13

C.—2

The value of gold produced during 1925 was less by £61,227 than during 1924. This decrease is made up of a decrease of £30,808 from quartz-mining, due to the reduced production from Waihi Borough and Tauranga County, a decrease of £17,546 from dredging, and a decrease of £12,873 from alluvial mining.

(1.) Quartz-mining.

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1925 amounted to £1 17s. 3d., as compared with £1 17s. 7d. during 1924. At the Waihi Mine 192,337 tons of ore were crushed for a return of 570,594 oz. of bullion, an increase of 1,697 tons of ore, and of 4,497 oz. of bullion. A very large amount of developmentwork was done during the year, without, however, disclosing any large body of ore comparable with the reef bodies in the upper levels. The total footage amounted to 13,894|, and in addition there were 1,214 ft. of boring by diamond drill, The results of the development-work in the low levels are particularly disappointing so far. At Muir's Gold-reefs Mine the crosscuts to the Muir's and Massey reefs were advanced a total of 875 ft. without striking payable ore. Both crosscuts got into very broken country. No. 3 winze was sunk to a distance of 200 ft. below No. 3 level, and a crosscut showed the reef to be 15 ft. wide, carrying values up to £2 per ton. Great trouble was experienced through the amount of water that had to be pumped. Eventually the water increased beyond the capacity of the pumps, and work had to be discontinued at the mine. A new pumping plant of ample capacity has since been ordered. .At the Blackwater Mine 37,939 tons of ore were crushed for a return of 18,604 oz. of bullion, valued at £74,423, a decrease of 201 tons of ore and £4,887 in value. Less development-work was done than in the previous year, the total footage being 1,037 ft., of which, however, 629| ft. were on reef averaging about 16 dwt. over a width of just over 2 ft. A roasting plant, for the treatment of concentrates previously sent to Australia, was installed during the year and promises to be a success. At the New Big River Mine 3,976 tons of ore were crushed for a return of 3,432 oz. of bullion, valued at £13,497. Most of the ore came from the stopes on No. 12 level. The development-work amounted to 421 ft., and consisted principally of intermediate levels and rises and winzes between Nos. 11 and 12 levels. (2.) Dredge Mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket gold-dredges during 1925. (Note. —The profits made by privately owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)

The Rimu Flat dredge operated continuously throughout the year. The gold won by this dredge amounted to 8,714 oz., compared with 10,606 oz. for the previous year, a decrease of 1,892 oz. The latter is accounted for by the fact that the dredge was operating on a poorer section of the claim ; the yardage dredged was about the same as in the previous year. The company prospected other areas in the district during the year, but without success.

Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. Dividends paid (by Regis- ! tered Companies only). Inspection District. 1925. 1924. | 1925. 1924. 1925. 1924. £ £ £ £ Northern .. .. 193,907 209,481 348,703 374,085 49,591 49,590 West Coast .. .. 53,254 51,467 111,210 115,652 12,799 1,200 Southern .. .. 40 97 129 1,113 Totals .. .. 247,201 j 261,045 460,042 490,850 62,390 50,790

|l 1& ~ -ki °i if ©£ fc-cj, — xi M S'S Dividends declared. Q rt 0 m trl <=5 <3 ft ® 5 rrt H a pq'g w p£) ..g g< n pq Name of Dredge. Locality. ©«" o i io •m'S s • 5"S ® g °9 . .of a .a* g"g During §MS fi§ IS III! Sg £|S 1925. T ° ta1 ' I O fc fe I Otago and Southland. Ft. £ £ £ Nevis Crossing .. .. Nevis River 3J 10 ]2 S 10 1,370 McGeorge's Freehold No. 3 Waikaka Valley 6J 9 20 S 35 3,578 Molyneux Electric* .. Molyneux River ..5 11 16 E 40 12 TTes£ Coast. Rimu .. .. .. Rimu .. ..10 19 325 E 55 35,720 3,283 13,132 Awatuna .. .. Awatuna Beach 8 15 32 S 25 314 Totals, 1925 .. .. 40,994 3,283 Unknown. Totals, 1924 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58,540 6,566 Unknown. * Formerly known as Manuherikia.