13

C.— 2

The following statement shows the value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1924 : —

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

111. ACCIDENTS. I during 1924 three fatal and three serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,858 persons were ordinarily employed.

The following is a short description of the fatal accidents : — On the Bth February Frederick Archer, aged 20 years, met his death by being crushed between the revolving screen and the distributing-box of the Rimu dredge. The screen was well fenced off. There was no eye-witness to the accident, but from the evidence it appears probable that deceased,

J Total from the 1st 192+ ' 1923 - Increase or Decrease. | t^Xt^embS, 1924. l_ £ i £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 551,788 098.583 lX<o. 146,795 91,414,828 Silver .. .. .. .. 71,981 j 62,851 Inc. 9,130 1 2,904,651 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 1,156 j 875 „ 281 301,870 Kauri-gum .. .. .. 443,576 596,222 Dec. 152,646 21,108,085 Manganese-ore .. .. .. 36 43 ,, 7 61,994 Sand, lime, and building stone .. 7,625 13,609 ,, 5,984] , . Q Other minerals .. .. .. 5,067 3,013 Inc. 2,054} Totals .. .. 1,081,229 j 1,375,196 Dec. 293,967 j 116,232,718

Inspection District. Classification. : 1 Total, 1924. Northern. West Coast. Southern. ~ • - — ; : ! J ; j i Gold, silver, and tungsten .. .. .. .. 963 535 332 1,830 Cinnabar .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 .. .. 4 Ironstone .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 .. 24 Totals for 1924 .. .. .. 967 559 ; 332 1,858 Totals for 1923 .. .. .. .. I 1,252 457 325 2,034

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Cai,se * Number of Nnmhpr nf Number of Number of Separate r» 0 athe Separate Persons Accidents. Accidents, i injured. Falls of ground .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Explosives .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Miscellaneous, on surface .. .. .. .. 2 2 Miscellaneous, underground .. .. .. .. 1. ! I I Totals .. .. .. .. .. 3 3 3 3