Mining in the Transvaal.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 88, 18 April 1904, Page 4

Mining in the Transvaal.

At the present time, when so much attention is being paid to the experiment of the introduction of cheap Chinese labour into the Transvaal State, it may be interesting to many to know what is going on just now in the Hand gold mines, and what dividends were lately forthcoming from the mines in operation. 'Vhe Transvaal Chamber of .\lines announces that the output of gold from the Witwatersrand district in .January last amounted to 288,821 ounces of lint; gold, valued at £1,12G,84(>. This result compares with previous yields as follows':—December, 1'.)03, 28(i,<J(51oz, value £1,215,111 ; January, I<JO3, lU'J,2Booz, value £Bl6, 'lßl>. The total output for -January last shows an increase of 27ti;ioz over the previous month, and is larger than any month since the end of the year.

A comparison of the years 18118 and 1903 is worthy of note. The yeas 1898 was the' last year under the old regime, which was interrupted by hostilities ; and thy year 1903 made the first complete period under tile new conditions. Total yield, year JBOB, -l.U'J.Uioiioz, value 4:15. 111,376 ; total yield, year 1903, £2,05U,-1760z, value £12,116,300. Thus, practically, the 1903 output put. of gold was etyual to 80 percent of Vile 1898 total.

It may lie of advantage to show what dividends were forthcoming from the yields of those same years. Of the 59 best known mining companies in the Hand district the number of companies that paid dividends, and the total amount of same, are as follows Year IH9.S, 37 contpanies, dividends £1,82<i,700; year 1903, 29 companies, dividends £3, 308,620.

In the past year, therefore, the dividends amounted roughly to 70 per cent, of the 1898 aggregate. Of the dividends paid in 1903 the highest was Ferriera (187J per cent.), and tile lowest were the Xigel and the Simmer and .lack, both five per cent. Here the average of tile 29 paying companies struck, theresuit would show a handsome return for 1903 of 49 per cent. o£ dividend per company. Apart from any question of share quotations, the above shows a very satisfactory result, in view of tho labour and other difficulties which have arisen since mining operations were resumed.