D.—No. to

No. 1. Mr. H. H. Lahmann to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sib, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 12th August, 1872. I have the honor to forward herewith a copy of a resolution passed by the County Council, recommending that the General Government undertake the construction of the high-level water race from Kawhaka Creek to Ballarat Hill, with a branch to Tunnel Creek. I would beg to state that in my opinion, which is based upon the most reliable information, the water race recommended by the Council is deserving of the greatest attention by the General Government, who have in their possession the report of the District Engineer, together with a complete survey of the race, which will not alone be of incalculable benefit to the district, but it is also sure to prove highly remunerative. The race would be constructed to hold forty heads of water, running twenty-four hours per day for 300 days. I may here bo permitted to state that each head of water is equal to twice the amount allowed per head by the Nelson Eegulations. The water could be let at £4 per head per week for eight hours, or £12 per week for twenty-four hours, and the receipts therefrom would amount to £24,960 per annum. The expenses of renewal, maintenance, and management would be, per annum —Benewal fund, £500 ; maintenance, £320; and management, £580—altogether amounting to £1,400; thus leaving a profit of £23,560 per annum; or in round numbers, a revenue of £20,000 per annum may be safely calculated on. I may be permitted to point out that the foregoing calculation is based upon the working of the Hohonu Water Eace, and is therefore reliable. The ground to be worked is of such an extent as to last for a number of years. As it does not appear at all likely that any application will be made by persons in the County for an advance of money under the Eegulations issued by the Public Works Department, and as I notice from papers relating to " Water Supply on the Gold Pields," presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, that the General Government has consented to construct two water races, one in the Province of Auckland and the other in the Province of Nelson, I trust that the same favour may be shown to the County of Westland, the more so as the scheme above referred to offers certainly greater inducements than those in the other Provinces. I am, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, H. H. Lahmait_, Wellington. Chairman of the County Council.

Enclosure in No. 1. Extbacts from the Proceedings of the County Council of Westland. Saturday, 10th August, 1872. Besolved —" That as the question of water supply for the gold fields in the County of Westland is of the utmost importance, the Chairman be requested to urge upon the General Government the advisability of immediately constructing at least one of the works recommended by this Council; and that this Council would prefer that the high-level water race, from the Kawhaka Creek to Ballarat Hill, with a branch to Tunnel Creek, supplying forty heads of water, of which a complete survey has been made, and which promises to be highly remunerative, should be taken in hand first." (On the motion of the Chairman.) True extract. A. E. Tennaht, Secretary to the Council.

WATER SUPPLY ON GOLD FIELDS.