G.—l

4

& Gold ... ... ... ... ... ... 43,488,735 Silver, to 31st December last ... .. ... 121,268 Copper „ ... ... ... 17,787 Chrome-ore „ ... ... ... 37,367 Antimony-ore „ ... ... ... 9,515 Manganese-ore „ ... ... ... 44,419 Haematite-ore „ ... ... ... 220 Mixed minerals „ ... ... ... 51,680 43,770,991 Coal exported „ ... ... £154,814 Coke exported „ ... ... 5,588 160,402 Kauri-gum „ ... ... ... 3,943,152 New Zealand coal consumed within the colony ... ... 1,875,963 £49,750,508 The value of last year's productions, as shown by the same tables, is as follows :— £ Gold ... ... ... ... ... ... 922,600 Silver ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,946 Copper-ore ... ... ... ... ... 390 Antimony-ore ... ... ... ... ... 1,784 Manganese-ore ... ... ... . • ... ... 1,316 Mixed minerals ... ... ... ... ... 1,846 930,882 Coal exported ... ... ... ... £52,133 Coke exported ... .... ... ... 715 52,848 Kauri-gum ... ... ... ... ... 257,653 New Zealand coal consumed within the colony ... ... 244,108 £1,485,491

These figures and facts, I trust, will serve to show that our mining industry is not a languishing one, nor has it suffered injuriously, compared with every other industry in the colony, during the many years of depression that have clouded all enterprise in this and other parts of the world. I think I may take upon myself to say that the present outlook of our mines has justified to a great extent the expenditure on works already constructed, besides such other works as may in the future become necessary to be undertaken for their further development. I have been unable to ascertain the total amount of capital invested in New Zealand mining ventures, for the reason that no returns are to hand showing the outlay by companies not engaged in mining for gold and silver. The returns relating to the latter class of work have been furnished by the Wardens of the several districts up to the 31st March last, and point to the fact that at that date the aggregate nominal capital of four hundred and forty-one companies engaged in gold- and silver-mining in the colony amounted to £6,830,348, of which £1,458,815 are paid up. Thirty-five companies are registered under the Limited. Liability Act, and amended Acts, 1865, and their total nominal capital is £612,150, of which £219,717 are paid up. Two companies are registered under the Joint-stock Companies Act, with a total nominal capital of £28,480, of which £21,980 are paid up. Eour hundred and four companies are registered under the Mining Companies Act, having a total nominal capital of £6,189,718, of which £1,217,118 are paid up. These companies are severally engaged in quartz or alluvial mining, and the number, I feel no doubt, will be greatly increased, together with the capital, at an early period, as the great mineral resources of the colony become more fully developed, and mining is carried on under more systematic and scientific plans, and to which before concluding I will take this occasion to again refer.