THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1875.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2228, 29 September 1875, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1875.

Thl contemplated construction of the Mikonui Water-race is the most important item of passing intelligence in these parts, and, although they may possess no special local interest, some particulars regarding the work may be worthy of record. These we find in the report furnished to the Government by Mr O'Connor, the District Engineer. According to that report, from its source on the Mikonui river to a point about 5 miles 72 chains along the original countour line, the old survey is followed, as the country for that distance admits of no alternative route. From 5 miles 72 chains to 14 miles 48 chains, a new route along the Totara side of the range has been laid out, and from 14 miles 48 chains to the end of main race, at 15 miles 38 chains, the original is again taken up, as it cannot be improved upon. At the time that a waterrace from the Mikonui river was at first proposed, now several years ago, it was considered best to have it laid out in such a position as would enable it most readily to command the workings at Italian's and Redman'3 Gullies, on the southern declivity of the Greenland Range, as well as those at Ross, and from Ross to Donoghue's on the northern side ; and the Mikonui route was adopted for the survey with that object. It is now known, however, that the workings on the north side of the range are of far more importance than those on the South aide, and it is believed that the workings at Ross and from Ross to Donoghuo's alone, would absorb all the water which a single race could conveniently be made to carry in such rugged country, namely, from 50 to 60 heads of 40in each. Having obtained a complete exploration of the whole district, Mr O'Connor considered it now possible to compare with certainty all the routes which are practicable, and the workings which each command, aud he believes that a race laid out principally with a view of supplying the workings at Ross and from Ross to Donoghue's would be the most remunerative one to construct, and that the route of the recent survey above described is the best which can possibly be attained for that object. The total estimate for the work as now recommended, based upon a carrying capacity of 50 heads of water, which is as much as it would be advisable to calculate from the Mikonui as a source, is L 68,000. ] n arriving at this estimate, the greatest care, Mr O'Connor states, has been exercised to ascertain the quantities correctly, and to adopt the highest scale of prices paid on the most recent similar works undertaken by the Government. Referring to these facts, be says: — "The fault in previous estimates for water-races in Westland has been not so much a want of care, as a want of time, and an absence of such accurate information in the matter of surveyed details as would afford an opportunity of going into detail. It had therefore to be assumed that the prices would be similar to those paid on the then existing examples ; and that the races themselves would also be similar to existing ones in the character of their works, but the rates of wages increased very considerably, and the Government races were constructed on a scale of efficiency and durability, particularly in the matter of the class of timber used, which had never previously been attempted in the locality, so that there was, no real relation between the basis assumed for the estimate and the works as carried, out." He adds, however, that the most minute detail has been gone into, and the only elements of any degree of uncertainty existing in the estimate are the cost price of the head-works and the price of the long tunnel. The former of these is necessarily uncertain, as surveyors were most difficult to get, and there was not time for those obtainable to do more than lay out and plot the race line itself. Mr O'Connor, however, inspected the site on the ground, and observed that the headworks necessary there will be far simpler and less in extent than those at Lake Hochstetter, so that the sum put down for them being nearly the same as the cost of Lake Hochstetter head-works should be ample. In the case of the long tunnel the element of uncertainty is the question of the hardness or otherwise of the rock which may be met with, for although he has no doubt miners could be got who would tender for it at a reasonable price, and take all the risk, it has to be borne in mind that not being capitalists they would have to throw it up if the price did not keep them in food. As the rate estimated for it, is 30s per cubic yard he does not think, however, that there would be much danger of that contingency arising. Mr O'Connor refers to a report which he made on the same race in 1872. He admits that, with the work then proposed, the new line compares well in the element of security, as tunnels are the most durable of all classes of water-race constructions, and in the new route tunnelling prevails. Another new item is the probability of the race water being used in connection with high pressure turbines- for the drainage of Ross Flat, and a third important point which he mentions is the very depressed condition of Ross at the present time, and the effect which that is producing on trade at Hokitika. It is truthfully said by Mr O'Connor that since the earliest settlement of the gold-fields the activity or otherwise existing in the mining of the Totara district has always been sensibly felt in Hokitika, and this is more evidently the case now than it has ever been before, so that he believes that if the workings in and about Ross were to entirely collapse without reasonable prospect of their being resumed again a large proportion of the population of Hokitik a who are dependent on the earnings of the

Ross miners would have to leave the country. He states that so far, however, the miners at Ross, though working under great disadvantages, have been imbued with such an amount of confidence in the ultimate richness of the district that they have held on there at a lower rate of remuneration than they would have dom elsewhere. This, he says, they have done in the hope that some economical and efficient mean 3 might be adopted for draining the flatfto the lower levels, which are at present almost untouched, but they cannot continue to live upon this hope for an indefinite period ; and, commenting upon these facts, he concludes his report by making the following remarks and recommendation : — " So far as the Mikonui Water-race has been looked upon as the most effectual and probable means of getting this done, and latterly the hopes of the miners have almost centred upon it. If it is undertaken or a guarantee given that it will be undertaken, the population in Ross will probably remain as at present until it is completed, when it would no doubt largely increase, but if it is finally determined not to undertake it, the majority of those now at Ross would leave the West Coast altogether, carrying with them a large number of the inhabitants of Hokitika and thus a useful body of trained miners, trained too in the particular class of work required at Ross, would be lost to the country. It may be well also to mention that if this race is undertaken on the Hue at present recommended, its progress will necessarily be slow, aB it would take at the least three years to complete the long tunnel. I would recommend therefore, in the event of its being decided to undertake it, that this tunnel— which is estimated to cost about Ll2, ooo— should be let by contract first, and the remainder of the work then withheld for a year or two." .