H.—26.

returns for the yield of gold, the comparative returns for the years 1878 and 1879 are as follow :—

Yield of Gold.

Comparison of the Quarters ended the 31st March, 1879 and 1880.

Statement of Gold Exported and Value for various years, as under.

Mining Population and its Earnings. The number of miners on the 31st of March, 1880, is shown in Table 9 as 14,409. In last year's report the number on the 31st March, 1879, was given as 14,297. The mean number for the year ended 31st of March, 1880, is therefore 14,353. The gold exported for the same period was valued at £1,168,823, or an average of £81 2s. as the year's earnings per man; for the previous year the average was £75 10s.; and for the year before that, £97 10s. per man. Of course, thecost and maintenanceof private water-races,crushing-machinery, andother plant, have to be borne by the miner, so that the average wage per man is below the current rate for labour in the colony. It is not to be inferred, however, that the miners are solely dependent on gold, or give all their time to its search. Many of them, more especially those having, alluvial claims, combine farming and the rearing of cattle with mining pursuits, and only engage in the latter at certain seasons of the year.

2

1878. 1879. Deci •ease. Inc: •ease. Auckland Marlborough Nelson West Coast ... Oz. 55,982 404 4,463 144.634 105,003 Value. £220,454 1,617 17,223 578,508 422,277 Oz. 37,901 879 2,993 142,822 102,869 Value. £154,295 3,460 11,424 571,061 407,868 Oz. 18,081 1,470 1,812 2,134 Value. £66,159 5,799 7,447 14,409 Oz. 475 Value. 1,843 Otago 310,486 £1,240,079 287,464 £1,148,108 23,497 475 £93,814 1,843 475 £1,843 D .crease for 187! ) ... 23,022 £91,971

1879. 1880. Decrease. Incn :ase. Auckland Marlborough Nelson West Coast ... Oz. 9.567 560 1,193 41,764 21,616 Value. £38,103 2,240 4,518 167.035 85,592 Oz. 11,787 215 1,096 33,615 32,589 Value. £47,403 850 4,129 134,426 131,400 Oz. 345 97 8,149 Value. 1,390 389 32,609 Oz. 2,220 Value. £9,295 Otago 10,973 45,808 74,700 £297,493 79,302 £318,208 8,591 : £34,388 13,193 8,591 £55,103 34,388 In :rease for Quarter ended the 31st March, 1880 4,002 £20,715

Year. 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 Oz. 10,436 13,533 7,336 4,538 194,234 410,862 628,450 480,171 574,574 735,376 686,753 637,474 614,281 Value. £40,442 52,443 28,427 17,585 752,657 1,591,389 2,431,723 1,857,847 2,226,474 2,844,517 2,700,275 2,504,326 2,362,995 Year. Oz. 1870 544.880 1871 730,029 1872 445,370 1873 505,337 1874 376,388 1875 355,322 1876 318,367 1877 371,685 1878 310,486 1879 284,100 30th June, 1880 149,105 Value. £2,157.585 2,787,520 1,730,992 1,987,425 1,505,331 1,407,770 1,268,559 1,496,080 1,240,079 1,134,641 599,200 Total ... 9,389,087 £36,726,282