C—2.

18

(2) GOVERNMENT PROSPECTING DRILLS. The following table gives details of the drilling done and the results obtained for twelve months ended 31st December, 1927 :—

Drill Superintendents: W. H. Warburton, E. A. Wilson, E. W. Browne, and H. Butland. Drills used: Schram-Harker diamond, Keystone, and placer drills.

(3) Subsidized Roads on Goldfields. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldfields amounted to £3,841, as compared with £3,612 during the previous year. (4) Government Water-races. The Waimea-Kumara water-races, constructed and maintained by the Government for the purpose of assisting alluvial gold-mining in the district of Kumara (Westland), were sold to the Westland Electric-power Board, which took possession on the Ist August, 1927. The following is a statement showing the cash received by the Government for water sold, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races, to 31st July, 1927 : —

(5) Schools of Mines. The total expenditure on schools of mines during the year ended the 31st March, 1928, amounted to £3,516 17s. Id., against £3,885 16s. sd. during the previous year. This includes a grant of £750 to the University of Otago for the Otago School of Mines. Some of the schools did excellent work, in particular the Thames 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.

5 U B«uI iSfrl Diameter Mineral Character of ltocks drilled mFeet. of Hole - 80U 8 ht - drilled tliro.rgli. To whom lent. Cost per Cost per Foot of Foot of Drilling. Transport. Cost per Foot of Carbon's Wear. Results. Ft. 443 In. 3 s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Not completed. 1 38 1,825 6 Coal Gold Sandstones, shales, and clays Fine gravels Hunter and party Clutha Development, Ltd. Clutha J unction Consolidated Prospecting & Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. F. G. Twiss Rimu Gold-dredg-ing Co., Ltd. J. Stevenson and party Clutha Development, Ltd. 7 3 2 5 2 5 Fair. 36 2,720 6 »» Clay and gravels 6 0 0 74 0 74 Poor, with exceptior of one hole. 10 6 339 424 6 6 Sand, gravels, &c. Gravels Fair. Area proved valueless, 19 8 o"i 3 417 6 Clay and gravola Operations in progress. 26 1,026 H Clay, gravel, and aand 8 2 2 5 Fair. 120 7,194

(Satoofwat.er.) Expenditure. Debit Balance. Waimea-Kumara Water-races £ s. d. 447 1 10* £ s. d. 844 12 6 £ s. d. 397 10 8 * Including royalty on timber, &c.