C.—2

16

IV. GOLD-MINES. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and number of gold-mines and dredges : —

* In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word " bullion " is used in preference to " gold." t The bullion-production is from 45 dredges, but the dividends given are only from 10 of these, the property of registered companies ; seventeen dredges, the property of registered companies, declared no dividends. Tho profits of privately owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. } The bullion-production is from 232 alluvial mines, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that are the property of registered oompanies. (1.) Quartz-mining. The following is a statement showing the tons of ore treated, the value of bullion produced, and the amount of dividends paid by quartz-mining companies in each of the inspection districts during the years 1915 and 1916 : —

The average value per ton of ore treated amounted to £2 2s. Bd., being an increase of 2d. above the average for 1915, The following is a statement of the production, dividends declared, and the number of persons employed by the principal gold-quartz mining companies during 1916 : —

— ] I [uartz-mining ... iredge mining t... lluviai mining :[; Production of Bullion, 1916.* (All Mines.) £ 944,188 125,317 123,492 Dividends paid, 1916. 'By Registered Companies only.) £ 185,065 9,915 13,109 Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Number of Working Quartz and Alluvial Mines and Dredges. 2,435 392 787 91 45 232 91 45 232 Totals, 1916 ... | Totals, 1915 ... j 1,192,997 1,348,489 1,192,997 1,348,489 208,089 274,615 3,614 4,149 368 397

Inspection District. Statute Tons of Ore treated. Value of Bullion. Dividends pa: tered Com] id. (By Regispanies only.) 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. ] or them Vest Coast iouthern 318,456 330,199 121,066 151,161 2,840 3,269 £ £ 759,809 796,685 183,140 231,150 1,239 2,689 £ 158,566 26,499 £ 210,016 27,249 Totals ... 442,362 484,629 944,188 1,030,524 185,065 237,265

Name of Company. Quantity of Quartz treated. During 1910, Value of Bullion. Average Value per Ton. Dividends paid. Total to 1910. . EndofDecember, 1916. ill" ■S O r2 isi* Northern District— Tons. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Ltd.)* 173,420 Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining 112,203 Company (Ltd.) Talisman Consolidated (Ltd.) .. 16,935 West Coast District— Wealth of Nations .. .. 24,186 Blackwater Mines (Ltd.) .. .. 40,247 New Big River Gold-mining Com- 5,548 pany (Ltd.) Other quartz-mines throughout New 69,823 Zealand Statute Tons. .173,420 112,203 £ 363,612 211,108 £ s. d. 1 2 19 I 17 7 £ £ 99,181 5,040,514 38,438 | 190,188 687 394 16,935 81,454 4 16 2 17,250 I J,047,472 220 24,186 40,247 5,548 37,300 78,590 19,363 1 10 10 1 19 0 3 9 10 24,999 16M94 91,200 102 176 47 69,823 152,761 2 3 9 5,197 809 Totals, 1916 .. .. .. 442,362 442,362 944,188 2 2 8 185,065 Unknown 2,435 * The total value of the output of this company a given are free of income-tax. it the end of the year was £11,500,231. The divider nds here Reports on the various quartz-mines by t Annexure A accompanying this report. he district Inspectors of Mines are contai ned in