D.—l

XV

Roads on Goldfields (Mines Department). The precious metals and other minerals are very widely distributed in New Zealand, and, owing to the ruggedness of much of the back-country, large areas still remain comparatively unexplored. The development of our mineral resources must always be regarded as a paramount consideration by the State ; and the Government recognises that the best way of aiding the prospector, the miner, and the man who provides the capital is by cutting tracks and making roads into the inaccessible tracts of country where mineral discoveries have been or are likely to be made. Included in this year's votes will be considerable amounts for roads and tracks to places such as Mount Radiant, in the Karamea Mining District, where what appears to be a valuable, but as yet undeveloped, discovery of copper has been made; to the Wilberforce, near Browning's Pass, where several quartz claims have been taken up; to the Upper Blackwater, where a State-aided party discovered auriferous quartz reefs about two years ago, and where important development-work is now being carried on; to the Parapara, where large deposits of haematite iron exist, and for the working of which a company is now in process of formation. Votes will also be taken for roads and tracks for opening up the back country of Cape Colville Peninsula, where mining has been carried on for many years past under exceptional difficulties owing to the lack of transport facilities. The expenditure last year under this head amounted to 5038,970. The sum proposed to be authorised for the current year is £77,621, on account of which a vote of £41,000 is proposed. Total Appropriations for Roads. It would perhaps be as well to summarise the total proposed appropriations for road-works. The figures are as under :— £ Roads Department, under the Public Works estimates .... .... .... .... .... 488,551 Roads Department, under the Consolidated Fund.... 25,000 Mines Department .... .... .... .... 41,000 Gross total appropriation proposed .... £554,551 DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDFIELDS AND MINING. The importance of the mining industry to the Dominion may be gauged from the fact that the value of the precious metals and minerals produced during the past year amounted to £3,871,811, being an increase of £249,025 compared with the year 1905. The export of gold was the highest for a period of thirty-five years, and that of silver showed a corresponding increase. During the past year 563,843 oz. of gold, valued at £2,270,904, was exported, and 1,390,536 oz. of silver, valued at £143,572, these two items showing an increase of £199,998 compared with the preceding year. The output of coal also shows a substantial increase—143,780 tons —over that of the year 1905. Additional collieries will shortly be opened up near Greymouth and Westport, on the West Coast, and at Hikurangi, in the Auckland District; while considerable developments are contemplated in connection with the State Coal-mines. The three diamond drills recently imported, with a boring-capacity of 1,000 ft., 1,500 ft., and 2,000 ft. respectively, are now available for hire. The terms originally proposed for the hire of these drills were, perhaps, unnecessarily stringent, and with a view to bringing the appliances into more general use it has been decided to reduce the rates for hire very considerably. In order to aid the development of our mineral resources, power was given under " The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1905," to advance moneys to companies pr persons for procuring machinery, working plant or appliances, or carrying-on