when the mines are connected with the crushing-plants, as in the case of the Try Fluke Company. The Thames. There has been a considerable falling-off in the yield of gold from the Thames District according to the Customs returns. Last year the yield amounted to 19,880ez., representing a value of £79,318, as against 23,8670z. for the former year, representing a value of £95,069, which shows that the value of the produce last year was £15,751 less than for the previous year. This large decrease in the gold produced has caused a depression in this district, as it is feared that unless something new is discovered, many of the working population on which the tradesmen depend for a livelihood will leave the locality to seek employment elsewhere. Different schemes are propounded to further prospect the field, but as any one of these would be a large undertaking, involving many thousand of pounds of expenditure, no definite scheme has yet been decided on. There are so many divided interests to be consulted—each person trying.to get as much as possible for his particular mine, which, below a certain depth, is not at present of the least value to him—the mine proprietors not having the means themselves to test the deep levels, nor can money be raised in the locality to carry out schemes of the magnitude proposed; and until the different mine proprietors come to an understanding amongst themselves, and are prepared to offer liberal terms to those who would embark their capital to assist them in further developing their properties, there is no likelihood of anything being done. It is certainly to be regretted that the gold is getting less on the upper levels, thus necessitating further prospecting; and, so long as high values are placed on mines which do not warrant the estimate set upon them, it will only be sheer necessity that will compel the owners to accept terms on which capitalists may be induced to assist in developing the deep levels. The principal gold-producing mines at the Thames last year were the Moanataiari, with 6,4300z.; Waiotahi, 2,5790z.; Hazelbank, 2,3280z.; Cambria, 2,0010z. ; Fame and Fortune, 1,8170z. ; and the New Alburnia, 1,6870z. It is to be regretted that the Sylvia Company, who erected one of the best plants in the district for the purpose of concentrating ores, have had to go into liquidation. The present proprietors are satisfied that this venture can yet be made a remunerative one. Ohinemtjri. The Ohinemuri District is likely to become a large field for gold- and silver-mining. There are numerous lodes in many parts of this district likely to be taken up and worked at a profit, which have heretofore been considered of too low grade to pay. There has been very little prospecting done here yet, beyond the immediate vicinity of the mines that have been worked. This is, no doubt, due to the rough, broken nature of the country, full of gorges, and covered with dense timber, making prospecting a difficult and arduous undertaking,

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There are three mining centres in this district all deserving of notice—namely, Karangahake, Waitekauri, and Waihi. There are numerous auriferous and argentiferous lodes at Karangahake, some of which have given good returns in gold, but generally there is a large percentage of silver in the ore, and in some of the lodes there are other minerals which make the ore refractory to treat; and although the ore according to assay contains a fair percentage of bullion, when it comes to he treated in the ordinary manner a very small percentage of it is saved. The New Zealand Crown Company, consisting principally of shareholders residing in Great Britain, purchased a mine on this field some three or four years ago, and arranged with the Cassel Company to erect one of their cyanide plants in conjunction with their mine, and, since they have commenced operations, the company have proved that some of the lodes are very rich, having an assay-value of from £8 to £15 per ton. Recently this company has erected a new reduction plant, and intend to purchase ore from other mining companies according to its assayvalue, which will induce individual miners to take up and prospect some of the lodes, as no outlay will be required for a plant. They will thus be able to sell their ore for its full value, after deducting expenses of treatment. Wherever there are refractory ores to deal with, the mines cannot be made as profitable ventures as they should be until central custom-plants are established, at which the ore can he disposed of according to its assay-value. The Crown Company has therefore taken a step m the right direction, as it will not only tend to develop the mining industry in this particular locality, but will no doubt prove such a source of revenue to themselves as will induce others to follow their example. At Waitekauri Mr. T. H. Russell has erected a large crushing-plant to work the ore from the reefs there, but so far the ore has not proved of much value; and had it not been for the discovery of rich ore at Komata, the venture would have proved a failure. However, the ore from this new find has proved to be highly payable for working, and success has therefore attended the undertaking. A valuable discovery was made during last year by Lowrie Brothers of an auriferous and argentiferous lode near one of the branches of the Waitekauri Creek, about five miles up the stream from Mr. Russell's crushing-battery. The interests of the discoverers of this lode have also been recently purchased by Mr. Russell. This, together with the Komata Mine, is likely to prove a very valuable property. During last year there was 22,771 tons of stone crushed in the Ohinemuri District, which yielded 1,7220z. of gold, and 40,2030z. of bullion. The latter represented a value of £61,118, while, in addition, ore was sold to the value of £2,222; the returns for the former year being 13,865 tons of quartz crushed, yielding 1,0220z. of gold, and 20,6730z. of bullion, the latter having a value of £25,975; and ore was sold to the value of £2,581. The total value of the gold and bullion obtained here last year was about £67,704, while for the former year it was £31,111, which shows that there was an increase in the value of the yield of gold and bullion on the year to the extent of £36,593. Waiorongomai. The yield of gold from Waiorongomai still continues to be very small. Last year there was 1,519 tons of quartz crushed and 1,650 tons of tailings treated, which yielded 1,1780z. gold; as against 1,597 tons of quartz crushed, and 1,125 tons of tailings treated, for the previous year, which yielded 9790z. gold. The principal mining operations carried on here are by a small company, who now have part of the plant and properties formerly belonging to the Te Aroha Gold- and Silver-mining Company. Portion of the plant has been sold, and the company are now converting twenty heads of stampers to crush the ore dry, and intend to treat it by the Cassel process. Recently they forwarded 8| tons of tailings from refractory ore to the Maryborough Smelting Works, in Queensland, and, after paying £3 ss. per ton for treating it, they had a net profit of £48 17s. 6d. being £5 15s. per ton. This shows that ore which cannot be treated by any process now in use in this colony, and which is considered valueless, can be made to yield excellent returns by a proper method of treatment. There are numbers of lodes on this field on which little or no work has yet been done. Many of these were prospected in the early days of the field, but were abandoned years ago as valueless owing to the refractory nature of the ores; but the recent returns show that some at least of these lodes will yet become valuable properties. Inangaiiua. The Reefton field is by far the largest quartz-mining centre in the Middle Island. The auriferous lodes extend over a very large area. Taking the northern limit of the present

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quartz-workings at Larry's Creek, and the southern limit at the Big River, it will be seen that quartz-mining is carried on along a belt of about forty miles in length. The returns from this field show there was about ll,ooooz. of gold more obtained last year than in 1889-90, and for the purpose of investment this field is in a much sounder position now than it has been for some time past. The mines on this field are in many instances a considerable distance apart, which necessitates a great length of road being constructed year after year to give access to the mines as they are opened up. Some very good returns have been obtained from the southern end of this field, and fresh discoveries are still being made further to the southward. During last year 37,693 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 20,1710z. of gold, representing a value of £80,894. To take the whole of the mining companies, as far as can be ascertained, that have carried on mining operations in this field, it will be found that they have crushed 559,943 tons of stone, which yielded 431,0730z. gold, representing a value of £1,623,245. While the actual money paid in calls amounted to £291,029, dividends to the amount of £510,597 have been paid to the shareholders; thus showing that £219,568 has been received in dividends more than the amount paid in calls. In this district there are thousands of tons of quartz tailings, which, with the improved methods of extraction, should prove highly remunerative. An attempt has been made at Boatman's by using the Cassel process, but so far it has not proved successful, owing to slimes and baser metals having been found, and which had not been taken into consideration. Otago. Although Otago was the first district in the colony where auriferous lodes were worked, there has never been any large quartz-mining field opened up. Some very rich stone was discovered at Skippers in 1863, and, many years subsequently to this, a considerable quantity of gold was obtained from the New Bendigo Reefs by the Cromwell Company. More recently, at Macetown, a considerable quantity of gold has been obtained from the auriferous quartz-lodes in that district. During last year the quartz-workings were chiefly confined to Skippers and Macetown. Although quartz-mining has been carried on at Nenthorn, Barewood, and the Old Man Range, at none of these places, however, have the operations been extensive. As far as can be ascertained, 10,637 tons of quartz was crushed last year in the Otago District, which yielded 5,2630z. of gold ; and of this 5,457 tons was crushed by the Phoenix Company at Skippers, which yielded 1,920 oz. of gold; thus showing that about 36i per cent, of the gold obtained from quartz-lodes in the Otago District came from the Phoenix Company's mine alone. A rich auriferous quartz-lode was discovered during last year at Wilson's River, in the Fiord County, but scarcely any work has yet been done to either prove the extent of the lode or the rich gold-bearing shot it contains. All the alluvial gold found in this locality is intermixed with quartz, a great deal of the gold having sharp angular edges, and being honeycombed as in a quartz-lode. This indicates that it has not travelled far, and leads to the belief that other rich lodes will yet he discovered in this neighbourhood. In connection with quartz mining, attention should be directed to any machinery or appliances tending to reduce the cost of working the mines or the reduction and treatment of ores, the expenditure on fuel alone, where steam machinery is employed, being very considerable, forming an important clement affecting the profits of the mine proprietors. Representations having been made to me that electricity could be cheaply generated by water-power for working machinery at Kuaotunu and the Thames Goldfields, I directed the Inspecting Engineer to examine and report on this question in conjunction with Mr. R. E. Fletcher, Electrical Engineer, Dunedin, with whom arrangements had previously been made to visit these localities. These reports have been received, and will be laid on the table of the House. In concluding my remarks on the quartz workings, I would point out that this class of mining is only in its infancy, and, notwithstanding the many improvements made in mining machinery, and the various processes for the amalgamation and reduction of ores, and the extraction of bullion therefrom, the recent experiments made by Mr. Park, of the Thames School of Mines, as to the percentage of bullion saved, show that those engaged in. quartzmining have yet a good deal to learn. There is evidently ample room for improvement in the appliances for the extraction of bullion from ores, as it is clearly demonstrated that at the present time only about 50 per cent, of the precious metals contained in the ores are saved. The practice also adopted by many mining companies of paying away all the profits derived

