0.—3

2

PROSPECTING FOE GOLD. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on authorities issued in subsidies to prospecting associations and parties of miners in the different counties for the year ending the 31st March, 1906 :—

THE GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY. In comparison with the returns of the previous year those for the year ending the 31st December, 1905, show an increase in the value of gold exported of £106,435, the figures being £2,093,936 for the year 1905 as against £1,987,501 for the year 1904. This is the highest record for many years and exceeds the high return of the year 1903 by £56,105. Contrary to the remarks called forth in last year's report by the comparison of the production of the several districts, it is now found that the greatest increase during the year 1905 is from the northern goldfields, and may be largely accounted for by the increased developments at the Waihi Mine, Waihi; the Talisman Mine, Karangahake ; and the WaiotahrMine, Thames. No exports of gold are reported from the Marlborough District for 1905. An increase is reported from the Nelson District, whilst a decrease is shown in the export returns from the West Coast. This latter feature may be principally due to the cessation of work at some of the dredges. The Southern District (Otago and Southland) again shows an increase, and it may be remarked that this might have been greater but for the condition of the larger rivers affecting the working of some of the dredges. The total value of gold exported from the year 1857 to the end of the year 1905 was £67,230,584. The several branches of the industry in the various districts are referred to under their respective headings.

PRODUCTION OF GOLD. The following comparative statements show the quantity and value of gold entered for exportation for the last two calendar and financial years : —

Name of County. Expenditure for Year . ending 31st March, 1906. Liabilities on Authontiei on 31st March, 1906. £ s. d. 563 2 0 £ s. d. 422 8 0 15 0 0 45 0 0 8 2 0 24 0 0 195 12 9 164 19 0 336 8 3 Coromandel Thames Ohinemuri... Tauranga ... Takaka Buller 411 13 6 21 18 0 12 0 0 266 13 3 128 16 0 241 6 11 114 13 0 61 19 7 Inangahua Westland ... Eoss Borough Tuapeka ... 63 "0 5 . Totals 1,822 2 3 1,274 10 5

ear em ed i 31st t 1905. Decern ier, car en led 31st 1904. 'ecem >er, Name of District. Increase for 1905. Decrease fo: 1905. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. j Oz. 232,215 I £ 935,602 Oz. 223,010 473 5,049 122,310 169,478 £ 791,529 1,890 20,141 489,177 684,764 Oz. 9,205 Oz. .uckland larlborough febon ... Coast 6,469 j 109,704 172,098 25,862 438,258 694,214 1,420 "473 12,606 >tago 2,620 Totals 520,486 | 2,093,936 520,320 1,987,501 166* Name of District. Year ended 31st March, 1906. Year ended 19( Year endec 1 Quantity. ids L90 31st March, 35. Value. Increase for 1906. Decrease fo: 1906. Quantity. Value. Auckland Marlborough Nelson ... West Coast Otago Oz. 248,031 £ 1,000,954 Oz. 222,652 166 6,461 119,545 170,388 £ 815,499 662 25,814 478,050 688,551 Oz. 25,379 Oz. 166 2,040 8,549 7,636 4,421 110,996 162,752 17,650 443,089 655,913 Totals 526,200 2,117,606 519,212 2,008,576 6,988+ * Total net increase, value £106,435. f Total net inorease, value £109,030.