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AURIFEROUS-QUARTZ MINING. The value of bullion obtained from our quartz-mines during 1916 amounted to £944,188, as a result of treating 442,362 statute tons of quartz. The dividends distributed by gold-quartz mining companies amounted to £185,005. The following is a statement of the quantity of quartz treated, the value of bullion obtained, and the amount of dividends paid by the more important quartzmining companies during 1910 : —

ALLUVIAL AND DREDGE MINING. The value of the production from alluvial claims amounted to £123,492, as compared with £153,300 during the previous year, a decline of £29,868, which was chiefly confined to West Coast claims. During 1916 there was a revival of interest in West Coast alluvial mining, the result of payable prospects being obtained by Government Keystone drills operated at Rimu Flat, near Hokitika, by an Australian company. A number of dredging and sluicing claims have been taken up by strong companies, and a dredge and a sluicing plant have been installed thereon. The gold-production from alluvial claims for the current year may therefore show an improvement over that of 1916. The Howard goldfield, which was discovered early in 1915, and is situated on a tributary of the upper Buller River, has not proved extensive or rich, and the number of miners thereon has declined during the past year. The gold-dredging industry continues to decline, the number of bucketdredges in commission having decreased from fifty-two during 1915 to forty-five during 1916, and the gold-production from £164,605 to £125,317. COAL-MINING. The output of coal during 1916 amounted to 2,257,135 tons, as compared with 2,208,624 tons during 1915, being an increase of 48,511 tons. The principal activity in the coal-mining industry occurred in the Westport, Greymouth, and Huntly districts. The following is a comparative statement of the coal and lignite raised during the years 1914, 1915, and 1916 :—

- ... Dividends paid. Quant.ty Va , ue Name of Company. QuMtz Total to End treated. 1916. of December, 1916. Statute Tons. £ £ £ Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. .. 173,420 363,612 j 99,181 4,776,083 Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited) 112,203' 211,108 38,138 190.188 Talisman Consolidated (Limited) .. .. .. 16,935 81,454 j 17,250 ; 1,017,472 Blaokwater Mines (Limited) .. .. .. 40,247 78,590 21,999 162,445 Other quartz-mines .. .. .. .. 99,557! 209,124 5,197 * Totals .. .. .. 442,362 944,188 185,065 * * Unknown. The average value per ton of ore treated amounted to £2 2s. 8d.

Inspection District. Output for Output for 1915. 191(3. Increase 1916. n.,*™* f„_ Increase or Decrease, Output tor . . -., xa-iA between Years 1915 and 1914. Northern (North Island) West Coast, (South Island) .. Southern (Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) Totals .. Tons. Tons. 460,415 ; 486,114 1,278,994 1,295,635 469,215 475,386 I Tons. 25,699 16,641 6,171 Tons. Tons. 440,453 Inc. 19,962 1,351,182 Dec. 72,188 483,958 „ 14,743 2,275,593 Dec. 66,969 2,208,624 2.257,135 48,511