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from working their mines without creating a reserve fund to further develop their properties militates greatly against mining, and in some instances this has been the means of companies going into liquidation, as when money was required for prospecting works the shareholders were not in a position to pay calls. ALLUVIAL MINING. I now come to that system of mining by which was produced about 66 per cent, of the gold obtained last year, and under this head I class hydraulic-sluicing and dredging. In alluvial mining, in the strict sense of the term, it will be found there is only a very small percentage of the gold obtained from shafts and tunnels, the greater portion having come from hydraulicsluicing claims. Both on the west coast of the Middle Island and in Otago there are large deposits of auriferous drifts which can be made to give very good returns for working wherever a good supply of water is available. Over thirty-two years have passed since gold was first discovered in the alluvial drifts, and only a comparatively small area of ground has yet been worked. As year by year passes by, fresh ground is being opened up wherever water can be made available. A great deal may yet be done in the conservation of water; and the number of men who can be employed profitably on the goldfields in working the alluvial drifts is only limited by the quantity of water available for carrying on hydraulic-sluicing operations, and the mechanical appliances for working the drifts. Alluvial mining in the early days required no expensive outfit to make it a profitable undertaking. The different creekbeds, which had been the natural ground-sluices of the country, only required cleaning up, as the sand, gravel, and soil that for many ages had been regularly washed away by freshes and floods left the heavy metallic particles lying on the beaches, and in the crevices of the rocks in the beds of the streams, requiring only to be collected and gathered together by the hand of man. But now these well-known shallow placers or workings are getting exhausted, and large streams of water have to be conveyed in artificial ditches for long distances in order to sluice away the ground in the same manner as was done by natural causes before gold was discovered. These artificial works require in many instances a considerable amount of capital to be expended upon them before alluvial mining speculations can reasonably be expected to return interest on the money invested. It is worthy of consideration, particularly along the low level land adjoining the rivers in Otago, whether it is possible, by means of electric power transmitted from the higher levels, to utilise the same in driving pumping machinery, so as to raise water to work these flats, which are well known to be payable if sluiced. I will now refer to some of the principal workings : — Mahakipawa. Very little gold was obtained from Mahakipawa last year owing to the wet season. Most of the shallow ground at the head of the creek being worked out, the workings are now confined to the lower end of the creek and flat. Some of the clairiis contain rich auriferous wash-drift; but, reckoning the time the miners lose owing to floods and inadequate machinery for pumping the water, there was not sufficient gold obtained to give those interested in the claims anything like wages. This is not to be wondered at, seeing that the whole of the claims were flooded for about ten months last year. It is thought that the lead of gold will be traced down through Mr. Cullcn's freehold ; but, before the ground can be advantageously worked, far larger pumps will have to be procured to contend with the water. West Coast. The West Coast may be termed the largest alluvial mining field in the colony. It is all less or more auriferous, and, taking the number of miners employed and the value of gold obtained by them, their earnings will compare favourably with the earnings of those employed in any other industry in the colony. During last year there was about 74,6170z. of gold obtained from the alluvial workings, representing a value of £301,523. A very large portion of the West Coast has never yet been prospected. Indeed, very little is known as to its auriferous character south of Ross, beyond the fact that some very rich leads of gold have been found on the sea-beaches all along the coast-line, some of these sea-beach leads extending a good distance inland, which shows that a considerable time has elapsed since they were formed; and gold of a coarse nuggety character has been found near the Abbey Rocks, about 140 miles south of Ross. There is a large stretch of country here having no roads or tracks, with the exception of a main road, which is now partially constructed through to Jackson's Bay,

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There are very few inhabitants in this part of the colony, these few being settled near the ocean-beach. But few explorers have been any distance back from the sea-coast beyond the foot of the ranges. There is, how r ever, a large area of country lying between the head of the Arrow and Shotovcr Rivers and the West Coast which has never yet been explored, and where gold is likely to be found; but, owing to its high elevation, and the difficulty of access, it will only be by mere chance that any mineral discoveries will be made. Westport. There are very few miners in the immediate vicinity of Westport, and these few are scattered along the ocean-beach as far north as Mokihinui, and as far south as Fox's River, at Brighton; the principal gold-workings being at Charleston and Addison's Flat. At the former place a number of crushing-machines have been erected, which enable the cement to be worked at a profit, as it would not pay for sluicing in the ordinary manner with water. There are large areas of this cement on the Charleston Flat, and the Back Lead, and also on Brown's Terrace, which are likely to pay for working by this method; and there are also considerable areas covered with the same character of cement on Addison's Flat which are likely to be taken up. During last year one machine was erected. This is said to work the ground profitably. There are still a number of good claims on Addison's Flat, all the gold being obtained in ancient sea-beach wash-drift and sand. Several of these leads have been discovered between the present ocean-beach and the ranges, which are in some places six and seven miles inland, and there is still a large field in this locality for carrying on prospecting operations. A water-race has been completed from the Totara River to the Shamrock Lead, where a mining company intends to work the ground on the hydraulic-elevating principle; and a new lead was discovered in the early part of last year at Bradshaw Terrace, at the sea-beach side of Addison's Flat, which is likely to turn out well. The quantity of gold obtained in the Westport District last year was 15,8320z., representing a value of £63,420; whereas for the former year 14,1480z. was obtained, valued at £56,540. Inangahua. There are very little alluvial workings in the Inangahua District as compared with other districts on the West Coast. This may, however, be termed the only large quartz-mining district in the Middle Island. Still, there were about 320 men engaged in alluvial mining at Matakitaki, Maruia, Antonio's, Slab Hut Creek, and Blackwater. Of this number, 220 were Chinese; and the quantity of gold obtained was 4,2070z., representing a value of £16,407. Grey. This is a district where there are a' number of gold-mining centres, and a considerable population at each. The belt of country covered with auriferous drifts extends from the seacoast at Paroa and Rutherglen, and runs nearly parallel with the course of the Grey River up to Waipuna. There is very little of the ground in this belt where it is covered with driftgravel but would pay for working with a good supply of water; and, the Grey River being the only outlet for tailings, any flats or small parcels of lands which do not appear sufficiently auriferous for working are required as sites for tailings. Again, on the northern side of the Grey River there is another belt of country covered with auriferous drifts, from near the Otututu River to the ocean-beach at the Ten-mile and Seventeen-mile Creeks, which includes Slaty River, Moonlight, Blackball, and the terraces on to Langdon's. It is on these two belts of country that all the miners in the Grey District are working. It may be said that the whole of the Grey District outside the coalfields is highly auriferous, and even within the coalfields gold is obtained in the alluvial drifts. During last year 24,5450z. of gold was obtained in this district, representing a value of £98,141. Westland. The Westland District contains the largest area covered with auriferous drifts there is on the West Coast. It extends for 220 miles along the coast-line southward of the Teremakau River, every sandy beach being auriferous. Some of them have been remarkably rich, such as the Saltwater, Three-mile, Five-mile, and Gillespie's. At these places men are still making a livelihood, although the beaches have been worked for the last twenty-seven years. Notwithstanding that almost every river-bed in Westland contains auriferous drift, very few of them have been thoroughly prospected; and, as these rivers carry auriferous drifts onwards to 2-C. 2.

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the ocean, and assist in keeping up the supply of gold on the beaches along the coast-line, it is natural to suppose that gold is to be found back into the ranges; but, with the exception of a few places near the gold-mining centres of Kumara, Waimea, Kanieri, and Ross, scarcely any prospecting has yet been done outside of about four miles back from the coast-line. The total quantity of gold obtained in the Westland District last year was 36,5970z., representing a value of £146,349. Kumara. Kumara is the largest mining centre in the Westland District, and one from which nearly one-third of the gold was obtained last year; and yet the mining claims from which this quantity of gold was obtained do not exceed an aggregate area of 800 acres, all lying within a radius of about a mile. The total quantity of gold, as nearly as can be ascertained, that was obtained from this field last year was about 11,5300z., representing a value of £44,965. The total value of the gold obtained from this field since it was first opened, about sixteen years ago, is about £1,199,000, and there is not more than about 600 acres of ground yet worked, which shows that the value of the ground worked was about £1,998 per acre. The whole of the gold obtained from this field is on a false bottom ; and during last year a shaft was sunk to the blue-reef bottom, which showed that there was an auriferous layer of wash-drift lying on it ; but so far it has not yet been proved as to what area this layer of drift will extend over, or whether there are not rich leads or runs of goldbearing wash occurring in different places over the flat, similar to those found on the upper levels. If this should prove to be the case, it would give a new life to this field, and cause more attention to be directed to prospecting the deep levels at the Greenstone and other places in the Westland District, where the gold is obtained on auriferous layers of drift lying on a false or gravel bottom. As there was a considerable quantity of water to contend with in sinking the prospecting-shaft, it is now contemplated to construct a drainage-tunnel from the edge of the terrace facing the Teremakau River. This will not only serve the purpose of prospecting the flat on the deep levels, but it will afterwards drain the ground, and allow claims to be worked from shafts, should payable gold be struck. It is further proposed to subsidise a main tail-race, which will enable ground to be worked below that which the present main tail-race commands, thus furthering the produce of gold and increasing the sales of water from the Government race, &c. Waimea and Callaghan's. The ground in the vicinity of Waimea is becoming more difficult to work year by year, owing to the bed of the creek getting filled up with tailings, and the tail-races being gradually lengthened as the ground is worked hack from the creek-bed. This necessitates giving less fall to the sluices, and consequently the same quantity of material cannot be sluiced away as formerly unless a large quantity of water is used; and the miners find that the ground is not sufficiently rich to pay for a large supply of water. There is a considerable area of auriferous ground in the valley of the middle branch of the Waimea Creek, but the present water-supply does not command it. As the miners on this field are entirely dependent on a supply of water to work the ground, it has been deemed desirable to construct a branch water-race from the main supply-race to work this ground, so that the whole of the water from the supply can be profitably utilised by the extension race to Callaghan's. Humphrey's Gully. A great depth of auriferous drifts, extending over a large area on the south side of the Arahura River, is held by the Humphrey's Gully Company, which ought to be made a valuable mining property if worked systematically by hydraulic sluicing with a good supply of water. It is to be regretted that the working of this ground in the past has not proved a remunerative investment for the very large sum expended on the property. One of the finest water-supplies in the colony can be got from the Arahura River to command this ground at a comparatively small cost. Instead, however, of directing their efforts towards obtaining a supply from this source, the company have frittered away more money than it would have cost to have obtained practically an unlimited and never-failing supply from the river in question. During last year, with the intermittent and limited supply of water, they obtained 7200z. gold out of a portion of the sluices, representing a value of £2,809, and they estimate that there was still 200oz. left in the sluices, which were not washed down. This quantity of gold was obtained in 471 shifts, which is equal to 157 days' work.

