THE LAKE ELLESMERE SCHEME.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 585, 21 February 1882, Page 2

THE LAKE ELLESMERE SCHEME.

To the Editor.

Sir, —In your issue of Friday last, there i 3 a passage in the report of Mr C. Watkins relating to the Lake Ellesmere, Tamatu, that appears to me to be somewhat ambiguous, doubth ss resulting from being too much condensed. But the passage is one of much importance, and this justifies me in attempting to make it more clear. It will be found towards the bottom of the column, immediately after the figures •' 73.922," beginning with the words "so that any perceptible rise,*' and ending with " the lake will run out." In explanation, and to make the matter clear, I will assume that the proposed embankment is erected at the place Mr Watkins describes. Thereupon any considerable amount of seawnter thrown over the shingle bank or spit, as it is called, that lies between the enclosed area and the sea, will rapidly rise the level of such enclosed waters, to the height that those of the entire lake has heretofore attained, when unaided it has forced for itself a passage through the bank or spit into the sea. When the enclosed waters have attained such_ a level, similar results will ensue, that is to say these enclosed waters, will of themselves, force for themselves a passage through the shingle spit into the sea, from which their separation has been but temporary. The flow of the waters through the passage they have forced will of course continue till the sea level be reached. Meanwhile, should any accumulation oi fresh water from streams, rivers, or rainfall, or from all of these have taken place outside of the embankment, over the

of 7;5,C00 acres, these will, by their own pressure, force open the flood gates, pass through the enclosure, and follow the accnmuhitions of salt water that had first made its exit info the sea. I ntn much gratified to see that your Borough Council are alive to the importance of the matter in hand, and trust all your readers will pay close attention to every future proceeding relating to the same.—Yours, etc., GEO. R. JOBLIN. Little River, Feb. 18, 1882.