12

a—2.

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines of the Dominion during the year :—

111. ACCIDENTS. During 1922 one fatal and one serious but non-fatal accident occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 2,091 persons were ordinarily employed.

The fatal accident was that to William Edward Stephenson, and took place in No. 4 shaft, Waihi Mine. Deceased was working in the shaft-bottom, and a small windlass was used for raising and lowering an electric light with which the shaft-bottom was lit. The spindle, of the windlass gave way and the windlass fell down the shaft, striking the deceased and killing him instantaneously. Full reports of this accident and of tho serious non - fatal accident are contained in the District Inspectors' annual reports. IV. GOLD-MINING. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and the number of gold-mines and dredges:—

* In addition to the gold produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word " bullion " is used in preference to " gold." t The profits of privately owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. % Tire bullion-production is from 150 alluvial claims, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that arc the property of registered companies. At the present time the gold-mining industry is far from thriving. During the year under review the gold premium continued to drop till by the end of the period gold was practically at its pre-war value, with the result that most of the gold won did not pay for the cost of producing it.

(1.) Quartz-mining.

The average value per ton of ore treated during 1922 amounted to £1 12s. 9d. as compared with £1 13s. lid. during 1921.

Classification. Inspection District. Gold, silver, and tungsten Cinnabar Ironstone Northern. West Coast. Southern. 1,103 540 388 18 42 1,121 582 388 Total, 1922. 2,031 18 42 Totals for 1922 .. :j88 2,091 Totals for 1921 .. 1,158 517 r 395 2,070

Cause. Fatal Ai Number of Separate Accidents. xidcnts. Serious Non-fa1 Number of Number ol "rw.tiia Separate Deaths. Accidents. ;al Accidents. Number of Persons injured. 'alls of ground Explosives liscellaneous, on surface liscellaneous, underground I .. i 1 i - i :; Totals L 1

Production of BulHoi i, 1922.* (All Minos.) Dividondspaid, 1022. (lly Registered Companies only.Jt Value. 93S83 iB& Unproductive Minos. D ™ d n ge ',T922. Quantity. (uartz-mining >redgo mining Jluvial mining J Oz. 488,202 15,465 16,620 £ 439,489 67,239 68,260 £ 51,991 1,405 20 121 11 502 149 l^040 Totala, 1922 520,287 574,988 53,031 2,028 180 Totals, 1921 551,875 547,105 56,728 2,012 1S4

Inspection District. Statute Tons 1022. if Ore treated. Value of Bullion. 1022. 1021. £ £ 338,465 334,550 100,082 98,422 342 516 i Dividends pal tered Comp: id (by llegisanies only). 1021. 1022. 1921. I Northern West Coast Southern 220,263 48,184 162 214,305 40,994 1-52 £ 49,591 2,400 £ 49,591 4,200 Totals .. 208,609 208,009 255,011 439,489 433,488 51,991 53,791