C.—2

The total quantity won from all branches of mining was 74,453 oz. 4dwt. 22 gr., valued at £603,802 6s. 4d. This represents a decrease in the quantity over the previous year of 1,464 oz. 19 dwt. 84 gr., but an increase in the value of £2,219 3s. lid., the apparent discrepancy in these figures is due to the rise in the price of gold during 1938 over that prevailing in 1937. During the year the total number of men engaged in actual gold-mining operations decreased by 406 to 1,488, the decline being due principally to the number of men who left the subsidy scheme controlled by the Employment Division of the Department of Labour to take up other work. In addition to the 1,488 men engaged in gold-production work and the 210 men on dredge erection, there was an undetermined number of men engaged in prospecting alluvial and lode deposits. Boeing. A summary of the boring activities carried out during the year by Government Departments, companies, and syndicates is set out hereunder :— N.Z. Prospecting and Mining, Ltd. (1) Kohinoor (Mikonui), Ross. —Drilling not continued in 1938. (2) Kawhaka. —All bore-holes drilled this year were situate in Native Reserve No. 30, Block 111, Kanieri Survey District. The company continued operations from 1937, completing a further seven holes, making a total of forty - two holes since the inception of their drilling programme. Two drills, a Keystone No. 2 and a Keystone No. 8 machine with 6 in. easing and 7 ; | in. shoe, were used by the company on this area. Drilling was suspended in March. (3) Atarau. —Situation : In Moonlight Creek Valley, Blocks 111 and IV, Mawheranui Survey District, and Block XV, Waiwhero Survey District, on various ordinary prospecting licenses and freehold land. A Keystone No. 8 machine with 6 in. easing and 7J in. shoe was used to put down seventy-four holes. (4) Red Jacks.—Situation : On Donaldson's freehold and on ordinary prospecting licenses in Block VII, Mawheranui Survey District. The company's No. 5 machine with 6 in. casing and 7f in. shoe was used to drill ten holes during the year, making a total of eighty-one holes put down altogether. (5) Marsden. — Situation: On ordinary prospecting licenses held by the company in Block I, Hohonu Survey District, and Block IV, Waimea Survey District. Operations were completed during the year and were carried out with a Keystone No. I machine using 6 in. casing and 7J in. shoe. Forty-five holes were put down by the company on this area. (6) Waitaha. —Situation : On Ordinary Prospecting License 3369 in Block NI, Waitaha Survey District. The company's No. 8 Keystone drill equipped with 6 in. casing and 7f in. shoe was used to put down four holes during the year. (7) Kumara. —Situation : Near the Borough of Kumara, Westland, on an ordinary prospecting license held by D. B. Jellie. The company's No. 3 machine with 6 in. casing and 7J in. shoe was used to drill two holes at the end of 1937 and the beginning of this year. Rimu Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. (1) Rimu Flat. —Situation : Ahead of the company's dredge operating on Rimu Flat, Westland. Continuing operations from 1937, thirty-one holes were drilled during the year. The company used a Keystone drill with 6 in. casing and 7J in. shoe. Operations were still in progress at the end of the year. (2) Totara Flat. —Situation : On ordinary prospecting licenses in Block XIII, Mawheraiti Survey District held in the name of W. J. Radford. The Mines Department's No. 5 alluvial drill equipped with 6 in. casing and 7Jin. shoe was used to put down two holes. Drilling on this area commenced late in the year, and operations were still in progress at the end of the year. Maori Gully (Kolciri) Oold-dredging Co., Ltd. (1) Waipuna.—Situation: On ordinary prospecting licenses held by the company and Mackley's freehold in Block IV, Ahaura Survey District. The company's own drilling-machine with 6 in. casing and 7Jin. shoe put down thirty-eight holes during the year. (2) Callaghan's.—Situation : On Ordinary Prospecting License No. 5221, held by C. Cook, Ordinary Prospecting License No. 2546 and Special Alluvial Claim No. 4005 held by J. Manzoni, and on ordinary prospecting license held by the company in Blocks 15 and 16, Waimea Survey District. A Mines Department No. 2 alluvial drill equipped with 6 in. casing and 7 J in. shoe was used to put down forty holes during the year. On Ordinary Prospecting License No. 5760 (Kumara) held by the company twelve holes were put down with the company's own drill, same being transferred from the Waipuna area. (3) New River (Camerons). —Situation: On Special Dredging Claim No. 76/34 held by the Bundi Tin Dredging (NX.), in Blocks 111, IV, and VIII, Waimea Survey District. One of the Bundi Tin's drilling-machines with 6 in. casing and 7Jin. shoe was used to put down six holes during the year. Operations were continued from 1937, when nine holes were drilled, making a total of fifteen holes for the area. Bundi Tin Dredging Co. (1) Chinaman's Terrace. —Situation: On Special Dredging Claim No. 76/34 held by the company, situate in Blocks 111, IV, and VIII, Waimea Survey District. A Keystone machine with 6 in. casing and 7Jin. shoo was used to put down thirty-one holes. Austral Malay Tin, Ltd. (1) Cape Terrace.—Situation: On ordinary Prospecting Licenses 82-86 held by the company in Block VIII, Waimea Survey District. Continuing operations from late in 1937, when one hole was drilled, nine holes were drilled during the year with a Keystone type plant using 6 in. casing and 7J in. shoe, and a Keystone machine equipped with 6 in., casing and 7£ in. shoe. Snowy River Dredging Syndicate. (1) Snowy River.—Situation: On ordinary prospecting license held by James Andrew Davy, situate in Blocks XI and XII, Mawheraiti Survey District. A Keystone drill equipped with 6 in. casing and 7sin. and 7\ in. shoes was used to put down 132 holes. Tronoh (New Zealand), Ltd. (1) Top Valley. —A Keystone drill with a 6 in. casing and 7J in. shoo was used to put down twenty-one holes on this area. (2) Armchair Valley—A. Keystone Drill with 6 in. casing and 7A in. shoe was used to bore four holes on this area. (3) Timm's River. —A Keystone drill with (i in. casing and shoe was used to put down six holes in this locality. (4) Mahakipawa Valley.—The company put down three holes on this area, using a Keystone drill with 6 in. easing and 7 J in. shoe. Barrytown Gold-dredging, Ltd. (1) Barrytown. —Situation: On Company's Special Dredging claim No. 232/34, a Keystone type drill equipped with 5 in. casing and 5 in. shoe was used to bore fifteen holes.

6—C. 2.

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