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Kanieri and Rimu. A considerable number of miners are still employed in the vicinity of the Blue Spur, Kanieri, Back Creek, and Rimu. At the former place Mr. Boys has constructed a drainage adit-level from the valley of the Arahura River for a distance of about one mile. After being engaged for seven years in the construction of this work, it is said that he has come on to good gold-bearing wash-drift, which is likely to repay him for all his labour. At Kanieri there are only a few miners employed, the chief mining operations being carried on at Back Creek and Rimu, some of the hydraulic-sluicing claims having been paying fairly well for working; but the supply of water is very limited. Several of the claims on the new rush on Seddon's Terrace, Rimu, are now worked from adit-levels driven in from the front of the terrace, facing the valley of the Hokitika River, but the ground generally is held to be very poor. It is only by being able to work their claims constantly that the miners can make even small wages. During the last year the Prospecting Association discovered gold on the rise of the terrace alongside the road going through the Township of Rimu, and several shafts have been sunk. Here sufficient gold was found in the drift to warrant the driving-out of the ground in the auriferous layer. The association have also put down 115 bore-holes between the Mahinapua Creek and the ocean-beach with the view of striking an auriferous black-sand lead, but they were not successful in finding one. There is a large field in this locality on which prospecting operations could be carried on, but the great depth of drift gravels on the main bottom prevents individual miners attempting work of this character, the expense being great, owing to the probability of striking water in the alluvial drift deposits before reaching the bed-rock. It is only by the united efforts of the whole of the miners in a district that prospecting the deep ground can be successfully accomplished. Ross. This was at one time one of the busiest places on the West Coast where mining operations were carried on, and it is the only field in the colony where eight different gold-bearing layers of wash-drift have been passed through and no main bottom yet reached. It is a field of considerable interest, from the fact that river-worn gravel, having highly-auriferous layers of drift through it, is found over 200 ft. below the present sea-level. Fossil remains of gigantic fish have been found at a height of at least 200 ft. above the present sea-level, showing that the ground in this vicinity has been elevated and depressed at different periods. A considerable quantity of gold was obtained from the deep levels at Ross, but the water to be contended with in working the ground was too great for the pumping machinery. For several years the workings on these lower levels have been abandoned. They are now confined to ground which can be drained by a tunnel tail-race, constructed from near the ocean-beach. There are still a good fewminers employed in this locality, but the principal gold-producing claims are the Mont dOr and the Ross United. During last year 3,7900z. gold was obtained, representing a value of £15,161. Although the Westland District extends for over two hundred miles south of Ross, there are only a few miners scattered here and there on the ocean-beaches and gullies near the sea-coast; and until this part of the country is more opened up by roads and tracks, the miners living near the principal fields will not be inclined to prospect the southern part of this district. Recently information has reached me that gold of an apparently payable character has been found in the vicinity of Mount Rangitoto, in a large bed or band of conglomerate, composed of soft granitic or gueissic rock, which is likely to prove payable for working with suitable appliances. Otago. The returns of gold from alluvial mining for last year were about the same as the yield from the West Coast ; the quantity obtained from Otago being 74,8610z., representing a value of about £301,351. A large portion of the Otago District is of a very old quartzoseschist formation, and, where there is alluvial drift-wash overlying this formation it generally contains gold. A vast extent of the country being wholly denuded of timber—if ever it had been covered with forest —exposes the surface of the ground to view, and renders the prospecting of these drifts comparatively easy. The topographical character of the country, however, with generally large masses of quartzose-schist rocks projecting above the surface, especially on sidling ground, makes it an expensive undertaking to construct water-races at high elevations. In this respect the construction of water-races is far more costly than on the West Coast; and, wherever fluming has to be used, the cost of the timber and its transit from the coast is a great consideration. I will now refer to the workings in various gold-mining centres in this district.

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Mac re wh enua. Notwithstanding the Proclamation declaring the Maerewhenua River a channel'for the deposit of tailings, so as to allow the miners to work the ground, there was a decrease in the yield of gold last year from this field, and, until there is an additional supply of w r ater brought on to command the ground, there is very little probability of the yield of gold increasing in future years to any great extent. Last year 1,7960z. of gold was obtained, representing a value of £7,355. A small water-supply is at present being constructed from one of the branches of the Maerewhenua River by the Mountain Hut Water-race Company; but this water-race will not largely augment the present supply on the field. Mount Ida. The auriferous drifts found at Maerewhenua extend over the range to Kyeburn, Mount Buster, and the Mount Ida goldfield; although on the latter field very little of the fine quartz-drift found at Maerewhenua and Mount Buster has been worked. Most of the gold obtained from the Mount Ida field is from more recent deposits than the quartz-drift referred to. The prospecting-shaft sunk in the bottom of the Hogburn Gully showed that there is an auriferous quartz-drift deposit underlying the " Old Man "or " Maori" bottom; also in the valley of the Eweburn, where a bore-hole was recently put down to a depth of 650 ft., with the view of finding artesian water. This bore went through a body of quartz-drift before reaching a depth of 575 ft., in which the colour of gold was seen. There is a considerable area of ground on this field, containing the older drifts, and also the more recent deposits; and when these older drifts can be traced here and there on the surface, from Mount Buster to St. Bathan's, and round the foot of the Dunstan Range to Clyde, there is little doubt that further discoveries will be made and fresh ground opened up. During last year there was 10,7790z. of gold obtained from the Mount Ida District, including Kyeburn, Mount Buster, and St. Bathan's, representing a value of £43,528. St. Bathan's. St. Bathan's is a portion of the Mount Ida District deserving of special notice, as its basin contains a great thickness of the same old quartz-drift which is found on the top of Mount Buster, containing in some places a great deal of gold. It has not yet been satisfactorily determined from whence this deposit came, nor the direction of the current of water which brought it to its present position. It is evident that this drift has been deposited by water, inasmuch as amongst it there is a bed of about sft. in thickness consisting of leaves of trees, which is now tilted at the same angle as the drift in which it lies. Great depths of this deposit have been sluiced away in the ordinary manner; and at present, in Mr. Ewing's claim, the material is lifted about 80ft. with hydraulic elevators, by the aid of which 800oz. of gold was obtained for the last season's work, with five men employed. Mr. Ewing states that the quantity of gold in this deposit seems to increase, if anything, as it goes down. Gold was first discovered here in 1863, and since then over 100,000oz. have been obtained from this basin and its surroundings. Not more than 200 acres of the ground appears to have been yet worked. Tinker's. The richest field in Otago for the number of miners employed is Tinker's. There are only a few claims being worked, as the whole of the water-rights in the locality are held by the owners of these claims, and is fully utilised unless in times of freshes. There is a large extent of auriferous ground to work in this locality; but, unless by reservoirs being constructed to conserve the water in time of floods, and during wet weather, there is no possibility of bringing water to command any of the ground at a reasonable cost. The quantity of gold obtained for last season's work was about 1,5000z. » TuAPEKA. The old diggings in the vicinity of Tuapeka, Gabriel's, Wcatherstonc's, and Munro's Gullies are getting worked out. Were it not for the Blue Spur Company and the Local Industry Syndicate there would be very few European miners now working in any of the gullies and creek-beds. The Blue Spur Company having purchased and leased most of the available water in the locality, no one else can test the ground. They therefore hold the key to all the available ground that their water-supplies command. It is gratifying to learn that this company—which is formed principally by English capitalists—carried on their mining

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operations last year with success; and it is to be hoped, in the interests of the colony, that they will yet be recouped for their original outlay. During last year there was 21,6810z. of gold obtained from the Tuapeka District—which includes Waitahuna, Waipori, and portion of the Clutha Valley—the value being £87,848. The Tuapeka District embraces a large area of auriferous country, and, although there are not many miners in any particular locality, there are a large number scattered over a considerable extent of country. Clutha Valley. The Clutha Valley—although a portion of it is in the Tuapeka District, as already mentioned—deserves special notice, as the whole of the watershed of the Clutha River is auriferous, and gold is found in payable quantities in the bed of every stream and creek flowing into that river above its junction with the Pomahaka and Tuapeka Rivers; and, as the work of concentration has been carried on by these streams for many ages, it is only reasonable to look for heavy deposits of gold in the Clutha River, which has been the main natural ground-sluice of this part of the colony. Not only is the present bed of the Clutha rich in gold, but also the flat terraces, which now stand high above its banks and were once the original bed of the river, contain leads of gold, some of which have been advantageously worked ; and, as the river from time to time changed its course while cutting its way through these immense deposits of gravel-drift the process of concentration was carried on—the lighter material being swept with the current on towards the ocean, while the heavier and denser portions were left behind. A large number of mining and dredging claims have been taken up in this valley. Some of them are producing a good deal of gold. Wherever water can be brought on to command the ground in this valley at a sufficient elevation claims can be made to pay. It is not to be supposed that rich auriferous drifts will be found in every place, but, taking the whole of the valley, there is only a very small proportion of these driftdeposits that will not pay for working with a good supply of water. At Bald Hill Flat there is a considerable area of ground taken up, and water is being brought in from the different creeks and streams to work it. Some of the claim-holders who had a fair supply of water last year did very well. This ground is close to the foot of the Old Man Range, and directly under where the quartz-lodes are worked by Symes Brothers, and by Messrs. Crossan and Gray. Bannockburn. The principal claims now worked at Bannockburn sluice into the Pipeclay Gully Sludgechannel, but the ground in this locality is gradually getting washed away, so that if fresh ground is not found higher up this gully, or further back under the old township, the present claims will not last any great length of time. In addition to the claims in the vicinity of Pipeclay Gully there are two higher up the valley, which are worked by the aid of a new channel constructed by Patterson and party. Cardrona and Criffel. There are about the same number of miners on these fields as there were for the former year, there having been a few more at Cardrona, while there were also less on Criffel; but the quantity of gold obtained was less than for the former year, about 1,6000z. having been obtained from Cardrona and 3500z. from Criffel. At the latter place there were only about fifteen miners employed, while at Cardrona there were about eighty miners. The gold at Cardrona is being traced into new ground on the side of the range, and it is thought that this may probably lead to it being traced towards Criffel. Shotover. The valley of the Shotover, as well as the bed of the river, contained some of the richest deposits of gold that have been found in the alluvial drifts in the colony. This river has cut itself down into the solid rock, and forms as it were a gorge for a long distance, with wide beaches here and there. This gorge, cut out through the quartzose schist rock has a very uneven bottom, and the foliations of the schist rock form as it were natural riffles for saving the gold, as it was carried down the stream with the lighter material. The whole of the beaches and bed of this river have been worked wherever it was possible to do so by manual labour; and even now individual miners are carrying on hydraulic-sluicing operations on the terraces alongside the river, and those portions of river-bed which could not be worked

