C—2

15

IV. GOLD-MINTNG. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and the number of gold-mines and dredges :—

(1) Quartz-mining.

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1929 amounted to £1 16s. Id., as compared with £1 15s. sd. during 1928. From the Waihi Mine 181.086 tons of ore were mined, against 181,479 tons for the previous year. The gold recovered amounted to 67,616 oz. and the silver to 370,455 oz., compared with 67,322 oz. of gold and 350,669 oz. of silver for the previous year ; the total value of the bullion obtained was £321,032, an increase of £3,213 over that obtained during 1928. A large amount of development work was done and various ore-bodies located, with the result that the ore reserves arc practically the same as at the beginning of the year ; the new ore-bodies were located from No. 10 level upwards. Work on the Waihi Grand Junction property is being carried on by the Waihi Gold-mining Co. ; 9,878 tons of ore were mined and 79,127 oz. of bullion recovered, of a value of £30,753. From the Blackwater Mine 37,744 tons of quartz were mined and yielded on treatment 16,201 oz. of gold, valued at £64,394. Compared with the previous year these figures show decreases of 2,163 tons of stone, 408 oz. of gold, and £6,131 in value. Less development work was done than in 1928. (2) Dredge Mining. The following is a statement showing the capacity, production, and profits of bucket gold-dredges during 1929. (Note. —The profits made by privately-owned dredges are not obtainable for publication.)

Production of Bullion, 1929.' (All Mines.) . _ {By Registered Com- mines, Alluvial Quantity. | Va.u*. j — Oz. £ ! £ Quartz-mining .. 548,689 437,287 100,906 1,025 26 Alluvial miningj .. 9,807 37,822 490 361 252 Dredge mining .. 12,824 52,231 1,641 89 5 Totals, 1929 .. 571,320 527,340 103,037 1,475 283 Totals, 1928 .. 532,914 j 551,242 104,124 1,458 360 I ♦In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word "bullion" is used in preference to "goid." t The profits of privately-owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. JThe bullion-production is from 252 alluvial claims, but the dividends are only obtainable from those few that are the property of registered companies. The total value of the gold produced in 1929 was less by £23,902 than that produced in 1928. This decrease is made up of a decrease of £8,727 from quartz-mining, a decrease of £12,480 from dredging, and a decrease of £2,695 from alluvial mining.

Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. Inspection District. 1920. 1928. 1929. 1928. 1929. 1928. £ £ £ £ Northern .. .. 194,401 205,271 356,359 366,937 100,906 99,181 West Coast .. .. 47,806 46,717 80,854 79,044 Southern .. .. 135 120 74 33 Totals .. .. 242,342 252,108 437,287 446,014 100,906 99,181

I £> O w l-t i w u-c • flbo bfl'S "ifs ° « Se i ,2 J -Q M a o-> o 5 , , , , -« £ •- _• a ~ C Dividends declared. 8 Sa « a ® 'S 35 2.a Ml! M l a -gl II 5* JS arae of Dredge. Locality. © « o <i> o " o £ o> >5(1). "3 «-! >» <Dfl O CJ . •Cg-§ .Sjs MfaW «?o During T , . Lgg US ll mm »s lis 1929 - TotaU jo K fc ®HM ■< £ Otago and Southland. Ft. £ £ £ Nevis Crossing .. .. Nevis River . . 3$ 10 12 S 10 123 Upper Nevis .. .. ,, 7 10 205 E 25 2,653 Undaunted .. .. Little Kyeburn . . 4J 10 60 H 15 38 West Coast. Rimu .. .. .. Rimu Flat ,. 10 19 450 E 38 46,970 1,641 24,622 New River .. .. Dunganville .. 7 18 210 E 35 2,447 Totals, 1929 .. .. .. .. 52,231 1,641 Unknown Totals, 1928 .. .. .. j .. .. I .. j .. 64,711 3,283 Unknown