9

C—B

The dividends paid by thirty-five dredges, the property of registered companies, amounted to £51,918 during 1910 ; the profits of privately owned dredges are unobtainable. The following is a statement regarding the most productive dredges during the year :—

During 1910 two West Coast dredges were dismantled—viz., " Pactolus I " and " New Mokoia." In Otago and Southland there were also dismantled the " Excelsior," " Glenore," " Clutha River," " Roxburgh Jubilee," and " Electric III." The " Antonio's Flat " dredge was removed to Cronadun. A new dredge, the " Success," has been launched at Brennan's Creek, Westland ; it is in length 96 J ft., and although smaller than several of the Otago dredges, is one of the largest and most powerful on the West Coast. (3.) Alluvial Mining. The prosperity of this branch of mining depends upon the adequacy of the water-supply available for sluicing purposes. Owing, therefore, to an exceptionally dry year —it is reported to have been the greatest drought ever experienced in Southland —the value of the gold-production from alluvial claims during 1910 has declined to £188,464, being £144,771 below the production of the previous year. West CoaM Inspection District. 3 The Mahinapua Gold-mining Company (Limited) are the holders of a claim of about 87 acres, situated on the Aylmer auriferous black-sand lead, between Lake Mahinapua and the Hokitika-Ross Railway. The claims cover the course of the lead for about two miles and a half. The width of the lead may average about 60 ft., the depth being about 20 ft. The lead has been worked intermittently in isolated patches during a number of years by more primitive and costly methods than those now generally adopted in this country. No great quantity of gold has been obtained, but at times some rich patches have been found. The difficulty here, as on many other of the unexhausted alluvial goldfields of the Dominion, has been the influx of water, which prevented the extraction of the deepest wash by former methods of mining. The present company have installed a complete hydraulic sluicing and elevating outfit of about 30 cubic yards per hour capacity. The source of watersupply is Granite Creek and Ogilvie's Lagoon, which are connected to the claim by ditching and iron piping in leng.h 6 miles \\ chains constructed by the company, and capable of delivering about

2—C. 3.

Dividends paid by Thirtv-five Dredges owned by Registered Companies. Production durini Name of Dredge. 1910 of all Dredges. During 1910. To 31st December, 1910. Vest Coast DistrictStafford Hessy, Cameron, and Tacon (Limited) Worksop No Town Creek Pactolus Blackwater River .... New Trafalgar louthern District — Orewe (2) Waikaka Syndicate (2) ... Koputai Earnscleugh (3) Master con Mystery Flat Golden'Bed ... Rise and Shine (2) Rising Sun Magnum Boniim Muddy Creek Waikaka United (2) ... Otago (2) Manuherikia ... Dredge No. 909 Jutland Hydraulic Waikaia Other working dredges e 3~738 4,042 6,565 5,222 5,187 5,100 4,143 7,146 7,659 4,972 12,755 5,062 3,221 8,000 20,112 9,074 4,414 2,808 8,769 6,145 4,640 4,887 1,762 5,599 164,127 £ 70S 750 1,800 1,800 2,500 947 650 2,875 3,500 2,100 1,100 1,750 807 3,821 11,100 3,800 2,062 830 1,680 500 1,800 1,500 249 2,275 1,014 £ 2,883 3,225 6,600 28,800 60,625 9,000 4,550 6,125 20,300 11,302 24,200 30,250 26,595 18,347 33,900 13,600 7,063 9.962 39,760 17,125 32,387 1,500 3,250 13,475 Totals 315,149 51,918