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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. During the past year detailed geological surveys were begun in the Rodney, Motueka, and Kaitangata districts. The total area surveyed was approximately 1,471 square miles. The survey of the Kaitangata district as originally planned was completed, but further field-work in this area is required in order to enable a comprehensive report to be written. The surveys of the other two districts will be continued next field season. A final examination of the Waihi Goldfield was made, and the results were incorporated in the bulletin thereon (No. 26). Visits to many localities other than those being areally surveyed were made by members of the Survey, the most important being an examination of part of Chatham Island, made last January in conjunction with the scientific expedition organized by the Otago Institute. The Director of the Survey attended the Pan-Pacific Science Congress, held in Melbourne and Sydney last August and September, as one of the official representatives of the New Zealand Government. In connection with this Congress he visited the Maitland Coalfield and the Broken Hill district. Good progress is being made in the important work of investigating the fossil collections of the Survey, and a valuable report by Mr. Thomas Withers, of the British Museum, on fossil Cirripedes (Palaiontological Bulletin No. 10) was published a few months ago. In addition several papers by the Palaeontologist (Dr. J. Marwick) have been printed in various scientific publications. The only other publications issued during the year were the annual report of the Survey and various reports and papers by its officers, published in the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. Since the end of the period covered by the report of the Survey an important bulletin, No. 26, " The Geology and Mines of the Waihi District," has been published. During the present year it is hoped to publish several other bulletins, the manuscripts of which have been completed. STATE AID TO MINING. Considerable use continued to be made of the Government prospecting-drills. During the year eight parties employed these drills, an aggregate of 6,449 ft. beingdrilled. During the year ended 31st March, 1924, sixteen approved parties were granted subsidies amounting to £6,080. There was expended during the year £11,743, which included subsidies granted but not expended during previous years. The expenditure on roads and tracks by subsidies and direct grants out of the Public Works Fund amounted to £2,867, as against £4,850 during the previous year. The expenditure by the Mines Department on schools of mines amounted to £3,817 as against £4,457 during the previous year. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida Government water-races, which in past years considerably aided alluvial-gold mining in the Kumara and Naseby districts, have during the year ended 31st March, 1924, supplied claims employing eighteen miners with water for sluicing, by which gold to the approximate value of £5,619 was obtained. The cash received for water sold amounted to £1,233, the expenditure on the upkeep of the races being £2,032. MINER'S PHTHISIS ACT, 1915. The amount of pensions payable, in force, and granted to the 31st March, 1924, under this Act are as follows : — Amounts paid since inception until 31st March, 1924 — £ From Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, 1923 . . 144,409 For year ended 31st March, 1924 .. .. 36,084 £180,493 Number of new grants for year 1923-24 .. .. 88 Annual value of new grants . . .. .. £6,448 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1924 .. 580 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1924 £36,634 Average pension payable per annum .. .. £63 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1924 1,052 Total number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1924, includes the following : To unmarried miners, 197 ; to married miners, 390 ; to widows of miners, 465 : total, 1,052.