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the twenty-sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by revoking clause six thereof, and substituting in lieu thereof the following -clause : — 6a. The royalty shall be payable on the following graduated scale, according to the value of all gold and silver produced from each ton of quartz or other ore in the mine wherein the said patent rights are used or employed, that is to say,— (1.) One and a half per cent, of such value where such value does not exceed £3 per ton; (2.) Two per cent, where such value exceeds £3, but does not exceed £4 per ton ; and (3.) Two and a half per cent, where such value exceeds £4 per ton. As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. Wm. Hall-Jones, For Minister of Mines.

The following additional Regulations have also been gazetted since the expiry of the year ended 31st March, 1898 :— Additional Regulations under " The Cyanide Process Gold-extraction Act, 1897." Ranfuely, Governor. In pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred upon me by " The Cyanide Process Gold-extraction Act, 1897," I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Eanfurly, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby make the following regulations in addition to the regulations made by me under the aforesaid Act on the twenty-sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. 1. Any licence may be cancelled by the Warden for breach of any of the provisions of the aforesaid Act or regulations. 2. At any time, upon payment of all royalty, and upon due compliance with all the provisions of the aforesaid Act and regulations up to the date of surrender, any licensee may surrender his license to the Warden for cancellation, and the Warden may cancel the same. 3. The cancellation of a license shall in no case release the licensee from his liability in respect of any royalty, penalty, or obligation under the aforesaid Act or regulations up to the time when the license is cancelled. As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this tenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. A. J. Cadman, Minister of Mines.

SUNDAY LABOUR IN MINES. The Act providing that no labour except that which is imperatively necessary should be employed in mines on Sundays came into operation on the 18th December, 1897, and generally may be said to have acted beneficially. Since the Act has been in force permits for 445 men have been granted, 349 in the northern, thirty-six in the West Coast, and fifty-eight in the southern mining districts. At date of writing there are fifty-six permits in force, allowing the employment of 311 men. The fact that there has been only one—that of the Waihi Company—appeal to the Warden against the decisions of the Inspectors of Mines in granting permits for fewer men than were applied for would indicate that these officers have used their powers with intelligence and discretion. The following schedule shows the number of men employed and the companies employing them : —

Schedule of Permits issued by Inspectors of Mines.

Date of Issue. Number of Men. Issued to. Date of Expiry. 50/12/97 1/1/98 ' 5/1/98 14/1/98 55/1/98 5/2/98 5/2/98 .6/2/98 1/3/98 1/3/98 74/98 :/4/98 ./4/98 ./4/98 ./4/98 ./4/98 ./4/98 .3/4/98 6 4 2 3 1 5 1 15 4 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 3 2 Southern Mining District. Kaitangata Eailway and Coal Company... Shag Point Colliery ... Fernhill Coal-mine Barewood Quartz Mining Company Moonlight Sluicing Company ... Morning Star Gold-mining Company Allandale Coal Company Eound Hill Mining Company ... Golden Site Extended Gold-mining Company Achilles Goldfields (Limited) ... Kildare Hill (St. Bathan's, J. Ewing) ... Vinegar Hill „ „ ... Shepherd's Plat „ „ Cambrian's „ „ Matakanui „ „ Bald Hill Plat Hercules, Eoxburgh „ „ Freeman's Coal Company Till notified. // '/ '/ ft it if it n it it it ft it it it it 58