The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1358, 7 February 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1881.

The public meeting to be held at Dillman's Town this evening to consider the advisability of agitating for an increased water-supply to this goldfield is one of paramount importance to the district at large, mining and mercantile community included. From the fact that the present water supply is totally inadequate to meet the requirements of the miners, and that in numberless cases, through this cause, much time

and labor is lost, it is at once selfevident that this must have a most retarding effect on the financial returns of those engaged, tend also to only partially develop the resources of the field, and cause a general depression of affairs where none need for one moment exist. In the annual. report of the District Engineer for Westland, laid before the House of Representatives in 1879, Mr O'Connor, iu referring to the fact that the miners had advocated the construction of a reservoir ifi. the Kapitea Valley, on the ground that the supply of water was inadequate to the demand, and that the demand would also increase as paddocking gave way to ground-sluicing, said—" Should this representation be concurred in, the site in question will be found a good one, and a very large storage reservoir could be constructed there for £8000." Subsequently the manager of the WaimeaKumara water-race (Mr Gow) in his report to the Under-Secretary for Goldfields 4he same year, states—" The water-supply, although sufficient for present requirements, is not likely to be so a year hence. An unlimited supply for all requirements can, however, be secured by the construction of a dam at the Loopline road;" Mr Gow giving the approximate cost at the same amount as that of the District Engineer. In the face of these statements from their own officers, the Government can but be prepared to hear an outcry raised for an additional watersupply on this goldfield, more especially when the annual returns of the receipts and liabilities of water-races can but clearly and satisfactorily testify to them that the water provided on this field is secured with avidity, in some cases at a most extensive outlay. Day by day, as sluicing takes the place of trucking and paddocking, so. will the demand proportionately increase ; and, to meet this it behoves the Government to take instant action iu the matter, as, should the present supply not be increased even in a small propoition to the demand, the death-knell, so far as sluicing is concerned (when the sludge-channel becomes available), will soon be sounded in and of this district. During the last two years we find that the Waimea race has returned on an average £2,515 annual revenue, less cost of maintenance, the number of men employed, owing to the construction of the race being 595 yearly, and the annual yield of gold 24,9500z5>, thus returning the handsome sum of £4590 during that period for gold duty alone. The total cost of the race to the present time has bean £144,590. These are facts there is no gainsaying and with the increase of water on this field the Government may reasonably expect far larger returns in the way of revenue. That the construction of a new dam or reservoir was in contemplation may be fairly assumed, as we find, on referring to the last report of the Resident Engineer of Westland to the Eugiueer-in-charge of the Middle Island, that Mr Martin says: "The dam in the Kapitea "Valley, referred to in last year's report, has not yet been proceeded with. A careful estimate has, however, been made of the probable increase of supply derivable from it with the result that a total supply of 28 heads would be attainable : the supply from the present reservoirs being 15 heads. The cost of the dam would be £BOOO ; and the enlargement of the Kumara main-race, and distribution races to carry the increased supply would cost £1000; making the total estimated cost of thia addition £9000."

The business of the meeting this evening is, we take it, to place the matter strongly before the Government, and, to give this effect, it would be desirable to appoint a committee of those practically acquainted with the necessities of the district in the way of a water-supply, and who could forcibly point out to the Government the advantages that would not only accrue to the mining community, but the renumerative nature of the undertaking as a public work, should the dam in the Kapitea Valley be constructed. A

flowery display of rhetoric is as uncalled for this evening as it will be out of place. Let the speakers give the plain unvarnished facts; let the resolutions embodying their requirements be to the point; and, with the knowledge that the Government are thoroughly conversant with the matter under discussion, the probabilities are geatly in favor of the object of the meeting being crowned with success.