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AURIFEROUS-QUARTZ MINING. The value of bullion obtained from quartz-mines during 1919 amounted to £573,662, obtained from treating 286,057 tons. Dividends paid amounted to £118,831, The following table shows the production from the most important mines ■ —

ALLUVIAL AND DREDGE MINING. The value of the production from alluvial claims amounted to £80,273, as compared with £78,895 for 1918, an increase of £1,378. There is a prospect of there being a further increase in production from alluvial mines in 1920, as one or two claims upon which a considerable capital has been expended in development are now commencing production. The dredging industry again shows a decline in production for the year, the value of bullion won for 1919 being £47,838, as compared with £63,691 for 1918 ; but it is interesting to record that an American company is now building a larger and more powerful dredge near Hokitika than lias ever been seen in New Zealand before, and if this company is successful it may mean a revival to some degree of dredge mining in other parts of the Dominion. TUNGSTEN-ORE (SCHEELITE). During the year the demand for scheebte for the English market, which had been steadily increasing during the war, practically ceased, and the price fell from 68s. to 30s. per unit ; consequently there was a marked decline in production. In 1918, 169J tons were exported, valued at £37,922 ; and in 1919, 131 tons, valued at £29,489 ; and there will probably be a still greater decline in 1920. PETROLEUM. Unfortunately petroleum has not yet been found in payable quantity in New Zealand, though several companies have carried on boring-work during the year. The Government has now under consideration a proposal for the development of our oil resources with the object of definitely proving whether they are of commercial value. The sum of £4,450 was paid in subsidies to oil-boring companies during the year. KAURI-GUM. The production of kauri-gum for 1919 was 4,128 tons, valued at £255,812, as compared with 2,419 tons, valued at £157,313, for 1.918. It is worthy of note that a company (Parenga Kauri Oils, Limited) having a capital of £200,000 has been formed to carry on the work of producing oil and gum from the large deposits of kauri peat. It is stated that the company has 6,500,000 cubic yards of peat on its properties, and that this will yield £l worth of line gum per yard. It is therefore probable that there will be a large production of kauri-gum from the swamps and peat-deposits hitherto not regarded as valuable.

Dividends paid. Name of Company. Quartz Value of treated. Bullion. m t i ± o i laia total to End lbla - of 1919. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company Talisman Consolidated Gold-mining Company Muir's Gold Reefs Blackwater Mines (Limited) New Big River Gold-mining Company .Progress Mines of Now Zealand (Limited) Murray Creek Gold-mining Company All other quartz-mines Tons. £ £ £ 160,511 303,586 99,181 5,338,057 55,442 i 97,899 .. 267,064 3,655 16,598 17.250 1.150,972 1.100 17,703 24.969 | 46,136 ! .. 174,994 4,254 13,198 2.1(H) 103.200 15.980 20,748 .. 326,562 4,512 -9,9-75 12,634 18,178 .. 21,727 Totals 286,057 574,021 118,831 '" 7,382,576* i I I * Does not include dividends paic by mines not now working.