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ANNEXURE A. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT WATER-RACE MANAGERS. Waimea-Kumara Water-races, Westland. —Mr. .James Bochfokb, Manager. Waimea Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1915, was £1,027 13s. 4d., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £716 3s. Id., showing a credit balance of £311 10s. 3d. on the year's transactions. The average number of miners supplied with water during the year was 29-66, an in< cease of 1-16 on the previous year; and the approximate amount of gold obtained by them was 2,0150z., valued at £7,858 10s., an increase on that of last year of £1,521. The sales of water amounted to £1,027 1.35. 2d., an increase of £183 14s. sd. on the previous year. The cash received for sales of water showed an improvement of £154 Bs., and tho expenditure an increase of £106 12s. 9d- for the year, and the whole of the race from the headworks at Kawhaka Creek to .Ballarat Hill is now in good repair. The increased expenditure was caused by a break in the race near Fox's and the carrying-out of certain necessary repairs at the Wainihinihi and Kawhaka. headworks. On the 10th October a break took place in the race at Fox's, and over 2 chains of new race had to be cut well back into the hill. The repairs cost £37 175., and the water was off for eleven days. Linklater and party worked out their claim at Lower German Gully in May, and they immediately set about opening up two other sluicing claims at Ballarat Hill. These claims have been working since July, 1914, but I understand that the returns so far have been disappointing. At Tunnel Terrace four parties were supplied with Water during the year, and there is still a considerable area of payable ground to be worked in this locality; and generally speaking the demand for Water in Goldsborough and Stafford districts shows no indication of decreasing. Linklater and Morgan's subsidized siphon, from the original terminus of Branch B to Scandinavian Hill, Was completed in August. The siphon is composed of wrought-iron pipes, 22 in. and 18 in. in diameter, it is 74 chains in length, has a head of 47 ft., and its carrying-capacity is I2i heads. The 18 in. pipes crossing the low ground are flanged and double-riveted, and where they cross the Waimea Creek are subject to a pressure of 139 lb. to tho square inch. The Waimea Branch Race from Maopherson's Creek to Kawhaka Valley,, to augment the supply of water for the Waimea Race, was completed in March. This work was let by contract in January, 1913, but on the date for the completion of the contract less than half the work was done, and the contractor threw up the contract, and the Mines Department completed the race by day labour; and, notwithstanding that a considerable amount of extras, such as a number of overflow by-washes, sand boxes, hut, &c, had to bo done, the work was completed within the original estimate. The race is 140 chains in length, including 18 chains of tunnel and 6f chains of wrought-iron siphons. From peg 60 to peg 71 in No. 1 section the ground was extremely rough and broken, being practically a slip from the mountain-range, and in many places tho bottom of the ditch had to be excavated for a depth of 2 ft. and puddled and side-walled before it would carry water. The water Was turned through the race on the 27th March, when everything worked without a hitch, and the supply was found most satisfactory. Branch Race to Callaghan's and Middle Branch Flat. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1915, was £361. 1.45., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £512 Is. 7d., showing a debit balance of £150 7s. 7d. on the year's transactions. The average number of minors supplied with water during the year was I 1-75, a decrease of 6-08 on the previous year; and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 1,030 oz., having a value of £4,017, a decrease of £265 4s. on last year. The sales of water amounted to £430 7s. 6d., a decrease of £119 12s. 6d. on the previous year. The cash received was £173 Bs. less, and the expenditure! was £1 1 lis. 7d. greater, than during the preceding year, and the races have been well maintained and are now in good order. The falling-off in the sales of water from this race was totally unexpected. At Middle Brunch Flat Manzoni and party only sluiced for five months, and the Coronation Claim for nine months of the year, when owing to the poor returns they closed down their respective properties. At Callaghan's Flat Havill and party sluiced intermittently throughout the year, but the quantity of water purchased was extremely small; and Honey and party, although still working their property, did practically no sluicing. Kumara Water-race. The cash received for sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1915, was £234 Bs. lid., and the expenditure on management, gauging, maintenance, and repairs amounted to £338 Is. Bd., showing a debit balance of £103 12s. 9d. on the year's transactions.