SUPPLY OF WATER ON THE GOLD FIELDS.

D.~No. &

15

revenue from the Kanieri Race would in four years amount to £24,000, so that, on the most moderate calculation the Government at the end of four years, would recoup the whole of the outlay, and would, even at the termination of three years, be prepared with the funds to commence the construction of a similar work in any other promising locality. But this is not all. These works should be regarded as promoters of immigration. A race of 40 heads of water would, I believe, in the Kanieri District add to the mining population 100 souls, and would give occupation to at least an equal number of persons in furnishing supplies, Ac £10,000 per annum would be a low- value to put upon this addition to the mining population of the country. In addition to an ample supply of water, the cost of carriage of supplies must be reduced by constructing roads and tramways. Every reduction in the cost of food opens fresh fields for mining industry. Water power and main roads are the two means of developing the resources of the County and increasing the population. No doubt water-races are more immediately important than roads; but if the miners make no savings, or if they are driven to carry their savings to the neighboring colonies, because the country offers them no inducement to settle in it, from the mere want of roads to develop its agricultural resources, the ultimate welfare of the County is sacrificed. AVith good roads, the permanent working of the gold fields would be secured. The miners would purchase small allotments on the frontages of the main roads in the vicinity of their diggings, and would marry and settle down, as they are doing at Pounamu, since the road from Stafford to Pounamu was constructed. The necessity for roads is shewn by the fact that in the year 1869, at places to the north, between the Little Grey and the Buller districts, where parties were earning as much as £15 per man per week, not more than 100 diggers were attracted to the district, owing to the want of roads and the frightful expense of supplies. Or, taking the Inangahura diggings, in the Buller district, at the present day, I find that the charge for freight of goods to those grounds is £14 per ton from Westport. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. Charles Knight.

Enclosure 1 in No. 11. ESTIMATES OF WATER SUPPLY (WESTLAND).

Extracted from Detail Estimated for convenience of reference. Mikonui Water-race, to carry 40 Government Heads. Miles. Chains. £ Fluming, average 18| feet high ... ... ... ... 1 8 £45 3,960 Boxing laid in side cutting ... ... ... ... 8 35 25 16,875 Tunnelling, timbered throughout ... ... ... ... 2 68 35 7,980 Ditching ... ... ... ... ... ...0 9 6 2,934 Total 18 40 31,749 10 per cent, contingencies ... ... ... ... 3,175 3,4924 Kanieri Water-race (with Branch to Big Paddock), to carry 40 heads. Fluming, aveage 17 feet high ... ... ... ... 1 32 £40 4,480 Boxing laid in side cutting... ... ... ... ... 2 67 20 4,540 Tunnelling ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 40 35 4,200 Ditching ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 15 5 10s 4,042 Total 14 74 17,262 10 per cent, contingencies ... ... ... ... 1,726 18,988 Hohonu Water-race (constructed by private enterprise), carries 35 heads. Fluming, average 10£ feet high ... ... ... ... 0 49 £42 2,058 Boxing laid in side cutting ... ... ... ... 1 12 21 1,932 Ditching 3 42 5 1,410 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 23 5,400 Dams and branch races for supply ... ... ... 1,500 6,900 Waimea Water Supply. Lines E, G, H, G, F, K, L, and Z (red) ... ... ... ... ... £29,600 Waimea Water Supply (continued). Lines AB, CD, and Reservoir (blue) ... ... ... ... ... £37,100 Maori Gully Water Supply. High level water race, to carry 20 Government heads ... ... ... ... £61,000 Maori Gully Water Supply (continued.) Low level water race, to carry 40 Government heads ... ... ... ... £24,000 Chas. Y. O'Connor, County Engineer.