212

a—3

SUMMARY OF WORKS CONSTRUCTED— continued.

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that works to the value of £141,211 were authorised during the past year, as against £102,915 for the previous year, whilst the expenditure during the period referred to was £84,467, as against £44,771 for the year previous, leaving the liabilities on works authorised and in progress on the 31st March last to be £50,721. The actual cost of works undertaken, completed, and in progress during the last sixteen years that votes for this purpose have been under the direct control of the Mines Department for the development of the goldfields, has been £732,063, out of which the Government has expended £509,280 in subsidies to local bodies and direct grants for the construction of the different works, whilst £222,783 has been contributed by local bodies and prospecting associations. The widely separated places in which prospecting was carried on, and where discoveries of gold were made, rendered the increased expenditure on new roads and tracks necessary, and the department, in view of the continued extension of these discoveries, had good warrant for undertaking the works. There is still urgent need for further roads and tracks to give access to localities where mining operations are carried on, and to which it is at present almost impossible to convey supplies and machinery at anything except prohibitive rates. The quartz reefs, both in the North and South Island, are generally to be found in mountainous and rough country. The vast alluvial deposits in the South Island, which are so widely distributed, extending as they do from sea-level to altitudes of 4,000 ft., are not by any means yet fully explored, and it is evident that means of approach to some of these is necessary in order to permit of a further development of their mineral wealth. The introduction of capital and the extensive works undertaken during the past two years have not so far had the effect of increasing the gold returns; indeed, the contrary has been the case, the returns of gold exported being less for 1897-98 than those for 1896-97. Notwithstanding the shrinkage in the yield of gold for this year it is expected that the new machinery for ore-treat-ment and the introduction of further water-supplies for alluvial mining will, by increasing the quantity of material operated on, cause an increased output next year. The addition to the number of dredges will also enable larger quantities of the gravels in river-beds and other deposits to be dealt with. It is satisfactory to note that the efforts of the highly qualified mining engineers and managers in charge of some of the best-known and valuable mines in the colony, and whose intelligent development operations have been carefully watched, are having a beneficial effect on the stability of the industry ; and it is anticipated that, though more caution may be exercised by investors, it will always be possible to obtain ample capital to develop legitimate mining undertakings under the conduct of men of high integrity and practical experience. Although it has not been my good fortune to report a more satisfactory yield of gold for the past year, it is gratifying to be able to say that improved methods of working, gold-saving, and extraction give indications that an increased yield will be recorded in the future. I have, &c, Geo. Wilson, Inspecting Engineer.

Nature of Works. Total Cost of Construction, or Amount authorised to be expended. Expenditure, by Amount of way of Subsidy or Liability by Mines otherwise, by Department on Mines Department. Works in Progress] 1897-98. £ s. d. 71,318 11 7 £ a. d. 37,410 14 3 £ s. d. 33,907 17 4 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races Drainage-channels Schools of Mines .. .. ... Prospecting deep levels.. .. Water-conservation .. Construction of telephone-lines Compensation proclamation of rivers 25,151 9 8 3,939 8 1 3,275 8 9 4,481 14 0 1,780 17 3 25,500 0 0 507 3 9 60 0 0 5,196 13 10 12,158 6 7 2,357 15 1 2,272 5 0 1,212 14 9 1,780 17 3 21,520 15 0 507 3 9 50 0 0 5,196 13 10 9,677 14 0 1,581 13 0 1,003 3 9 3,268 19 3 1,28110 7 Summary. 141,211 6 11 84,467 5 6 50,720 17 11 Roaas on goldfields Subsidised roads and tracks Subsidised roads and tracks other than on goldfields Prospecting Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Drainage-channels Diamond-drills Treatment of ores Tracks to open up mineral lands Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains Repairing flood damages Prospecting deep levels Resumption of land Water-conservation Construction of telephone-lines Proclamation of rivers 317,172 18 7 166,202 5 3 6,146 9 10 71,045 10 0 74,836 4 8 435 15 9 22,607 19 9 33,913 3 3 5,170 11 4 1,342 8 9 325 8 1 800 0 0 500 0 0 25,500 0 0 300 0 0 507 3 9 60 0 0 5,196 13 10 242,963 19 8 88,075 0 4 4,759 6 2 23,827 10 8 69,530 15 3 285 15 9 22,607 19 9 21,161 3 10 3,428 11 4 742 8 9 325 8 1 800 0 0 500 0 0 24,218 9 5 300 0 0 507 3 9 50 0 0 5,196 13 10 33,907 17 4 9,677 14 0 1,581*13 0 1,003 3 9 3,268 19 3 1,281*10 7 732,062 12 10 509,280 6 7 50,720 17 11