C.—3

52

Return of Stone, &c., crushed —Thames District — continued.

Note.—Bullion from Ohinemuri equal to 68,4460z. 13dwt., valued at £107,000: this is reduced in the table to the value of gold. Bullion from Te Aroha equal to 2,5150z.; value, £2,500: this is reduced in the table to the value of gold.

The Geology, Eesoueces, and Futuee Peospects op the Thames Goldpield. A valuable report on the geology, resources, and future prospects of the Thames Goldfield has been forwarded me by Mr. James Park, F.G.S., the director of the Thames School of Mines, who also compiled a map from the surveys of Mr. Bayldon and other surveyors, which shows all the lines of reefs, with the displacements that have from time to time taken place. The report, in conjunction with the map, gives a far better idea of the Thames Goldfield than anything that has ever yet been published. A large amount of time and labour has been expended in preparing this map, and more information can be obtained from it than in a whole book of letterpress. Everything is seen at a glance, and in a few minutes the whole of the line of reefs, with breaks and displacements, are grasped and fixed in one's mind. No one but a person residing for a considerable time on the field could have prepared such a map, the accuracy of which is acknowledged by all the mine-managers. When examining the Thames Goldfield, along with Messrs. Murray and McKay, in the beginning of the present year, this map was of the greatest assistance to us, and, so far as our examinations went, it proved to be correct. The people connected with the Thames Goldfield owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Park for the time and labour he has given to further the interests of the place, and in bringing together such a fund of information at a glance, to facilitate the development of the mines. The following is the report referred to, which, in conjunction with the attached map, will be of the greatest interest to those connected with the mining industry : — Although twenty-seven years have elapsed since the discovery of gold at the Thames, the greater part of the mining operations of this productive goldfield have been confined to an area not much over a square mile in extent. The natural result of this activity extending over so long a period, and in such a limited area, has been to exhaust most of the more accessible and readilyobtainable gold; and it is now evident to every one, that the question of deep-sinking and the development of the back-country must claim the attention and serious consideration of our mining men if the Thames is to maintain for long its position as the leading reefing district in New Zealand. It is abundantly evident that the time has arrived when the future prosperity of this field must depend upon the successful development of new ground; and, in order to direct the necessary operations with an intelligent understanding, and a due regard of the great issues at stake, we must possess an adequate and accurate knowledge of the structure and arrangement of the gold-bearing country, and the distribution of the reefs. Four years ago 1 read a short paper on "The Geology of the Thames Goldfield" before the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, at the meeting held at Melbourne in 1890. Since that date I have become thoroughly acquainted with the physical features and mines of this interesting field, and have also collected much additional information relating to its geological structure. I have also received much assistance from Professor Hutton's valuable petrological

District. Number of Tons of Quartz and Mullock crushed or sold. Yield of GoW. Average Yield of Gold per Ton. )hinemuri— 1st April, 1887, to 31st March, 1888 3888, „ 1889 1889, „ 1890 1890, „ 1891 1891, „ 1892 1892, „ 1893 1893, „ 1894 2,388 3,795 4,773 9,902 13,865 22,771 31,281 Oz. 3,406 3,679 8,564 *12,914 +23,659 |43,405 35,666 Oz. dwt. gr. 1 8 13 0 19 9 1 15 21 16 2 1 14 2 1 18 3 1 2 18 Totals 88,775 131,293 1 9 13 Te Aroha — 1st April, 1883, to 31st March, 1884 1884, „ 1885 1885, „ 1886 1886, „ 1887 1887, „ 1888 1888, „ 1889 1889, „ 1890 1890, „ 1891 1891, „ 1892 1892, „ 1893 „ 1893, „ 1894 4,262 11,042 6,552 4,743 7,166 1,381 4,894 280 2,722 3,169 2,270 4,629 9,506 4,489 3,658 2,918 1,113 §20,416 557 979 1,178 833 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 1 17 13 15 8 16 3 19 7 7 7 17 5 17 10 3 3 10 18 5 2 8 Totals ... 48,481 50,276 1 0 17 Grand totals from North Island ... 929,113 989,452 1 1 7 * The gold obtained includes 42,331oz. bullion. Is bullion worth only lls. 6d. per ounce ? t Includes bullion, 22,' '37oz. } Include! bullion, 41,683oz,