MOUNT IDA.

Cromwell Argus, 13 July 1870, Page 5

MOUNT IDA.

— o — Wo copy from the Mount Ida Chronicle of Friday last the following interesting account of the opening of tho Oitor-Misa 1 Water Baco Company’a Hydraulic Box , Pluming ;—- , « These works were opened on Friday 1 last, tho Ist instant, at two o’clock. Tho • day was remarkably fine for tho proceedings, and upwards of a hundred of our townsfolk, with their families wore present on tho occasion. The sun shone down brightly on the extended landscape, and from Surface Hill tho distant view was uninterrupted by tree or cloud. Hamilton i seemed only a few miles distant; tho ' course of the Taieri was distinctly dis--1 corned ; the sullen leaden hues of its lake ■ on the russet tinted plain could bo traced • 1 and around the company in tho background, ; the mountains from Pisa to Mount Ida were capped with snow. By desire, Mr Warden Bobinson, in a few appropriate remarks, opened the proceedings. He stated that tho works were the first of their kind that had been opened in New Zealand, if not in the Australian Colonies. Tho hydraulic flaming which the company saw before them—from which the water was then gushing out on tho top of the hill to thou- feet—was exactly similar in character to that beyond the ridge in front of them. He had just examined tho flumes and the strength of their workmanship, and he considered that Mr Anderson,, the manager of the Hit-or-Miss Water Bace Company, who had devised the plan and superintended tho operations, deserved well of the community for the successful issue of this important though expensive enterprise. The Hit-or-Miss Company were entitled to deserved praise for the unflinching efforts under the many difficulties that distinguished their industry. The company had evidently the utmost faith in the auriferous nature of the ground now commanded, by expending £2OOO on the present undertaking, and he trusted that their expectations would be fully realised. He would thank tho members of the company for the liberality shown to the public in the general invitations given to be present, and would call upon Miss Maggie Baird, a daughter of one of the shareholders, to christen the new works, The young lady then most gracefully stepped on the flume, and taking the bottle in her hand, broke it, and poured the foaming contents into the bubbling stream, at the same time pronouncing the “Pioneer” as the name by which the hydraulic box fluming shall be hereafter called. Three hearty cheers were then called for, and enthusiastically given for the young lady, and three more for the Warden, when the assembled visitors were invited to partake of luncheon provided for tho event, which was readily responded to, and during the afternoon the utmost hilarity prevailed on Surface Hill, It may not be out of place here to give a short account of this company’s operations from, the beginning. The water of the race has for nearly seven years commanded good ground on tho eastern side , of Hogbum Gully, where it has had full employment. It is obtained chiefly from | the Deep Creek stream, eight miles dis--1 taut, and Mr Anderson, the present man- . ager, has been actively engaged with it , throughout. The present undertaking was , initiated to bring the water to the extreme , top of Surface Hill, tho whole of which is [ supposed to be auriferous. Sluicing was , commenced on November 17, 1860, and . completed on June 25, 1870. The first j gap flumed is 840 ft in length ; the great- . est depth, excluding undulations, 68 feet; i distance between the first and second gap > 900 feet; second gap, 1,440 feet long; and L greatest depth, 65 feet The interior size » 'of these flumes is Sin. by lOfii., the matef rial being composed of Baltic two-inch ■ planks. It is braced by hardwood clamps ■ 2in- by 4in., and iron bolts varying from r |in, to |in. in diameter, and from 17in. to 5 19in. in length—all fitted for extreme pres-

or ure, about 6in. apaad. The estimated water pressure in the first gap is seven feet, and in the second gap ton feet six inches. Both flumes are arranged to carry between four and five Government heads of water. The whole cost of the works, including pressure tanks, connecting the fluming with headrace, intervening race between flumes, and all. material and labor, amounts to £1,750. The new reservoir at the head of Surface Hill will also soon form an indispensable acquisition to the miners there. It will be ready within a fortnight from this date, and will hold something like 1,800,000 gallons of water, and its cost will amount to the sura of £3OO. An invitation ball and supper wore given In the evening, at the Masonic Hall, to a number of friends of shareholders aud others. The hall was brilliantly lighted up, and nicely decorated with parti-colored flags. The company evidently enjoyed the supper as well as the dance, as indicated by the really disappearance of innumerable viands artistically displayed by Mi’ Horswell of the lloyal. After spending a merry day and pleasant night, the guests dispersed at au early boar on Sai turday morning, much gratified with the whole proceedings.