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Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Mr. Geobge Wilson, Inspecting Engineer, to the Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister of Mines. Sic, — Mines Department, Wellington, 29th June, 1897. I have the honour to submit my annual report, for the year ending the 31st March last, on the progress of the mining industry, and on different works in connection with the same having a tendency to promote a further development of the mineral wealth of the colony. The subjects are classified under the following heads: "Subsidised Eoads and Tracks," "Eoads constructed by Direct Grants," "Prospecting Works," "Schools of Mines," "Waterraces," "Gold-mining," "Quartz Workings," "Alluvial Mining," "Dredging," "Water-conser-vation," " Precious Stones," " Manganese and Sulphur Mining," " Petroleum," " Coal-mining, "Hydraulics," "The Cyanide Process of Treatment in connection with Gold-saving," "Milling Gold-ores," " Patents applied for in connection with Gold-mining," "Examination-papers recently used in the Mine-managers' and Battery Superintendents' Examinations," and " Statistical Tables showing the Class and Value of Works constructed."

SUBSIDISED ROADS AND TRACKS. The following statement will show the expenditure on subsidy principle authorised for the construction of roads and tracks in the different counties for the year ending the 31st March last, and the liabilities on outstanding authorities on that date: —

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THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND: EEPOET ON EOADS, WATEE-EACES, MINING MACHINEEY, AND OTHEE WOEKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING.

Name of Local Body. Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1897. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1897, Matamata Eoad Board Piako County Bay of Islands County Coromandel County ... Te Aroha Town Board Thames County Thames Borough Ohinemuri County Tauranga County Katikati Highway Board Waimea County Collingwood County ... Pelorus Eoad Board Wairau Eoad Board ... Buller County Inangahua County ... Grey County Westland County Eoss Borough Council Tuapeka County Vincent County Southland County ... Wallace County Contingencies £ s. 250 0 1,866 5 524 i 92 12 1,106 2 100 0 11 13 70 0 25 0 183 10 365 0 250 0 57 11 70 0 141 3 29 13 34 9 a. o o 9 0 1 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 0 3 £ s. d. 100 0 0 20 0 0 595 0 0 650 0 0 75 0 0 643 14 8 707 8 0 945 19 3 150 0 0 88 6 8 50 0 0 16 9 8 510 0 0 278 9 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 58 16 6 50 0 0 Totals £5,177 4 3 5,339 3 9