Draining the Molyneaux

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 50, 13 October 1892, Page 4

Draining the Molyneaux

-* The Wellington correspondent of the Otafco Daily Times recently telegraphed as follows :— I have just heard from what I consider reliable authority, that probably the most important feature of the Public Works Statement, so far as southern New Zealand is concerned, will be an elaborate report on the question of damming up the Molyneaux river at the sources, so as to reduce the volume of water and enable the miners to ■work out the bottom. Careful surveys have been made at the three lakes, Wakatipn, Wanaka, and Hawea, and it has been as certaiDed that, taking tbe average waterlevel of these lakes for the last , quarter of a century, it is possible for the lakes to be dammed up for a period of 12 days at a time without causing any material damage to the coterminous country. The expense will be great and I am informed that the inspecting engineer of mines will not yet commit himself to name any sum. The idea is that by damming the water at the places mentioned, the bottom of the river will be almost exposed down as far as where the Bengerborn joins the river ; and even down as far as the mouth of the Pomahaka it is expected that the whole of the river bed will be workable. The surplus water in the lakes will be released in the following manner: — At the expiration of 12 days the dam at Wakatipu will be kept open for 24 hours ;. then lhat at Wanaka for another 24 hours ; and the one at Hawea lor only 12 hours ; and it is computed that in ordinary weather will be sufficient time to relieve the lakes of their surplus water. One advantage of this great project ■will be to enable the proprietors of the dredges tb thoroughly prospect the ground, and consequently gain a knowledge of the best places to work upon. In fact, it is thought that the prediction mentioned in Sir Julius Vogel's " Anno Domini 2000" will be realised, when thousands of miners will be at work for miles along the river banks. The contention is tbat the miners during the 12 days the river is low will secure and stack the washdirt on the river bank, and sluice the stuff during the time the dams at the lakes are open, and it is expected that in a year or two the river bottom will be scraped clean, consequently the river level will be many feet lower than at present, and all the wealth known to lie at the bottom of the river placed within the reach of mining enterprise.