a—s

16

Akgyle Watee-eace. The returns from this water-race have not been so large as was anticipated. The ground on the upper end of the flat, where the principal water was used in former years, is almost worked out; and the future returns will depend in a great measure on the amount of payable auriferous ground in the vicinity of Ballarat Terrace and the Back Lead. The water-race was extended to the latter place in October last, where there is a considerable area of new ground that was represented to be of a payable character. The whole of the works in connection with the main supply-race are new, and should require very little expense to maintain them for several years, as they are all of a permanent character, wrought-iron piping being substituted for wooden fluming across the deep gullies. The branch supply-race is troublesome to keep in repair on account of the ground being liable to slips. The following table will show the results of working this water-race for the past year :—

It will be seen from this table that the receipts for the year have been £480 Bs. 6d., whereas the previous year they amounted to only £435 2s. Bd.; thus showing an increase of £45 ss. lOd. Last year the expenditure was £382 6s. 5d., as against £391 17s. Bd. for the previous year. The value of free water given to the miners to open out their claims this year was £16 10s., as against £4 2s. 6d. for the previous year. The average weekly earnings of the miners, after deducting the value of the sales of water from the value of the gold obtained, amounts to £1 18s. 6d. per man. The total cost of this water-race to date is £14,711 3s. lid., and the profit on working £93 25., which shows about f per cent, on the amount of capital invested. Mikonui Watee-bace, Wbstland. There has been no work done on this water-race during last year. Three miles of the lower end is constructed and leased to the Mont dOr Gold-mining Company at a rental of £100 per annum. This water-race has cost up to the present time £25,644 9s. 6d.; and it would require an additional £60,000 to complete it before a supply of water can be obtained. Unless some new discoveries of payable auriferous drifts be made, or deep leads requiring machinery, there is no prospect of the undertaking ever being a payable venture if it were constructed. Mount Ida Watee-bace, Otago. Since this water-race has been extended to Spec, and Home Gullies a great many claims have been taken up, and are being profitably worked. This race supplies water to forty-three claims, in which 130 miners are employed. A considerable number of slips have occurred during the year, which have increased the expenditure on maintenance to some extent, and at the same time caused a loss in the sales of water during the time repairs were being made. The following table will show the results of the working of this water-race during the year ending 31st December, 1886: —

Month. Receipts. Expenditure. Number ©f Men Employed. Approximate I Amount of Gold obtained. Value of Gold, April May June July .. August September October November December 1886. 1887. £ s. d. 32 7 10 38 5 9 27 8 5 39 19 9 56 1 7 35 18 4 41 1 4 47 12 4 35 13 3 £ a. a. 30 13 8 29 10 10 28 3 4 29 5 0 31 7 10 28 3 4 36 14 2 29 3 7 31 1 0 L8 18 17 19 18 17 17 L9 17 Oz. 40 50 40 52 60 46 51 57 40 £ s. d, 152 0 0 190 0 0 152 0 0 197 12 0 228 0 0 174 16 0 193 16 0 216 12 0 152 0 0 January February March .. 40 1 7 40 16 6 45 1 9 39 19 8 35 2 6 33 1 6 19 21 21 48 52 64 182 8 0 197 12 0 243 4 0 Totals 382 6 5 221 600 480 8 5 2,280 0

Month. Sales of Water. Amount of Cash received for Sales of Water. Expenditure. Amount of Outstanding Moneys at the End of each Month.* Number of Men employed.t Approximate Amount of Gold obtained. Value of Gold. 1886. January February March April May June July August September October November December £ s. d. 17 16 8 35 16 1 125 14 11 206 14 0 161 8 9 78 17 3 £ s. d. 206 0 2 90 6 7 72 8 0 82 12 8 117 12 4 131 15 9 55 14 8 49 6 9 143 6 11 150 17 11 142 8 1 185 17 3 £ s. d. 103 8 7 127 11 1 105 15 i 114 19 9 109 0 0 124 1 8 114 8 4 135 10 4 272 2 10 147 19 1 92 19 10 105 9 G £ s. a. Oz. 220 210 170 180 250 270 200 190 300 370 440 400 £ a. d. 825 0 0 787 10 0 637 10 0 675 0 0 937 10 0 1,012 10 0 750 0 0 712 10 0 1,125 0 0 1,387 10 0 1,650 0 0 1,500 0 0 99 16 2 166 7 6 235 8 8 198 16 5 127 1-5 0 Totals.. 1,613 1 4 | 3,200 12,000 0 0 1,454 11 11 ; 1,445 7 1 * No monthly record ke] increased £9 4s. 10d., or a total :>ne-half of this sum is couside 1 A full supply of water g in a great measure by the qua] pt. The outstanding accounts ii of £1,186 3s. 4d. These outstai jred good, and recoverable, fives employment to about a hiu ntity of water supplied. When \ i December, 1885, were £],1S> 18s. 6d. During the year this sum was idiug accounts have accumulated during the last ten years. About idred and thirty men. The number of men employed is regulated rater is sefu-co they are engaged iu " falling," and other dry work.