C—2

34

ANNEXURE A. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGERS.

Waimea-Kumawa Wateb-raoes, Westland. —Me. James Rocheord, Manager. Waimea, Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1916, was £913 18s. 7d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £701 145., showing a credit-balance of £212 4s. 7d. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water duiing the year was 24-75, a decrease of 4-91 on the previous year ; and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 1,557 oz., valued at £6 072 65., a decrease on that of last year o r £1,786 4s. The sales of wa+er amounted to £933 16s. Id., a decrease of £93 17s. Id. on the previous year. The cash received was £113 14s. 9d. less than the previous year, and the expenditure was decreased by £14 9s. Id. The race was well maintained. Kumara Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1916, was £214 145., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £475 9s. 10d., showing a debit balance of £260 15s. lOd. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was 13*41, and increase o! : 2-08 on the previous year ; and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 652 o/„, having a value of £2,542 165., a decrease on that of last year of £495 6s. The sales of water amounted, to £341 7s. lid., an increase of £8 3s. sd. as compared with the previous year. The cash received was £19 14s. lid. less, and the expenditure £137 Bs. 2d. more than the previous year. This increased expenditure was caused by repairs to the Kumara head-race tunnel, which broke down on two or three ocoasions during the early part of the year, and by the widening and re timbering of the Kumara Race in certain places from Dillmanstown upwards. Branch Race to Gallaghan's and -Middle Branch Flat. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1916, was £285 3s. 4d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £428 18s. 10d., showing a debit balance of £143 15s. 6d. on the year's transactions. V" The average number of miners supplied with water was 6-94, a decrease of 4-81 on the previous year. The approximate quantity of gold obtained'was 543 oz., having a value of £2,117 145., a decrease of £1.899 6s. on last year. The sa'es of water amounted to £263 9s. 7d., a decrease of £166 17s. lid. on the preceding year, and was the lowest for fourteen years. The cash received for sales of water was £76 10s. Bd. less than the previous year, and although the expenditure decreased by £83 2s. 9d. the race was well maintained, and in now in good order with the exception of some of the flumings, the superstructure of which in many places is much decayed and wil require attention in the near future. The abnormal falling-off in the sales of water from this race cannot be looked upon as permanent, and was principally due to the following causes : The stoppage of the Waimea main tail-race by the Inspector of Mines, pending repairs, which precluded all sluicing into the main tail-race during the last three months of the year, and the fact that Roberts and Howard were engaged for two months shifting plant. The latter party has their property again in working-order, and they will be large purchasers of water during the ensuing year, and if the repairs to the Waimea main tail-race are carried out the demand for water from this race should almost equal the present available supply. Kumara Trans-Taramakau Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended 31st March, 1916, was £158 45., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £185 lis., showing a debit balance of £27 7s. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was 6-41, a decrease of 7-84 on the previous year ; and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 276 ox., having a value of £1,076 Bs., a decrease on last year of £2,172 6s. The sales of water amounted to £140 18s. 2d., a decrease of £217 14s. 7d. on the previous year. The extraordinary decrease in the sales of water was due to the falling-off in the number of parties taking water from the race, and the break which occurred in the Taramakau pipe-line preventing any water being supplied for over four months of the year,