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The following statement shows the value of Now Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1921 :—

[I. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about I he metalliferous mines of the Dominion during the year :

111. ACCIDENTS. During 1921 one fatal and seven serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 2,070 persons were ordinarily employed.

The following is a description of the fatal accident which happened to Edward Murphy (57) an alluvial-gold miner. On the 3rd August, at about 10 a.m., he was employed with three others cleaning up at the sluicing-face of the Hochstetter Goldfields (Limited). The sandstone bottom rose; almost vertically to a considerable height above where the men were working. While thus engaged a fall of sandstone from a higher level occurred, burying deceased ; when his body was recovered he was dead, the base of his skull having been fractured. The mates of deceased at the inquest stated in evidence that prior to the accident they did not apprehend danger. The jury returned, a verdict of " Accidental death," holding no person blameworthy. Without inspection prior to the accident, it is impossible to gauge the. degree of danger (if any) which existed. The work was obviously attended with some risk, but the manager of the claim had not seen the place since 4- p.m. on the previous day — i.e., eighteen hours prior to the accident—and allowed the men to work without control. Descriptions of the serious non-fatal accidents are contained in the reports of Inspectors of Mines (Annexure A hereto).

1920. 1921. Increase or Decrease. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1921. j ; £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 883,748 612,168 Dec. 271 ,580 Silver .. .. .. .. 87,665 65,647 „ 22,018 Quicksilver . . .. .. 900 2] „ 879 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 1.378 .. ,, 1,378 Kauri-gum*! .. .. .. 556,756 367,197 „ 189,559 ManganeseH .. .. .. 10 .. „ 10 Other minerals .. ..- .. 8,745 8,988 Inc. 243 Totals .. .. 1,539,202 1,054,021 Deo. 485,181 £ 89,624,275 2,714,597 7,662 299,311 19,505.017 61,915 385,247 112,598,024 * The quantity of kauri-gum produced is not known, but the quantity exported is recorded.

Inspection District, Classification. Northern. West Coast. Southern. Total, 1921, ___ J Gold, silver, and tungsten Cinnabar Asbestos Ironstone 1,147 -.181 11 1 35 393 2 2,021 13 1 35 Totals for 1921 .. .. . 1,158 517 395 2,070 Totals for 1920 .. j 1,073 485 372 1,930

Cause. Fatal A' Number of Separate Accidents. coidents. ; Serious .Non-fai Number of Donl-liH separate Deaths. Accidents. 34tl Accidents. N umber of Persons Injured. Falls of ground Kxplosives Miscellaneous, on surface Miscellaneous, underground Totals 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 I 1 7 7