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SUMMARY OF WATER-RACES. The following statement will show the profits and losses of working the different water-races constructed and maintained by the Government for the last nineteen years, and also the collateral advantages derived by the utilisation of the water from these races: —

GOLD- AND SILVBE-MINING. The mining boom which commenced in 1895 continued throughout the past year. A large number of areas were taken up within the principal mining districts of the colony, and extensive works undertaken in prospecting and development of the mines. In a great number of cases the claims have been disposed of to English companies. Operations have been commenced and machinery erected to an extent only possible by large expenditure of capital. The demand on the part of investors for legitimate mining properties has not to any great extent been lessened, notwithstanding the shrinkage in the yield compared with last year, and shown in the following statement of the quantity and value of gold entered for exportation : —

In the Auckland District; in the North Island, there was a decrease of 23,153 oz. of gold—from Coromandel County, 12,849 oz.; from Thames County, 5,113 oz. ; from Thames Borough, 1,998 oz.; from Piako County, 19 oz. ; and from Ohinemuri County, 3,172 oz. In the South there was an increased yield of gold in the following counties, as follows : Waimea, 96 oz.; Westland, 152 oz.; Kumara Borough, 65 oz.; Taieri, 974 oz. ; Waikouaiti, 84 oz.; Lake, 514 oz.; Fiord, 2,703 oz.; Southland, 1,043 oz.; and Stewart Island, 18 oz. Last year there was a decrease in the yield of gold from the following counties : Marlborough, 2,384 oz.; Collingwood, 1,347 oz.; Buller, 2,012 oz.; Inangahua, 14,312 oz. ; Grey, 1,258 oz.; Hokitika Borough, 505 oz.; Boss Borough, 303 oz.; Tuapeka, 1,196 oz.; Vincent, 472 oz.; Maniototo, 725 oz.; Waihenio, 1,187 oz.; Waitaki, 22 oz.; Bruce, 119 oz.; Wallace, 1,229 oz.; and Clutha, 4 oz.

Name of Water-race. Value of Sales of Water including Value of Gold obtained in Sludge-channel. Expenditure. Profit or Loss on Working. ? >■■ CD ft p So . ■r|2 a Value of Gold g a § $ obtained. a S, ° !-,„..„ '■ Total Profit • £ or Loss, Total Cost received on with value of of „v.t„j : Gold Duty Construction, obtained. , added / v Vaimea-Kumara Water-race and Sludge-channel. lighteen years ended 31st March, 1896 r ear ended 31st March, 1897 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. a Oz. £ s. d. £ s. £ s. d. £ s. d. 143,357 11 2 4,322 11 5 86,297 8 6 2,481 17 0 57,060 2 8 1,840 14 5 328 157! 259,062 I 7,698 975,706 0 3 30,012 4 0 20,728 0 77,788 2 8 1,840 14 5 Totals *206,661 4 6 147,680 2 7 88,779 5 6 58,900 17 1 266,760 1,005,718 4 3 20,728 Oi 179,628 17 1 Nelson Creek. 'hirteen years four months ended 31st July, 1892 126,049 17 0 17,577 0 7 15,415 7 1 2,161 13 6 52 32,943 3,269 16 5,431 9 6 90,722 10 8 Argyle. 'hirteen years ended 31st March, 1895 5,530 16 11 5,455 7 7 75 9 3 17 8,040 30,738 12 0 804 0 879 9 3 15,151 15 3 Mount Ida. lighteen years ended 31st March, 1896 fear ended 31st March, 1897 23,860 9 6 1,333 11 6 27,205 11 3 1,316 15 6 +3,345 1 9 16 16 0 90: G0 ! 47,165J 3,157 179,699 13 6 12,154 9 0 3,176 2 tl68 19 91 16 16 0 68,607 8 9 Totals 25,194 1 28,522 6 9 |+3,328 5 9 50,3221 191,854 2 6 3,176 2 fl52 3 9 68,607 8 9 Blackstone Hill. 'hreeyears ended 31st March, 1896 .. fear ended 31st March, 1897 376 9 8| 115 19 3 ! 36 6 6 5 8 6 335 3 21 110 10 91 7 8 689 183 2,678 8 6 704 11 0 335 3 2 110 10 9 1,036 16 0 Totals 492 8 11 41 15 0 445 13 11 872 3,382 19 6 445 13 11 1,036 16 0 Grand totals 196,474 9 11 1,357,743 15 3 382,179 15 2 138,214 1 11 58,255 8 0 358,937J 27,977 18 86,233 6 0 * Including £5,948 18s. 8d. cost of co: letruoting exte; isio: to Callaghan's. f Loss m working.

Name of District. Year ended 31st March, 1897. Year 31st Mai ended ■ch, 1896. Decrease for 1897. Auckland Marlborough Nelson West Coast .. Otago Oz. 93,876 789 2,534 71,548 88,166 £ 358,231 3,070 9,544 286,261 358,636 Oz. 117,029 3,173 3,813 89,721 88,954 £ 450,829 12,681 14,007 358,870 359,694 Oz. 23,153 2,384 1,279 18,173 788 Totals 256,913 1,015,742 302,690 1,196,081 45,777