a—2

(2) Government Prospecting Drills. The following table gives details of the drilling done and the results obtained for twelve months ended 31st December, 1934 :—

Drills used: Diamond and Keystone drills. Percussion and Hand-placer drills.

(3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £766 13s. Bd., as compared with £1,227 Is. lOd. during the previous year. Interest in gold-mining continued unabated, and, in consequence, the duties of the Inspectors of Mines tended to increase, but the Unemployment Board's appointment of qualified mining engineers, to direct and supervise the work of assisted miners and prospectors in several districts, has afforded the Inspectors some relief. These engineers confer with and are guided by the Inspector's intimate knowledge of his district, and the enthusiasm with which they have taken up their tasks has proved the wisdom of appointing such men. The Inspector of Stone-quarries, Mr. James Newton, after twenty years' service, was to retire on superannuation at the end of 1934, but, to assist his successor, Mr. 11. H. Schoen, who was appointed early in 1935, Mr. Newton kindly continued to act for another month. The Inspectors of Mines have continued to render me all possible help, and are assiduous in watching that the safety of the workmen is always the first consideration. I have, &c., George Duggan, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

27

U wl!!oo Diameter Mineral Character of Country T , , . Won't 1 !?/ ! „ . oi Holes Depth, f „ . a „ 11n ht, rtrillerl thrnnffh Io wllom ient - F° ot of Foot oI fi arh „„'» Remarks, drilled, in Feet. ot UoIe ' S0U 8 M - drilled through. Drilling. Transport. j . Ft. In. s. d. s. d. s. d. 23 1,398 6 Gold Gravel .. Ettrick Prospect- 6 1-06 0 6-88 ing Syndicate 26 816 6 Gold Sand .. .. Gold Options, Ltd. 4 8-25 0 5-50 3 197 6 Gold Gravel .. Wild and Robert- 8 13 0 son 1 98 6 Gold Gravel .. BendigoDeep 13 7* Lead Syndicate 7 240 6 Gold Gravel .. Luggate Syndicate 10 2 2 4 5 286 6 Gold Sand and gravel Investigations .. .. .. In progress. Ltd. 115 2,331 6 Gold Gravel .. Mining Trust and 24 11 0 4 Finance, Ltd. 9 633 6 Gold Gravel .. Unemployment 15 1* Board 13 806 6 Gold Clay and gravel Austral Malay Tin, .. .. .. In progress. Ltd. 19 581 3A I Gold Gravel .. Austral Malay Tin, 3 5-47 2 9-70 Ltd. 18 1,427 6 Gold Sand and gravel Investigations .. .. .. In progress. Ltd. 3 105 3f Gold Sand .. .. J. S. Langford 18 0 2 2 13 574 3J Gold Gravel and schist Unemployment .. .. .. In progress. Board 1 54 6 Gold Pug and coal .. Argyle Mining Co. .. .. .. In progress. 20 437 6 Gold Gravel .. Upper Ahaural5 9- 5 5 10-5 Gold - dredging Co., Ltd. 12 449 6 Gold Gravel .. Rimu Gold-dredg- .. .. .. In progress. ing Co., Ltd. 3 235 6 Gold Gravel .. Investigations .. .. .. In progress. Ltd. 21 324 6 Gold Gravel .. Alluvial Holdings, .. .. .. In progress. Ltd. 3 1,530 3 & 2f Coal Shale, sandstone State Coal-mines .. .. .. In progress. 1 196 1 yjy Coal Sandstone .. Kaye and party 1 9 0 8 0 4 316 12,717 * Includes cost per foot of transport.