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in the early days are now being worked by dredges, which lift the auriferous material. Large sluicing operations were carried on last year by Messrs. Davis Brothers, at Stoney Creek Terrace, and by Messrs. Davis and Moody Syndicate Company, at Burkes and Londonderry Terraces. These have both good water-supplies; and several other parties are working higher up the river, who are said to make good wages. Aspinall's claim at Skipper's Point has been very rich, and, although not more than about 15 acres in extent, it has been worked for the last thirty years, and possibly will yet take five years more to work it out. It is said that considerably over 30,0000z. of gold has been taken from this ground. It is hard to define the limits of the extent of country that could be made to pay for working in this valley if large supplies of water were available at a high elevation. Arrow River. There is a considerable extent of auriferous drift on the terraces alongside the Arrow River, but their high elevation prevents sluicing operations being carried on, as there is not a steady supply of water to he obtained unless at a great expense. A large undertaking has been completed by the Arrow Tunnel Company to work the bed of the Arrow River above the Falls, which are about three-quarters of a mile below the junction of Soho Creek. All the works were completed, and every arrangement made to commence to get gold, when the company had to allow their property to be sold by the mortgagee; and it was recently purchased by Mr. Miller, who will reap the benefit of the former company's outlay, he having acquired the property for about one-fifth of its original cost. Round Hill and Orepuki. For many years the gold-workings have been carried on principally by Chinese at Round Hill; but now that an English company has taken up ground in this locality, they have purchased and leased most of the water-rights in the district, and the Chinese are almost wholly dependent on this company for a water-supply to work the ground. As the water is extremely scarce, the company have only a very limited quantity that they can dispose of; and the result is that the number of Chinese is decreasing year after year. Some of the ground in this locality is very rich; but the small supply of water, and the large quantity of tailings that have been and are being continually deposited in the valley of the Ourawera Creek, has raised the surface to such an extent that none of the low-lying lands can now be worked, unless with the aid of machinery, or a hydraulic-elevating plant. Several people, previous to the Round Hill Syndicate Company taking up the ground, tried to work the valley by means of dredges, but in every instance this proved a failure. The present company are now working the ground with hydraulic elevators, with a certain amount of success, but they will have to get a better water-supply before they can expect to make the ground sufficiently remunerative for working. At Orepuki there are a limited number of miners at work making fair wages when they have a good supply of water; but, except in very few instances, the water-supply is not sufficient to work the ground advantageously. Although this is not a field for any one to come to from other places, the miners who are here, and have water-supplies of their own, will make a good livelihood for many years to come. Wilson's River. It is only within the last two years that gold of a payable character has been discovered north of the Waiau River; and the recent discoveries in Coal Island, at Wilson's River, and at Sealer's Creek on the mainland, will tend to open up this part of the country, which heretofore has well been termed a "terra incognita." It was thought by many miners that gold would be discovered north of the Waiau; but the want of roads or tracks prevented any one from exploring this part of the country, until after a survey-line was cut for a road along the coast-line between Preservation Inlet and Wilson's River. The men working at Coal Island followed up the surveyor, and found rich deposits of gold in the bed of Wilson's River; but as this river is subject to freshes and floods, it was only for a few days a month that mining operations could be carried on. Gold was afterwards found in Sealer's Creek and the terraces, and, probably when this part of the country gets more opened up by roads and tracks, several other discoveries will be made. It is only, however, in the summer months that prospecting can be carried on in the back country on account of its high elevation.

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DREDGING. I now come to another most important branch of the gold-mining industry—dredging. When dredging-machines were first introduced by Messrs. Gibson, Brooke, Smith, and Wellman, they proved failures, for the reason that, although the principle was good, their construction was defective. The dredges at first were too small, and the washing appliances were of the crudest kind. But, as year by year passes by, improvements are being constantly made which render these machines more applicable to mining every day; and I venture to predict that the day is not far distant when a very large number of these dredges will be profitably employed on the ocean-beaches on the West Coast, where formerly they were all failures, as well as for working comparatively shallow wet ground, such as that in Waipori Flat, where three dredges were working last year. The whole of the dredges now at work on the different rivers, creeks, and beaches, answer admirably as far as lifting the materal is concerned, but their chief defect lies in the appliances for saving the gold. It is well known by those who are acquainted with working the auriferous sands on the ocean-beaches, that to rush the material through sluices with a large body of water renders it almost impossible to save the gold, which is of a fine scaly character, requiring the sand to be separated from the stones and coarse shingle, and treated carefully on wide tables covered with plush, blankets, or baize. The washing appliances on these dredges are, however, becoming more perfect. COAL-MINING. I will now refer to a branch of the mining industry which has in the past made rapid strides, and will continue in the future to steadily progress, in proportion to the increase of the population and enterprise displayed in the establishment of other industries, and the opening out of foreign markets for our coal. The difficulty in finding a foreign market is becoming greater every year, owing to the development of the Japanese coal-mines ; and in future years the large deposits of coal in China, if worked and shipped away, will enter largely into competition with coal coming from any of the Australasian Colonies, as the cost of labour in both Japan and China is very small. Indeed, the price paid for labour in these countries would hardly be sufficient to provide bare food for unmarried men in these colonies. It is only, therefore, owing to the superiority of our coal that we can hope to compete successfully with coal from other countries outside the colony. During last year, the total output from our mines amounted to 673,315 tons, and the quantity imported from the Australian Colonies was 125,453 tons, making the total output and coal imported to be 798,768 tons ; while the quantity of coal exported was 84,414 tons. But of this amount, 56,245 tons was used in coaling the Direct steamers, and therefore may be treated.as consumed within the colony, leaving the net export to be 28,169 tons. The consumption of coal, therefore, within the colony last year was 770,599 tons, as against 765,019 tons for the previous year. Details will be seen on reference to Tables Nos. sto 10 annexed. The increased output last year as against the former year was less than it has been any year since our coal-mines were opened, it being only 4,521 tons, while the coal imported last year showed an increase of 135 tons; but this quantity will always fluctuate year by year in proportion to the quantity of produce we can dispose of in the Australian markets, as it is cheaper to bring back coal as ballast, if only the same price can be got as it cost to put it on board the vessels and pay wharfage rates and harbour dues. The net export last year was 924 tons less than for the former one; and no increase in this direction may be expected until there is a class of vessels which can carry at least 3,000 tons on one bottom from the ports of Westport and Greymouth, as it is only on the west coast of the Middle Island that the superior class of bituminous coal is found, and it is to this class of coal especially to which we shall have to look for a largely increased output from our mines. Taking the output of the different classes of coal from our mines last year, there were 406,828 tons of bituminous coal; 89,549 tons of pitch coal; 149,460 tons of brown coal; and 27,478 tons of lignite; as against 387,839 tons of bituminous coal; 96,979 tons of pitch coal; 161,904 tons of brown coal; and 22,072 tons of lignite for the former year : showing an increased output of 18,989 tons of bituminous coal, and 5,406 tons of lignite; while there was a decrease in the output of 7,430 tons of pitch coal, and 12,444 tons of brown coal, from the quantity raised the year previously. It is, therefore, gratifying to find that there is a steady increase year by year from our bituminous mines, this being the class of coal from the export of which alone we may expect this branch of the mining industry to rapidly expand. The pitch and brown coals will only be used within a certain radius of where it is raised, as it

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is only suitable for consumption within the colony; and as it will not stand much handling, it cannot be stacked and wait for a market, as with bituminous coal, as the action of the atmosphere tends to break it up, so that in course of time it crumbles into dust; while lignite can only be used in the immediate locality where it is raised, and there only in the interior, where the cost of transit of other classes of coal is very high. The principal mines from which there has been an increased output of coal last year are the Waikato Mines near Huntly, 3,210 tons ; and Ralph's Mine at Huntly, 6,341 tons; both of which produce brown coal; there was also an increased output from the Westport Colliery Company's Mine, Coalbrookdale, of 5,860 tons, and the Grey Valley Coal Company's Mine at Brunnerton, 32,923 tons, of bituminous coal. The increase in Ralph's Mine at Huntly is due to a new mine having been opened out, but this mine is now leased by the Taupiri Extended and the Taupiri Reserve Company, who have arranged to work the whole of the three mines in conjunction with each other. This combination was brought about owing to keen competition, which resulted in the companies disposing of their coal at cost-price, and some of it even at a loss. The principal mines where there has been an decreased output are the Kawakawa, 13,828 tons ; Kamo, 5,728 tons ; Kaitangata, 7,930 tons; Nightcaps, 8,183 tons; and White Cliffs, 1,844 tons. The large decrease of the Kawakawa Mine was expected, as the whole of the coal to the dip has been worked out, and there are only some pillars in the early workings, which will soon be taken out. This company has a coal-property at Hikurangi, where workings will probably be carried on as soon as the railway is completed from Kamo to that place. There is a considerable area of coal-measures between Hikurangi and Eru Ngahu's property which the railway when completed will open up. At Ngunguru, near Whangarei, a semi-bituminous coal-seam has been opened out, containing the best class of coal yet found in the North Island, but the area of the coalmeasures here are not yet correctly ascertained. The coal taken out is only as yet near the outcrop, nevertheless it comes out in large blocks, and stands the weather remarkably well. If it should prove of considerable extent it will be a valuable discovery; and if vessels can be got to convey it to Auckland at a reasonable rate of freight, the mine is likely to prove a good investment for its proprietors. The coal, has, however, to be taken down the river in punts for some distance. The water at the entrance of the mouth of the river being shallow, only vessels of small tonnage can enter to take the coal away. It is to be regretted that the Grey Valley Coal Company have had to abandon a portion of their workings, owing to the influx of water which they were not able to contend with, and also that extensive prospecting operations will have to be carried on before the mine can be again opened out so as to employ the same number of men as formerly. The company state that the area of available coal will be exhausted in about two years, if no further measures are found on the other side of the faults which are known to exist; and they have appealed to the Government for assistance. I have instructed experts to visit and examine the mines, and the coal-measures within this company's leases, and to report on the same, so that the Government may have the fullest information respecting the mines in this locality, where so many men are located who are depending on coal-mining for a livelihood. The completion of the railway from Westport to Mokihinui will give facilities to bring the Mokihinui and Cardiff Coal Companies' Mines in direct communication with a port of shipment; and, as soon as the necessary repairs and alterations are completed to the company's private line, there is likely to be a fair output of coal from this locality. Steps are likewise being taken to connect the Black Ball Mine with the Midland Company's Railway at Ngahere, and when the necessary works are completed a large output may be expected from this mine also. The Westport Colliery Company arc constructing an incline to open up their coal lease at Granity Creek, so that in a very short time there will be sufficient bituminous mines opened out to supply the demand for some years to come. Until such time as foreign markets are found for our coal the increased output from the mines, year by year, will only be slow, as the output need only be in proportion to the growth of our population, our industries, and commerce. The continual waste of small coal from our bituminous mines is a matter greatly to be deplored. In a letter recently received from the managing director of the Grey Valley Coal Company, he stated that there is from 500 to 700 tons of small coal washed into the Grey River weekly. This waste should not take place where there is a good demand for coke of a superior quality; and it is fully acknowledged that our bituminous coal can be made into coke equal to any in the world, if the same process is used in making it as is adopted in

