12

C.—2

MINING DEVELOPMENT. Our present legislation practically prevents advances being made by the Stateguaranteed Advances Hoard for the development of mining enterprises. Several applications for advances were received during the year, but all had to be reluctantly refused owing to the legal objections referred to. That there are many excellent mining ventures worthy of State financial assistance is invariably admitted. I propose to submit legislation for the consideration of honourable members this session in order to remove the existing legal obstruction. ELECTRICAL REGULATIONS. The new regulations for controlling the installation and use of electricity in mines appear to be working smoothly, and to be giving satisfaction to both mine-managers and employees. CONCLUSION. In concluding my review of the mining industry it is satisfactory to inform honourable members that never in its history were its prospects more promising than they are at present; it is, however, essential that generous assistance and fostering care should be given in developing our mineral resources. This industry has since 1853 contributed approximately £108,000,000 to our national wealth, and no better investment is open to the people of this Dominion than granting reasonable assistance in extending prospecting-tracks into the woodclad practically impenetrable ranges and gorges in which a large portion of our mineral resources are located ; every encouragement should also be granted to the prospector and the pioneer miner in their arduous and strenuous efforts in discovering and developing new mining ventures. I anticipate substantial progress in developing our mineral resources during the present year, and can assure honourable members that we can look forward with confidence to the Future expansion and prosperity of the mining industry.

No. 1. Table showing Comparison in Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Exportation, also the Quantity and Value of other Minerals, for the Years ended the 31st December, 1908 and 1909, as well as the Total Value since the 1st January, 1853.

For Year ending the For Year ending the 31st December, L909. ' 31st December, !<kih. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1909. Name of Metal or Rlineral Quantity. , Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. , Value. Precious metals — Oz. £ Oz. £ Gold .. .. .. .. .. 506,371 2,000,900 500,423 2,004,925 Silver .. .. .. .. .- 1,813,830 180,872 1,731,330 175,337 Oz. £ 19,231,474 75,540,960 12,984,562 1,446,803 Total gold and silver .. .. -2,320,201 2,187,772 2,237,759 2,180,262 Mineral produce, including kauri-gum— Ton-.. £ ■ Tons. £ Copper-ore .. .. .... 5 LOO 18 275 Chrome-ore Antimony-ore .. .. .. .. 2 80 5 73 Manganese-ore .. .. .. .. 6 29 Haematite-ore .. Mixed minerals .. .. .. .. '1,8861 11,700 f1,690$ 16,179 Coal (New Zealand) exported .. ..| 201,685 183,961 100,502 85,846 Coke exported .. .. .. 22 23 2 4 Coal, output of mines in Dominion (less 1,700,502 854,781 1,760,473 880,236 exports) Shale .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 4 Kauri-gum .. .. .. .. 8,250 , 552,698 5,530 372,798 82,216,086 76,987,768 T ns. £ 1.495J 19,198 ■ '.,869 88,002 3,748 54,849 19,859* 61,886 76$ 444 31.225J 217,188 2,594,985 ': 2,309,811 16,429 24,867 26,424,779 : 13,120,272 14,423 7,215 297,607 14,948,401 29,410,197 30,862,133 76,987,763 Total quantity and value of minerals 1,921,368} 1,603,361 1,868,216*. 1,355,415 Value of gold and silver, as above .. .. ; 2,187,772 .. 2,180,262 1,921,368}: 1,603,361 1,868,216J 1,355,415 .. ; 2,187,772 .. 2,180,262 Total value of minerals produced, including gold and silver .. .. .. 3,791,133; .. 3,535,677 3,791,133 3,535,677 107,849,896 * Including greenstone, 6 tons 14 ewt.; building-stone, 16 tons ; auriferous ore, 182 tons; scheelite-i tons; pumice-stone, 1,667 tons; wrought stone, tons unrecorded. (-Including auriferous Itons; unenumerated, fl tons; ironsand, 2 tons; pyrites, 2 tons; stone, 30 tons; greenstone, 64 tons; pi >re, 58 tons; v )re ; 654 tons; imice-stone, £ inenuuierated, scheelite-ore, )22 tons.