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maintenance, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by the miners using water from this supply for the year ending the 31st March last: —

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the value of the sales of water last year amounted to £1,189 Is., as against £1,287 9s. Bd. for the previous year, which is a decrease last year of £98 Bs. Bd., while the expenditure on maintenance was £1,363 45., as against £1,052 3s. 7d. for the previous year. This shows an increase in the expenditure last year of £311 os. 5d., which was owing to the severe winter, which necessitated a large number of repairs on the breaking up of the frost. The loss on the working last year was £174 3s. The approximate quantity of gold obtained from claims worked with water from this supply was 2,305f0z., representing a value of £8,876 3s. 6d., and the number of men employed in these claims averages about sixty-one. Deducting the value of the gold obtained from the value of the sales of water, it leaves £7,687 2s. 6d. as the earning of the miners, which is equal to about £126 a man per annum, or about £2 3s. sd. a man per week. The total cost of construction of this water-race up to the end of March last was £69,644 4s. 9d. Blackstone Hill Race. The main or upper race from the east branch of .the Manuherikia or Johnson's Creek was cleaned out and repaired the year before last, but no repairs were effected to any of the other races coming into Blackstone Hill. The one from West Idaburn is now getting into such a condition that it carries very little water, and miners being supplied from this race met me at Blackstone Hill and complained about this. On making inquiries of the manager as to the cost of putting the race in proper repair, he estimated it from £15 to £20, and he has been instructed to have the work done. When this is completed the whole of the Blackstone Hill races will be in fair working order. The following statement will show the revenue derived from sales of water, the cost of maintenance, the number of men employed in working claims by the aid of this water-race, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained from such claims, for the year ending the 31st March last: —

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the sales of water for the last year amounted to £136 11s. 7d. as against £136 os. sd. for the previous year, while the cost of maintenance was £29 Bs., thus leaving a net profit on the working of this water-race last year of £107 3s. 7d. The average number of miners employed in claims worked by the aid of this water-race was 74, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 2160z., representing a value of £831 12s. Deducting the value of the sales of water from the value of the gold obtained it leaves £695 os. sd.

Date. Sales of Water. Cash received. Maintenance. Number of Men employed. 5 3l52 « o ar> a < Value. 1895. £ s. d. 136 13 0 98 3 1 64 9 10 0 10 0 15 0 104 12 0 136 0 4 167 9 4 131 8 4 £ s. d. 137 13 0 98 15 1 65 9 10 0 10 0 13 11 0 115 2 0 149 19 3 167 18 4 132 9 4 £ s. d. 84 10 8 87 16 8 74 14 8 53 18 2 141 0 2 159 12 8 253 14 8 93 13 2 105 10 8 Oz. 172 260 93 3 150 168 222 260 £ s. d. 662 4 0 1,001 0 0 358 1 0 9 12 6 11 11 0 577 10 0 646 16 0 854 14 0 1,001 0 0 April May June July August .. September October.. November December 1896. 73 70 63 3 3 68 72 72 79 January February March .. 131 14 2 92 16 4 123 19 7 130 7 4 93 13 4 124 9 7 131 17 8 92 4 2 84 10 8 82 79 71 393 320 262 1,513 1 0 1,232 0 0 1,008 14 0 Totals 1,189 1 0 1,363 4 0 61-25 2.305J 8,876 3 6 1,229 18 1

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received. Maintenance. Number of Men employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value. 1895. £ s. d. 9 15 10 5 3 4 11 15 10 8 13 4 8 13 4 12 15 10 12 7 6 13 6 1 17 9 4 £ s. d. 9 7 6 5 10 10 8 13 4 9 15 10 7 7 4 15 19 2 4 10 0 17 13 4 17 15 7 £ s. d. 0 11 6 0 19 6 1 11 6 0 11 6 Oz. £ s. d. April May .. June .. July .. August September October November December 1896. 7 8 8 10 8 0 0 11 6 0 11 6 0 13 0 9 9 9 9 January February March 11 3 8 12 15 10 12 11 8 13 3 8 5 12 6 15 15 0 11 9 6 0 11 6" 19 0 10 10 10 Totals 136 11 7 131 4 1 29 8 0 7-41 216 831 12 0