20

a—3

It will be seen from this statement that the value of the sales of water to the different parties using the channel amounted to £2,003 10s. 10d., the channel-fees to £687 3s. Bd., and the value of gold-dust to £541 15s. 6d., making a total of £3,232 10s.; while the expenditure alone on the maintenance of the channel was £3,213 15s. lid. This leaves only £18 14s. Id. for the value of the water sold from the Kumara Water-race last year to those parties who are using the channel, while those who have private tail-races have had to pay the full value for the water; and it is only from those parties that any profits on the working of the water-race have accrued. This shows that it is unjust for the Government to continue the maintenance of the channel in order to assist seventy-nine men who are employed in claims worked from the channel, while ninety-six men have paid the full value for the water and maintained their own tail-races. The following statement will show the results of working for the last seven years:—

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the loss on working this channel has amounted in seven years to £23,030 125., which is more than its original cost of construction : if the original cost of construction—namely, £17,200 12s. 6d., and also the amount allowed for construction of the new deviation —namely, £3,200 —be added to the loss on working, it makes a total loss of £48,431 4s. 6d.; for not one penny of this will ever be recouped. The only collateral advantages that can possibly be gained arise from the duty on goods and gold-duty paid by those who are working claims by means of the channel; and, taking the average number of men ememployed in those claims last year, which was seventy-nine, and assuming that each of those supported four individuals, the population that this channel is the means of supporting is 395 ; and the Customs and other revenue derived from these individuals would never compensate the colony for the outlay of maintaining this work. Waimea-Kumaea Wateb-bace and Sludge-channel. Having now given each branch of this work in detail, it is necessary to take it as a whole, since it is only one work, and to show the results of working for the year. The following table shows the value of the sales of water, the cash received, the value of golddust obtained from the channel, the expenditure on maintenance, the outstanding moneys at the end of each month, and the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained, for the year ending the 31st March, 1890 ;—

4) Month. Sales of Water. Gold-dust Channel- obtained fees. from the Channel. So •2 3" h SJij IP" So m 3 qj III Pi s goo aS-c Value of Gold. Expenditure. 1889. £ s. d. 1 192 10 0; 209 10 8 £ s. d. 64 1 8 68 19 8 £ s. d. 3 11 1 8 17 0 0 8 4 j 1 4 3 ! 3 12 5 0 17 7 6 5 0 5 10 8 1 14 2 £ s. a. 3 11 3 2 35 7 Oz. 332 184 9 70 218 338 392 3G8 124 £ s. d. 1,261 12 0 699 4 0 34 4 0 266 0 0 828 8 0 1,284 8 0 1,489 12 0 1,398 8 0 471 4 0 £ s. d 390 4 9 356 2 5 203 18 1 360 17 2 213 3 5 192 1 1 236 10 1 212 6 5 189 14 0 April .. May .. June .. July .. August September October November December 61 16 8 200 9 7 335 1 8 310 11 8 275 8 0 97 13 4 21 15 5 69 0 11 110 17 2 107 13 6 94 0 10 35 8 10 £ s. a. so : 27 3 6 80 | 29 12 0 80 33 7 0 80 ' 13 11 0 79 I 16 8 0 79 91 14 0 79 75 8 6 78 62 2 0 78 0 16 1 3 3 6 3 8 2 3 18 4 4 2 9 1 10 3 1890. January February March .. 6 0 0 211 18 3: 102 11 6 2 0 0| 75 17 0: 31 8 8! 78 47 2 0 78 |145 12 0 76 j ; 541 15 6 79 i 0 2 0 4 5 10 8 13 7 3 10 3 1 14 3 9 378 222 34 4 0 1,417 8 0 843 12 0 302 12 7 342 17 0 213 8 11 Total 2,003 10 10! ; | 687 3 8 41 1 11 2 0 11 2,639 ,10,028 4 0 3,213 15 11

Year ended 31st March. Value of Channelfees and Golddust obtained from the Channel. Expenditure on Maintenance. Loss on Working the Channel. .883-84 .884-85 .885-86 .886-87 .887-88 .888-89 .889-90 £ s. a. 2,128 18 3 2,163 16 4 2,219 18 7 2,262 2 8 1,800 0 1 1,665 18 0 1,228 18 2 £ s. d. 6,405 10 8 6,161 14 7 6,215 13 0 5,957 11 5 4,260 12 4 4,285 6 2 3,213 15 11 £ s. d. 4,276 12 5 3,997 18 3 3,995 14 5 3,695 8 9 2,460 12 3 2,619 8 2 1,984 17 9 Total 13,469 12 1 36,500 4 1 23,030 12 0