SCHEME FOR TURNING THE RIVER KAWARAU.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 146, 27 August 1872, Page 6

SCHEME FOR TURNING THE RIVER KAWARAU.

So many seeming impossibilities have been overcome, and so many gigantic schemes brought to successful issues, in this wonderful nineteenth century, that I am encouraged to lay before your readers a crude plan for the accomplishment of the above feat, which, although hardly to be classed as " gigantic," may be considered rather "big," even for Cromwell. Possibly, at the first blush, some people may say, "Pshaw ! the man is insane," and dismiss the subject ; but if they will be kind enough to bear with me, and note the figures given below, they may discover that at least there is method in my madness. I would propose to turn the Kawarau River from the Kawarau Gorge into the Clutha, at the bend in that stream where the timberrafts used to be landed from the Wanaka Lake, and thus lay bare the auriferous treasures well known to exist throughout the present course (which would then be drained) of the former river, between the Gorge and Cromwell. I hope this will take away no one's breath : if so, recover yourselves, take it coolly, and we will proceed. In the first place, it may be asked, —By whom is it to be done ? Well, if it could be satisfactorily shown that the Government would be completely recouped for the outlay, they ivould be the fittest parties to enter on the speculation ; or, failing them, a company .night be formed for the object; and last, though not least, Mr Brogden, with his army of navvies, might be induced to take the matter into consideration. lam well aware that many difficulties will present themselves, in the way of arriving at a conclusion as to ways and means ; but 1 imagine none will be found insuperable, if the matter is gone into earnestly and intelligently. Special legislation would doubtless be needed for the inauguration of the scheme, and this would be very much simplified by the Government themselves undertaking the work. The length of river would have to be accurately surveyed and marked off in (say) fifty-feet claims on both sides ; the privilege of working one of which to be accorded on payment of (say) £3, for a special miner's right issued for these particular workings. The holders of these miners' rights might be employed, if they so wished, at the necessary excavation at a fixed rate of (say) six shillings per diem. I may here mention that I have put down this rate on the principle that, the work being in the end for the benefit of such claimholdera, they ought to be satisfied, and probably would, with clearing expenses until they could get at the river bed ; and so have based my calculations on this price for labour. When the ground is all taken up under such rules as the Government may deem fit and proper for working it, the new channel might be at once proceeded with between the points indicated. The distance I estimate at about five miles. Of course, I may be incorrect in this and also in other statements, as I merely propose to give rough estimates from local knowledge and memory, having all such as may be hereafter required to be prepared by those interested. I believe there is sufficient fall, and by preserving as near as possible a straight course, a channel fifty feet wide by six feet in depth, with a spoil embankment on the south side, would carry the waters of the Kawarau throughout the year easily ; and by allowing a drop at the embouchure, a continual scour would go on cutting the channel still deeper. There is an excellent site for a dam in one spot at the Gorge, the river being very narrow at that part, with a slack current, and having perpendicular banks of bed rock. I have based my estimates on the supposition that each man employed, with proper appliances, would remove twelve cubic yards of earth per diem ; and I know this to be a moderate computation, as I have seen similar material to that which mostly occurs on the Cromwell Plat, shifted at the rate of twenty-one cubic yards per man per day. As to the estimated yield of half an ounce per man per week-for the time mentioned, all who know the river will say it is probably far below what would actually be obtained. Of course the entire bed would not be extraordinarily rich, but there are known places where the gold possibly exists in—well, we will say bucketsful. I will now give the figures, which will be seen to be prepared ostensibly for the behoof of Government : REVENUE. 7 miles of River on both si les 14 miles, in soft. claims, at 00/ per miner's right £4434 0 0 1478 men at 'oz. per week fiir 52 weoksr=3B,f>23ozs., at 2/6 per mince (duty) 4018 0 0 £9052 0 0 EXPENDITURE. Channel, 5 miles x 50ft. x 6ft. 293.33.'5 cubic yardß, at 61 ... £7333 6 6 Construction of Dam 1000 0 0 Tools, Contingencies, &c. ... 1000 0 (I £9333 6 C

The foregoing statement may be taken as pretty near the mark, and may convince the Government that they would he safe in undertaking the work. All that I have said is of course but a very cursory and imperfect review of so important a subject ; but as such may serve to induce further ventilation, and if I succeed in drawing sober attention to its merits, I shall conclude the first step is made towards its initiation. There are many valuable and cogent considerations which might be adduced in its favour, but these can be forthcoming at a future date, if the matter is not allowed to share the fate of ideas of the Utopian order generally, and sink into oblivion. it Of the importance of such an un-

dertaking to the town of Cromwell, it ia needleas to speak. The inhabitantß are, I presume, fully alive to that. Apart from the setting afloat of such a nice little sum as £144,480, (the value of one year'a yield,) that vexed question and bete noir of town councillors, the "water supply," would he for ever set at rest. If any of your numerous readers, and 1 imagine there must be many who have at times thought of such a scheme as the above, will come forward with their ideas on the subject, what may now be termed a dream will soon assume a real and tangible shape ; at least, such is the hope of Bendigo, Aug. 20, 1872. VIATOR.