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The total value of gold, silver, coal, and other minerals, including kaurigum, produced up to the end of 1901 was £79,060,964. It will be noticed that the output of kauri-gum has fallen off very considerably during the last year, the returns showing a decreased output of 2,618 tons (representing a value of £176,179) as compared with that of the year 1900. The following table of comparisons (compiled from Customs returns) shows that the export value of gold and silver is still slightly on the increase.

Comparative Statement of Gold and Silver entered for Export during the First Half of the Years 1901 and 1902.

GOLD-EXPORT. The quantity of gold entered for exportation through the Customs during the year 1901 was as follows: Auckland, 191,968 oz.; Marlborough, 133 oz.; Nelson, 7,212 oz.; West Coast, 113,286 oz.; Canterbury, 22 oz.; Otago and Southland, 142,940 oz. GOLD-MINING. Quartz. The work of winning gold from quartz reefs is carried on in each of the mining districts, the most extensive mines being in the Northern and West Coast Districts. In the Northern District there is no other form of goldmining to any extent. The Waihi Cold-mining Company's mine continues to be the largest producer of both gold and silver, the latter metal being associated with gold in the quartz at Waihi, as well as in other parts of the northern goldfields. At this mine there are several reefs of considerable size, and their working admits of a large output of stone. The reduction-works are also well equipped with modern plant on an extensive scale, and the company's operations now give employment to more than a thousand persons. No less than 159,325 tons of quartz was treated during last year, and £165,000 paid in dividends. It is somewhat remarkable that none of the other mining properties in the locality have, as yet, attained such marked success as that of the Waihi Gold-mining Company, and it is evident that where ores of low grade exist they must, to be successful, be worked on a comprehensive system and an extensive scale, which will admit of the fixed charges incidental to mining being curtailed as far as is reasonably practicable, and spread over the largest possible tonnage. A considerable amount of development-work has been done at mines in the neighbourhood of Waitekauri and Karangahake, and the Upper Thames portion of the goldfield may be regarded as the principal centre for some time to come. There is nothing of an encouraging nature to report in connection with the Lower Thames. So far, nothing has been done towards resuming the sinking of the Thames-Hauraki shaft to prove the deep levels, and, owing to the nature of the ground, the borehole which was being put down on the foreshore by the Victoria Gold-mining Company had to be given up after reaching a depth of 518 ft., and another bore has since been commenced. It is most desirable that the question of the existence or otherwise of gold-bearing reefs under the Thames Estuary (beyond what is known as the " Seaward Slide") should be

Half-vear ending 30th June, 1902. Half-year ending 30th June, 1901. Increase or Decrease for First Half of 1902. Amount. Value. Amount. Value. Amount. Value. Jold iilver Oz. 216,801 323,073 £ 835,562 36,707 Oz. 217,478 226,267 844,888 24,725 Oz. - 677 + 96,806 £ 9,326 11,982 872,269 869,613 2,656