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GOLD AND SILVER MINING It is now possible to resume the publication of statistical data covering the production of gold and silver. Below are tabulated figures for the year 1943, as well as for the years 1941 and 1942, when publication was suspended.

Naturally, the decreased importance of gold-mining to the community during war has been responsible for man-power problems and difficulties in securing equipment, and the result has been lessened production and the discouragement of fresh enterprises. Under these circumstances it has been the prime concern of the Mines Department to assist established producers to maintain operations until such time as gold-mining may again take its place in the economic structure of the country. During 1943 production has been' mainly from the two quartz-mines, the Martha and the Blackwater, and the sixteen dredges operating on the west coast and the two in the Southern District. MINING PRIVILEGES A total of 247 licenses for mining privileges was granted under the provisions of the Mining Act, an increase of 23 on the previous year. Of the licenses granted in 1943, 32 were licenses entitling the holders to mine for gold. Altogether 45 mining privileges, including 4 claim licenses and 16 water-race licenses, were struck off the register under section 188 of the Mining Act. PETROLEUM OIL Prospecting and drilling operations in connection with the search for oil declined during 1943, and only one company is now actively engaged. Two wells were drilled in the Taranaki District during the year, but in each case the results were negative. Since the passing of the Petroleum Act, 1937 the following wells have been sunk : Totangi (Gisborne), 5,700 ft. ; Morere (Gisborne), 6,643 ft.. Midhirst (Taranaki), 10,925 ft.; Devon No. 1 (Taranaki), 9,412 ft. ; Devon No. 2 (Taranaki), 6,177 ft.; S.F.L. No. 1 (Kumara), 5,450 ft. ; S.F.L. No. 2 (Kumara), 2,980 ft. ; Stantiall (Marton), 6,877 ft. ; Young (Mount Stewart), 3,395 ft. ; Kawhaka No. 1 (Westland), 2,795 ft. ; Uruti No. 1 (Taranaki), 1,173 ft. ; Uruti No. 2 (Taranaki), 5,096 ft. All of the foregoing wells were dry. A further well is at present being drilled at Notown, near Greymouth, and has already reached a depth of more than 6,000 ft. It must be admitted that the results of the intensive programme to explore our oil resources carried out by the three operating companies have been disappointing despite the adoption of the latest scientific technique. The fact must now be faced that oil-pools of the structural-trap nature, for the location of which search has so far been directed, appear difficult to find. However, during recent years search in the older oil-producing countries has been directed towards oil-pools of the stratigraphic-trap nature as an outcome of the completion of investigations of favourable structures. The possibility of the existence of oil-pools determined by stratigraphic traps in New Zealand cannot as yet be discounted, and, while the search for such is fa,r from simple, I have no doubt that this approach to oil exploration will in time receive the attention it warrants. Much work still remains to be done in the exploration of the possible oil resources of New Zealand. From the wells at Moturoa on Petroleum Prospecting License No. 7 held by New Zealand Petroleum Co., Ltd., 73,487 gallons of crude petroleum oil were obtained during 1943. The Dominion's total production of crude petroleum oil to 31st December, 1943, is estimated at 3,337,577 gallons. COAL-MINING There were 134 coal-mines operating in the Dominion in 1943. Fifty-four of these mines are situated on freehold property and produced 1,132,735 tons, or 41 per cent, of the total output. The remaining 80 mines are situated on Crown lands and produced 1,655,133 tons or 59 per cent, of the total output of 2,787,868 tons.

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1941. 1942. 1943. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Gold produced Oz. £ Oz. £ Oz. £ Quartz-mining .. .. 68,214 713,999 65,486 678,169 57,870 595,592 Alluvial mining .. .. 12,383 109,463 9,674 77,134 6,759 64,932 Dredge mining .. .. 94,059 978,815 90,826 928,819 84,521 868,327 Totals .. .. 174,656 1,802,277 165,986 1,684,122 149,150 1,528,851 Silver produced Silver .. .. .. 378,331 49,580 311,360 43,028 280,786 38,763