a—3

28

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the value of the sales of water for the year amounted to £3,598 35., while the expenditure for maintenance for the same period was £3,179 14s. 7d. For the previous year the value of the sales of water was £3,849 Is. 10d., and the expenditure £2,646 6s. 6d. This shows that there was a decrease in the revenue last year to the extent of £250 18s. 10d,, while the cost of maintenance has increased to the extent of £533 Bs. Id. The total value of free water given to the miners to open up new ground and construct new tail-races, and also for working claims which did not prove payable, amounted for the past year to £448 2s. sd. The number of men employed in claims worked with water from these supplies was 12008. Deducting the value of the sales of water from the approximate value of the gold obtained from claims worked, with water from these supplies, which amounted to 7,284 oz., representing a value of £28,407 125., it leaves £24,809 9s. as the average earnings of the miners, which is equal to about £206 14s. 10d. per man per annum. The total cost of the whole of these works, including the cost of acquiring Wylde's Water-race —£790 9s. 4d.—up to the 31st March last was £189,203 4s. Id. The following statement will show the receipts and expenditure for the last fourteen years ending the end of March last of the Waimea and Kumara Water-races.

This table shows that there has been a net profit derived from the wqrking of the Waimea Eace of £3,715 10s. 10d., and £53,170 Is. 9d. from the Kumara Eace, for the above period. Mount Ida Watbe-eacb. This race continues to furnish a supply of water for sluicing and elevating claims in the Nasebs' district. On account of the altitude, the local sources from which water for mining purposes is derived are not very extensive, nor capable of contributing sufficient water for the field ; but with the continuous supply from the Mount Ida race in addition, a considerable population is maintained. A flow of fifteen sluice-heads was continuous during the year. This is to be attributed to the favourable season, the rainfall having been of such an extent and duration that the whole of Central Otago was benefited. The Mount Ida Eace being of great length, careful supervision is necessary, and much clearing and repairing required, as the ditch runs along sidelings, and has been cut through material subject to slips, that have to be removed in order to keep the race open. The following statement will show the revenue derived from sales of water, the cost of maintenance, and the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained by the miners using water from this race for the year ending 31st March last: —

Waimea Bace. Kumara Eace. Year. Sales of Water. Expenditure on Maintenance. Net Profit. Sales of Water. Expenditure on Maintenance. Net Profit. 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 £ s. d. 1,790 16 0 1,675 19 4 1,612 11 3 1,416 6 8 1,240 9 7 1,388 17 5 1,121 16 2 1,015 12 3 828 15 8 988 0 7 795 13 6 776 19 5 787 18 7 886 8 7 £ a. d. 1,131 18 1 1,116 10 0 1,027 17 11 860 2 5 795 7 7 933 3 3 784 13 10 858 0 4 919 9 4 1,061 9 4 770 3 8 669 6 3 677 1 6 1,005 10 8 £ a. d. + 658 17 11 + 559 9 4 + 584 13 4 +556 4 3 + 445 2 0 + 455 14 2 +337 2 4 + 157 11 11 - 90 13 8 - 73 8 9 + 25 9 10 + 107 13 2 + 110 17 1 - 119 2 1 & a. d. 9.788 16 8 6,d70 Id d 7,169 10 3 6,716 6 10 3,550 4 8 6,665 12 8 6.645 11 0 5.789 0 9 5,582 4 7 4.646 19 9 4,106 11 3 3,502 17 0 2,889 3 3 : 2,711 14 5 76,235 7 5 £ 6. d. 1,459 19 5 1,398 18 10 982 12 0 1,024 1 9 1,424 13 3 1,766 4 3 1,584 10 11 1,782 11 0 1,919 8 5 1,976 17 7 1,943 8 7 1,786 15 9 1,841 0 0 2,174 3 11 23,065 5 8 £ a. d. 8,328 17 3 5,071 15 6 6,186 18 3 5,692 5 1 2,125 11 5 4,899 8 5 5,061 0 1 4,006 9 9 3,662 16 2 2,670 2 2 2,163 2 8 1,716 1 3 1,048 3 3 537 10 6 Totals 16,326 5 0 12,610 14 2 ! 3,715 10 10 53,170 1 9

Date. Sales of Water. Cash received. Maintenance. Number of Men employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value. April .. May June July .. August .. September October November December 1898. 18*99. £ a. d. 58 12 5 78 10 7 62 17 9 92 13 1 132 11 8 12 6 3 188 18 0 213 0 7 132 11 8 £ s. d. 58 12 5 85 14 6 65 8 1 92 13 1 137 0 0 14 2 3 198 10 0 223 0 7 137 0 8 £ a. d. 85 0 8 8d 10 8 8d 10 8 83 16 8 166 2 8 138 11 8 94 1 8 88 4 8 122 15 8 55 53 44 38 50 18 55 67 57 Oz. 152 160 135 142 219 10 323 3d0 dd5 £ a. d. January February March .. 158 10 10 155 5 3 210 10 11 158 10 10 158 5 3 212 10 11 98 Id 8 9d 16 8 90 7 8 55 51 50 dlO 269 290 Totals 1,496 9 0 1,541 8 7 49-42 (average) 2,895 11,145 5 0 1,231 Id 0