c.—v

MINERAL-PRODUCTION. The following table shows the quantity and value of gold, silver, and other minerals, coal, and kauri-gum, exported during the years 1911 and 1912, also the quantity of native coal consumed in the Dominion during the same periods : —

£ Total value of production for 1911 ... ... ... ... 3,492,403 1912 ... ... ... ... 3,042,224 Total decrease ... ... ... ... £450,179 AURIFEROUS-QUARTZ MINING. The value of the bullion obtained from our quartz-mines during the few months the most important of them were worked amounted to £906,189, as a result of treating 335,651 tons of ore, the dividends paid amounting to £314,903 10s.

The following is a statement of the quantity of quartz treated, the value of bullion obtained, and the amount of dividends paid by the most important quartzmines during 1912 : —

ALLUVIAL AND DREDGE MINING. Gold to the value of £266,348 was obtained from alluvial mines during 1912, being £8,868 less than that obtained during the previous year, and £77,884 more than during 1911. This increase may be attributed to a more general rainfall during .the two past years rather than to an improvement|in the development of the sluicing claims. The value of the production from our gold-dredges during 1912 amounted to £257,333, as against £297,900 for 191.1 ; but dredge mining is now acknowledged to be long past its zenith. The dredges in commission numbered "eighty-seven,

II

Year e tiding Product. 31st December, 1911. 31st Decembe: ', 1912. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Gold Silver Mixed minerals New Zealand coal exported ... New Zealand coal used in New Zealand Kauri-gum Coke 455,226 oz. 1,311,043 „ 3,470 tons 223,275 „ 1,842,798 „ 7,587 „ £ 1,816,782 131,587 22,241 204,379 921,707 395,707 343,163 oz. 801,165 „ 1,729 tons 229,012 „ 1,948,603 „ 7,908 „ 4 £ 1,345,131 84,739 20,571 216,170 974,301 401,305

Name of Company. Quantity of Quartz treated. Value of Bullion. Dividends paid by Registered Companies only. ! Total to End 1912. of December, 1912. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited) Talisman Consolidated (Limited) New Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited) Waihi-Paeroa Gold-extraction Company (Limited) Other quartz-mines .. ,.. Imperial Tons. 131,989 37,242 42,780 7,666 * £ £ 316,724 148,772 74,371 19,219 246,569 125.062 36,657 ; 15,600 33,811 6,250 198.057 : Nil £ 4,379,357 38,437 685,353 67,200 6,250 Nil 115,974 Totals 335,651 906,189 314,903 5,176,597 * Re-treated tailings (8 84,178 tons