9

C—s

The mining community, as I have stated on previous occasions, is the most conservative class in the colony. Miners believe in following in the footsteps of those before them, and look with suspicion on any new method as an innovation not worth the trouble of inquiring into. It is only by practical demonstration, and this carried on repeatedly, that they can be got to entertain any new method for the extraction of the metals from the ore. It is only recently that Mr. Fenton has got such companies as the Keep-It-Dark and Pandora to stack their tailings and treat them a second time. I drew attention in my last annual report to the fact that not only is the gold and silver left in the tailings, but in ores where there is a quantity of sulphur and arsenic, a considerable percentage of the precious metals is carried away with the water and never settles in the tailings at all. In crushing raw ores containing a largo percentage of sulphur and arsenic it is simply throwing away money by pretending to save the precious metals by amalgamation with mercury, as arsenic sickens the mercury, and so does sulphur; but the sulphur being a very light mineral, and possessing a great affinity for metals, a certain proportion of them floats on the surface of the water and is carried away. Again, antimony is found in some quartz lodes associated with gold, which sickens the mercury and creates a black scum on the surface, which prevents the gold from adhering to it. To carry on mining on an intelligent basis any company of any note should have a person who is able to assay the ores ; and if these assays are taken from a fair average of the stone the company is then in a position to sco whether the mode of treatment is saving a fair percentage of the gold or not; also by making assays of this description they are fully acquainted with the different metals and minerals in the stone, and in a position to know the best method of treatment to adopt from the class of ore they have to deal with. The Schools of Minos in such districts as the Thames and Eeofton are invaluable institutions for forwarding the progress of the mining industry, and all those who intend to follow up that industry should avail themselves of the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the nature and treatment of metalliferous ores : indeed, if no assistance from Government were ever given to these schools the people in the different districts should endeavour to make them self-supporting, as the knowledge they are the means of disseminating is worth far more than all the cost of maintaining them. The following statement will show the expenditure by the department on the Schools of Mines since they have been inaugurated : —

It will be seen from this that during the last three years subsidies towards buildings amounted to £511 12s. 3d. ; the value of chemicals and apparatus for testing metals and minerals, and also for supplying mineralogical specimens to the various schools is £699 15s. 2d.; and the salaries and the travelling-expenses paid to the teaching-staff in connection with the schools, £5,654 Bs. 7d. : making the total expenditure of £6,865 16s. This is exclusive of subsidy towards testing-plant at the Thames. In addition to this there was a liability at the end of March last of £337 4s. 3d. Last year the teaching-staff was reduced to two —namely, one in the Thames District, in the North Island ; and one at Eeeftou, in the Middle Island ; whilst Professor Black and his assistant, in order to fulfil promises made to the several district committees, visited and gave lectures at the various schools in the Middle Island, previous to the withdrawal of State-aid, as it is intended that in future these schools shall be self-supporting. It is only fair to state that the results from the inauguration of this scheme of technical education of the miners will not be felt for some time, but we may rest assured that the teaching will yet bear good fruits, and eventually be the means of having a more intelligent class of miners, and mining conducted on far more systematic principles. It will be also the means of giving those persons who wish to qualify themselves for the position of mine managers an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the theory of mining, and the effect that slides and heaves have on lodes, and the direction in which the lost lode is likely to be found, as well as a knowledge of the composition of gases found in mines, and the amount of ventilation necessary to insure the health of the workmen. Many mine managers at the present time know how a mine should be worked, but they have very little knowledge as to making a survey of the mine to ascertain where the workings are in relation to the ground the company holds. The Schools of Alines, to carry out their functions, ought to teach mining in all its branches, and by so doing they will qualify persons to take the management of mines who will be able to conduct the operations in an intelligent manner. EOADS UNDERTAKEN AND CONSTRUCTED WHOLLY BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OP MINES AND OPENING UP LANDS. Road, Aorere Valley, to Karamca and Mokihinui. —This is a bridle-track from the end of the dray-road which is constructed from Colliugwood up the Aorere Valley some eighteen miles. 2—C. 5.

Financial Years Subsidies towards the erection of Schools of Mines. Chemicals and Apparatus, also Mineralogical Specimens, supplied to Schools of Mines. Salaries of Teachers with Travelling-ex-penses, &o. Total Sums paid to Schools of Mines by the Department. 885-86 .886-87 .887-88 £ s. Nil. 257 16 253 15 a. 6 9 £ s. 36 19 409 1 253 14 a. 9 4 1 1,223 2,716 1,714 s. a. 9 10 9 3 9 6 £ s. a. 1,260 9 7 3,383 7 1 2,221 19 4 Total 511 12 3 699 15 2 5,654 8 7 6,865 16 0