C—2

At the Blackwater Mine near Reefton development in depth has been suspended, at least for the time being, and if this policy is maintained the life of the mine must' be prejudiced. There has been no serious effort to prospect or develop new quartz-mines for many years. The decrease in alluvial mining production has been marked during recent years. In 1934 no less than 43,541 oz. of gold were won by this form of mining, but since then output has persistently declined until 1948 when only 2,124 oz. were obtained. At the present time there is only one sluicing company of any consequence in active operation and the bulk of the production is now due to the work, frequently intermittent in nature, of small parties and individuals. This is, of course, due in great part to the continuous exploitation of alluvial deposits over a period of ninety years. Eventual exhaustion of such deposits is inevitable. From Ist January, 1857, until 31st December, 1948, the quantity of gold exported from New Zealand has amounted to 26,578,231 oz., valued at £118,055,275, and this has been invaluable in the development of New Zealand. During 1948, 232,563 oz. of silver, valued at £53,587, were produced, as compared with 221,984 oz., valued at £53,840, in 1947. Practically the whole of this amount was obtained from the Martha Mine. The following Table shows the production of the principal quartz-mines, dredges, and alluvial mines for the year ended 31st December, 1948. It will be noted that over 94 per cent, of the total production of gold was obtained from two quartz-mines and seven high-capacity dredges.

3

— Ore, in Tons. Development, in Feet. Men Employed. 1 Gold (Ounces). Silver (Ounces'). £(K 7.). Quartz-n tines Martha 95,804 5,761 449 26,975 231,753 328,317 Blackwater 24,328 1,117 111 9,977 96,023 Charlton's (Kuaotunu) 600 2 138 91 1,286 Callery Party, Macrae's Flat .. 100 1 25 250 Sundry 9 20 21 199 Totals 573 37,135 231,865 426,075

. — Yardage. Acreage. 1 Average Depth, in Feet. Men Employed. Gold (Ounces). .Silver (Ounces). £(N.Z.).. Grey River Arahura Rimu Kanieri Ngahere Snowy River Atarau Marsden Slab Hut Austral New Zealand Clutha Totals Moonlight Gol<Jfields, Ltd. Golden Sands, Ltd. Waitahu Round Hill Golden Arrow Sundry Totals Grand totals 3,495,647 2,863,000 1,408,780 2,670,000 1,994,796 950,000 1,338,588 563,086 121,400 3,154,000 2,278,000 Drei 73-536 15-079 27-489 22-024 15-9 41-4 27-0 10-3 5-0 43-5 19-0 iges 29-5 119-0 31-8 58-9 78-0 16-0 21-25 34-0 15-0 50-0 74-0 27 39 39 38 25 13 12 12 10 50 24 7,323 9,484 4 229 7'.503 . 5,850 3,639 2,316 536 161 7,974 5,629 72 187 145 12 . 282 65,670 89,194 31,759 68,963 52,958 35,213 21,927 5,445 1,640 77,948 52,634 289 54,644 1 698 1 503,351 30,000 61,216 Alluv ial 175-0 40-0 15-0 3 2 3 6 6 148 63 39 144 453 29 1,396 483 366 1,248 4,291 309 13,637 168 2,124 20,334 1,030 93,903 1 232,563 949,760