EXTENSION OF THE MALVERN WATER RACE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2235, 27 April 1881, Page 2

EXTENSION OF THE MALVERN WATER RACE.

After the official opening of the race in June last it was resolved to divide the main race into two branches, and the work was pushed on so vigorously that on Friday last the water was turned on into branch No. 2 (which runs along the old telegraph line) as far as Darfield, a distance of seven miles; and on Monday branch No. 1, which is on the Tramway reserve, was carrying 4in. of water as far as Kirwee, a distance of 12 miles. Independent of the surveying, some idea of the magnitude of the last contracts may be formed when it is stated that in branch No. 1 there are 700 wooden falls, and in branch No. 2 400 falls. Each of the wooden falls has wings let into the banks for support, and below each fall an apron of boulders. Substantial bridges are placed at each roadway and railway crossing, and flumes to carry off surface water where necessary. The County Council has decided to carry branch No. X as far as Rolleston, and No. 2 from Darfield, via Charing Cross, to Selwyn, a distance of twelve miles. These branch races are each Bft. in width, and there will be about 9in. of water on the sills of the timber falls when the works are completed. Allowing for evaporation and a slight percolation, it is estimated that there will be a daily flow of nine million gallons down each branch. The main open race, with concrete falls as far as Waddington—about five miles in length—has been running since June last, with a depth of about 4in. of water on the sills, and the condition of the channel shows the work to bo of a permanent character. The two branch races, for about one and a-half miles on No. 1 and three and a- half on No. 2 branch, with Umber falls, have been running for about five months, plainly showing that water can be carried by the open race system, the full preventing scour.