C—2.

16

ScHEELITK.

In some parts of the Middle Island there are quantities of scheelite, which, at the present price offered, viz., 10s. per unit, delivered on shipboard at either London or Liverpool, ought to pay for its production. Scheelite is found at Bucklerburn, Waipori, Hendon, and other places in Otago, and at Wakamarina in Marlborough. Inquiries have been made by Messrs. Blackwood and Company, of Liverpool and London, regarding this mineral, and they offer to take about 200 tons per annum at the price stated. Kauri-gum. Notwithstanding the many years that have elapsed since kauri-gum digging became an industry capable of supporting a large population, the amount raised every year shows that there is still a considerable quantity to be obtained. Last year 8,317 tons were exported, having a market value of £510,775, whereas in the former year there were exported 8,705 tons, valued at £517,678. In addition to this there is a certain quantity of gum used in the colony for making varnish, and also in gas-works. The price of the gum, as shown by the Customs returns, gives, however, but a poor idea of what the gum-digger actually obtains from the storekeeper. The price varies in accordance with the quality of the gum. The local price for low quality of gum, washed nuts, is from £10 to £15 per ton. For unpacked ordinary well-scraped gum, of which there are two qualities—namely, ordinary dark gum, £25 to £30 per ton, and for good, hard black gum from £35 to £45 per ton. The best gum (rescraped) brings £80 per ton, and in some cases it is said that special samples have realised as much as £140 per ton. What is known as tree-gum —that is, gum lodged in the forks of trees, and exudations—is worth about £20 per ton in its native state, but when rescraped it brings from £45 to £50 per ton. Before shipping to the Home market all the gum is re-sorted and classified; and, although the prices paid for some samples are very small, when the gum comes to be classified, the average value of the product for last year was £61 Bs. 3d. per ton, which includes the price of boxes, freight, and commission. It is difficult to arrive at the number of men engaged in this industry so as to estimate their average earnings, but, from what can be learned in the gum-digging districts, the earnings do not exceed those of the gold-miners. The gum-digger has, however, one great advantage over the gold-miner in that he requires no expensive outfit to enable him to carry on his operations, a spade, spear, haversack, and jack-knife being all that he requires. This industry affords a means of livelihood to a large number, both of the European and Native population. From what is known respecting the earnings of the gum-digger there must be at least 7,000 people employed in this industry, as it is maintained that their average wage would not amount to £1 10s. per week. Wherever there is land in the North suitable for settlement the settlers can always earn a little money by gum-digging when not engaged in cultivating the soil, thus affording them a means of getting ready money to purchase any necessaries they require beyond what they produce. The gum industry, therefore, forms a very important element in the prosperity of the northern portion of the colony. ROADS AND TRACKS. I now come to the question of roads and tracks, which are essential for opening up the lands of the colony, and nowhere more so than in the gold-mining districts. The rugged, broken, and precipitous nature of the country where quartz-mining operations are carried on renders roads and tracks necessary in every direction, for without them it is impossible to get machinery or supplies on to the ground. Already large sums have been expended in the construction of works of this character, but the extension of mining operations demands a further expenditure on roads and tracks to give ordinary facilities for prospecting the country, and supplying the wants of those engaged in the development of our mineral resources; also to enable machinery to be placed on the ground where auriferous deposits of a payable character have been found. In many instances these roads tend not only to open up new mines, but they also give great facilities to people taking up small plots of land to make homes for themselves and to dispose of their produce amongst the mining community. Although the land may not be of very good quality, any small flats are eagerly sought after by the miners, who, in addition to their ordinary avocations, are quite prepared to take them up and do a little cultivation in their spare time, and thus become permanent settlers. The cost of roads and tracks authorised last year was £23,958, and the actual expenditure £18,275. Of this amount, £15,506 was expended by direct grants, £2,719 by subsidies to local bodies. The liabilities on works of this character on the 31st March last were