GOLD PRODUCTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1923, Page 3

GOLD PRODUCTION.

MODERN DREDGING SUCCESS. WELLINGTON. Aug. 14

The sum of £3.171,105 is given as the value of minerals produced in the Dominion, including kauri gum exported and coal mined and used in the Dominion during the past year, according to the -Mines Statement. The previous year’s total was £2,919,*153. bp to the end of 1922 the total value of minerals exported was £119,814,257. Bullion produced during the vent: from quartz mines was les- in quantity by 31,G53uz than that produced in 1921. though the value increased by £3OOI. The yield from alluvial mining was less in quantity by 9-oz, and ill value liv L'9178. Production of gold by dredging increased markedly. the quantity obtained being more than double that of tin* previous year, while the value shows an increase of approximately 83 per cent. Ilos satisfactory increase is largely attributable to the successful operations of the Riinu Flat dredge at Rinnt, near Hokitika. The results there obtained by the use of u modern dredge give promise of lending to a very great extension of gold dredging in Westland and elsewhere.

Search for petroleum was continued at Kottiku. near Greymotilli. but without success. Up to the present Taranaki Oil Wells, Ltd., lias produced 519!) gallons of crude oil. and the Blenheim Oil Company 35011 gallons. At metalliferous mines, at whieh 2091 persons were ordinarily employed, one life was lost. In* accident, and one other person received serious injuries. At stone quarries, under the Stone Quarries Act. in which 1383 persons were ordinarily employed, two persons were accidentally killed and four others received serious injuries. In or about eon I mine*;, at whieh 4550 persons w ere ordinarily employed, live accidents occurred, whereby six persons lost then* lives. Thirty oilier per-ons received serious injuries. Ai all mine- and quarrie- tin* proportion ot latal accidents wa- 1.1 per Idllf) persons employed. For the preceding year the percentage was 1.4 per It it .10 persons employed.

There was a good attendance nt the IBS.A. weekly euchre last night, upwards of eighty players taking part. Miss E. Murphy won the ladies prize Utter playing off with Mrs Sumner. Mr E. Thorne was successful for tlu* gentlemen's prize, alter playing of! with Mr T. Morel. Coil-olal ion prizes were won |,v Mrs Schroder and Mr Raine jnnr. Aider i lit* simper interval, dancing was held, the tloor being well lilled. Excellent music was supplied by Miss I’aseoe idanoi, assisted bv Mr Bonnetti’s jazz orchestra, which is supplied with a complete till of novelty instruments to give the necessary color to the music. The dance was a very popular one. On Saturday night there will ho a soldiers’ dance at the hall, and next Thursday the cm lire tournament is to be continued. Arrangements will he made immediate]*, lor a complete evening for jazz dancing, the occasion being conducted on the cabaret principle when each gentleman may have his own partner, and refreshments will be on sale at the hnlfct throughout the evening. Further particulars will appear later.