23

C—2

The following is a statement regarding the most productive dredges owned by registered companies:—

The following table shows tho result of dredge-mining operations in New Zealand during the past nine years:—

The greatest weekly output by a gold-dredge was attained by the " Lady Ranfurly," on the 4th November. 1904. This dredge, operating on the River Molyncux (Clutha), obtained 1,273 oz. of gold in six consecutive days ; it was owned by the Electric Gold-dredging Company, who at the end of 1913 had obtained gold to the value of £222,155 by dredging, of which £130,643 was distributed as dividends. (3.) Alluvial Mining. There has been a considerable decrease in the annual gold-production by alluvial mines, which is not remarkable, as the richer and more accessible deposits become worked out. The most profitable of the alluvial claims were the Nokomai (Otago), Round Hill (Southland), and Mont d'Or (Westland). The mine of the Ross Goldfieid Reconstructed (Limited) was worked throughout the year at the No. 6 level, but the grade of wash obtained has not been rich enough to cover all expenses, including the expensive hydro-electric pumping-installation. An excellent plan of this mine by Mr. K. M. Barrance, mining superintendent to the company, accompanies this report. The operations of this company are deserving ofrpraise. Great difficulties in connection with unwatering the deep leads have been successfully overcome, extensive and scientific prospecting has been carried out, and much has been done to solve tho problem regarding the value of these, tho only deep leads being worked in the Dominion, which has engaged the attention of mining men for over forty years. A recently formed company, the Lake Hochstetter Goldfields (Limited), is engaged in bringing to its claims a water-race about four miles in length and 60 heads capacity, from Lake Hochstetter. The

Pr Name of Dredge. Production during 1914 of all Dredges. roduction Av 1914 of all Dredges Dividends paid by Dredges owned by Registered Companies. t. . ,„,, | To 31st December, During 1914. lgH [ West Coast, South Island — Worksop Pactolus Otago and Southland— Rise-and-Shine (2) Rising Sun ... ... ... ... Earnscleugh (3) ... ... ... Ngapara New Golden Run ... ... ... Cardrona ... ... ... ... Lower Nevis ... ... ... .... Crewe ... ... ... ... Willowbank ... ... ... ... i Paterson's Freehold (2) ... ... Forty-eight other New Zealand gold-dredges £ 14,602 1,682 14,723 8,103 10,780 3,394 9,293 2,016 3,166 1,845 4,922 3,435 113,151 £ £ 6,150 4L850 1,875 66,875 4,800 39,900 2,400 21,600 550 26,950 375 1,875 L,600 2,000 400 400 780 2,040 250 8,875 2,400 6,000 1,500 21,600 Unknown Unknown Totals 191,112 23,080* Unknown * The dividends paid by sixteen dredges the property of registered co: he profits of privately owned drodgos are unobtainable. ipanios amounted to £23,080 during 1914;

Year. iTotal Number of Dredges working. Value of Production. Average Production per Dredge. Dividend-paj by Registi r ing Dredges owned ired Companies. Number of Persons employed. Number. Dividends. 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 167 128 123 .. i 111 104 .. '' 93 87 74 64 £ 505,199 419,834 373,818 327,676 315,237 297,900 257,333 195,848 191,112 £ 3,025 3,278 3,039 2,952 3,031 3,203 2,958 2,646 2,986 66 65 47 37 35 31 28 11 16 £ 103,722 89,707 75,800 56,788 51,918 45,318 38,841 18,750 23,080 1,150 1,013 893 838 775 694 621 491