15

C.—s

paid by the miners during the last year, which must be considered very satisfactory. The average number of miners employed by aid of these works has been 316, exclusive of bushmen engaged in getting blocks and timber for the claims. Deducting the value of the sales of water and channelfees from the value of the gold obtained, the average weekly earnings of the miners would amount to £3 6s. 9d. per man. The total cost of construction of the works has been £173,463 7s. Id., and the amount of receipts over the expenditure during the last year was £3,572 ss. 4d., which gives direct interest at the rate of a little over 2 per cent, on the capital expended. However, a large amount of this surplus is due to outstanding moneys having been paid up during the year, which should not be taken as actual profit. Nelson Cbeek Watek-Bace. The ground that this w 7ater-raee commands is gradually getting worked out. The upper end of Try Again Terrace, where the principal water was formerly used, is nearly sluiced away, only small blocks here and there remaining. A great deal of prospecting has been done, and free water given for this purpose, but no new ground of any extent has been discovered that will prove payable for working. The limited amount of gravel-drift on the sides of the ranges which the water commands does not hold out much hope that this water-race will continue long to pay the expense of its maintenance. Indeed, unless payable gold be discovered in the flats to utilize the water, the heavy expense of maintaining the large number of bridges and flumes, which are decaying fast, the revenue accruing from the sales of water will not be sufficient to provide for the increased expenditure necessary to keep those structures good. A survey has been made from the bridge at Wilson's Creek to Eiverview, with a view of extending the race to command the several terraces and gullies of the watershed on the western side of the Ahaura River, below Irishman's Creek. There has also been a survey made from near the northern corner of Lake Hochstetter to command the same ground. These two surveys were made for the purpose of obtaining definite information as to the cheapest and most advantageous route. The line from Wilson's Creek is four miles and three-quarters in length, and would consist of a series of tunnels and one flume over Calaghan's Creek. The longest tunnel on this line would be 40 chains in length. The estimated cost of this line is £11,000; but in order to utilize it the upper portion of the main race would have to be taken into account, which requires the whole of the bridges and flumes, and also the timbering and lining of the tunnels, to be replaced. This is estimated, to cost £15,000; thus making the total cost of this route to be £26,000. The direct route from the northern corner of Lake Hochstetter is seven miles in length, and consists of thirtytwo tunnels, the longest of which would be 95 chains. With this exception the other tunnels vary from 3to 48 chains in length. The estimate of the cost of this line and headworks is £21,300, and will bring the water at an elevation of 60ft. higher than the other line. The whole of the ground on both lines through which the tunnels would have to be constructed is what is locally termed " Maori bottom," or " old-man reef," which is usually the best description of ground to construct tunnels through, as it is tolerably soft, yet firm and compact enough to stand without being timbered. In selecting both of these routes the great object sought to be obtained was to get a line where works of a permanent character could be constructed, which would cost a minimum amount to maintain. For this reason a line with a series of short tunnels was selected, the tunnels to break out in every gorge and gully, from whence water can be taken to the several terraces and flats. The following table will show the results of working this water-race during the past year :—

This shows the receipts for lasc year to be £1,071 19s. 2d., against £1,073 14s. 2d. for the previous year; and the expenditure £1,173 10s. 4d., as against £1,104 13s. 4d. for the year ending the 31st March, 1886. The receipts only show a decrease of £1 155., whereas the expenditure shows an increase of £68 17s. The average number of miners employed by aid of water from this race during the year has been fifty-nine ; and their average weekly earnings, after deducting the value of the sales of water from the value of the gold obtained, was £2 7s. 4d. The value of free water given to assist the miners in prospecting and opening out their claims during the year was £1,054, as against £488 during the previous year. The cost of constructing this water-race up to date is £90,721 4s. Bd.; and the loss on the working of it last year was £101 12s. 2d.

Month. Keccipts. Expenditure. Number of Men employed. Approximate Amount of Gold obtained. Value of Gold. 1886. £ s. d. 115 12 1 89 14 7 68 12 1 69 G 3 63 11 8 95 8 4 77 6 8 147 16 8 67 17 6 £ a. fl. 61 14 8 111 15 8 83 8 8 77 7 8 74 14 8 77 14 8 74 1 8 127 11 6 111 1C 8 Oz. 187 181 167 164 171 187 210 244 150 £ e. d. 715 5 6 692 6 6 638 15 6 627 6 0 654 3 6 715 5 6 803 5 0 933 4 0 573 15 0 April May June July August .. September October .. November December 68 62 57 58 t;i 63 65 70 47 1887. January.. February March .. 52 18 4 110 6 8 113 8 4 103 6 8 160 1 2 109 16 8 44 56 60 137 184 197 524 0 C 703 16 0 753 10 6 Totals 8,33d 13 C 1,071 19 2 1,173 10 4 7U 2,179