a—2

18

I. PRODUCTION OF MINERALS. The following statement shows the value of the exports from metal-mines and kauri-gum fields from the Ist January. 1853, to the 31st December, 1914: —

Owing to the prohibition by the Banking Amendment Act, 1914, of the export of gold except with the consent of the Minister of Finance, the value of gold and silver exported during 1914 is no indication of the annual production. The official returns from gold-mines show that bullion to the value of £1,502,649 was produced' during 1914, being approximately £60,716 less than the production of the previous year. This decline is confined to alluvial and dredge mining. The Banking Amendment Act came into operation on the sth August, 1914.

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. H The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines of the Dominion during the year : —

111. ACCIDENTS. A satisfactory reduction in the number of fatal accidents at metal-mines can be recorded. Six fatal accidents occurred, by which six lives were lost; two of these were due to absence of caution by the sufferers; one was due to defective plant; the remainder being of a nature difficult to provide against. The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured in metalliferous mines during 1914 : —

Peing at the rate of T34 fatalities per 1,000 persons employed,

Classification. 1913. 1914, DeoreaBe. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1914. Gold Silver Other minerals Kauri-gum £ 1,459,499 103,866 31,532 549,106 £ 895,367* 62,085* 29,338 497,444 £ 564,132 41,781 2,194 51,662 £ 82,953,910 2,000,799 517,425 17,257,007 Totals 2,144,003 1,484,234 659,769 102,729,141

Classification. iSpection District. Total, Northern. West Coast. Southern. Gold, silver, and scheelite Cinnabar Tin 1,971' 5 1,369 1,104 "lO 4,444 5 10 11 11 Copper Total for 1914 Total for 1913 1,976 1,380 1,114 4,470 4,941

Inspection Distriec. Explosions. £ alls ° f In SI Ground, Mieoellaneafts. ous Under- Surl ground. Eaoe. ri Ab '' ut Dredges. To! ;al. JS"d " ! £*4 I CO Qj i Oi O) (-1 Q i—' *B O *3 'C "a* ?3 *jh 'S I/) OJ .2 ■?« JO M § £ o 3 i'jjf CO Northern West Coast Southern ... ... 1 2 3 r> O 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 ... 1 ... 2 ... 2 4 I 1 Totals 1 2 6 7