C.—2,

14

APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT. APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary op Mines. Sir, — Wellington, Bth July, 1927. I have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries, together with statistical information, for the year ended 31st December, 1926. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c., are for the period covered by the financial year —viz., from the Ist April, 1926, to the 31st March, 1927. The reports, &c., are divided into the following sections : — I. Minerals produced and exported. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining. (1) Quartz-mining. (2) Dredge Mining. (3) Alluvial Mining. V. Minerals other than Gold, VI. Stone-quarry Inspection and Statistics. VII. State Aid to Mining. (1) Subsidized Prospecting. (2) Government Prospecting-drills. (3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. (4) Government Water-races. (5) Schools of Mines. Annexures :— (A) Summary of Reports by Inspectors of Mines. (B) Summary of Report by Water-race Manager. (0) Summary of Report by Inspector of Quarries. (D) Mining Statistics. I. MINERALS PRODUCED AND EXPORTED. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metal-mines and of stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act during 1926 and 1925 : —

1926. 1925. Mineral. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Oz. £ Oz. £ Gold and silver (estimated) .. .. .. 554,529 539,302 625,626 546,026 Platinum .. .. .. .. • • 31 313 Tons cwt. Tons cwt. Tungsten-ore .. .. •. • • 9 1 475 1 15 64 Iron .. .. •• .. 3,997 0 19,585 1,289 0 8,701 Stone .. .. •• •• •• •• 516,075 .. 463,667 Pumice .. .. .. .. •• 2,358 0 8,081 2,532 0 7,672 Sulphur .. •• •• •• •• 594 0 5,217 269 0 1,154 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,089,048 .. 1,027,284