Mr. BADGER’S FLOOD GATES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 320, 12 June 1868, Page 3

Mr. BADGER’S FLOOD GATES.

L (To THE EDITOIt OK THE DUXSTAS TIMES.) Sir, —la a recent publication of your paper I observed a letter, signed “Colonus” ; the object of which was to ridicule Mr. E Badger’s petition to the Provincial Council for permission to construct Flood-gates at , the outlets of the Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea for the periodical retention of their waters, and for the privelege to i mine for goldin the Clutha River, &c. 3 Before “ Colonus ” makes such a parade of his Scriptural and Classical Knowledge, , when writing on such a practical matter-of-fact subject, 1 would advise him to get a few Engineering not to say Mining, acquire- - ments. The practicability of the scheme, I pie-, surae was ascertained before permission was - asked for the undertaking. Before “ Colonus ” attempted to ridicule i such a thing he should have acquainted • himself with the average discharge of each 3 Lake, its area, and the height to which it I woul dbe raised in a gievu time by checking the escape. If he had done this, possibly i eo would have been leas facetious. I From being engaged in river workings • here for several years past, and from ac. i quaintance with the localities, I am deci- • dedly of opinion that the scheme is perfectr ly feasible. In Europe such an undertaks ing in its Engineering sense, would he considered quite a trifle. i The auriferous deposits now lying in the . Rivers will never be obtained but by the . adoption of this plaa, and I am sure it i would he a great advantage to the sluicing 1 claims on the banks by giving them greater 3 “fall,” it being a well known fact that - many of them have not been giving payable ) returns of late, owing to the high state of i the Rivers, while others are abandoned from 3 the same cause. In conclusion I will only say that I hope i the projector will yet obtain Government 3 sanction to his proposal, and that the auth- - critics will not be guided by such a suicib dal policy as to prevent one of the greatest gold-mining undertakings in this Colony, 3 and thereby prohibit the remunerative emr I plopment of largo numbers of working men . : as well as others. 1 ! 1 am, >tc. r | DREDGER. | Hartley’s Beach, May 80, ISCS.