C—3

65

Copper.

Lodes occur at Reedy Creek, Upper Waitahuna ; at Moke Creek, Wakatipu district; and on the Carrick Ranges. An attempt was made to open up the lode at Moke Creek; but operations were not attended with success, and the property is abandoned in the meantime. Scheelite. 57| tons are returned as having been produced and exported during the year from the Macrae's district. The principal producers are Gilmour and party at Mount Highlay, and Messrs. W. and G. Donaldson at Golden Point, the latter being also proprietors of the gold and tungsten mine at Mount Highlay, where crushing and concentrating appliances are now being erected. Some of the scheelite in this district is so pure as only to require to be hand-picked from the quartz. The bulk, however, is saved by concentration after passing through crushing appliances. Attention has been directed towards the deposits which exist at Burnt Creek, Lammerlaw Ranges, Waipori, and the 'dodes which occur on Mount Judah, Glenorchy. A syndicate has been formed to exploit the latter at an early date, a mineral license having been secured over an area of 40 acres. This mineral has also been discovered at the Alta Mine, Bendigo, and in the Lammerlaw Creek. Waipori. Antimony. Although lodes occur at Alexandra, Waipori, Mount Stoker, and the Carrick Ranges, no attention has been directed towards them during the year, the principal reasons being the inaccessibility and distance from the seaboard, combined with the low price commanded by crude ore on the Home market. Manganese. This mineral is found at Taieri Beach and also at Waipori, Tuapeka. At the prices ruling on the Home market for this mineral there is no possibility of an export trade being established from this colony. The principal supplies of the world come from Russia and Japan, the percentage of ore ranging from 80 to 90 per cent. Hematite. 55 tons 5 cwt. have been taken out by Messrs. McGilvray, Mataura, for use by the Mataura Paper-mills. Deposits exist in various localities—viz., Clyde, and Table Hill (Milton), the latter deposits being worked on a small scale. Phosphate Rock. Mining and burning operations have been carried on during the year by the Ewing Phosphate Company, Clarendon, Otago, and 5,000 tons of phosphate rock have been produced for treatment at the chemical works at Burnside. A considerable quantity has also been raised by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company from the company's Milburn property. Deposits of this mineral have been discovered near the Waiau River, Southland. Limestone. About 20,000 tons for building and agricultural purposes were produced by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company, Milburn, Otago, during the year.. Also 260 tons by the Springburn Lime and Coal Company, Staveley, Canterbury. Marl. The expectations that the property at Burnside would have reached a productive stage on a large scale during the year have not been realised. It is understood, however, that arrangements are well forward to commence operations and equip the property with the necessary machinery. 800 tons of marl have been raised from an adjoining property and utilised during the year by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company. Fireclay. Used for the manufacture of fireclay goods, bricks, and sanitary pipes. The following outputs have been returned : Springfield Colliery, Springfield, Canterbury 137 tons ; Homebush Colliery, Glentunnel, Canterbury, 480 tons ; P. McSkimming, Benhar, South Otago, 1,800 tons : total, 2,417 tons. BUILDING-SAND. 14,484 tons of building-sand were produced during the year from the coal-measures of the Green Island coalfields for use in Dunedin and surrounding districts. Greenstone. The extensive deposits discovered and opened up at Milford Sound, Otago, have not been further worked during the year. Operations have been suspended pending the introduction of new capital to further exploit the property and to equip the mine with the necessary machinery. 9—C. 3,