9

a—2

£635. With a recently increased water-supply from Boundary Creek, and the Steeple Creek Water-raw supply in prospective, the average monthly yield should continue to increase. Near Roxburgh the Teviot-Molyneux Sluicing Company are constructing extensive water-races from the River Teviot, and laying down a modern sluicing plant to work, on the hydraulic sluicing and elevating principle, an ancient bed of the River Clutha subsequently filled in with sand and shingle. This ground has been tested by systematic Keystone drilling. The overburden is somewhat deep, but the samples of wash are stated by the prospectors to be payable. The Ladysmith dredge, working a short distance upstream of this claim, is obtaining satisfactory returns.

The following is a statement showing the value of production and dividends paid by the principal registered sluicing companies during 1912 : —

In addition to the foregoing, many privately owned claims returned considerable profits, the amount of which is not ascertainable.

V. MINERALS OTHER. THAN GOLD. SOHEELITE. The quantity of scheelite exported during the year amounted to 135 tons, valued at £13,347, as compared with 138 tons, valued at £11,853, in 1911. The following statement shows the quantity and value of scheelite exported since the year 1899 : —

2—C. 2,

Name of Company or Party. Value of Gold produced. Dividends declared. t, • , n ,o Total to end Daring 1912. rf m2 Westland. Mont D'Or Gold-mining and Water-race Company £ 4,665 £ £ 2,400 54,000 Otago and Southland. Naseby Dredging and Hydraulic-sluicing Company Deep Stream Gold-mining Company Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company Golden Crescent Sluicing Company Sailor's Gully Gold-mining Company Havelock Sluicing Company Messrs. George and Munro (P.O. Creek) Round Hill Gold-mining Company Nokomai Hydraulic-sluicing Company Ladysmith Gold-mining Company Undaunted Gold-mining Company Tinkers Gold-mining Company 243 other alluvial claims (mostly privately owned) 1,080 1,244 1,530 2,253 1,769 3,419 1,048 5,292 10,354 2,994 1,709 1.904 227,087 625 4,125 312 1,437 270 1,605 612 8,750 800 4,400 1,800 3,200 400 847 8,473 4,800 33,683 992 9,428 562 14,437 473 472 * * Totals 266,348 266,348 14,893 * Unknown.

Year. Quantity. Value. Year. Quantity. I Value. 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 Tons. 32 54 2 39 42 17 28 55 £ 2,788 2,635 83 1,200 1,439 791 1,848 3,407 1907 . . 1908 .. 1909 .. 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. Tons. 137 68 58 143 138 135 £ 15,486 6,055 4,263 15,070 11,853 13,347 Totals 948 80,265