ARE THE SURVEYS READY ?

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 539, 1 July 1869, Page 4

ARE THE SURVEYS READY ?

(To the Editor of tho Grey River Argun.) Sir — The necessity of a permanent water supply on the gold, fields, is now concurred in by the New Zealand Parliament, it has long been felt by the people, and without it the mining industry must assuredly languish. I have on a former occasion adverted to the now recognised fact, that the high terraces of Westland containing gold can never be worked to advantage until a lasting supply of water is procured for that purpose. Every means of doing so has been tried by diggers and others, in some instances with success, but in the majority of cases the enormous exj ense, the many natural difficulties—such as those met with between the Big Hohonu and the Arnold district, ■where heavy piping is necessary to convey water — lias damped the ardour of the most enterprising. But now that the General Government is about to move in the matter, we may reasonably hope that before long supplies sufficient will be had to enable the mining community to again look "hard times" in the face. The country lying between this place and the Grey River, particularly that portion of it which extends away east of the workings on the New River, is but very imperfectly known to the Survey Department, As an instance of what I state I refer the reader to a published report of a survey made by Mr Bull in March, 1866, on behalf and for the Lake Brunner Water Race Co., in which he says that the surface of the Lake is 400 ft. below the high terraces of the Arnold, but that it is possible to raise water out of the Hohouu river 1200 ft. above the lev*. I of the Lake. Mr O'Connor has made asuiv^y of that country for a similar purpose, and proves Mr Bull's survey to be erroneous. I cannot make an uxact comparison, because I have not got a report of either surveys at present by me, but J cau remember that Mr Bull's estimate of the whole cost of the race is not a third of that made out by Mr O'Connor ; and from my knowledge of that part of the country I have not the slightest hesitation in believing the latter's survey and estimate to be the correct ones. . The foregoing facts amply demonstrate the truth of my assertion, that the Survey Department, expensive as it has been, might have done more in the way of , making the people acquainted with the physical features of the country. MiHarrison has moved for a committee to inquire into the best means of providing a water supply for the gold fields. Correct surveys of the County are necessary to that inquiry, and if such are not alrea ly prepared how long are we to wait before they can be ? People have said, and do still say, that it is impossible to get water <m to t:ie Arnold Ten-ace, but 1 am confident that it is not That " impossible" is a ruinous word, and ought to be expunged from f.ie English language. It oughtnotto be found in the vocabulary of any man. If the County is prepared with the evidence necessary to satisfy the commit! cc that the want of a water supply is not only a source 7; of poverty to the County, but that it is to be had, and will be a source of wealth when brought in, I am sure that vigorous steps will be taken in that direction, not only by the Government, ' but by the diggers. — I am, &c, Aiden DoYLr, Greenstone, June 21, '