32 
GOLD INDUSTRY. 
86. The discovery of the einen goldfields in yo 
in 1856, led to the search for g n British Guian he firs 
attempts failed, and it was not el 1880 that placer eT was 
successful in the Parani river, a branch of the Mazaruni. In 1884 
regulations were issued by Gove ent a royalty of 5 per 
cent. was imposed on the gold obtained, which amounted in that 
year to 250 es. Since that time considerable progress has 
been made. The value of the gold exported during the last six 
years has been as follows :— 
Year. Value. Year. | Value. | 
| 
£ £ | 
1890... sae sie 235,083 1893... ee wee 511,368 | 
1891.. vee ie 376,385 1894... vas a 500,446 | 
1892... = we | 494,551 1895... E ee 449,876 | 
ce ‘companies are ier eine oS vate capi The gold 
i g in the of the forest, and in many cases at a 
considerable distance from t h weeks ar 
often occupied in reaching them, and in consequence the expenses 
are heavy. So far, the gold has been obtained by placer washing, 
mining for gold has only just been started. Mr. George 
Garnett stated in Koruny last : “ The first really A gprs Sep 
‘mine has only bee mo nother t 
er engagement They 
“ are almost entirely negroes, oolies are unable to do the heavy 
“ digging and shovelling required.” 
38. During 1891 about 20, ont pees were igor in the 
gold districts, these serving erage, about three months 
each, so that there were elke about si yoi or 5,000 diggers in the 
bash. e number registered in 5-96 for gold-mining 
urposes was 17,638. It is probable a i total number directly 
and indirectly concerned i in ae gale industry is not much below 
30,000 soul Jonge is of a hat labour in the 
goldfields is Haen profitable to cis Colony—not necessarily to the 
oe as employer—than any other industry, He estimates 
men aie in washing gold “ have produced a net 
* oak of 480,000/., whereas in the sugar industry they would 
“ only have produced 48,0007.” The energy employed in the case 
gold has, according to this witness, been ten times more 
age than in the case of sugar. 
further increased it is probable that settlements will be established 
