c—

per man per week. This cannot be taken as their net earnings, as the cost of pipes, tools, and timber required in working the claims has also to be taken into consideration. The value of free water given to open up claims and for working poor ground during the year was £100. This free water, however, is necessary, as the ground is becoming more expensive to work every year. The total cost of this water-race and branches up to the end of March last was £136,988 Bs. Bd. Callaghan's Beanch Watee-eace. This race, since its completion, has been a great boon to the miners in this district, and has enabled them to work claims hitherto unprofitably worked through want of a proper supply of water. The following statement shows the receipts and cost of maintenance of this race, and also the quantity and value of gold obtained by those using the water:—

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the value of the sales of water for the year amounted to £172, and that the cost of maintenance was £125 ss. The average number of men employed was 737, and the gold obtained by them 315 oz., of the value of £1,228 10s. Deducting the value of the sales of water from the value of the gold will show the average earnings to have been £143 -4s. 7d. per man for the year, or £2 15s. per week. The total cost of this race up to the 31st March last was £6,027 15s. 6d. Kumaea Watee-eace. This race still continues to supply water to a number of men, notwithstanding the area of rich ground is getting less every year. The known area of gold-bearing terraces that can only be worked with increased water-supply must be dealt with on a large scale, and, until a much greater supply of water is available, returns cannot be expected to continue in such a satisfactory manner as hitherto. The Loop-line Dam is now raised, and capable of storing a considerable additional quantity of water. The No. 5 main tail-race is not yet completed, the difficulties met with in having wet and running ground to contend with has caused such lengthy delay in furthering the work. The amount paid in subsidising this work up to date has been £3,316 6s. sd. The amount expended on the race was—Loop-line Dam, £493 14s. 2d.; moving siphons, £208 12s. 6d. The following statement shows the revenue derived from sales of water, and also the cost of maintenance, for the year ended 31st March, 1897 : —

23

Month. Sales of Water. Cash receivea for Sales of Water. Expenditure. Outstanding Moneys at the End of each Month. Number of Men employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value of Gold obtained. 1897. April May June July August September October November December 1898. £ s. d. 11 0 0 11 15 0 22 0 0 s s. a. 11 0 0 11 15 0 22 0 0 £ s. d. 11 10 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 10 0 10 0 0 11 10 0 10 0 0 5 5 6 Oz. 20 21 45 £ s. a. 78 0 0 81 IB 0 175 10 0 6 ~5 0 36 15 0 6 5 0 30 15 0 6 6 20 43 78 0 0 167 14 0 13 15 0 13 15 0 10 42 163 16 0 January February March 28 10 0 28 10 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 11 15 0 10 49 191 2 0 42 0 0 42 0 0 11 75 292 10 0 Totals 172 0 0 7-37 (average) 315 1,228 10 0 172 0 0 125 5 0

Month. Sales of Water. Cash receivea for Sales of Water. Expenditure. Outstanaing Moneys at the End of each Month. Number tef Men em- Q u f a r n *"y 1W [oDtatoea. Value of Goia obtainea. 1897. Lpril day une uly Lugust September )ctober November December £ a. d. 243 11 2 240 5 1 204 19 1 210 11 1 266 15 6 147 4 8 296 9 10 213 1 9 255 19 11 £ s. a. 314 1 6 277 14 0 155 1 2 150 0 0 215 12 6 246 10 0 318 18 4 377 5 0 G6 0 0 £ a. d. 183 5 4 134 4 3 167 17 10 152 2 7 160 11 6 138 8 2 175 14 1 175 8 6 133 9 7 £ a. d. 157 15 9 134 4 6 171 14 3 219 3 6 240 5 1 153 10 8 138 0 3 112 16 8 154 3 7 77 73 00 62 71 70 76 76 76 Oz. 405 390 265 345 445 245 505 374 470 £ s. d. 1,579 10 0 1,521 0 0 1,033 10 0 1,345 10 0 1,735 10 0 955 10 0 1,909 10 0 1,458 12 0 1,833 0 0 1898. 208 16 2 415 13 9 185 15 3 190 0 10 199 0 0 252 0 0 128 19 7 139 7 10 151 10 9 171 1 9 389 11 1 321 14 3 74 70 71 375 556 345 1,462 10 0 2,168 8 0 1,345 10 0 anuary February ilarch Totals 2,889 3 3 2,762 3 10 1,841 0 0 71-83 (average) 4,720 18,408 0 0