0.—2

14

I. PRODUCTION OF MINERALS. The following statement shows the value of the exports (other than gold and silver)' from metalmines, quarries, ami kauri-gum fields from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, .19.17 :

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 : —

During the period of the present war -viz., 1914 to 1917 inclusive —the number of metal-miners employed has declined 1,468, and coal-miners 471. Included in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces up to the 26th April, 1917, were 1,616 miners of all classes.

111. ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured in metalliferous mines during 1917:—

Doing at the rate of 203 fatalities per 1,000 persons employed. None of the seven fatal accidents were due to any breach of the law by mine-owners or management. Two fatalities were caused, by defects in mechanical appliances. The actual cause of one blasting and one cage accident was never proved. The two fatalities from falls of ground were of the class which are considered unavoidable, the individual judgment of the miner being a variable equation. Some experienced and careful miners at times take risks ; unforeseen falls will always occur in mining operations f

Classification. 1916. 1917. Increase or Decrease': Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st Docember, 1917. Tungsten-ore Other minerals Kauri-gum... £ 19,070 14,611 339,882 £ 28,972 6,847 291,917 k Deo. 20,098 7,767 „ 47,9(55 £ - 230,522 419,489 18,167,939 Totals 403,566 327,736 Dec. 75,830 18,817,950

Classification. Classification. Inspection Distrii it. Southern. Total, 1917. Northern. West Coast. iold, silver, and tungsten Dinnabar Totals for 1917 Totals for 1916 1,416 16 1,432 1,698 925 925 1,144 655 2,996 16 925 1,144 655 871 3,012 3,713

f Inspection District. Expl. isives. 'El 'a 1 Fall; Groi Misoellanes °? In Shafts, ous Under- Surfi and - ground. ___[ JS3] ' 5i51 2 W , 3 I-h r C 3 W i O 3 OJ OS OJ O S IE '-. a ! r2 m a ; rz! '*-! CJ I <Dl_j .j. ai JI ojJjiIj CO M , M 00 M j W 03 H | M ice. About Total Dredges. __J Cf) OJ I EB 03 Ti q n irj ! rj (- " o.S • o.g, __«_ <£ H fl I rS M 5 4 1 1 1 ... 1 ... 1 ... 7 5 13 oi fl B a O ,S 'fi '5* 03 Northern West Coast Southern 1 1 1 ... i 1 i ; ... 2 1 2 1 ... i ... Totals 1 2 i i 2 ... 1 2 1