H.—26

33

the same as charged for the water on Candle-light Flat. A deputation of miners waited on Mr. Gordon when he was hero on his second visit, in November, 1879, requesting that their time for using the water —viz., from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. —should be altered to from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the rate per day reduced accordingly. This was approved of by the District Engineer, on Mr. Gordon's recommendation that the price for the shorter hours be paid for at tho rate of 10s. per day per head. This commenced with the now year, and has given satisfaction to the parties concerned. During the Christmas holidays some very necessary repairs were done to the race, causing an outlay of £77, which leaves no profit on the water sold from the Ist January to 31st March, 1880. The approximate number of miners taking water from the race is twenty-six, and the amount of gold obtained by them from tho 19th May, 1879, to the 31st March, 1880, I estimate to be 1,191 oz. The estimate I think, is, strictly speaking, under the real amount of gold obtained. In conclusion, I have to state that the race as it at present is will always be breaking away and sustaining damage on every occasion of steadjr and heavy rain, causing expenditure and keeping down the profits. I would therefore suggest, if tho Government have decided to cut a new race, that it be done ere the winter sets in, when very wet weather is usually experienced here. The separate statement requested is attached. I have, &c, Philip McCarthy, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Manager.

No. 22. The Chairman, Mount Ida Water-race Trust, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Sic,— Mount Ida Water-race Trust Office, Naseby, 29th May, 1880. The Mount Ida Water-race Trust have the honor, in accordance with section 25 of " The Mount Ida Water-race Trust Act, 1878," to report to the Minister of Public Works as follows : — The last report of the Trust was dated the Ist August, 1879; but the accounts accompanying it were, by instruction of the Government, made up to the 30th June of that year : the present report will therefore cover the period from Ist July, 1879, to 30th April, 1880. The operations of the Trust during the period reported upon have, on the whole, proved as satisfactory as could have been expected, although the works, the Trust regrets to state, have not yet been made self-supporting. The winter of 1879 was of unusual severity and duration, necessarily causing a total stoppage of mining work, which lasted for more than three months. This entailed a great loss of revenue and extra expense in clearing out and putting the race in repair to carry a supply of water in the spring. Since then it has continued to bring in a good stream, and is now reported by the manager to be in first-rate order. The accounts of the Trust during the period (ten months) over which the report extends show the following transactions:— On Ist July, 1879, the cash in hand was £111 9s. 9d. ; and bills receivable, £200. There was also due from customers a sum of £575 3s. for water, &c. The water sold and channel fees for the period from Ist July, 1879, to 30th April, 1880, amount to £1,817 12s. 4d. There has been received in cash —from customers, £1,334 2s. 2d.; and from Government, £500. There was on 30th April, 1880, in hand, £37 6s. 9d., including £L 0 deposit; and the debts due to the Trust, after allowing for those considered bad, represented £1,007 17s. 9d. The total expenditure of tho Trust during the same period has been £2,123 Bs. 2d., divided as follows: Maintenance, salaries, &c, £1,883 12s. 7d.; new works, £239 15s. 7d. Fuller particulars of receipts and expenditure will be found in the treasurer's statement attached to this report. The Trust is aware that, in the beginning of the year that has passed, the Government entered into correspondence with the Maniototo County Council, with a view to that body taking over the control of the works. The Trust regrets that the Government could not see its way to accept the conditions on which the Council was willing to do so. The Qouuty Council, with funds at its disposal to complete the works as originally designed, and the advantage of being able to employ its ordinary staff of officials in the management, would have been in a bettor position to profitably carry on the works than a body constituted like the Trust. The race, since last spring, has generally delivered a good supply of water, the seasons since having been better than the average ; but the Trust's manager, in his monthly reports, has often had to convey the unwelcome intelligence that large quantities of water were running to waste, and this for the want of funds to extend tho race to command other ground not very far away. The Government, during last year, granted money with which an extension of over two miles was constructed, without which extension the Trust's accounts would reveal a much worse state of affairs than they do. Had the Trust been in a position to lay out some £1,000 in the further extension of the race, so as to command the whole of the workings, there is little doubt but that during the past months the revenue would have been considerably augmented, and that, too, without any increase in the working expenses. It should be borne in mind by the Government that, under the Mount Ida Trust Act, the members of the Trust receive no remuneration for their services until there is a profit, and are consequently pecuniarily interested in, if possible, bringing about that result. As matters stand, however, the Trust can hardly hope to get through the ensuing year without help from the Government. It is impossible to estimate how much may be required ; but the Trust is of opinion that emergencies may arise during the year that will necessitate the Government being called upon for assistance to the extent of £1,000. I have, &c.., H. W. Robinson, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Chairman.