C—2

22

At the mines of the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand and the Progress Mines of New Zealand operations have been unprofitable, the only interesting development being the intersection of a body of quartz in a prospecting-drive through the fault south of No. 10 or 1,269 ft. level. The value of this discovery has yet to be proved. In the Blackwater district the Blackwater Mines (Limited) have experienced a successful year, dividends amounting to £12,500 having been distributed. There still continues, however, to be a decline in the value per ton of ore treated, such value being—For 1910, £2 6s. 7d. ; for 1911, £2 Is. 10d.; for 1912, £2 6s. Id.; and for 1913, £1 16s. sd. The No. 6 or 915 ft. level still remains the deepest level in the-mine, but preparations are being made to continue sinking the main shaft. In the vicinity of this mine are situated the Millerton and Prohibition Mines. Upon the former shaft-sinking is in progress, and upon the latter similar work is proposed. Other quartz-mining operations, such as the Swastika Mine, on the Mokihinui River, are being carried out, but the amount of work done is insufficient to justify either eulogy or condemnation. Southern Inspection District. In the southern inspection district no gold-quartz mining is in operation, although from the gold-scheelite-quartz mines of Otago some gold is obtained in conjunction with scheelite. (2.) Dredge Mining. This branch of gold-raining is rapidly declining in importance, the number of productive dredges having decreased from 201 during 1902, when dredge mining was at its zenith, to seventyfour during 1913. On Iho west coast of the South Island ten dredges were in commission' — viz., two on Nelson Creek and one at each of the following places: Capleston, Cronadun, Antonio's Flat, Moonlight Creek, Waimea Creek, Blue Spur, Grey Valley, and North Beach, Cobden. In Otago and Southland the fleet of sixty-four dredges in commission was distributed as follows: Waikaia Valley, 15; at or near Alexandra (River Clufha), 9; Waikaia, 6; Miller's Flat, 5; at or above Cromwell, 4 ; M'anuherikia, 4; Nevis, 4; Glencoe, 3; Charlton Creek, 3; Cardrona, 2; and one at each of the following places—Lowburn Ferry, Kawarau River, Clutha Gorge, Roxburgh. Ettrick, Ida Valley, Kyeburn, Hogburn, and Waikaka Of the foregoing, the following dredges ceased operations during the year : Hessey Cameron (Capleston), totally wrecked; Stafford (Waimea Creek), North Beach (Cobden) —all on the West Coast. In Otago and Southland the following dredges ceased operations : Hartley and Riley (River Clutha), Sandy Point (Alexandra), Golden Beach No. 1 (Alexandra), Surprise (Manuherikia), Gem (Waikaia Valley), and Central Charlton (Charlton Creek). Only one new dredge has been commissioned —viz., that of the Red Jack's Gold-dredging Company on Red Jack's Creek. West Coast. In Central Otago old dredges have been started at Hogburn and Kyeburn, and at Mataura, in Southland The Worksop dredge operating at Antonio's Flat, near Reefton, again heads the list of productive dredges. This dredge has during the past three years produced gold to the value of £49,687, of which £29,100 was distributed as dividends. An additional area of 300 acres has been acquired by this company, and it is reported that drilling operations thereon have proved very satisfactory. The following table shows the result of dredge-mining operations in New Zealand during the past eight years: —

Year. Total Number of Dredges working. Value of Production. Average Production per Dredge. Dividend-paying Dredges owned by Registered Companies. Number of Persons Number. Dividends. employed. 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 167 128 123 111 104 93 87 74 £ 505,199 419,634 373,818 327,676 315,237 297,900 257,333 195,848 £ 3,025 3,278 3,039 2,952 3,031 3,203 2,958 2,646 66 65 47 37 35 31 28 11 £ 103,722 89,707 75,800 56,788 51,918 45,318 38,841 18,750 1,150 1,013 893 838 775 694 621 'Hie dividi 18,750 durini nds paid b • 1913; the j y eleven dredge,Drofits of private the property of registered companies amounted to .y owned dredges are unobtainable.