C—3.

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 the 31st March last: —

Blackstone Hill Water-race. The total sales of water from this race amounted to £93 10s. Id., and the total cash received to £93 10s. Id. The total cost of maintenance and repairs was £16 16s. The approximate quantity of gold obtained was 150 oz., valued at £577 10s. The number of miners supplied with water from this race was 7-58. During the month of October 1 had to strengthen Johnstone's tail-race, the winter frosts fretting away the sides; also cleaned out the branch race from the falls to C, Eose's claim, a distance of about two miles and a half. Slight repairs were done to the main race and to the Hill's Creek branch. As there is a considerable side-growth forming on the main race since last cleaned out, it will require a cleaning out next summer when the water gets low. The following statement shows the revenue derived from sales of water, and also the cost of maintenance, for the year ended the 31st March last: —

I have, &c, The Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. R. Mubbay, Manager.

« , , WATER CONSERVATION. Mr. T. Peeham, A.M.1.C.E., to the Undee-Seceetaey for Mines, ' Wellington. Sic, — Mines Department, Wellington, 6th June, 1900. I have the honour to submit my third annual report, for the year ending the 31st March, 1900, accompanied by an illustrative drawing. Nobth Island. The Ohinemuri County Council having applied for pound-for-pound subsidies on some temporary schemes for domestic water-supplies completed by their own engineer at Waitekauri' Karangahake, and Waihi, an inspection was made and the subsidies recommended, subject to necessary amendments and modifications, in the cases of Waitekauri and Karangahake, but not for Waihi, on account of the headworks not being at a sufficient elevation for purposes of fireextinction, or the water pure enough for domestic purposes. Since then an application has been made by the same Council to set aside as a waterworks reserve 215 acres on the Mangatoetoe Creek, lower down than that recommended in my reports on the same subject last year. Informa-

159

Date. Sales of Water. Cash received. Maintenance. Number of Men employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value. 1899. £ a. d. 147 19 10 214 15 1 179 8 8 44 3 1 £ s. d. 149 9 10 216 15 1 181 8 8 45 6 6 April May June July August September October November December 1900. 151 19 1 258 5 1 232 9 3 177 9 3 157 0 1 257 7 7 244 1 9 179 9 3 £ a. d. 83 4 8 94 10 8 87 14 8 82 14 8 85 7 8 299 13 11 134 14 9 94 7 8 99 0 8 57 55 50 37 57 61 64 58 Oz. 287 260 269 109 146 482 450 539 £ s. d. January February March 209 18 1 195 4 4 59 3 9 209 18 1 196 1 0 59 3 9 89 7 8 83 12 6 91 2 8 61 52 45 363 327 160 Totals 1,870 15 6 1,896 1 7 49-75 (average) 3,392 1,325 12 2 13,059 4

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received. Number A ( ?P r °£ f mat f e Maintenance. of Men Q ua °* »/ o( employed. Value. 1899. £ a. d. 10 15 10 10 15 10 5 12 6 5 12 6 £ a. d. 10 15 10 6 12 6 9 15 10 5 12 6 £ s. d. 3 0 0 0 11 0 0 3 0 Oz. April May .. June July .. August September Ootober November December 1900. £ s. d. 5 12 6 7 4 2 9 15 10 9 15 10 5 12 6 4 18 6 12 1 6 9 15 10 0 3 0 2 19 0 6 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 9 9 6 6 7 6 8 8 8 January February March 9 10 10 9 15 10 8 18 5 9 10 10 : 9 15 10 8 18 5 2 3 0 0 3 0 14 0 8 8 8 Totals .. 93 10 .1 93 10 1 16 16 0 7-58 150 577 10 0