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C—2

ANNEXURE B. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGERS. Waimea-Kumara Water-racks, Westland (Mr. James Rochford, Manager). Waimea Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1918, was £713, and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £737, showing a, debit balance of £24 on. the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was nineteen, a, decrease of two on the previous year; and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 1,051 oz., valued at £4,125, a decrease of £427 on that of last year. The sales of water amounted to £700. an increase of £24 on the previous year. Although the sales showed a slight increase over the previous year they were over £233 less than during the year 1916. This falling-ofi was mainly due to the scarcity and high price of labour owing to the war, arid some of the claims that were paying wages under pre-war conditions have closed down, for a time at least. Two parties Messrs. G. Linklater and 11. Morgan—who are at present working were very considerably handicapped during the year owing to their inability to obtain labour to fully man their respective properties, and to this alone can be attributed the fact that the water purchased by them during the year showed a decrease of about £100 on the previous year. W. Blackman and party opened out, a, new claim near Hatters Track', in the vicinity of Stafford, in December last, and since that time they have purchased water to the value of £42, and the results obtained have been very satisfactory. This ground, which presented no mining difficulties whatever, was abandoned years ago. Although the year was one of the driest experienced for many years past there was an excellent supply of water, and the Waimea siphon, which carries about 30 heads, was practically running full all the time. Kumara Water-race. The cash received from this race for the year was £39, and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs, £347, showing a debit of £308 on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water was 2-75, a decrease of 1-91 on the previous year: and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 114 oz., having a value of £447, a decrease on that of last year of £416. The sales of water amounted to £39, a decrease of £38 as compared with the previous year. Moynihan and party was the only claim supplied with water from this race, and they abandoned their property in February. Since that time no sluicing has been done on the Kumara field, The Kumara Flax-milling Company started to purchase water from this race for scutching purposes, and used water intermittently until the end of the year, but, although the industry finds employment for a considerable number of men, the revenue derived from sales of water is very small. Branch Race lo Callaghan's and Middle Branch Flat. The receipts for sales of water from this race for the year wore £114, and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs, £353, showing a debit of £238. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was 3-33, a decrease of 1-42 on the previous year; and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 196 oz.. having a value of £769, a. decrease on last year of £580. Kumara Traus-Taramakau, Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year was £140, and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs, £325, showing a debit balance of £185. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was I I, and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 494 oz., having a value of £1,929, an increase on last year of £1,754. Erin-go- Bragh Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race was £223, and the expenditure amounted to £290, showing a debit balance of £67 for the year. The average number of miners supplied with water was 9-75, a decrease of 2-58 on the previous year ; and the approximate amount of gold obtained was 537 oz., having a value of £2.107, a, decrease on last year of £793. Wainihinihi Water-race and Waimea Branch Race. On the night of the 31st December an unusually large uood occurred, which carried away about a chain of ditching, together with the. outlet tank at the end of the pipe-line over the Arahura Wainihinihi ('reek ; it also completely filled up a small tunnel and about 2 chains of ditching at the intake of the western branch of the Arahura, Wainihinihi, and about 3 chains of ditching at the intake in Macpherson's Creek. Repairs were started by the permanent staff on the 15th .January, and were completed by (he end of February, and the races are now in good order.