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1902. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT. BY THE HON. JAMES McGOWAN, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— I again have the honour to present my annual Statement to Parliament, and in doing so would call attention to the continued expansion of the mining industry as a whole. During the year 1901 the production of gold and silver, and also of coal and lignite, was considerably in excess of that of the previous year, whilst the output of kauri-gum and miscellaneous minerals shows a falling-off. The gross values of the mineral production, including kauri-gum, for 1901, however, show an increase of over a quarter of a million pounds sterling as compared with those of the year 1900, and doubtless the increase would have been greater still but for the fact that the phenomenally high state of some of the rivers interfered with gold-dredging operations during a considerable portion of the year. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The annexed Table No. 1 shows the quantity of gold, silver, coal, and other minerals, including kauri-gum, produced during the year ending 31st December, 1901. The total production of gold and silver was 1,026,695 oz., valued at 5£1,819,041, and shows an increase in value of £340,560 as compared with the production of the preceding year. The output of other minerals, including coal and lignite, has been 1,248,164 tons, representing a value of £1,136,942, or 141,680 tons in excess of the previous year. Kauri-gum to the amount of 7,541 tons, valued at £446,114, was obtained. Compared with the production of the previous year this shows a decrease oi 2,618 tons. The quantities and values of the chief mineral productions for the past two years are summarised for comparison as follow :— Year ending 31st December, 1900. Year ending Blst December, 1901. Product. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold ... ... •• 373,616 oz. 1,439,602 455,561 oz. 1,753,783 Silver ... ... ... 326,457 „ 38,879 571,134 „ 65,258 Copper-ore ... ... 12 tons 45 3 tons 105 Antimony ... ... 3 „ 101 30 „ 136 Manganese-ore 166 „ 588 208 „ 614 Mixed minerals 2,126 „ 12,751 696 „ 7,775 Chrome-ore ... ... 28 „ 110 Colonial coal exported, including that used by Home steamers ... ... 112,707 „ 98,136 159,643 tons 142,176 Coke exported Colonial coal consumed in New Zealand ... ... 981,283 tons 490,642 1,067,995 tons 533,998 Kauri-gum 10,159 „ 622,293 7,541 „ 446,114 Shale ... ... 12,048 „ 6,024 Total value of production for 1901 ... ... ... £2,955,983 1900 ... ... ... 2,703,147 Total increase ... ... ... £252,836

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