WATER FOR THE GOLDFIELDS

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 84, 20 June 1871, Page 6

WATER FOR THE GOLDFIELDS

We give below some extracts from the Report of MrC. E. Haughton, the Commissioner appointed to enquire into and report upon the Water Supply to the Goldfields. The Select Committee appointed by the Provincial Council on the Gth inst., with the view of giving some practical effect to the information obtained by Mr Haughton, will most probably bring up their report during the present week : The subject of Water Supply upon the Goldfields of Otago having been referred to me by the Executive Government, with the object that I should ascertain in what direction advantage might be taken of the Public Works and Immigration Act, 1871, I desire, before suggesting the alternative systems under which Government assistance might rationally be applied to the construction of public works, and indicating in detail the works which may practically be effected, to remark that, geographically and physically, the circumstances of the Otago Goldfields preclude the possibility of any general application of the scheme as developed in Part 111. of the Act, the proposed subsidy being strictly confined to “ works for supplying water,” while no provision is made for the construction of sludge channels in deep ground, or the rendering auriferous country accessible by means of roads and tracks. I would therefore urge upon the Government the expediency of recommending to the General Assembly such modification of the law as may render this and future subsidies available for the general encouragement of mining enterprise ; to be appropriated pro rata to the population in the several districts according to their special requirements. *■ll * * . * * * It will be seen that little or no difference of opinion exists upon the question of the principle, whether or not mining enterprise should be subsidised by the Government. Public meetings at Clyde, Cromwell, Lawrence, Alexandra, Teviot, and Orepuki, the Miners’ Committees at Naseby and Lawrence, and the local commission in the Wakatip district, have affirmed this without a dissentient voice. It maybe taken, then, as proven that the policy of the measure is approved of by the miners themselves. The manner in which the subsidy should be applied and made available, opens up much more debateable ground, and, as might have been expected, contradictory opinions are expressed. The Act would appear to provide for actual purchase or construction of the works, with contingent liabilities for maintenance, or for a guarantee of interest at 6 per cent, to contractors for the construction. In both these cases, the question of management is left open, and it is one the practical solution of which is by no means easy. All the witnesses seem to fool tliis, and those who, without qualification, recommend that the works should be kept in the hands of the Government, fail to indicate any plan by which this could be reasonably carried out. It would necessarily entail the keeping-up of a large and expensive staff’, and could hardly prove satisfactory to the miners. Certainly it would be a source of constant embarrassment to the Government. The price of water supply being regulated by the supply, on the one hand there would be agitation to reduce the price to a minimum, on the other the cry of interference with private interests. Legal proceedings are almost inseparable from the possession of water-race property, owing to the thousand and one causes well understood upon the Goldfields. What, then, would bo the position of the Government, constantly in its own Courts for laches, wilful or otherwise, of its emp'oyes ? Again, there is the consideration of apportioning the supply equitably when demand is in excess of supply. Is it to be “first come first served 1” How long is a grant to stand 1 under what circumstances renewed ? The witnesses whom I have alluded to as being in favour of works being retained in the hands of the Government, have either not thought out these points, or have declined the responsibility of entering into particulars. The matter bristles with difficulties, and although it does not lie within my special function as Commissioner to advise politically, I desire to warn the Government not to endorse without consideration the opinions of the majority of the witnesses upon this point. * * * * . * * . I will now proceed to consider seriatim the various schemes which were suggested or have suggested themselves, to me, following the order of the Wardens’ districts WAKATIP. My personal knowledge of this district induces me to form the conclusion that any system of extensive reservoirs and headraces is not practicable, except at an expense far beyond what the district could reasonably expect as its share of the subsidy ; nor, if constructed, do I think such a system could be beneficially utilised. This, I may explain, results from the broken character of the country and the scattered localities of the auriferous deposits, which, so far as ascertained, seem in most cases to lie in narrow strips in more or less isolated positions. While not prepared to advocate any extension or costly system of water supply, I may state that there are many localities where works of more or less magnitude might be constructed with a prospect of opening fresh ground and adding to the field of labor open to the miner. Government assistance in this way would best bo made .available by the advance of money upon the security of the works, to companies or associated bodies of miners. THE DUNSTAN. In this district there exist vast areas of kuo .vn payable auriferous ground whose only limitation is resultant from the quantity of

water that can be brought to bear upon them. The Dunstan Ranges, dividing the Manuherikia basin from that of the Lindis, from the furthermost spurs of Mount St. Bathans to the Dunstan Gorge ; the Garrick Ranges, similar in formation to the Dunstan, and the large area from thence to the Bannocburn River, are all notably auriferous. The banks of the Clutha, as far as they have been tested with the available meagre supply of water, have been found everywhere payable, and present a field for successful enterprise perhaps unequalled in the province. These, I may say, include the principal ground at present hardly available to the miner for want of water, and capable, with water, of supporting a population of many thousands. The district, rich as it may be considered in its area of auriferous land, is equally favored in the number of practicable sources from which water can be obtained. Mr Pyke, in his evidence, remarks; — “ Emerging from the Dunstan ranges in this direction (towards the Manuherikia) are three considerable streams, the Lauderburn, the Spottsburn, and the Chatto Creek. In neither of these has the full water power been expended, and there yet remains a varying supply of from 20 to 40 sluice-heads capable of being diverted to mining purposes. But a larger and more comprehensive scheme than the application of these streams would extend to is necessary, if any solid and permanent benefit is to be conferred upon the gold-producing interests of the Province. Through the centre of the Dunstan district sweeps the swift current of the Manuherikia River, having always a considerable fall, and hurrying a large body of water to be mingled with and lost in the greater Clutha. I beg to suggest, therefore, that a race to carry as large a body of water as can fairly be diverted, having regard to the interests of the miners and settlers below, might be constructed from a point below the junction of Dunstan Creek with this river. Its course should be towards and along the slope of the ranges, at as high a level as engineers may deem attainable, and in its course the surplus waters of the streams named in paragraph 3 could be absorbed as the race passed on.” Upon the Garrick Ranges on the Bannockburn side, as high as the snow-line, the water from Coal Creek, to the extent of some 16 sluice-heads, is available. This, for mining purposes, represents a very much larger quantity, because the water, after passing tire claims at the highest level, would be available for parties lower down the range. Mr Baird, upon this point, remarks : —“I am quite certain if ten or twelve Government sluiceheads of water could be brought in to command this ground, it would afford profitable employment for 400 or 500 miners in addition to those already employed in the district.” With regard to the banks of the Clutha, Mr Pyke’s suggestion as to the desirability of trying one of Mr J. T. Thomson’s waterlifting machines is worthy of attention. The only practicable method of working this ground by means of the river itself, and if so economical a machine as that invented by Mr Thomson proves capable of doing the calculated work, mining will be absolutely revolutionised in the Dunstan, Wakatip, and Teviot districts. I would therefore indicate three works which might with advantage to the public receive the assistance of the Government in the Dunstan district: —(l) A large head-race from the Manuherikia river below the junction of the Dunstan Creek, j proceeding along the slope of the ranges of the Dunstan Gorge. This would be a work of great magnitude, and would take time to complete. It ■would, however, be utilised, all along its course, and would be available for mining almost from its head. (2.) A head-race from Coal Creek on to the Bannockburn Range. The length of this range would be, at the utmost, 24 miles, and the cost of construction has been variously estimated at from £SOOO to £12,000. (3.) The trial upon the banks of the Clutha of one of Thomson’s water-lifting machines. This, upon a small scale—say to lift one head of water —according to the inventor, might be effected for £4OO.