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V. GOLD-MINING. Gold occurs in New Zealand in two forms —viz., as contained in quartz veins or reefs, and as alluvial gold ; and the prosperity of this industry may be gauged by the fact that the gold-export for 1906 was the highest for thirty-six years. The dividends paid by registered companies amounted to £790,020, which represents the high proportion of 34 - 7 per cent, of the value of the total production from all goldmines. The profits of the privately owned mines would, if known, materially increase this proportion, as the dividends from 110 dredges and 71 hydraulic-sluicing plants privately owned are unascertainable. The following statement shows the value of the gold-production and the proportion of the same paid in dividends in this colony during 1906 : —

For comparison, the value of the production and the proportion of the same paid in dividends in New Zealand and the various States of Australia is here given : —

(1.) Quartz-mining. This, the most productive branch of gold-mining in New Zealand, continues to increase in prosperity, as shown in the following statement : —

Northern District. The principal quartz-mines of New Zealand are situated in the Ohinemuri and Thames Counties, in this district, and mining operations on the Waihi and Karangahake goldfields, in the former county, have proved the strong veins or " reefs " to maintain their dimensions and ore-values to the greatest depths yet attained, and with every indication of permanency. On the Thames Goldfield, and also at Coromandel, at a depth of about 500 ft. a change of country rock has apparently caused an impoverishment of the veins, and but little work has been done to prove the deep levels, notwithstanding that

Production of Gold, Dividends paid, 1906. 1906. Percentage of Production paid in Dividends. Number of Persons ordinarily employed. •uartz-unning ... >redge-mining .,. lluviai mining £ 1,494,087 501,199 275,618 £ 653,972 103,722 32,326 Per cent. 43-5 20-6 12-6 3,715 1 I 4,836 Totals, 1906 2,270,904 790,020 34-7 8,551 Totals, 1905 2,093,936 617,201 29-4 9,362

State or Country. Production of Gold, 1906. Divide ids paid. Percentage of Production paid in Dividends. New Zealand, 1906 West Australia, 1905 Victoria, 1905 ... Queensland, 1906 £ 2,270,904 8,305,654 3,175,875 4,198,647 £ 790,020 2,167,639 454,431 626,957 Per Gent. 34-7 26-1 14-3 14-9

Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. Dividends paid. Inspection District. 1906. 1905. 1906. 1905. 1906. 1905. J or them Vest Coast iouthern 464,237 '■■ 408,197 100,207 116,901 9,877 12,259 £ £ £ 1,312,720 1,023,027 590,135 169,929 196,368 63,837 11,438 17,058 , Unknown £ 418,222 55,192 Unknown. Totals ... 574,321 537,357 1,494,087 1,236,453 653,972 473,414