208

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Except in one instance, the ground sluiced away during the year was poor, and several claims were abandoned ; but others were taken up, so that the total number of claims held is not materially reduced. The supply of water during the year has been more than sufficient for all requirements, and no time has been lost by the miners from insufficient supply of water. During the year water was running to waste over the dams on eighty-six separate days, and during that time 123J days' water for the whole field went to waste. Twenty holidays were observed by the miners during the year. The attached table shows the number of days in each month on which water was running over the dams, and the total quantity lost, and also the number of holidays on which no water was used for sluicing:—

Besides the sales of water referred to below, free water was supplied to claims as assistance for constructing new branch tail-races, &c, under authority from the Department, and also to claims having a succession of poor washings, after due inquiry was made in each case. The total value of free water so supplied was £271 os. lOd. Flushing-water was supplied to each of the main tail-races without charge, in accordance with authority from the Department, to the following extent: No. 2 channel, ten sluice-heads; No. 3 channel, twenty-three sluice-heads; No. 4 channel, ten sluice-heads; No. 5 channel, twenty sluice-heads. As water was plentiful quantities much in excess of the above were supplied, as it would otherwise go to waste and benefit no one, and in no case was less than the above quantities supplied. The Borough of Kumara was supplied with water for fire-brigade purposes, and water was supplied to the miners for washing up free of charge. The following tabulated statement shows the receipts and cost of maintenance of the Kumara Race for the year ended the 31st March, 1903, together with the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained by parties using water from the race: —

Waimea-Kumara Water-races. The following tabulated statement shows the revenue, cost of maintenance, approximate quantity of gold obtained, and the number of men employed in sluicing on claims using water from

Month. Water running over Dam. Quantity of Water lost. Holidays. No Water for Channel. Dams empty. 1902. Days. Days. Days. 8 Days. Days. April ... May ... June ... July ... August... September October November December 1908. 7 6 2 3 3 8 10 16 5 17* * 1 3* Hi 11 20 "7 January February March ... 13 9 9 22* 11 20 5 Totals 86 123* 20

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received for Sales of Water. Outstanding Number ExnBTidituv*. Moneys at the of expenditure. End of each , M en emMonth, ployed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value of Gold obtained. 1902. £ a. d. Ill 16 1 161 7 4 103 12 10 120 2 10 142 19 3 135 11 8 101 9 10 133 2 9 131 17 1 £ a. d. 48 17 6 126 10 0 97 16 0 163 10 0 105 10 0 144 0 0 135 11 0 235 13 0 17 0 0 £ a. d. 149 17 1 126 9 6 126 14 6 140 2 10 140 7 7 135 2 10 121 17 0 158 16 3 164 3 0 £ a. d. 884 19 5 925 14 8 925 13 7 882 6 5 919 15 8 911 7 4 877 6 2 780 10 11 889 13 0 Oz. 224 322 208 240 286 270 204 266 264 £ a. d. 873 12 0 1,255 16 0 811 4 0 936 0 0 1,115 8 0 1,053 0 0 795 12 0 1,037 8 0 1,029 12 0 Lpril itay une ■uly Lugust ieptember )otober November December 33 36 36 30 36 40 •10 43 50 1903. 94 8 9 145 0 8 147 5 3 37 10 6 120 10 0 145 15 0 124 13 3 144 13 11 151 18 9 946 11 3 971 1 11 972 14 8 44 44 42 188 290 294 anuary Pebruary itarch 733 4 0 1,131 0 0 1,146 12 0 Totals 1,528 14 4 1,378 3 0 1,684 16 6 40 (average) 3,056 11,918 8 0