D.—No. 6.

Permanent productiveness. i

48. It is noticeable that, whereas in the winter of 18G2 the return* fell to a minimum, which excited general and serious apprehensions as to the permanent productiveness of the Gold Fields the yield in the corresponding season of 1868 was nearly as large as in the summer; whilst in the autumn months of that year the Escort attained to an amount greater than that of any previous (juarter. J l 49. But the Record Returns by no means represent the total produce of the Gold Mines of Otago. The quantity exported to 31st July, 1862, amounted to 158.448 ozs. 18 dwts and there remained in the hands of the Treasurer at that date, 4,787 on. 6 dwts.. in all 463,236 ozs. 4 dwts [n the year ending 31st July, 1863, 514,886 ozs. 17 dwts. were exported from the port of Dunediii ■ and 9,240 ozs., the produce of Otago, from other ports in New Zealand. To these amounts must be added 23,657 ozs. 3 dwts., which at the above date was lodged in the Dunedin Treasury in excess of the balance on hand on 31st July, 1862. The ascertained total produce of the last year is, therefore, 547,283 ounces. By adding this amount to the produce of 1801-2. we arrive at a. grand total for the two years of 1,010,519 ounces. Calculating 24,000 ounces as a ton of cold this gives 42 tons 210 lbs. troy of the estimated value of four millions forty-two thousand and eighty pounds sterling. 50. Even this does not fully represent the produce of the Otago mines. By the courtesy of the managers of the various Banks in Dunedin. I have been enabled to ascertain that on the 31st July, 1868, 10,000 ounces were held by those establishments, besides a considerable quantity in the hands of country branches and gold buyers. The miners themselves are known to retain a large amount of gold in their possession; and on the whole, I feel assured that I am rather under than over the mark in assuming that 30,000 ounces have been obtained in addition to the quantity officially reported. J 51. When it is borne in mind that the whole of this treasure has been raised in the space of twenty-four months, by a mining population whose average number for the entire period is computed at about 12,000 souls, it is impossible to avoid recognizing the fact as one of the most splendid results ever attained in any gold producing country of ancient or modern times. 52. It is a subject of general remark, that little, if any, notice is taken of the Ota<*o Gold rields, by the British public and Press. This is to be accounted for by the fact that to the great bulk of the inhabitants of the mother country the Province of Otago is almost unknown andTVew Zealand itself is merely regarded as one of the Australian Colonies. This error is not confined to the illiterate, but is shared in, to a surprising degree, by the educated classes, including many prominent writers, and guides of popular opinion, who appear to be only slightly acquainted with the geography and progress of these settlements. This darkness time alone can'dispel. Meantime the practice of exporting a very large proportion of the precious metal via Melbourne, is admirablv calculated to foster delusion. From returns furnished by the Collector of Customs I find tha't •luring the two years ending 31st July, 1863, only 215,583 ounces were forwarded direct to Great Britain, whilst 747,535 ounces, or four fifths of the total amount exported, were sent to Victoria and other Australian colonies. 53. The consequence is that the latter reaching Britain by indirect route, is regarded as Australian produce, and the Otago Gold Fields are not deemed of sufficient importance to warrant a special reference thereto even in official documents.

E.cort does not show tetai produce.

Additional quantity Banks and Private individuals

Kelative yield ami population.

Otago Gold Fields sh pub Oldies"" public and press.

Cousequenceof Otago gold being gent home by indirect routes.

8

REPORT ON THE

180] -2. 1802-3. Spmnc— August September October ozs. dwts. ozs. (hvis. 5,05(5 0 19,089 15 16,613 5 oz*. dwts. (i/.s. dirts. 14,986 0 12,618 6 38.777 14 SlMMEH November December January 70,709 0 66.382 0 73,904 0 58,870 0 17,391 0 37,664 18 37,260 1 48,567 5 AUTVMN February March April 180,165 0 123,492 4 42,473 0 32,202 6 22,802 10 72,311 14 46,691 12 70,010 12 Wintee— May June July 97,537 15 189.013 18 22,945 10 12,876 10 10.375 IS 17,631 5 43,613 8 30,398 9 46,197 18 121,643 2 Total 894,600 18 500,531 4