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Europe. The question of making coke is attracting the attention of coal proprietors in New South Wales, and the Government of that colony have received a report from its Geologist in regard to this which affords a great deal of valuable information on the subject, and I would refer honourable members to this report, which is embodied in the report of the Inspecting Engineer. The fine dust is really the best of the coal, and, with proper care in manufacturing it into coke, would have a ready market in the Australian Colonies. A profitable industry would, accordingly, be opened up; and what is now considered by this company as valueless refuse would be thus converted into a marketable commodity which would give profitable returns for its manufacture. Coal-Miners. The average number of men employed in connection with coal-mining last year was 1,681, as against 1,693 for the previous year, showing that there were tw r elve men less employed last year than for the former year. Taking the value of the labour in connection with raising the coal and loading in trucks, ready for transporting to either a port of shipment or a market, to be 6s. per ton, then the total value of the men's earnings would be £200,633 45., which is equal to £119 7s. Id. a man per annum; while the average earnings for the former year on the same basis was £118 10s. 2d., thus showing an increase last year to the extent of 16s. lid. per man. The average earnings of the miners arc not large, but they will compare favourably with wages earned by those employed in agricultural pursuits. METALLIFEROUS MINING. Very little attention has hitherto been given to metalliferous ores, other than those containing gold and silver, although there is a large variety of minerals in the colony; but to work these economically expensive plants are required, in order to extract a fair percentage of the metals they contain. We have copper-ore in some parts of the colony that, even at its low market value, could be made to give profitable returns for working. During last year Mr. A. McKay, the Mining Geologist, discovered a wide belt of cupreous schist in the ranges up the Arahura River, from which samples were tested at the Colonial Laboratory which gave 10 per cent, of copper. There is a large lode containing copper-ore in the northern portion of the Auckland District which also gives a large percentage of copper ; and deposits of copperore have been worked at Kawau, Great Barrier and D'Urville Islands ; the Dun Mountain, Aniseed Valley, and Roding River, in the Provincial District of Nelson; Whakatipu, and Waitehuna, in the Provincial District of Otago. More recently, prospecting operations have been carried on at Maharahara, near Woodvilie; but none of the places where operations have heretofore been carried on have given sufficient returns to pay for the expense in getting the ore and forwarding it to Europe for treatment. There has been no attempt made to get a plant in the colony, with the exception of that erected by the Champion Company at the Roding River; and even that plant is of very little service, for the men they had in charge of it evidently did not understand the principle of extracting the copper from the ore, as that metal and the slag can yet be seen all mixed together. It is likely that some of the copper lodes will yet be taken up and made to give good returns by having a proper plant on the ground. There are many other ores also that will yet be worked and made remunerative investments. Scarcely anything has hitherto been done in metalliferous mining. The reason of this may be, to some extent, that the ores are generally found in mountainous regions, where there are neither roads nor tracks. The difficulties in the way of prospecting the lodes appear so great, and the expense in working them and forwarding the ore for miles through a very broken country to a port of shipment, deters people from expending any capital to open them up, as they would require to be exceptionally rich to pay for the expense of working under these circumstances. Ores of cinnabar are also found in many parts of the colony—at Waipori, in the Otago District, and at Waiorongomai, Puhipuhi, and Ohaeawai, in the Auckland District. At the latter place a lode of this mineral has recently been found in the side of the range adjacent to the hot pools, where quicksilver in its metallic state is seen distributed in minute globules amongst a fine black sediment in the valley. Scheelite is also greatly inquired after by firms in London and Liverpool, who state they are prepared to take 200 tons per annum. There should be no difficulty in supplying that quantity, as this mineral is widely distributed over the Otago District. The price quoted 3—C. 2.

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on shipboard at London for mineral yielding 55 to 60 per cent, of tungstic acid is 12s. to 14s. per unit. Manganese. Small quantities of manganese ore are exported to Europe every year, but this is an industry which has not progressed. Records have been kept of the, quantity exported Bince the year 1878. In that year 2,516 tons was forwarded to Europe, of a value of £4 a ton, and last year only 521 tons were exported, having a value of about £2 7s. 6d. per ton. During the last year, J. W. Jaffray and Company, of Sydney, got a lease of portions of Waiheke Island, and it is stated that they have entered into arrangements to supply 2,000 tons per annum from that place. Antimony. There were three companies engaged in antimony-mining last year—namely, at Waipori and Barewood in Otago, and at Endeavour Inlet; but the price of the ore at the present time is low compared with what it was a few years ago, consequently the profits on working it are very small. The company at Endeavour Inlet have a good concentrating plant, and are able to dress the ore up to a high percentage. This company estimates that they get a clear profit of about £2 per ton after paying all expenses in connection with it. During last year 364 tons were exported of the value of £4,900. Kauri-Gum. This industry is assuming larger proportions every year, and last year the export was 8,705 tons, valued at £517,678, which is equal to £52 9s. 4d. per ton ; whereas the quantity exported for the previous year was 8,388 tons, valued at £437,056, being equal to £52 4s. per ton. It will therefore be seen that the quantity exported last year has increased by 317 tons, while the value increased by £80,622. The value of kauri-gum has fluctuated considerably. When it was first exported, in 1853, its value was about £19 per ton, and in 1860 it fell to a little over £9 per ton ; by 1870 it gradually rose to nearly £40 a ton, and by 1880 the price had risen to over £51 per ton. The value is not only increasing, but the quantity exported year by year is increasing, notwithstanding that this industry has been carried on for the last forty years, being confined to a comparatively small area of the colony. The total area over which kauri-gum is found, exclusive of the islands, is about 5,682,586 acres. It is very difficult to ascertain the number of men employed in digging gum, as a great many Natives are casually working on the gum-fields ; but if the average earnings of those employed be taken at, say, £100 per annum, there would be about 5,177 men employed in this industry. • To make a comparative analysis of the magnitude of this industry with goldmining : the value of the produce of the gum-fields last year was £111,155 more than the value of the gold got on the West Coast; or, to take the value of the whole of the mining products on the West Coast last year, including coal, which was about £602,857, it shows that the value of the mining products in the Auckland District—including kauri-gum—which amounted to about £715,332, exceeded the volume of the returns for the West Coast by £112,475 : therefore the gum industry, together with mining, in the northern portion of the colony forms a large factor in the employment of the population in the Auckland District. It has been represented to the Government that large numbers of men from foreign countries have recently come to the gum-fields, having no intention of settling in the colony. The effect of this is that they are taking away the means of earning a livelihood from men who have taken up land in village-settlements, who were partly depending on the gum-fields to afford them profitable employment in seasons when they were unable to work on their land. A Commission has new been appointed to inquire into the best mode of dealing with the question of gum-digging, and when their report comes to hand, the Government will then be in a position to deal with the subject in a complete and comprehensive manner. ROADS AND TRACKS. The construction of roads and tracks is essential to the development of the mining industry; without these, especially where the land is covered with heavy timber and dense scrub, the miner cannot carry on his operations to any advantage in order to open up the country and afford facilities for getting goods, machinery, and plant on the ground. The greater portion of the Otago District is destitute of timber, and roads can be easily made in any direction ; but on the West Coast, and on the northern goldfields, it is impossible to carry

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on mining operations advantageously unless roads are constructed, thus affording an easy means of access to get mining requisites and machinery brought on the ground. Although a large amount has already been expended in this direction, more money will yet be required as fresh mines get opened up, the roads having to be extended; and, even in those parts of the country where there are no mines at the present time, tracks require to be made before miners can successfully prospect the ground. The expenditure on roads and tracks last year was £18,358, of which amount £17,325 was given in direct grants, and £1,033 as subsidies to local bodies. The total liabilities on works of this character at the end of March last was £14,881. During the past ten years, during which votes for this purpose have been under the control of the Minister of Mines, the expenditure on this class of works has been £260,214, of which amount £124,646 has been paid as direct grants, and £72,620 as subsidies to local bodies; showing that while the expenditure by Government and its liabilities amount to £214,183, the local bodies contributed £48,067. WATER-RACES. As the greatest portion of the gold is obtained from the alluvial drifts, one of the most important elements in working this description of ground is water. Without this, hydraulic sluicing cannot be advantageously carried on, neither can much of the ground be made to pay for working. A large extent of auriferous drifts, both on the West Coast and in Otago, would be lying idle, and places which now contain a prosperous population would probably never have sprung into existence but for the assistance to the mining industry afforded by the Government water-races. According to returns furnished by the Wardens, the value of the water-races on the gold-fields, exclusive of those managed and controlled by the Mines Department, is £859,053; while the value of tail-races and reservoirs are given at £309,052, making a total of £1,168,105. The water-races controlled by the department are the WaimeaKumara and the Mount Ida Water-races. The latter work was managed by a trust up to the 31st December last, when the trust was abolished, and the Government assumed direct charge. Previous to this date, although the race was managed by a trust, the Government had to find money for any deficiency existing between the revenue and expenditure, and the latter was generally more than the former. During the fifteen years the works were managed by a trust the value of the sales of water amounted to £20,182, while the expenditure on maintenance was £23,777. The amount of outstanding arrears for water at the end of December last was £1,702; while the liabilities of the trust paid by Government after taking the race over was £504, thus showing that the total receipts up to the end of last year was £5,801 less than the expenditure. The water-race, which is over seventy-five miles in length, was in a very bad state of repair, requiring considerable expenditure upon it before sufficient water could be supplied to the miners even in moderately wet weather, when there was plenty of water in the creeks. These repairs are now being made, with the view of insuring a more permanent supply, and it is expected when they are completed that this water-race can be made self-supporting. The demand for water from the Waimea Water-race is gradually getting less; the lower portion of the creek-bed being now filled up with tailings to such an extent as to greatly interfere with the fall of the tail-races. The ground is also getting further back from the creek-bed every year, and it contains less gold. A branch race was partially constructed last year from the main supply-race, which, when completed, will command a considerable area of new ground, and thereby afford profitable employment to the miners in this locality, and increase the revenue from sales of water. The expenditure on this work last year was £2,271, the value of the sales of w r ater being £1,016, and the expenditure in maintenance £858, which leaves a profit on the working of £158. The value of the sales of water from the Kumara Race last year was £5,789, and the expenditure £1,783, which leaves a net profit on the working of £4,006 ; but portions of this profit had to be expended last year in constructing the branch race already referred to from the Waimea supply, and also in extending the Kumara Water-race along Kapitea Hill. The Nelson Creek Water-race was leased for two years. The lease expires in August next, and tenders are to be invited for leasing this water-race for a further period of three years. Taking the whole of the water-races constructed by the Government, and controlled by it, it will be found that although the capital invested is considerable, these works have been the means of finding profitable employment for a large population, and, with the exception of

