C.—2.

1934. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT, BY THE HON. C. E. MACMILLAN, MINISTER OF MINES.

Me. Speaker,-— I have the honour to present to Parliament the annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1933. GOLD-MINING. During the year 592,247 oz. of bullion, valued at £1,099,579, was produced, a decrease in quantity of 136,899 oz., but an increase in value of £79,765 as compared with the previous year. The gold content of the bullion for 1933 is estimated at 161,755 oz., valued at £1,063,543, as compared with 166,354 oz., valued at £974,734, for 1932. The amount of bullion produced from the Waihi and the Waihi Grand Junction Mines was 144,782 oz. less than was won in 1932, but, owing to the higher price of gold, the value of the bullion was only £52,082 less than that of the previous year. With a view to extending the life of the field, close investigation is being made of areas near the Waihi Mine, over which the Waihi Gold-mining Co. has acquired mining rights. For some months past an officer of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been engaged on a magnetic geophysical survey in the locality, and it is hoped that the data which will be obtained from that work and from the application of other geophysical methods will be of value in selecting the most suitable sites for boreholes. MINERAL PRODUCTION. 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 1933 and 1932: —

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 £3,151,807, as compared with £2,883,211 during 1932. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1933 amounted to £185,091,367.

1933. 1932. Mineral. ! ; Quantity. Value. i Quantity. Value. I _ £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 592,247 oz. 1,099,579 729,146 oz. j 1,019,814 Platinum .. .. .. .. 3J ,, 21 Pig-iron .. .. .. 3,286 tons 16,842 Stone .. .. .. .. 196,481 .. 241,920 Pumice .. .. .. .. 2,387 tons 8,544 3,166 tons 11,812 Coal .. .. .. .. 1,821,258 „ 1,821,2581,842,022 „ 1,842,022 Quicksilver .. .. .. .. f9,000 lb. 1,240 Totals .. .. .. .. £3,143,965 .. £3,115,568 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated. ■f Includes 1,500 lb. valued at £240 produced in 1932, but not recorded in that year.