27

C—3

The question of reducing the charge made per sluice-head will therefore have soon to be faced, as in many instances, after paying for water, there is not sufficient left to the miner to meet the cost of living. The following statement shows the revenue derived from sales of water, and also the cost of maintenance, for the year ended 31st March, 1899 :—

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the value of the sales of water for the past year amounted to £2,711 14s. 5d., as against £2,889 3s. 3d. for the former year, and that the cost of maintenance was £2,174 3s. lid., as against £1,841 for the previous year. This shows a decrease in the revenue last year of £177 Bs. 10d., and an increase in the cost of maintenance of £333 3s. lid. In addition to the sales of water, the value of free water supplied to the claims which did not prove payable to work during the year amounted to £613 os. 6d. The average number of men employed in claims worked with water from this supply was 70-66, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 4,671 oz., representing a value of £18,216 18s. Deducting the value of the sales of water from the approximate value of gold obtained it leaves £15,505 3s. 7d. as the earnings of the miners, which is equal to an average of £218 7s. 9d. a man per annum, or £4 Bs. per man per week. The total cost of this work up to the end of March last amounts to £44,543 17s. 6d., and, deducting the cost of maintenance from the value of the sales of water for the year, it leaves a profit on the working of £537 10s. 6d. [For table showing result of working Kumara Water-race for fifteen years, see page 25.] Waimea-Kumaka Eace. In order to augment the present supply of water a new water-race has been surveyed, and is in course of construction. This race will carry water from the Wainihinihi, a branch of the Teremakau Eiver, across a saddle into the Kawhaka, from the watershed of which the present water-supply is obtained. It is expected that not less than fifteen sluice-heads can be added to. the already extensive supply of water for the races, even during the driest weather, and when the creeks in Kawhaka watershed are at their lowest. The extension of the Kapitea Hill branch of the Kumara Eace has been carried on to supply water for working the claims at No. 5 channel. The necessary flush-water race and the 26 in. main are also being proceeded with. On the completion of the works the additional quantity of water required to supply No. 5 channel will probably be made up when the Wainihinihi Eace is finished. The extension of the Waimea Eace to supply water to the claims at the middle branch that can be worked by the use of the Waimea main tail-race will prove of great benefit to the district. The following statement will show the revenue and expenditure on the whole of these works for the year ending the 31st March last: —

5—C. 3.

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received for Sales of Water. Expenditure. Outstanding Number Ap^?J L " Moneys at of , „,™„JL,r the End of Men em- Q JJ rnlr/ each Mouth, ployed. | 0 gSSSSi. Value of Gold obtained. 1898. £ a. d. 160 6 6 194 11 5 171 13 0 226 15 6 224 0 6 251 9 1 202 2 11 233 18 5 258 15 4 £ 8. d. 175 0 0 138 0 0 270 12 6 2d9 0 0 201 15 0 238 12 6 237 8 7 376 13 9 78 0 0 £ s. d. 130 10 7 230 1 9 157 5 8 162 8 9 191 Id d 166 8 4 173 14 4 149 5 8 195 1 6 £ a d. 297 5 9 366 17 2 279 2 8 260 4 0 274 19 3 282 16 0 245 14 2 219 11 3 282 12 1 Oz. 295 349 312 403 dlO dd6 373 d25 d61 £ a. d. 1,150 10 0 1,361 2 0 1,216 16 0 1,571 14 0 1,599 0 0 1,739 8 0 1,454 14 0 1,657 10 0 1,797 18 0 April May June July August September October November December 64 70 82 73 83 74 70 69 09 1899. January February March 196 19 9 320 17 10 270 4 2 215 0 0 260 0 0 195 0 0 247 17 7 199 6 3 170 9 2 253 1 0 328 8 8 390 3 10 09 02 03 250 d75 472 975 0 0 1,852 10 0 l,8d0 16 0 Totals 2,711 14 5 2,635 2 4 2,174 3 11 7066 (average) 4,671 18,216 18 0

Month. Sales of Water. Cash Outstanding Number received for *;.,._ _ flitl] Moneys at of Sales of expenditure. the Bnd o( Men em _ Water. each Month. ployed. ApproxiOiSntitv Value of Gold Q o7Gold y obt^«. obtained. 1898. April May June July August September October November December £ a. d. 214 1 1 295 14 2 251 11 4 291 8 0 322 10 11 348 14 11 288 17 1 320 16 4 309 5 4 £ s. d. 227 15 6 266 15 6 327 4 6 305 17 9 340 1 0 293 6 3 326 13 7 447 18 3 135 11 0 £ s. d. 200 4 9 293 0 11 241 19 5 228 2 11 258 3 6 j 253 7 6 260 3 6 262 18 5 307 0 8 £ s. d. 311 19 5 378 16 5 291 1 11 275 19 5 286 18 6 297 15 8 259 16 0 239 15 0 296 18 6 108 122 132 120 13d 132 126 127 118 Oz. d60 625 5d4 602 700 730 634 684 616 s. d. 1,794 0 0 2,437 10 0 2,121 12 0 2,347 16 0 2,730 0 0 2,847 0 0 2,472 12 0 2,667 12 0 2,402 8 0 1899. 254 1 5 366 11 7 334 10 10 299 1 0 286 7 6 249 0 9 3d5 6 9 286 10 5 2d2 15 10 267 7 5 342 15 1 413 5 3 115 106 101 418 606 665 January February March 1,630 4 0 2,363 8 0 2,593 10 0 28,407 12 0 Totals 3,598 3 0 3,505 12 7 3,179 Id 7 12008 (average) 7,284 :e)