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the Mount Ida Water-race, which has been worked at a loss, the net profits on the working of the other races has been £50,939; while they have been the means of gold being obtained to the value of about £1,170,027, affording employment for an average of 537 miners. PROSPECTING. In order to develop the mineral wealth of the colony, systematic prospecting operations have to be carried on, and I propose to amend the mining regulations, so as to give more encouragement to miners' associations and mining companies to carry on a system of prospecting in the superficial deposits, in the alluvial drifts, quartz-reefs, and in testing the lodes at the deep levels. Encouragement should also be given to prospect ground with diamond drills, as in many instances these drills can be used very advantageously in prospecting deep leads and lodes : in underground workings, where the latter are lying at a high inclination, horizontal bores can be, in many instances, put in to test the ground far cheaper than by driving, especially where there is hard rock to be gone through. Further encouragement should also be given towards the development of new metalliferous or diamondiferous discoveries, in the direction of offering larger rewards where such discoveries are made a certain number of miles distant from any known workings. It is only in very few instances that individual miners can afford to carry on prospecting for any length of time, and, accordingly, the miners' associations in several mining districts are taking more interest in trying to open up new ground, as they are specially interested in the districts they reside in, and if any new discovery is made some of their number would receive a direct benefit from it. There are large areas of auriferous country where no prospecting has yet been done, both in the North and Middle Islands, and it is only by complete organization and systematic operations that prospecting can be carried on successfully. Everyone engaged in this work must have an interest in the undertaking, the men actually engaged in the work giving a portion of their wages towards a general fund, the miners' associations in their respective districts contributing a certain amount, and these moneys to be supplemented by Government out of funds appropriated by Parliament for that purpose, as well as by contributions from the local bodies, which receive the goldfields revenue. It is only by holding out good inducements that the necessary funds can be raised to carry on works of this character; and as the lodes on the upper levels in the various quartz-mining claims now worked are gradually getting taken out, a special effort should be made to have the deeper ground tested before the mining population leaves the locality. GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. Geological explorations were made last year of the northern portion of Westland by Mr. McKay, Mining Geologist, which have resulted in discovering a large belt of cupriferous schist on the range facing the Arahura River, about twelve miles through the first gorge. Some specimens from this belt were analysed at the Colonial Laboratory, and were found to contain 10 per cent, of copper. The auriferous drifts on the low-lying lands from Greenstone to Ross have also been carefully examined, and, from the evidence obtained, it is shown that there is a large area covered with these drifts where gold is likely to be found in payable quantities. A detailed account of the Mining Geologist's explorations will be found embodied in the Goldfields Report. A geological map of this portion of the district, and several interesting photographs of mining claims, showing the method of working the ground, are also published. MINING MACHINERY. As improvements are constantly being made in mining machinery, and appliances for the reduction and treatment of auriferous and argentiferous ores, I have directed that full publicity should be given to any new methods likely to reduce the cost of working the mines and extracting the precious metals as may from time to time be brought nnder the notice of the department, as it is by these improvements we may hope to work our low-grade ores more economically. Several descriptions of mining machinery and processes for the treatment of ores, accompanied with plans giving full details, will be found in the report of the Inspecting Engineer.

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SCHOOLS OF MINES. There seems to be an increasing interest taken in our Schools of Mines. Miners are now fully alive to the necessity of having a good technical education, and, indeed, there is no profession or avocation which requires a greater amount of technical knowledge than that of mining. Those actively engaged in this industry should have a thorough knowledge of the chemistry of metals and minerals, be well up in metallurgy, mineralogy, geology; as well as having a knowledge of the strength of materials, the composition of gases and explosives, and also underground surveying. To follow the calling of a miner, and to be able to carry on large operations, it requires not only years of study, but much hard labour in the underground workings, to acquire the necessary knowledge to be able to cope with all the difficulties which occur in the management of mines. The Schools of Mines are supplying a want which a few years ago was not felt by individual miners ; but, now that the advantages of a good technical education are being realised, miners see the necessity for it, and, facilities for its acquisition being available, they are anxious to acquire it. At the Thames, men who work in the mines during the day attend the school at night, and the progress they make is really astonishing. Men who, a few years ago, could hardly write, are now well up in mathematics, and can undertake the underground surveys of any mine. The average number of regular students at the Thames School last year was fifty-two, while the average number attending Saturday lectures was fifty-three. Twenty-one parcels of ore, varying from 701b. to 2,9001b. each, were tested for different individuals at the testing plant attached to the school. The work in connection with these tests was all done by the students. At Reefton, the Director and Instructor of the School of Mines held classes in different parts of the district last year, and, although there is not so good an attendance at the principal school at Reefton as there is at the Thames School, the progress made by the students has been very satisfactory. At the request of the Committee of the Thames School, I caused examination-papers to be prepared by examiners having no connection with these Schools of Mines, and the result of the last year's examination shows that the teachers have been very successful in their labours. As there are several minor schools on the West Coast where no regular teacher attends to give instruction, I have engaged Mr. Thompson, the Resident Engineer at Greymouth, who was formerly lecturer on applied mechanics at the Otago University—and who holds high testimonials as to his knowledge in chemistry, mineralogy, and metallurgy—to deliver lectures on mining subjects at the several Schools of Mines in this district. The report of the Directors of the School of Mines attached to the Otago University, Dunedin, shows that far more interest is taken in this school than there was a few years ago. Before the different Schools of Mines were established there were only two or three students attending this school, and last year there were twenty-two students, showing that the interest taken in the various mining centres where Schools of Mines have been established has given an impetus to students to acquire a knowledge of subjects connected with mining. Notwithstanding that the Government have paid £3,750 towards this school- out of votes appropriated to Schools of Mines, the department has not received any report on the progress made until last year, when a report published in one of the local newspapers came to hand. During last year the total expenditure on the Schools of Mines amounted to £1,232. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURE ON WORKS. The total value of works constructed by the Mines Department since votes for that purpose have been under the control of the Minister in charge, is as follows : Roads and tracks, £260,214; water-races, £51,576; drainage channels, £21,401; prospecting works, £50,907; wharves, £436; diamond and other drills, £4,448; assistance towards the treatment of ores, £1,342; artesian well boring, £550 ; Schools of Mines, inclusive of £3,750 paid to the University of Otago, £15,590: making a total of £406,464, out of which £296,348 was paid by Government; and the liabilities on works in progress at the end of March last were £16,917. A detailed statement of the cost and expenditure on these works will be found in the tables annexed to the report of the Inspecting Engineer on the goldfields of the colony.

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MINING LEGISLATION. It has been found desirable to deal with the question of mining under lands which have been alienated from the Crown. A Bill has been prepared giving facilities for mining underneath the surface of private lands, on certain conditions as to depth at which workings may be carried on, et cetera. This Bill has been drafted on the lines of a similar measure which has passed the Queensland Legislature, and I have no doubt will be found to be useful in this colony. It is also proposed to amend the Mining Act so as to give greater encouragement to prospect the deep levels, construct large water supplies, and thus further develop the mining industry. For these purposes it is proposed to take power to advance loans from time to time to mine prospectors and others to the extent of one-fourth of the value of the prospecting work done, such moneys to be refunded out of the first profits derived from the mine, together with interest at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, a first lien being taken on the property as security for repayment. A question having been raised as to the validity of titles to lands held as licensed holdings and special claims, and which are severed by rivers, streams, watercourses, and roads, it is proposed to take power to validate all titles heretofore issued for lands so severed. The regulations will also be amended in a similar direction. It is also proposed to adopt a provision embodied in the Victorian Mines Act, which requires that all safety-cages shall be examined and passed by an Inspector of Mines before they are used. This will prove an additional safeguard tending to prevent similar accidents to that which recently occurred at the Thames. It has been found that the rates allowed by the existing regulations in aid of prospecting are inadequate. It is proposed to amend them in this respect, and to enlarge their scope and operations to other metals and minerals. CONCLUSION. In concluding my remarks on the mining industry, I may be permitted to state that the gold-miner has, in the past, been the pioneer of the colony, and the same can be said of him even at the present time. His avocation leads him to search for golden treasures in the back-wilds and portions of the country where few had travelled before him. Full of hope he trudges along, pitches his tent, prospects here and there, lonely and companionless, supported by hope and the expectation that some day he will find sufficient wealth in the bowels of the earth to repay him for all the labour and hardship he has undergone ; and being, as it were, the forerunner of civilisation, he is entitled to some consideration from the colony by way of assistance in opening up the back-lands, and developing the mineral wealth, thereby enhancing the value of property belonging to the Crown. The expenditure of money is necessarily larger in the construction of roads and tracks where new country has to be opened out; as generally where gold is most abundant the country is broken and mountainous, requiring a large expenditure in giving access to new mines which are continually being opened up. The local authorities in the mining districts, owing to there being a limited amount of rateable property, are not in a position to make new roads and tracks, and therefore require exceptional consideration. It must therefore be borne in mind that, although the expenditure on roads in goldfield districts tending to develop mining is considerable, further assistance is still required to prove the auriferous or metalliferous nature of the ground, thereby providing profitable employment for the labouring classes. And although a great deal of our rough mountain-land may be at present considered almost valueless, even for pastoral purposes, the time may come when this land will become valuable mining property, affording a good livelihood to numbers of people; and places where, at the present time, no habitation is to be seen, may yet become stirring, populous districts. Every encouragement should, therefore, be given to further the mining industry.

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No. 1. Table showing the Comparison in Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Exportation, and also the Quantity and Value of other Minerals produced, for the Years ending the 31st December, 1891 and 1892; as well as the Total Value since January, 1853.

For Year ending the 31st December, 1892. For Year ending the 31st December, 1891. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1892. Name of Metal or Mineral. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 'recious metals — Gold .. Silver Oz. 238,079 22,053 £ 954,744 3,996 Oz. 1251,996 28,023 £ 1,007,488 5,151 Oz. 12,308,296 604,686 £ 48,387,861 144,144 Total gold and silver 260,132 958,740 280,019 1,012,039 12,912,982 48,532,005 lineral produce, including kauri-gum— Copper-ore Chrome-ore Antimony-ore Manganese-ore Haematite-ore Mixed minerals Coal exported Coke exported Coal, output of mines in colony Kauri-gum Tons. '364 521 84 78,911 4,306 594,404 8,705 £ 1,239 631 80,225 5,691 297,202 517,678 Tons. A 413 1,153 2 91,664 2,544 577,130 8,388 £ 4 4,950 2,634 1 6 91,173 3,658 288,565 437,056 Tons. 5,666 3,150 16,977?} 52J4 14,152 589,275 15,792 7,062,585 151,723* £ 17,860 37,367 46,040 55,164 226 69,672 587,183 23,590 3,531,202 6,349,421 Total quantity and value of minerals Value of gold and silver, as above 687,295 907,566 958,740 681,294 M 828,047 1,012,039 7,860,767i« 10,717,731 48,532,005 Total value of minerals produced, including gold and silver 1,866,306 1,840,686 59,249,730

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No. 2. Table showing the Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Exportation from New Zealand for the Years ending the 31st March, 1892 and 1893, and the Total Quantity and Value from 1857 to the 31st March, 1893.

