C—3,

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines of the Dominion during the year:— •

ill. ACCIDENTS. The following is a classification of fatal and serious mining accidents that have occurred during the year at all metalliferous mines :—

IV. GOLD-MINING. The past year has been a profitable one for the gold-mining industry : the slight decline in the value of bullion from our gold-mines which was noticeable during the two previous years has been arrested, and an increase of £7,510 has taken place. For this improvement the alluvial and quartz-mines may be credited, these mines having increased their annual production to a greater extent than the gold-production by dredgers has declined. Dividends to the amount of £666,548 have been declared by those of the mines and dredgers which are the property of registered companies, equivalent to 30 per cent, of the value of the total bullion-production from all gold-mines and dredgers in the Dominion. The profits from the privately owned mines and dredgers, whioh are considerable, are unobtainable: these, if known, would considerably increase the abovr value of dividends distributed during the year.

4

Inspection District. Classification. West Coast. Southern. Total. Northern. Gold and silver Antimony ... Copper Iron Platinum Scheelite Marl Tin Phosphate ... Asbestos 2,778 2 2,505 "l4 13 • 2,212 4 "io 60 4 2 35 7,495 6 14 13 10 66 4 2 35 6 6 6 Totals ... 2,786 2,538 2,327 7,651 About a thousand diggers are engage (I upon the k uri-gum fields; the actual number is no

i Expl >sions. alls °{ Ground. Misci In Shafts, ous I groi :llane- , .nder- Surface. ~ Ab ° ut Total. ind. Dredgers. . CO CO I CO CO S —• 3 -i S -i 3 .2 « .2 is .2 « .2 " H B U B "S B © | « CD * O < CO CO fe CO rl CB rlH CO Inspection District. 3 -• I § o « ° 'B 13 '« co a co 05 * co .-: => -: °s .2 « 3 « *2 Bh co Eh 1 I or them /est Coast outhern Totals ... 1 ... 1 ... 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 ... 2 1 ... ... ! 3 1 1 ____- 1__1_ ... 5 3 2 loyed. 7 4 ... 6 2 1.1 2 1 14 8 2 3 rlities per 1,0( )0 pei Being at the rate of T83 fat; rsons emp]