25

a—2

Paritu Granite Quarry, Coromandel Peninsula.—Report by Mr. M. Paul, Inspector oe Mines. In compliance with instructions contained in memorandum dated 21st April, 1924, I beg to submit the following report:— On the 9th of the month following, in company with Mr. J. W. Walker, Overseer of Buildings, I paid a visit of inspection to this quarry, which is situated on the western slope of the Moehau Range, about seven miles south of Cape Colville. The rook is a quartz diorite of a greyish colour. This rock possesses rather better rift and general workingqualities than are usually associated with members of the diorite family, and fairly large blocks have been quarried and dressed for monumental and decorative purposes with effects equal to tho best grey granite. The steep slopes of the Moehau Range, besides being, in general, covered with heavy layers of surface debris, are heavily bushed ; this renders it impossible to estimate the extent of suitable rock available. The quartz diorite is exposed in several of the creek-beds in this vicinity. The location, however, of the rock in fresh condition is not so easy, for considerable areas have been affected by hydrothcrmal action. The area held, comprised of 82 acres, is a Government quarry reserve with a frontage of about half a mile along the coast-line, and the diorite rock on this property consists mainly of loose boulders along the coast-line and the hillside. There is also an outcrop, 4 ft. above high-water mark, running under the hill, near the loading-jetty, and, although no attempt has been made to test its extent, there is evidence that a good quality of diorite of uniform colour exists at this point under the decomposed granite overlying it. There is also an outcrop of granite about half a mile up the creek from the coast-line for a length of about 1 chain and of an average height of 15 ft., but practically nothing has been done to prove its extent and quality, and being so far away from the jetty it would prove expensive to work. It would therefore be advisable, in order to prove the extent of suitable stone for building purposes over this area, to spend money on prospecting operations, which would probably reveal that the outcrop exposed near the jetty runs under the hill, and would enablo a large quantity of valuable building-stone to be opened up, which could be quarried at a low cost and cut up into blocks of any desired sizes or shapes. Orders for building-stone at present are being supplied by cutting up boulders lying on the beach and hillside, which is most unsatisfactory from a builder's point of view, on account of the difficulty of getting uniformity of colour. An engine to work the Blondin, an air-compressor, and pneumatic rock-drillslhavelbeen installed, and during my visit two saws for stone-cutting were in the course of erection. In conclusion, it is impossible to estimate the extent of building-stone available, and, although one could not say this is a mountain of granite, there is every indication that if the overburthen was removed from the outcrop near the loading-jetty it would probably prove that there exists a considerable amount of diorite of uniform colour available suitable for monumental and building purposes.

ANNEXURE D.

MINING STATISTICS. Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended 31st December, 1923.

4—G. 2.

Locality and Name of Mine. Average Number of Men employed. Quartz crushed. Gold obtained. Value. Amalgamation. Cyanide. Tha [es County and Bo ;OUQH. Tararu Creek— New Sylvia Waiotahi Creek— Waiotahi Tairua— Golden Hills 10 5 2 10 Tons cwt. qr. lb. 1,420 0 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 39 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 2,597 15 0 £ s. d. 1,381 14 2 5 0 0 12 102 17 0 274 17 1 2 34 0 0 0 61 19 0 90 16 9 Totals 17 17 1,454 0 1 2 203 16 0 2,597 15 0 1,747 8 0 Waihi— Waihi Goldmining Company* .. Waihi Grand Junction* 582 381 582 381 Waihi Borough. 179,848 0 0 0 76,705 0 0 0 1523,535 4 11 82,111 7 14 322,830 0 6 104,792 5 9 Totals 963 963 256,553 0 0 0 605,646 12 1 427,622 6 3 Owharoa —• Rising Sun Goldmining Company Karangahake— Woodstock Talisman Imperial Shore and Inglis Sundries Prospectors 15 3 2 2 2 11 4 15 3 2 2 2 II 4 Ohinemuri Count' 46 0 0 0 93 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 0 73 7 20 8 2 16 29 0 11 31 0 19 2,097 0 0 10 17 8 54 4 8 92 1 0 244 9 0 129 12 9 ■ 15 3 8 58 11 6 39 4 8 3,389 7 4 11 1 2 1,000 0 0 0 Totals 39 39 1,140 0 0 0 2,249 9 2 146 5 8 3,887 10 1 Waikoromiko — Four-in-hand .. .. I 8 8 lOROMANDEL COUNT' 2 0 0 17 I 24 0 0 71 3 7 Te Puke— ; Muir's Gold Reefs .. •. I 136 Taubanqa County. 28,887 0 0 0 | | 24,579 0 0 75,213 5 10 * Waihi aud Waihi Grand Junction Mines: Gold won from these mines valued at £4 4b. per ounce; silver, 2s. per^ounce.