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Year ending 31st March, 1893. Year ending 31st March, 1892. Increase or Decrease lor Year ending 31st March, 1893. District and County or Borough. Total Quant: from Janu 31st Mai ity and Value ary, 1857, to xh, 1893. • Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Increase. Decrease. Auckland — County of Coromandel County of Thames County of Ohinemuri County of Piako County of Whangarei Borough of Thames Te Aroha Town District .. Oz. 6,647 13,974 14,017 503 5 5,906 £ 26,549 55,800 57,953 2,014 15 23,518 Oz. 8,422 15,681 7,331 904 1 8,186 £ 33,573 62,386 30,563 3,551 4 32,683 Oz. Oz. 1,775 1,707 Oz. £ 6,086 '401 4 2,280 41,052 165,849 40,525 162,760 527 1,737,525 6,510,533 Wellington 188 706 Maelboeough— County of Marlborough Blenheim Borough Picton Borough 3,055 12,083 . 7,020 28,026 3,965 Nelson — County of Waimea County of Collingvvood 3,055 00 2,732 12,083 230 10,379 7,020 1,210 4,091 28,026 4,648 15,544 1,150 ' 1,359 3,965 76,856 298,618 2,792 10,609 5,301 20,192 2,509 242,803 901,402 West Coast— County of Buller County of Inangahua County of Grey County of Westland Brunnerton Borough Kumara Borough Hokitika Borough Ross Borough Kcefton Borough .. 15,832 24,662 24,545 30,813 63,420 98,613 98,141 123,312 14,148 38,201 25,775 29,413 4 4,224 2,122 4,271 56,540 152,856 103,135 117,655 16 16,902 8,490 17,078 1,084 ' M00 j 13,539 1,230 4 3,146 1,206 481 1,078 916 3,790 4,211 3,665 15,161 .. L01.686 406,523 118,158 472,672 16,522 5,333,135 21,186,097 Canteebuby .. 48 192 Otago— County of Taieri' County of Tuapeka County of Vincent County of Maniototo County of Waihemo County of Waikouaiti County of Waitaki County of Bruce County of Lake County of Wallace County of Fiord County of Southland County of Stewart Island .. County of Clutha Unknown Borough of Alexandra Dunedin 1,217 21,081 16,125 10,779 2,007 065 1,796 14,977 5,611 632 3,999 15 4,689 87,848 04,934 43,528 10,146 2,452 7,355 59,943 22,746 2,570 16,052 60 917 29,557 22,689 12,276 3,535 1,541 2,553 19,491 6,829 655 5,321 3,673 118,706 91,137 49,380 13,924 6,092 10,340 78,118 27,537 2,641 21,307 300 ' 7,876 6,564 1,497 928 876 757 4,514 1,218 23 1,322 "l5 "20 80 8 65 94 32 258 382 8 45 94 Totals .. 80,124 322,403 105,531 423,527 25,407 4,969,687 19,633,110 228,659 917,467 276,535 1,107,177 47,876 12,360,242 48,596,658

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No. 3. Total Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Duty for Exportation from the 1st January, 1857, to the 31st December, 1892. (This return shows the produce of the various goldfields. Gold entered at Nelson from Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport is put under the head of "West Coast," and from Invercargill and Riverton under the head of "Otago.")

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Auckland. Neh ion. Marlbc trough. West Coast. Otago. Wellington. Canto] ■bury. Tot! Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 "308 1,239 4,483 3,448 5,449 5,814 6,637 53,660 132,451 85,534 330,326 104,890 119,449 76,910 69,485 56,057 99,081 55,982 37,901 42,720 35,516 33,059 41,291 36,087 42,989 32,271 30,697 35,223 28,655 31,745 45,392 45,555 £ ijl92 4,098 13,853 10,552 17,096 17,463 18,277 168,874 434,687 319,146 1,188,708 369,341 437,123 305,068 262,156 221,905 403,627 220,454 154,295 176,416 141,326 131,007 163,618 143,564 170,416 128,140 121,564 139,556 113,191 125,760 181,185 183,655 10,437 13,226 7,336 4,538 6,335 10,422 9,580 14,410 12,137 7,050 9,123 5,999 10,631 12,244 10,014 8,175 13,697 5,642 4,577 14,018 5,367 4,463 2,993 3,222 3,453 3,289 2,064 2,159 2,798 2,582 2,914 3,027 3,252 2,856 4,445 2,535 241,610 £ 40,422 51,272 28,427 17,585 24,552 40,386 37,120 55,841 47,030 29,643 35,918 38,396 42,524 48,692 40,056 32,700 54,786 22,158 17,866 55,862 21,092 17,223 11,424 12,223 13,039 12,494 7,724 8,002 10,337 9,979 10,829 11,320 12,310 11,049 16,896 9,604 956,781 ■• 24,838 7,952 469 501 404 666 1,852 1,867 2,057 1,274 1,198 1,159 450 870 404 879 1,550 1,378 1,352 636 1,079 540 404 1,041 699 5,189 6,073 5,649 3,898 76,328 £ - - 95,231 30,814 1,818 1,978 1,616 2,664 7,408 7,468 8,228 5,050 4,748 4,636 1,796 3,197 1,617 3,460 5,650 4,531 5,400 2,524 4,306 2,160 1,451 3,759 2,547 20,167 24,285 22,576 15,429 1,463 289,897 552,572 511,974 405,762 317,169 280,068 232,882 172,574 188,501 157,531 158,678 133,014 153,198 144,634 142,822 144,090 127,544 130,048 116,905 111,686 117,861 112,671 98,774 100,139 101,696 89,096 109,268 103,106 £ 5,560 1,127,370 2,140,940 2,018,874 1,608,844 1,269,664 1,121,525 931,528 690,296 756,442 631,203 635,480 531,274 612,823 578,508 571,061 575,258 509,971 519,978 467,152 446,517 471,325 446,287 395,430 400,405 406,451 356,368 437,126 412,383 - 187,696 399,201 614,387 436,012 259,139 168,871 158,670 171,649 153,364 165,152 154,940 157,674 182,416 135,107 121,423 118,477 113,169 105,003 102,869 113,666 102,070 83,446 87,478 78,810 73,183 79,104 70,443 62,107 64,419 63,410 87,209 82,933 £ 727,321 1,546,905 2,380,750 1,689,653 1,004,163 654,647 623,815 686,596 613,456 660,694 619,760 630,696 734,024 542,154 487,632 473,491 455,341 422,277 407,868 457,705 411,923 333,804. 352,334 318,932 294,378 317,543 279,518 247,142 256,430 255,926 349,573 333,467 •' 30 £ 120 •• - - £ 10,437 13,534 7,336 4,538 194,031 410,862 628,450 480,171 574,574 735,376 686,905 637,474 614,281 544,880 730,029 445,370 505,337 376,388 355,322 322,016 371,685 310,486 287,464 305,248 270,561 251,204 248,374 229,946 237,371 227,079 203,869 201, 219 203,211 193,193 251,996 238,079 £ 40,422 52,464 28,427 17,585 751,873 1,591,389 2,431,723 1,856,837 2,226,474 2,844,517 2,698,862 2,504,326 2,362,995 2,157,585 2,787,520 1,731,261 1,987,425 1,505,331 1,407,770 1,284,328 1,496,080 1,240,079 1,148,108 1,227,252 1,080,790 1,002,720 993,352 921,797 948,615 903,569 811,100 801,066 808,549 773,438 1,007,488 954,744 io 37 ioi 380 24 96 47 169 24 96 33 52 132 206 •• Totals .. 296,514 4,954,110 19,569,968 273 1,044 I 48 1,730,304 6,487,313 5,305,623 21,076,049 192

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No. 4. Table showing the Total Quantity of Mineral Ores (the Product of Mines other than Gold), Coal, Coke, and Kauri-gum, exported from the Colony up to 31st December, 1892.

Silver. Copper-ore. Chrome-ore. Antimony-ore. Manganese-ore. Hssmatite-ore. Mixed Mineral Ore. Coal. Coke. Kauri-gum. Totals. Oz. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons.' Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Ounces. Tons. Value. £ £| I £ I £ £ I £ £ £ 'I I & £ 15,972 28,864 4,514 18,591 35,251 20,037 20,776 9,851 9,888 11,107 27,026 60,590 46,060 70,572 77,491 72,493 111,307 175,074 167,958 154,167 85,816 79,986 138,523 109,234 118,348 132,975 147,535 242,817 253,788 260,369 336,606 342,151 209,762 257,653 362,449 380,933 329,590 378,563 437,056 517,678 6,349,421 £ 15,972 28,864 4,514 18,591 35,251 25,066 23,501 12,883 11,708 36,850 31,344 65,500 46,060 72,287 81,419 74,680 115,100 188,082 192,715 104,982 90,321 91,957 149,272 129,372 137,711 154,087 168,001 275,799 271,633 281,016 350,080 353,024 362,779 318,783 419,844 459,261 439,260 467,405 544,633 614,360 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1806 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 11,063 37,123 80,272 37,064 36,187 40,566 29,085 12,683 33,893 23,019 20,645 20,005 18,885 5,694 16,826 24,914 16,624 12,108 20,809 403 24,105 32,637 28,023 22,053 2,993 11,380 23,145 9,910 9,850 10,380 7,569 3,171 7,556 5,755 4,512 4,500 4,236 1,286 3,785 5,125 3,169 2,946 3,453 71 4,043 6,162 5,151 3,996 351 245 137 110 51 246 84 "7 5,000 2,605 1,590 1,300 1,024 2,700 977 120 •• •■ 3 8 116 52 3,843 595 708 - 281 ! 25 ! 120 i 1,440 ! 520 124,719 i 4,318 I 4,910 1,315 1 ,, 1 1 1 1 1 ■■ ■• •• •■ 2 •• 1 261 973 1,027 750 1,672 1,696 990 724 1,463 3,385 1,854 2,658 6,362 7,144 7,020 6,621 3,207 6,522 6,104 43,893 46,136 44,129 68,087 80,405 69,614 91,664 78,911 •• 4 •• 2 400 1,228 1,210 800 1,508 1,612 855 655 1,363 3,129 1,954 2,071 5,139 6,187 5,977 5,610 2,380 4,879 4,461 51,257 52,133 44,650 64,971 84,347 67,003 91,173 80,225 21 87 15 53 25J 85 154 87 223 275 1,430 230 267 497 183J 953 2,132 2,218 2,544 4,306 "50 228 51 189 72 177 324 135 353 480 2,057 372 385 715 266 1,646 3,407 3,334 3.65S 5,691 830 1,661 355 1,440 2,522 1,811 2,010 1,046 856 1,103 1,400 2,228 1,867 2,535 2,685 2,690 3,850 4,391 5,054 4,811 2,834 2,569 2,231 2,888 3,633 3,445 3,229 4,725 5,461 5,533 6,518 6,393 5,875J 4,920| 6,791 8,482 7,519 7,438 8,388 8,703 151,723^ 11,063 37,123 80,272 37,064 36,187 40,566| 29,085 12,683 33,893 23,019 20,645 20,005 18,885 5,694 16,826 24,914 16,634 12,108 20,809 403 24,105 32,637 2S,023 22,053 830 1,661 355 1,440 2,522 2,167 2,263 1,300 1,018 4,997 1,995 2,996 1,867 3,077 3,904 3,801 3,600 6,070 6,750 5,822 3,558 4,119 5,631 7,975 8,682 J 12,420 12,722 17,177 15,438 14,019 14,593i 13,071 51,408 J 52,41l| 51,6064 79,145 97,828 80,287 J 104,161J 92,891 •• "l02 10,416 8,338 10,423 3,283 6,963 1,155 809 1,716 1,316 895 2,404 2,569 1,004 2,634 1,239 3,180 2,366 2 14,824 9,604 8 "6 55 "ll5 1,105 4 2,516 2,140 2,611 1,271 2,181 384 318 602 328i 305 1,085 1,080 482 1,153 521 5 9 46 20 36 41 078 106 60 2 30 31 612 24 900 804 ■■ 2 1674 1,955 2,784 22 11,335 4,303 8,597 110 "i 12 '20 "2 390 75 666 62 134 376 493 515 413 364 5,289 1,784 3,989 6,246 5,319 11,121 4,950 4,900 50J 208 114 445 144 162 199 19 2 84 993 1,846 4,142 2,955 9,985 273 6 631 "<% •• ii 5 1 4 .- •• Totals 137,367 3,150 226 14,142 15,792 I 1 23,590 604,686 G04,686[ 144,144 1,394| 17,866| 5,666! 46,040| 16,977^1 55,164| 52J 69,672! 589,275[ 587,183! 798,282f 7,330,67! Note. —Silver-ore, 37 to ons, £1,225.

