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ROADS CONSTRUCTED BY DIRECT GRANTS. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on authorities issued on roads from direct grants to the several local bodies during the year ending the 31st March, 1904: —

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on authorities issued in subsidies to prospecting associations and parties of miners recommended by the local bodies in the different counties for the year ending the 31st March last: —

THE GOLD-MINING INDUSTEY. I have to report a further increase in the amount and value of gold exported from the colony, notwithstanding several drawbacks to which the industry has been subjected. Several mines in various parts of both Islands which were formerly consistent producers of gold have now ceased to occupy that position, some being closed down altogether. Dredging and hydraulic mining in Central Otago were also seriously interfered with owing to severe frosts and floods, and thus a shortage has resulted in the production of gold from that district. Other districts, however, all show increases, which have the effect of raising the value of gold exported for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, to £2,037,831, this being £86,398 in excess of the export value of the preceding twelve months. The total value of gold exported from the year 1857 to the end of last year (1903) amounts to £63,149,147. The several branches of the industry in the various districts are referred to under their several headings.

Name of Local Body. Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1904. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1904. Coromandel County Thames County ... Thames Borough ... Ohinemuri County Tauranga County Pelorus Boad Board CoUingwood County Waimea County ... Buller County Inangahua County Grey County Brunner Borough Westland County Hokitika Borough Bruce County Tuapeka County ... Vincent County ... Lake County Southland County Knapdale Boad Board Wallace County ... Boads Department Public Works Department... £ s. 5,011 4 2,,572 5 d. 8 6 £ s. d. 3,422 4 6 2,400 9 7 200 0 0 2,355 16 2 2,889 12 187 0 248 16 2,160 15 903 19 6,300 0 1,540 14 2,531 0 177 1 2,051 1 100 0 22 5 1,750 18 1,590 10 1,866 8 1,300 0 150 0 55 8 6,016 11 5,702 4 7 0 6 7 6 0 7 0 3 3 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 170 0 0 1,123 0 11 780 6 2 3,450 0 0 1,984 5 5 345 0 0 122 18 9 510 9 0 589 1 4 1,359 10 0 318 9 0 44 11 9 3,311 2 4 887 18 1 Totals ... 45,127 16 4 23,375 3 0

Name of County. Expenditure for Year ending 31st March, 1904. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1904. Coromandel Thames Ohinemuri Buller £ s. 250 5 304 0 23 0 35 10 32 19 383 16 9 6 d. 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 £ s. 148 5 766 9 135 10 35 10 168 12 110 9 15 13 d. 0 4 0 0 6 3 6 Inangahua Westland ... Tuapeka ... Totals 1,038 17 3 1,380 9 7