17

C.-2

(1.) QUAHTZ-MINING. The following is a statement showing the tons of ore treated, the value of bullion produced, and the amount of dividends paid by quartz-mining companies in each of the inspection districts during the years 1919, 1918, and 1917 :—

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1919 amounted to .£2 os. Id. The following is a statement of the production, dividends declared, and the number of persons employed by the principal gold-quartz mining companies during 1919: —

The following is a brief summary of the operations at the principal mines during the year; more detailed references are contained in the reports of the Inspectors of Mines appearing in Annexure A accompanying this report. Northern Inspection District. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). —There has been no development carried out at the low level (No. 12) since March, 1917, but late in the year it was unwatered, and driving east on the Dreadnought lode has just been resumed. At No. 11 level a large chamber (120 ft. by 20 ft. by 1 i ft. high) has been cut out, in which is to be installed the powerful electric turbine pumps expected to arrive this year from England. The directors' annual report states that the long-deferred delivery of these pumps and the shortage of labour and coal has accounted for the delay in unwatering the low level to resume driving. The ore reserves have been further drawn upon during the year, and are now estimated at about 1,000,000 tons of a grade lower by ss. 6d. per ton than the estimate of the preceding year. During the present year, owing to the increased price of supplies and higher wages of employees, the cost of production will be raised by ss. per ton, so that a large quantity of ore previously considered payable at pre-war prices for gold and silver is now unpayable. Whilst greatly increased prices for gold and silver compensated the higher costs at the mine, any reduction of these prices during the present would seriously affect the company's operations. Early in the year the fine hydro-electric power station at Horahora was purchased by the Government, but the company retained the right of an annual supply of 2,500 kilowatts at an agreed price per unit. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Until the low level of the Waihi Mine had been unwatered very little development could be undertaken below No. 8 level, with the result that, the ore reserves on (he Empire and Royal lodes had been greatly diminished. During the year the two companies met in conference and an arrangement for the next three

3—C. 2.

Statute Tons of Ore treated. 1919. 1918. 1917. V 1919. /aliu io of IJul 1918. lliou ;1. 1917. I Value of Bullion, Dividends paid (by Registered Companies only). Inspection District. 1919. 1918. 1917. lorthern Vest Coast .. lOuthern 226,614 58,937 506 259,103 298,396 86,495 105,539 1,690 5,381 £ 475,999 97,712 310 I £ £ £ £ 615,064 751,974 116,431 178,369 127,846 158,007 2,400 15,150 821 1,818 743,731 911,799 118,831 193,519 £ 195,619 7,450 Totals 286,057 347,288 409,316 574,021 203,069

Name of Company. Quantity Value Avcrag6 Qnnrtr °' Valuo ffied, Bo,llo »- I* r Ton. During 1919. Dividends paid. .,•, ]3 o'S&S Total "2 § | » , „, n i to End of § g „ .9 19W- December, fcg=3 1919. fMa 10 p Northern District— Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. Talisman Consolidated (Limited) Muir's Gold Reefs (Limited) West Coast District— Blackwater Mines (Limited) Now Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited) Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) Murray Creek Gold-mining Company .. Other quartz-mines throughout Now Zealand Statute Tons. 160,511 55,442 3,655 4,100 £ 303,586 97,899 46,698* 17,703 £ s. d. 1 17 9 1 15 3 12 15 0 4 6 4 £ 99,181 17,250 £ 5,338,057 207,064 1,150,972 578 285 89 50 24,969 4,254 15,980 4,512 12,634 46,136 13,198 20,748 9,975 18,178 1 16 11 3 2 6 1 6 0 2 4 3 1 8 9 2,400! 174,994 103,200 326,562 113 37 70 40 161 21,727 Totals 280,057 574,021 2 0 1 118,831 7,382,576 1,423 * The final return on ceasing milling o aerations is included in this >tal.