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No. 5. Return showing the Quantity and Value of Coals imported into New Zealand during the Quarter ended the 31st March, 1893.

No. 6. Table showing the Increase or Decrease in the Production of Coal in the Colony, and Imported, Year by Year, during the last Fifteen Years.

No. 7. Table showing the Output of Coal from the various Mining Districts, and the Comparative Increase and Decrease, for the Years 1891 and 1892, together with the Total Approximate Quantity of Coal produced since the Mines were opened.

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Country whence Imported. Quantity. Value. nited Kingdom 'ew South Wales Totals Tons. 667 26,546 27,213 £ 721 25,753 27,213 26,474

Coal raised in the Colony. Coal imported. Year. Tons. Yearly Increase or Decrease. Tons. Plus or Minus. Increase and Decrease. .878 .. .879 .. .880 .. .881 .. .882 .. .883 .. .884 .. .885 .. .8.86 .. .887 .. .888 .. .889 .. .890 .. .891 .. .892 .. 162,218 231,218 299,923 337,262 378,272 421,764 ' 480,831 511,063 534,353 558,020 613,895 586,445 637,397 668,794 673,315 + 69,000 + 68,705 + 37,339 + 41,010 + 43,492 + 59,069 + 30,232 + 23,290 + 24,267 + 55,275 - 27,450 + 50,952 + 31,397 4- 4,521 174,148 158,076 123,298 129,962 129,582 123,540 148,444 130,202 119,873 107,230 101,341 128,063 110,939 125,318 125,453 + + 16,072 33,778 6,664 380 6,042 24,904 18,242 10,329 12,643 5,889 26,722 17,124 14,379 135 + + +

Output of Coal. Increase or Decrease. Approximate Total Output of Coal up to 31st December, 1892. Name of District. 1891. 1892. Plus or Minus. Kawakawa Whangarci, Kamo, and Whauwhau Waikato Mokau Pelorus West Wanganui Westport Beefton Greymouth Malvern Timaru Otago Southland Tons. 28,254 10,228 55,869 3,713 Tons. 18,515 9,924 57,894 1,823 Tons. 9,739 6,304 2,025 1,890 Tons. 787,761 275,784 654,423 6,724 711 42,095 1,399,943 52,108 1,700,274 285,429 6,888 2,376,592 216,569 + 3,328 206,184 4,556 145,351 14,775 1,488 164,870 24,178 1,981 208,076 4,368 178,244 11,101 1,446 157,610 22,333 + + 1,347 1,892 188 32,893 3,674 42 7,260 1,845 Totals .. 668,794 673,315 4,521 7,805,301

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No. 8. Table showing the Different Classes of Coal from the Mines in the Colony.

No. 9. Table showing the Number of Coal-mines in Operation, the Number of Men employed, and the Output of Coal per Man.

No. 10. Return showing the Quantity and Value of Coal imported into and exported from New Zealand during the Year ended the 31st December, 1892.

Note. —Foreign coal: Included in exportation to —United Kingdom, 88 tons, value £79 ; New South Wales, 1,934 tons, value £2,329 ; Peru, 165 tons, value £190 ; South Sea Islands, 3,316 tons, value £3,811. The remainder is New Zealand produce. W. T. Glasgow, Secretary and Inspector. Department of Trade and Customs, Wellington, Ist June, 1893.

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Output of Coal. Plus or Minus. Approximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1892. Name of Coal. Increase or Decrease. 1891.' 1892. Bituminous Pitch .. Tons. 387,839 96,979 161,904 22,072 Tons. 406,828 89,549 149,460 27,478 + Tons. 18,989 7,430 12,444 5,406 Tons. 3,938,577 1,202,514 2,424,824 239,386 Brown .. Lignite .. -ITotals 668,794 673,315 4,521 7,805,301

Number of Mines working. Number of Minors employed in each Mine. Total Number of Men employed. Output of Coal during 1892. Average Output per Man. 113 18 4 13 1 to 4 mon in each 5 to 10 11 to 20 21 men'and upwards 194 122 71 1,294 Tons. 59,714 41,184 21,761 550,656 Tons. 307 337 306 425 148 1,681 673,315 400

Imported. Exported. Countries whence imported. Quantity. Value. Countries to which exported. Quantity. Value. Victoria Jew South Wales .. Queensland louth Australia .. ■ Tons. 249 124,554 500 150 £ 205 115,724 512 112 United Kingdom New South Wales South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Norfolk Island Fiji Islands Bengal U.S. America, West Coast.. Chili Peru South Sea Islands Tons. 50,245 7,461 3,772 320 90 59 5,823 070 237 110 105 9,462 84,414 £ 61,369 7,448 1,718 190 48 53 4,413 670 294 149 190 10,092 Totals .. 125,453 116,553 Totals .. 86,634

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No. 11. Number of Miners employed during the Years ending 31st March, 1892 and 1893.

1 __. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (2,375 copies), £27105.

By Authority : Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9?. Price 9d.'j 5—C. 2.

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Alluvial 1 Miners. Quartz■miners. Tot ;als. Gram Total. Mining District. European. . Chinese. Europe.an. . Chinese. European. Chinese 1892. 1893. Auckland — North Hauraki and Coromandel .. Thames Ohinemuri Te Aroha Puhipuhi 287 676 420 23 10 287 676 420 23 10 275 724 328 30 50 287 676 420 23 10 1,416 1,416 1,417 1,416 Marlborough— Pelorus Wairau Cullen's Creek Waikakaho Wakamarina Kaituna and Duncan's Valley 10 15 130 30 40 8 10 301 60 10 15 130 40 40 8 233 10 243 301 243 Nelson — Baton Wangapeka Sherry and Tadmor Collingwood, Takaka, and West Wanganui Motueka Inangahua Ahaura Charleston Westport, including Addison's, \ Northern Terraces, Waimangaroa, North Beach, Mokihinui, |- Karamea, and Lower Buller Valley I Lyell .. Murebison .. . ■ \ Owen .. .. • ■ J "32 143 8 100 450 220 245 45 130 4 220 211 15 320 9 "32 'l58 8 420 459 220 4 220 211 12 20 7 172 12 803 630 250 32 162 8 040670 220 245 240 245. 7 74 119 7 133 126 48 130 48 190 178 1,373 490 418 1,791 156 420 400 500 490 2,469 2,281 Wkstland — Ross .. .. • • : • Stafford and Goldsborough Hokitika and Kanieri Kumara Greymouth .. .. • I Arnold .. • • ) Okarito Jackson's Bay 150 420 400 500 900 90 40 2,500 19 150 90 100 6 19 150 90 100 490 470 490 600 175 570 490 600 300 900 300 1,226 1,200 1 90 49 1 104 35 91 40 060 6 2,506 660 3,414 3,166 Otago — Hindon Tuapeka Clyde and Alexandra Cromwell Roxburgh Black's Tapanui Waikaia, Upper Waikaia, Nokomai Wyndham, Fortrose, and Waikawa Longwood .. .. ) Orepuki .. • • r Roundhill and Wilson's River J Wakatipu Goldfields—Arrow, Macetown, Cardrona, Kawarau, Bracken's, and Motatapu Queenstown Naseby, Kyeburn, Clarke's, and' Mount Burster Hamilton, Sowburn, &c. Hyde and Fullerton's .. Serpentine Macrae's, Strath-Taieri, Shag Valley, Nenthorn, St. Bathan's, and Ida Valley Maerewhenua 30 410 250 300 345 138 40 78 38 260 325 350 500 76 ' 5 342 110 165 68 40 40 111 1 ' 32 15 17 15 62 425 267 315 345 143 40 78 38 5 342 110 165 68 40 40 111 1 77 840 244 470 410 218 215 60 90 67 767 377 480 413 183 80 189 89 5 204 156 416 204 435 620 50 75 400 50 455 45050 100 450 50 575 500c 30 530 320 904 850 500 320 76 76 76 70 3,140 1,506 445 3,585 1,506 5,003 5,091 Summary. 3,140 Auckland Marlborough Nelson Westland Otago 233 1,373 2,500 3,140 233 1,373 2,500 3,140 7,246 490 j 660 1,506 I 1,416 10 418 6 445 1,416 243 1,791 2,506 3,585 490 660 1,506 1,417 361 2,469 3,414 5,063 1,416 243 2,281 3,166 5,091 Totals .. 7,246 2,656 2,295 9,541 2,656 12,724 12,197