KAWARAU DAM

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1927, Page 4

KAWARAU DAM

GATES OPENED AGAIN. DUNEDIN, Aug. 15. After being closed for two months the gates of the Kawarau dam were opened at 9 o’clock this morning by two of the Kawarau Gold Mining Company's employees. There were about 50 persons present, all of them being local people. The first gate opened was No. 10 at the south side of the dam. where one of the deep channels of the out-flow was situated. As it was gradually lifted the water canto tumbling over the sill in great rapids, and those who occupied a coign of- vantage on tho concrete ledge at r.he base of the terminal pier had a very line view of the thundering torrent. Tho opening of the succeeding gates was also attended by more or less spectacular-effects. It was considered that it would he unwise to open No. 1 gate this morning, lest it should cause a scour of the north bank, so it will not be raised tiil to-morrow, when tho outflow right across will have steadied down.

When the gates were closed on June 15th the gauge at the landing stage above the dam read 3ft 2in. The read-ing-this morning was GftlQin, a rise during-tho two intervening months of 3ft Sin. This morning the water has (banked up to within l£?in- of the top of the gates. It is-understood that- the operations of-'the Vogel’s Vision Company over the period in which the gates have been closed have resulted- in the recovery of approximately 47cs of gold. Tito Natural Bridge Company has washed up something-like 2500 z; These are the largest returns. Other companies such as the Combined Golden Bed. Golden River, and Golden Gorge Companies', which have been under -tho one management, have not recovered more than 2c*. The returns from the operations of the consolidated Kawarau claims have been negligible and this can be said also of some .smaller concerns operating trom Cromwell. McDowell and party, a Nelson syndicate, holding claim 75), worked only for a month, during which they washed up oo* odd.