a—2

8

THE MINING BUREAU. The issue of the New Zealand Mines Record, which was commenced by the Mining Bureau in 1897, has been since continued. The monthly publication of battery and gold-dredging returns, and other statistics and information relating to the mining industry of this colony, which was initiated by the Bureau, is now customary in most of the Australian States. The papers on improved goldsaving processes and methods of ventilating and working coal-mines that appear from time to time are of considerable assistance to those engaged in developing the mineral resources of New Zealand. Quotations from the pages of the Record are frequently to be met with in the mining and technical journals of Australia, Great Britain, the United States, and other countries. Abstracts of geological reports and articles of special importance that appear in the Record are printed as leaflets and widely distributed. The issue of this monthly journal has also made the publication of voluminous annual reports unnecessary, as much of the general and scientific information formerly embodied in the annual reports now appears in the pages of the Mines Record. DEPARTMENTAL. The work of the Department has been efficiently carried out by the various officers, and since the appointment of an Assistant Inspector in the Southern District the inspection of mines and dredges in that, as in the other districts, has been as frequent as is either necessary or desirable. CONCLUSION. In concluding my Statement I may venture the opinion that the mining industry generally is in a healthy condition. It is true that claims become worked out year by year, and the shallow gold-diggings worked by small parties or individual miners are being exhausted; but, with improved appliances and methods for working ground and saving gold, ground which a few years ago was considered poor will yet be worked to advantage. Several gold-mining properties on which much capital has been spent in opening and development during the last few years are likely to be steady producers for some years to come. The coal-mining industry is growing, the output year by year showing a decided increase. It is to be hoped that the proposal to establish works in the colony for the manufacture of iron from the deposits of ore at Parapara and ironsand at Taranaki will be carried into effect and become a success. By this means minerals as yet unworked will be made a source of further prosperity to New Zealand.