DOBSON’S GREEK WATER RACE.

Kumara Times, Issue 285, 3 September 1877, Page 2

DOBSON’S GREEK WATER RACE.

From the report of E. J. Lord, Esq., District Surveyor, upon this race, w,e condense the following The supply is all that can be desired. Besides' Dobson’s Creek there are about 12 creeks picked up en route, which are at present permanent,,and 15 others which in all probability'are dry in summer. From thepermanehtcreek ten heads can be reljed upon constantly. . . . . . I recommend That a re-survey be made of the line ... . gaining 18ft in six miles.—That the water be lifted 25ft higher up Dobson’s Creek th«n at present. Twenty-five feet can be got in three chains—That a resurvey he made of the tunnel line from the Piranui to Dobson’s Creek for the 25ft lift in Dobson’s Creek will, I think, reduce the length of the tunnel (53 chains) to one half; and if it does so, the Piranui, which is longer than the creek, will be well worth adding to the supply. . . . —lf these recommendations are carried out, we gain in height, 57 feet—This will bring the race to the top of Hayes’ Terrace, and enablesto command the whole of Quinn’s Terrace, and a larger area of good sluicing ground. The high level also does away with the Hayes’ Terrace tunnel entirely, and generally improves the line.—lf the company are successful in finding good reservoir sites, and in getting a short tunnel through te the Piranui, they will be able to double the present supply, and bring in a twentyhead race.—Hayes’ and Quinn’s Terraces are favourably situated for hydraulic mining, the fall being ample, and the gravel very easy to run off with water. Mr Wylde’s estimate of the cost of construction seems to me a very fair one, viz.—£2,306, but if the reservoirs. Piranui tunnel <fec., are constructed, it will increase the cost to. ab»ur, £4500 for a tweiity head race. This, of course, is approximate, for a detail estimate cannot be made until after the survey is completed The cost

of re-survey .will be about : £2oo.—la conclusion, I may add that the water right is a valuable one, and if the ground commanded by the race is only ;half as good as it is represented to.be,'your undertaking cannot fail to be a success.’