C. —2.

amounts to develop mining-areas and provide plants for the treatment of the gold the areas should be thoroughly, systematically, efficiently, and reliably tested. From a perusal of several of the prospectuses issued during recent months it is manifest that practically no testing at all was carried out. In view of the widely increased interest which has been taken in prospecting for gold throughout the Dominion, my Department has issued two leaflets recently, one describing in detail what should be done in fossicking and prospecting for gold, and the other what areas are worthy of prospecting. In addition, two other leaflets are in type, one describing briefly the procedure to be followed in obtaining mining privileges under the provisions of the Mining Act, 1926, and the other leaflet containing comments on the taking of samples of mineral deposits and the valuation of mining, prospects. The publication of leaflets will, it is believed:, be of value to many men who are unaccustomed to mining or fossicking for gold. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1931 and 1930 : —

The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in Table No. 1 accompanying this Statement, amounted to £2,913,798, as compared with £3,339,285 during 1930. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1931 amounted to £179,056,349. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. The following statement shows the quantity and value of bullion-production, the dividends paid by registered companies, and the number of productive claims and gold-dredges during 1931 and 1930 : —

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1931. 1930. Mineral. > Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 564:,871 oz. j 657,189 639,795 oz. 550,978 Platinum . . .. .. .. i ,, 5 2J ,, 16 Tungsten-ore.. . . . . . . • ■ ■ ■ 23A§ tons 1,207 Sulphur .. .. .. •• •• 849 ,, 13,261 Iron .. .. 3,460 tons 17.300 8,075 ,, 40,375 Stone 316,366 .. 413,291 Pumice . .. .. 2,321 tons 7,589 2,559 tons 8,472 Coal .. .. .. .. 2,157,756 „ 2,157,756 2,542,092 „ 2,542,092 Silica-sand .. . . .. •. 35fJ ,, 18 53J§ „ 27 Quicksilver .. .. .. • • >> 7,296 1-J-g ,, 1,080 Totals .. .. .. I .. £3,163,519 .. £3,570,799 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated.

Dividends Number of ProducProduction of Bullion. paid by Registered tive Claims and , _ ,, . . Companies. Dredges. Class of Gold-mining. 1931. 1930. 1931. 1930. . 1931. j 1930. Oz. £ Oz. £ £ £ Quartz .. .. 538,070 532,152 620,303 472,841 106,087 I 100,908 32 i 26 Alluvial.. .. 15,306 70,110 8,954 35,067 470' 805 726 306 "Dredging .. 11,495 54,927 10,538 43,070 .. .. j 5 3 Totals .. 564,871 I 657,189 639,795 550,978 I 106,557 i 101,713 I 763 335