C.—2,

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament my sixth annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended the 31st December, 1925. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1925 and 1924 : —

The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in table No. 1 accompanying this statement, amounted to £3,170,828, as compared with £3,237,331 during 1924. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1925 amounted to £159,676,343. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. The following statement shows the quantity and value of bullion-production, the dividends paid by registered companies, and the number of productive claims and gold-dredges during 1925 and 1924 : —

I—C. "2.

1925. 1924. Mineral. i — - 1 — Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. ! I £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 625,626 oz. 546,026 652,855 oz. 607,253 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 1-|§ tons 64 3 tons 126 Sulphur .. .. 269 ,, 1,154 Iron .. .. .. 1,289 „ 8,701 630 „ 4,725 Stone .. .. .. .. .. 463,667 .. 373,827 Pumice .. .. .. .. 2,532 „ 7,672 1,629 „ 4,956 Coal .. .. .. . 2,114,995 „ 2,114,995 2,083,207 „ 2,083,207 Totals .. .. .. .. £3,142,279 .. £3,074,094 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated.

Dividends Number of ProducProduetion of Bullion. paid by Registered tive Claims and Class of Gold-mining. Companies. Dredges. 1925. 1924. 1925. | 1924. 1925. . 1924. Oz. £ Oz. £ £ £ Quartz .. .. 604,044 460,042 625,162 490,850 62,390 50,790 22 23 Alluvial .. 11,545 44,990 14,357 57,863 1,950 6,180 248 273 Dredging .. 10,037 40,994 13,336 58,540 3,283 6,566 5 5 Totals .. 625,626 546,026 652,855 607,253 67,623 63,536 275 301