Ca—2.

12

The following statement shows tho value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1923 : —

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

111. ACCIDENTS. During 1923 no fatal but five serious but non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 2,034 persons were ordinarily employed.

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 : —

1923. 1922. Increase or Decrease. Total from the 1st January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1923. Gold Silver .. .. Quicksilver Tungston-ore Kauri-gum Manganese-ore Sand, lime, and building stone Other minerals £ 698,583 62,851 875 596,222 43 13,609 3,013 £ 540,182 55,222 674 528 563,270 £ Ino. 158,401 7,629 Dee. 674 Inc. 347 32,952 43 3,5721 Deo. 5,343 J £ 90,863,040 2,832,670 8,336 300,714 20,664,509 61,958 10,037 8,356 420,262 Totals 1,178,269 Ino. 196,927 115,151,489 1,375,196

Classification. Inspection District. Northern. West Coast. Southern. Total, 1923. Sold, silver, and tungsten cinnabar ironstone Totals for 1923 1,249 3 1,252 453 '*4 457 325 325 2,027 3 4 1,252 457 325 2,034 Totals for 1922 ,. j 1,121 1,121 582 582 388 388 2,091

Fatal Ah .oldettts. Serious Non-fi ital Accidents. Cause. Number of Separate Accidents. Deaths. Accidents. Number of Persons injured. 'alls of ground Ixplosives liscellaneous, on surface liscellaneous, underground 2 2 i 2 2 I Totals 5 Reports of the serious non-fatal accidents arc conti ined in the District Inspectors' ann' ial reports.

Production of Bullion, 1923.* (All Mines.) Number of Persons ordinarily employed at Productive and Unproductive Mines. Number of Productive Quartzmines, Alluvial Mines, and Dredges, 1923. Dividends paid, 1923. (By Registered Companies only.)t Quantity. Value. Quartz-mining Dredge mining Alluvial mining:]: Oz. 661,468 15,788 14,834 £ 609,993 68,003 59,174 £ 24,795 3,283 2,266 1,520 100 406 22 8 130 Totals, 1923 092,090 737,170 30,344 2,026 160 Totals, 1922 520,287 574,988 53,031 2,028 180 * In addition to the golc preference to "gold." t The profits of private! j The bullion-productioi of registered companies. produced from the gi old-mines, silver was o; ibtained from them, hence the word "bullion" is used in owned dredges and m is from 130 alluvial cli lines are unobtainable, \ aims, but the dividends which renders this sta i are only ascertainabi .tement incomplete. Ie from those few that are the property