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1907. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT. BY THE HON. JAMES McGOWAN, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present my eighth annua] Mines Statement to Parliament. It is my agreeable duty to announce that the year 1906 has been a most prosperous one for the mining industry ; the returns show the value of the mineral production for the past year to be the highest yet attained, and to constitute a record in the history of this colony. The gross value of all minerals produced during 1906 amounted to £3,871,811 being £249,025 in excess of 1905. The coal-output and the yield from the quartz-mines show a considerable increase and this colony has now the distinction of possessing in the Waihi Gold-mining Company and the Westport Coal Company the most productive gold-mining and the third most productive colliery company in Australasia. It is gratifying also to record that 35 per cent, of the total yield of our goldmines during the year was declared in dividends, which return compares favourably with the results obtained in any country, and proves conclusively that gold-mining is conducted generally on a sound basis in New Zealand. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The annexed Table No. 1 shows the quantity and value of gold, silver, and other minerals (including kauri-gum) exported during the year ending the 31st December 1906, also the quantity of native coal consumed in the colony during the same period. The amount of gold entered for export was 563,843 oz., valued at £2,270,904 and of silver 1,390,536 oz., valued at £143,572, making a total value of gold and silver amounting to £2,414,476, this being an increase of £199,998 as compared with the export returns for the previous year. Other minerals, including coal, lignite, and kauri-gum, represent a value of £1,457,335, or an increase of £49,027 as compared with that of the previous year.