C—2

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Me. Speaker,— I again present my annual Statement to Parliament, and, in doing so, am pleased to be in a position to remark upon the continued expansion of the mining industry of New Zealand. Gauged by the returns of output and value, the production of minerals (including kauri-gum) during last year shows that progress is still satisfactory. In my last Statement, attention was drawn to the fact that for the year 1902 the gross value of minerals raised was over a quarter of a million sterling in excess of that of the previous year; and now a still further increase is to be noted for the year 1903, amounting to £309,032 over the value of minerals produced during the year 1902. Large as this advanced value certainly is, a greater increase would have been recorded had it not been for the fact that dredging and hydraulic-mining operations in Otago were seriously interfered with, owing to snowstorms and severe frosts during last winter, and the consequent floods which followed the thaw. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The annexed Table No. 1 shows the quantity and value of gold, silver, and other minerals (including kauri-gum) exported during the year ending the 31st December, 1903, and also the quantity of native coal consumed in the colony during the same period. The amount of gold entered for export was 533,314 oz., valued at £2,037,831, and of silver, 911,914 oz., valued at £91,497, making a total value of gold and silver amounting to £2,129,328, this being an increase of £105,920 as compared with the export returns for the previous year. Other minerals, including coal, lignite, and kauri-gum, represent a value of £1,401,326, or an advance of £203,112 as compared with that of the previous year. The quantities and values of the chief mineral productions exported for the past two years are summarised for comparison as follow:— Year ending 31st December, 1902. Yeac ending 31st December, 1903. Product. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. S, £ Gold ... ... ... 508,0450z. 1,951,433 533,3140z. 2,037,831 Silver ... ... ... 674,196 „ 71,975 911,914 „ 91,497 Copper-ore ... ... ... ... 6 tons 123 Manganese-ore ... ... ... ... 70 „ 210 Mixed minerals ... ... 415 tons 4,422 625 „ 7,014 Chrome-ore ... ... 175 „ 525 Colonial coal exported, including that used by Home steamers ... ... 188,677 „ 154,747 152,332 „ 128,927 Haematite... ... ... 17 „ 116 ... 1 Colonial coal consumed in New Zealand ... ... 1,174,025 ~ 587,012 1,267,861 „ 633,931 Kauri-gum ... ... 7,430 „ 450,223 9,357 „ 631,102 Shale (treated in New Zealand) 2,338 „ 1,169 36 „ 18 Total value of production for 1903 ... ... ... £3,530,654 1902 ... ... ... 3,221,622 Total increase ... ... ... £309,032

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