UNDERGROUND RIVERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 2

UNDERGROUND RIVERS.

: •PECULIAHITIJ3S OP AUCKLAND ISTHMUS.

- The vagaries of the level of Lake Taka- I puna since several of the surrounding local bodies began to draw upon that source for their water supply have again set people wondering as to "tho possible source of the sheet of ivaicr which has neither visible inlet or outlet (writes our Auckland correspondent). An underground connection with Uungitolo has been suggested. Some people profess to I laugh, at this idea, but those who have had any experience of underground ! streams do not treat (his mailer si> Lightly,' The Auckland isthmus, which la volcanic over a great part of its area, is wonderfully rich in underground water, and such men as. the Bev. H. Mason and Mr. A< C. Clarke have traced a number of streams all over the zone. Mr. Sulclifte, of the firm of Messrs. Sutcliffo and Mounce, who have done boring work nil over the province, hns nil interesting theory about s.ome of these streams which lie intends to further investigate. Mr. Clarke, who is employed by the firm, has- traced large bodies of water running under tho city right, to the water's edge, and from there disappear under the harbour in a northerly direction. They have been, tupped ut a depth of several hundred feet 011 the water front, and the indications arc thnt thev pass tinder tho harbour at ii considerable depth. It is a question whether these streams havo any connection with Lake Takapuna, which is apparently on the line, of flow. It is uncertain whether the water is flowing to or from the direction of the lake, but as it has been tapped in' several places 011 the southern side of the harbour, it is quite conceivable thnt n steady drain on this source would-affect the lake, if there is a connection between them. A rather interesting featuro about some of the volcanic ponks on the isthmus is that from nnder t-hem streams radiate like the fingers of the hand. Mount Wellington is a very good instance. Mv. Mason, who located a splendid flow of water there, traccd at least five streams flowing either to or from the centre of this well-known hill. Professor Thomas says that it is quite possible that all the volcanic peaks are connected underground. Great flows of water have been struck in Auckland city at. Hellahy's, in Shortland Street, at t.lio Albert Brewery in Queen Street, nt the Great Northern Brewery, and a bore is now being put down for Hancock's Brewery, Mr. iSutcliffe is firmly of opinion that all the boroughs on the isthmus could get perennial supplies of pure water by boring, should tho need arise. H<) pointed out that Mount Albert Borough Council had found a great supply on the Mental Hospital propertj. The Mount Roskili "Road Hoard had an equally good supply at the Thvee Kings, and the Otahtihu Borough Council had iust recently inaugurated their supnlv. which they had found on Richmond Hills. Oneo. when working up in the AVaikaio, one of the firm's plants struck a five-font free at a depth of over -lOftft., and the fibre was as good as-that'of'tho best piece of seasoned timber. It would be rather interesting to know when this tree nourished in the sunshine, and what, sort of, mortals inhabited those islnnds in tho<e days. The borers havo struck old sea beaches hundreds ni' feet down, with various kinds of shells in the mud.