19

C.—2

(2.) Government Prospecting Drills. The following table gives details of the drilling done and the results obtained lor twelve months ended 31st December, 1924 : —

Drill Superintendents: W. H. Warburton, E. A. Wilson, G. Nelson, F. Carter, and H. Butland. Drills used: Schram-Harker diamond, hand-placer, and Keystone drills.

(3.) Subsidized Roads on Goldfieijds. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £4,126, as compared with £2,867 during the previous year. (4.) Government Water-races. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, constructed by the Government for the purpose of assisting alluvial gold-mining in the districts of Kumara (Westland) and Naseby (Central Otago), showed a loss for the year ended 31st March, 1925, of £200 14s. 4d. Water was supplied to claims employing in all .an average of 16-33 persons, and gold to the value of £3,544 2s. 6d. was obtained. On the Ist September the Mount Ida Water-race was taken over by the Public Works Department, with the intention that water not being used in gold-mining be utilized for irrigation. The following is a statement showing the cash received by the Government for water sold, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races, together with the average number of miners supplied with ' water, and the approximate quantity and value of gold received for the year ended 31st March, 1925:—

The amount outstanding on the Waimea-Kumara water-races on the 31st March, 1925, was £845 ss. 7d., an increase of £122 12s. sd. on the previous year. (5.) Schools of Mines. In addition to the schools already established at Coromandel, Thames, Waihi, Huntly, Reefton, Westport, and Dunedin, two other schools, with part-time directors, were started at Kaitangata and Nightcaps, with subsidies from the Department. These two schools were instituted to provide tuition in mining and allied subjects, the need for which was being keenly felt by mining students in these districts. A great deal of useful and necessary work continues to be performed by the Schools of Mines, but in those districts where mining has seriously declined and been replaced by other industries few of the students taking the classes are engaged or likely to be engaged in mining. The expenditure on schools of mines for the year ended the 31st March, 1925, was £3,501 lis. 3d., against £3,172 10s. 4d. during the previous year. This included a grant of £750 to the University of Otago for the Otago School of Mines. I desire to acknowledge the efficient help and co-operation which I have received from the Inspectors during the past year. I have, &c., J. A. C. Bayne, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

Diameter Mineral Character of Bocks Io whom lent Foo't'o/ ' ! „ „ tm°ed S SFCt! ofHoIe drilled through. | *<> whom lent, , Foot of ; T 2£jJ-J fcjtart | Inches. | is. d. s. d. s. d. : 1 1,156 2] Coal Muds tone, shales, ' J.Taylor ..3 0 0 3J 1 1(1 i Oft. coal at 1,149 ft. sandstone, and grits 1 307 2.', „ Ditto .. •• ! Grey Valley Col- 5 9 14 1 1IJ I lift. 6in. coal at leries (Limited) [ 293 ft. 1 564 2 J „ „ ■ • State Coal-mines .. 1 j Completion of work postponed temporarily. 2 j 1,350 j If , ,, Tuff, andesites, | Waihi Grand . . . I Testing character of and quartz Junction Gold | country; inconcluj Company (Ltd.) j sive. 16 ! 752 J 0 : GoJd Gravels .. i Clutha Develop- . . . . . . l^air; unfinished. j ment (Limited) 5 | 061 j 0 & 5 ; „ Mahakipawa 33 llf 3 10J .. , Good. Gold Company (Limited) 6 177 6 ,, Kimu Gold Dredg .. 1 Poor; unfinished. ing Company I i (Limited) 17 | 295 | 3J , ,, .. ! Clutha Develop- • ■ .. '' J^air; unfinished. ment (Limited) 3 380 j 0 „ Gravels, &c. .. Hokitika Pro- 13 0 2 2 . . > Traces of gold got. specting Asso- ' ' ' ciation • I '

i Average Upr-pintu Number ol Approximate Quantity I wnw 11 Expenditure., Debit Balance. Miners and Value of Gold (»aies ot water.) supplied with obtained. Water. £ s. d. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. Oz. £ s. d. Waimea-Kumara Wafcer-raoes .. 1,230 7 3*j 1,318 l'J 5 88 12 2 10-33 747 2,931 19 0 Mount Ida .. .. .. 204 12 6 ! 316 14 8 ! 112 2 2 6-00 159 612 3 0 Totals .. .. 1,434 19 9 I 1,635 14 1 j 200 14 4 16-33 906 [ 3,544 2 6 J ' ' ! * Including royalty on timber.