C—3.

EEPOET.

Mr. Frank Reed, M.1.M.M., Inspecting Engineer, to the Under-Secbetary for Mines. Sib, — Mines Department, Wellington, 16th April, 1909. I have the honour to present the annual reports of inspection of mines, together with reports of Wardens and other officers, accompanied by statistical information in regard to the goldfields and metalliferous mines of the Dominion, for the year ended the 31st December, 1908. In accordance with the usual practice, the tables showing expenditure through the Mines Department'on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c, are for the period covered by the financial year —viz., from the Ist April, 1908, to the 31st March, 1909. The reports, &c, are divided into the following sections : — I. Production of Minerals. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Gold-mining — (1.) Quartz. (2.) Dredging. (3.) Alluvial. V. Minerals other than Gold. VI. State Aid to Mining. VII. Schools of Mines. Annexures.—-Reports of— (a.) Inspectors of Mines. (6.) Wardens. (c.) Directors of Schools of Mines. (d.) Water-race Managers, (c.) Mining Statistics. (/.) Examinations under " The Mining Act, 1908," and Holders of Certificates.

I. PRODUCTION OF MINERALS. The appended statement shows the value of the outputs from the various metalliferous mines and gumfields in New Zealand from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1908: —

5

Classification. 1907. 1908. Increase or L , T Total fr °™'jj h ? , Decrease. \ lsfc January, 1853, to th, 1 31st December, 1908. Gold Silver £ 2,027,490 169,484 595 15,486 26 2,118 14,967 579,888 £ 2,004,925 175,337 275 6,055 £ 22,565! 5,853* 320f 9,431! 26+ 2,045f 4,8431 207,090! £ 73,533,903 1,266,088 19,098 32,944 61,857 54,789 210,981 14,395,703 Copper-ore Scheelite Manganese-ore Antimony-ore Other minerals Kauri-gum 73 10,124 372,789 Totals 2,810,054 2,569,587 240,467+ 89,575,363 * Increase. f Decrease.