9

H.~sa

1865 there was a rush to the West Coast, where large quantities of gold were discovered, and where flourishing towns have been founded. Very rich lodes were also opened up in the North Island, which attracted a great deal of capital from Victoria, but especially from Ballarat, at which last-named place the shares in some companies were chiefly held. The statistics of New Zealand do not give information as to the number of miners in the colony, but we may venture a guess that it is greater than that of New South Wales, as the quantity of gold exported is very much larger. In 1877 and 1878 the value of the gold entered for duty on exportation, and classified as the produce of the undermentioned districts, was as follows:—

This shows a decrease of £256,001 on 1878 as compared with the previous year, and the decrease is common to all the goldfields. That the gradual decline in the product of gold in New Zealand, as elsewhere, is still going on is shown by the later returns. The largest quantity of gold obtained in the colony in one year was in 1866, when the produce amounted to over 730,000 ounces, since when there has been, on the whole, a steady decline. In 1879 the gold exported amounted to 289,100 ounces, valued at £1,139,641. To June, 1880, the quantity was 150,921 ounces, valued at £606,313, thus showing a considerable increase, if the rate of production should be continued to the end of the year. The total value of the gold entered for duty on exportation up to the 30th June, 1880, was £36,753,998. This is an enormous addition to the wealth of the world, and is but one of the many auriferous streams which are flowing from Australasia. New Zealand has many other mineral products beside gold, to which attention has been turned of late years. Silver is obtained in considerable quantities, though it does not come near the gold in value. It is only within the last ten years that any considerable quantity of silver has been obtained, and the output does not appear to be increasing. In 1869 over 11,000 ounces were exported, and two years afterwards over 80,000 ounces, but since then there has been a gradual decrease, and in 1879 the quantity recorded was 20,645 ounces, valued at £4,512. There are large quantities of coal in the islands, but the mines have not been so fully developed as might have been expected, seeing that the quality of the mineral is good and the demand large. A few tons were exported in 1853, but from that year down to 1866 very little was sent away. From the latter year to the present date the export trade has been continued with various fluctations, and the last year shows a fair increase. In 1877 the exports of coal amounted to 2,658 tons, in 1878 to 6,362 tons, and in 1879 to 7,195 tons. The coal raised and consumed in the colony prior to 1878 is estimated at 293,097 tons, valued at £175,152. In 1878 the quantity raised was 158,297 tons, valued at £94,977. In 1879 the quantity was 210,000 tons, valued at £126,600. Copper, iron, and chrome ore have been produced, but not in any considerable quantities, although there is plenty of scope for profitable enterprise in the product of these metals. In 1878 only four tons of copper were exported, and there are no returns of the exportation of either iron or chrome. The following table shows the quantities and value of the mineral products exported from and produced in New Zealand to the end of 1879, gold excepted, for which the returns are complete to the end of June, 1880:

FOURTH PEOGEESS EEPOET BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Commissioners, that having completed the shipment of the exhibits from this Colony, excepting a few that were not received within the prescribed term, I left for Melbourne on the 16th August, and, on arriving there on the 27th, found that only a small number of the packages had been delivered on the space allotted to New Zealand. The erection of the fittings and the organization of the court were at once commenced, and, notwithstanding the H. 5a.—2.

1877. 1878. Auckland Marlborough Nelson and Westland .. Otago £ 403,027 3,197 633,915 455,341 £ 220,455 1,617 595,731 422,277 Totals .. £1,496,080 £1,240,079

Quantity. Value. Gold Silver Oz. 9,396,478 361,600 Tons. 2,359 5,306 669,569 £ 36,753,998 101,212 Copper Chrome .. Coal produced .. 36,212 37,377 402,697 Total value £37,331,496