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C. --2

APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT.

APPENDIX A.

REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES.

The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 14th April, 1916. I have the honour to present my tenth annual report on metalliferous mines, together with annexures and statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1915. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure through the Mine,*. Department on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c, are for the period covered by the financial year —viz., from the Ist April, 1915, to the 31st March, 1916. The reports, &c, are divided into the following sections: — I. Production of Minerals. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (1 ) Quartz-mining. (2.) Dredge Mining (3.) Alluvial Mining V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. Stone-quarries. VII. State Aid to Mining. (1.) Subsidized Prospecting. (2.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. (3.) Government Prospecting-drills. (4.) Government Water-races. VIII. Schools of Mines. Annexures, — Reports of— (a.) Water-race Managers. (6.) Directors of Schools of Mines. (c.) Mining Statistics. (d.) Examinations under the Mining Act, 1908, and Lists of Certificate-holders.

I. PRODUCTION OF MINERALS. The following statement shows the value of the exports from metal-mines and kauri-gum fields from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1915 : —

Owing to the prohibition by the Banking Amendment Act, 1914, which, came into operation on the sth August of that year, of the export of gold except with the consent of the Minister of Finance, the value of gold and silver exported is no indication of the annual production. During 1915 the prohibition was removed, and the quantity of bullion exported during that year considerably exceeded that won during the same period. The official returns from gold-mines showjthat bullion to the value of £1,348,489 was produced during 1915, being approximately £154,160 less than the production of the previous year,

Classification. I 1914. 1915. Total from the Increase. [1st January, 1853, to the [ 31st December, 1915. Gold Silver Other minerals Kauri-gum ... i £ 895,367 62,085 29,338 497,444 £ 1,694,553 95,583 33,161 279,133 £ £ 799,186 84,648,463 33,498 2,096,382 3,823 550,508 218,311* 17,536,140 Totals 1,484,234 2,102,430 2,102,430 618,196 618,196 104,831,493 104,831,493 * Deci ires •ease. ase.