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(3). Subsidised Roads on Goldfikt.ds. The expenditure in the form of subsidies and direct grants upon roads on goldiields amounted to £11,329, as compared with £11,050 during the previous year. (4.) GoVEBNMENT WATER-RAGES. The Waimea-Kumara and Mount Ida water-races, which greatly assist alluvial gold-mining in the localities of Kumara (Westland) and Naseby (Central Otago), but at an annual loss of £2,313 15s. Bd. to the Government, have, during the year ended 31st March, 1922, supplied with water for sluicing auriferous gravel claims employing an average number of 28-15 persons, by which gold to the approximate value of £5,633 ss. 6d. was obtained. The following is a statement showing the cash received by the Government for water sold, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races, together with the average number of miners supplied with water, and the approximate quantity and value of gold received for the year ended 3lst March, 1922 :—

This represents a loss of £82 3s. lid. for each person employed on the claims, or 41-07 per centum of the total value of gold obtained. Fn addition to the receipts for sales of water, a sum of £260 12s. 6d. was received as royalty for timber cut on the Kumara Reservoir Reserve. Owing to the small demand for water and to the considerable loss sustained in the upkeep, the maintenance of the Kumara, Kumara -Trans-Taramakau, and Erin-go-Bragh water-races was discontinued as from the Ist January, 1922. The Erin-go-Bragh Race has since been sold. (5.) Schools op Mines. The total expenditure on schools of mines during the year ended 31st March, 1922, was £5,8d8 as against £4,427 9s. 6d. during the previous year. The goldfields schools are attended by few (if any) mining students, but numerous children of both sexes attend them for subjects not taught at the Government schools. 1 have, &c, Frank Reed, Inspecting Engineer of Mines.

Receipts. Vvii|.|i<litliri> (Sales of Water.) Jlxp( naitul c - Debit Balance. Average Number of Miners supplied with Water. Approximate Quantity and Value of Gold obtained. iVaimoa-Kumara Water-races— Waimea Race Branch Race to Callaghan's and Middle Branch Flat Kumara Race Kumara-Trans-Taramakau Race Erin-go-Bragh Race Mount Ida Water-races £ s d. £ s. d. 483 13 8 1,118 7 7 20 4 2 282 6 3 £ s. d. 634 13 11 262 2 1 6-50 3-00 Oz. £ s. d. 366 1,436 11 0 51 200 3 6 51 12 0 232 13 3 27 19 11 322 11 1 131 7 3 349 4 4 777 10 3 1,501 0 5 181 1 3 294 11 2 217 17 1 723 10 2 Nil 3-25 5-00 10-40 106 416 1 0 308 1,208 18 0 616 2,371 12 0 Totals 1,492 7 3 3,806 2 11 2,313 15 8 28-15 1,447 5,633 5 6