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1896. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Mr. H. A. Goedon, F.G.S., Inspecting Engineer, to the Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister of Mines. Sic, — Mines Department, Wellington, 17th June, 1896. I have the honour to submit my annual report, for the year ending the 31st March last, on the progress of the mining industry, and on different works in connection with the same having a tendency to promote a further development of the mineral wealth of the colony. The subjects are classified under the following heads : " Subsidised Eoads and Tracks," "Eoads constructed by Direct Grants," "Prospecting Works," "Schools of Mines," " Waterraces," " Gold-mining," " Quartz Workings," " Alluvial Mining, including Hydraulic Sluicing and Dredging," " Coal-mining, including Explosion in Brunner Coal-mine and the effect of Coal-dust Explosions," "The Cyanide Process of Treatment in connection with Gold-saving," "Milling Gold-ores," " Patents applied for in connection with Gold-mining," " Natural Gas," " Examination Papers recently used in Mine-managers' and Battery Superintendents' Examinations," and " Statistical Tables showing the Class and Value of Works constructed."

SUBSIDISED EOADS AND TEACKS. The following statement will show the expenditure on subsidy principle authorised for the construction of roads and tracks in the different counties for the year ending the 31st March last, and the liabilities on outstanding authorities on that date :—

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THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND: EEPOET ON KOADS, WATER-EACES, MINING MACHINERY, AND OTHER WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING.

Name of Local Body. Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1896. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1896. Bay of Islands County Coromandel County ... Te Aroha Town Board Thames County Thames Borough Ohinemuri County ... Tauranga County Waimea County Marlborough County... Buller County Grey County Westland County Lake County Tuapeka County Vincent County Southland County ... Contingencies £ s. 898 0 92 0 50 0 225 0 22 5 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ a. 345 0 260 0 d. 0 0 200 0 0 20 0 25 0 10 0 65 3 100 0 0 0 0 6 0 532 12 150 0 100 0 75 0 2 12 50 0 9 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,200 0 600 0 16 2 0 0 8 85 "2 0 Totals £1,592 10 6 3,540 16 11