H.—l7

2

considerable increase in the yield of gold in 1880 over 1879, in the following comparative statement of

Yield of Gold.

Comparison of the quarters ended 31st March, 1880 and 1881, show, on the other hand, a very great falling off for the first quarter of the current year As explained in former reports, the only criterion we have of the yield of gold is in the quantity passed at the Customhouse for export. This, of course, takes no account of what is used up in the colony, which may be taken to vary from 10,000 to 20,000 ounces a year Nor for so short a period as three months can any very reliable conclusion be come to as to the actual yield of the gold fields during that time, there being many contingencies which affect the quantities sold by the miners and shipped by the banks, which do not recur regularly within a three months' period, but which adjust to a much better average for a period of twelve months.

Statement of Gold Exported and Value for the years, as under.

Mining Population and its Earnings. By reference to Table No. 9 it will be seen that the number of miners on 31st March, 1881, was 15,063, and as the number twelve months before that-was 14,409, the mean number for the year will be 14,736. The gold exported for the same period was valued at £1,111,276. This does not include the gold used up in the colony; but excluding this uncertain quantity, and simply taking the export alone, as was done in former years in striking the average earnings per man, it will be ound that this is £75 Bs. for the twelvemonths ended 31st March, 1881. Eor the tree preceding similar periods, going back, the average earnings per man were repectively £81 25., £75 10s. 5 and £97 10s., or for the four years—3lst March, 1877,

1879. 1880. Decrease. icrease. uckland larlborough relson Test Coast 'tago Oz. 37,901 879 2,993 142,822 102,869 Value. £154,295 3,460 11,424 571,061 407,868 Oz. 42,720 1,550 3,222 144,090 113,006 Value. £176,416 5,650 12,223 575.258 457,705 Oz. 4,819 671 229 1,268 10,797 Value. £22,121 2,190 799 4,197 49,837 287,464 1,148,108 305,248 1,227,252 17,784 79,144 Increas for 1880 17,784 £79,144

1880. 1881. .crease. Increase. uckland Lirlborough felson Coast Oz. 11,787 215 1,096 33,615 32,589 Value. £47,403 850 4,129 134,426 131,400 Oz. 6,151 250 23,822 20,418 Value. £23,779 1,000 95,286 82,167 Oz. 5,636 215 846 9,793 12,171 Value. £23,624 850 3,129 39,140 49,233 'tago 79,302 £318,208 50,641 £202,232 28,661 £115,970 Decrease for three months ended 31st March, 1881 28,661 £115,976

Year. 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 Oz. 10,436 13,533 7,336 4,538 194,234 410,862 628,450 480,171 574,574 735,376 686,753 637,474 614,281 Value. £40,442 52,443 28,427 17,585 752,657 1,591,389 2,431,723 1,857,847 2,226,474 2,844,517 2,700,275 2,504,326 2,362,995 Year. Oz. 1870 544,880 1871 730,029 1872 445,370 1873 505,337 1874 376,388 1875 355,322 1876 318,367 1877 371,685 1878 310,486 1879 284,100 1880 305,248 30th June, 1881 114,036 Value. £2,157,585 2,787,520 1,730,992 1,987,425 1,505,331 1,407,770 1,268,559 1,496,080 1,240,079 1,134,641 1,227,252 456,819 9,659,266 £37,810,653