Christchurch, May 31, 1865. Dear Sir, Your letter of the 25th ins. reaches me just as I am starting inland and therefore I am unable to answer you as fully as I could have wished. The Cost of an Artesian Well in Napier fitted with Iron pipe 2" diameter sunk to a depth of not exceeding 50 feet would be about 15/- Fifteen shillings per foot, together with a sum of say £80 (outside) for expenses of party and freight of Tools and materials from Christchurch - The Well being supposed to be sunk near the Government Buildgs. sufficiently clear of Rock. The Cost in Christchurch is about 14/- per foot for similar ground and increases with the depth say of 100 feet up to 21/-. My impression is, that you have as good a of getting Water with an overflow, at Napier, as at Christchurch - the Source being in both cases due to the leakage of the River beds at higher levels being tapped thro' a casual layer of Clay beneath which they have filtered, instead of running down the Natural River bed - I do not think you will desire any further information from Geologists, and I simply recommend the Trial at Napier, from its success here, under some thing like same conditions. Should you think well of proceeding with the work, I mention the name of Mr. Hadley as a practical man who has been entrusted with the Well at Kaiapoi under difficult conditions, and which is progressing satisfactorily. I am, dear Sir, faithfully yours Thos. Dawson Triphert (?)