C.—2

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claims are situated at Riverview, on the southern bank of the Ahaura River, between Fox's Creek and German Gully. The ground to be sluiced consists of fine terrace-gravel, the terrace rising abruptly from the river-flat for about 200 ft. The gravel has not been prospected by boring, but from the many faces exposed experts reporting for the company have estimated that an average return of from 3d to 4d. per cubic yard will be obtained. The system of working to be adopted is hydraulic sluicing and tailrace tunnels. Towards tho end of 1914 a discovery of alluvial gold was made at Louie Creek on the Howard River, a tributary of the Buller River, near Tophou.se. At the time of writing about fifty men were engaged at this now rush, many claims having been pegged out. The greater part of the gold won has been obtained by " fossicking " among the boulders on the creek-bed, and it is reported that the average earnings are about £8 per man per week ; but the returns from the authorized gold-buyers do not corroborate this estimate. The locality is approached by the road, from Glonhopo to Lake Rotoiti. That the independent life of tho alluvial miner is attractive is proved by the low average earnings. During 1914 the average value of gold obtained per European miner on the West Coast, where 424 persons were thus employed, was £138, and in Otago and Southland £1.70 for each of 580 persons there employed; but from these amounts must be deducted all working-expenses, together with depreciation of plant and interest on capital. It is probable that if these men had been employed at coal-mines during a similar period their earnings Would have been very much greater. The following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends paid by tho principal sluicing companies during 1914 : —

V. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. SOHEELITE. The quantity of scheelite exported during tho year amounted to 204 tons, valued at £21,498, as compared with 221 tons, valued at £22,933, in 1913. The following statement shows the quantity and value of scheelite exported since tho year 1899 :—

Name of Company 'ov Party. Value of Gold produced. Dividends declared. t. . n n1 . Totals to End of During 1914. lgu Mont d'Or (Westland) Naseby Hydraulic Sluicing Company Deep Stream Gold-mining Company Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company .. Golden Crescent Sluicing Company Havelock Sluicing Company Ladysmith Gold-mining Company .. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company Round Hill Gold-mining Company .. 249 other claims £ 3,630 909 1,098 7,425 2,502 3,212 2,958 11,659 .6,800 117,130 £ £ 1,800 57,000 375 4,500 250 1,812 258 1,863 875 10,500 900 5,500 992 11,413 3,000 43,283 2,542 11,015 Unknown Unknown Totals 157,323 10,992 Unknown

1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 Year. i Quantity. Tons. 32 54 2 39 42 17 28 55 1.37 Value. £ 2,788 2,635 83 1,200 1,439 791 1,848 3,407 15,486 II Year. 1908 . . 1909 . . 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. Totals Quantity. Tons. 68 58 143 138 135 221 204 .. I 1,373 Value. £ 6,055 4,263 15,070 11,853 13,347 22,933 21,498 124,696 124,696