C.—2.

14

The following statement shows the value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal and coke) and allied substances exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1928 : —

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines* of the Dominion during the year : —

III. ACCIDENTS. During 1928 one fatal and six serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,494 persons were ordinarily employed.

Total from the 1st 1928. 1 1927. Increase or Decrease. t^X^cemC, 1928. £ £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 489,584 534,639 Dec. 45,055 93,427,622 Silver .. .. .. .. 44,416 42,589 Inc. 1,827 3,103,665 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 328 821 Dec. 493 306,272 Kauri-gum .. .. .. 240,139 278,632 „ 38,493 22,374,522 Pig iron .. .. .. .. 1,994 4,592 „ 2,598 6,586 Manganese ore .. .. .. .. 12 ,, 12 62,006 Sand, lime, and building-stone .. 8,830 6,421 Inc. 2,409 | 179 Other minerals .. .. .. .. 215 Dec. 215) ' Totals .. .. 785,291 j 867,921 Deo. 82,630 119,762,845 . ; __J

Inspection District. Classification. Total, 1928. Northern. West Coast. Southern. Gold, silver, and tungsten .. .. .. .. 723 420 318 1,461 Ironstone .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 .. 21 Cinnabar .. .. .. .. •. • • 10 * .. 2 12 Totals for 1928 .. .. .. .. 733 441 320 1,494 Totals for 1927 .. .. .. .. 804 577 352 1,733 *In addition, 12 persons were employed in sulphur-raining and 34 persons in oil-boring operations.

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. 0ause- Number of r f Number of Number of Separate t. Separate Persons Accidents. Accidents. injured. of ground.. .. .. •• •• •• 1 1 2 Explosives .. .. • - ■ • • • • • • • • • 2 2 Miscellaneous Miscellaneous, underground .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Totals .. .. .. .. 1 1 6 6 An account of the fatal accident, together with reports on the serious but non-fatal accidents, appears in the Inspectors' reports attached hereto.