HOLMES' NEW DAM.

Kumara Times, Issue 1727, 13 April 1882, Page 2

HOLMES' NEW DAM.

[By our Special Reporter.] Strolling up the Christchurch road from the junction of the new Dillman's road towards Go»dfell6w's for a couple of miles, one comes across a number of men hard at work building a dam for Mr James Holmes, and, to hear the voices, one would imagine himself in the maiden city of 'Devry, or doing the block at Coleraine. Jimmy Brown is in charge, with Bill Caldwell and Jack Martin as first and second lieutenant*. After salutations and the nsnal drink of tea, and a short discussion on the Woodstock rnsh, I asked to see the plana for the dam. " Plans, indeed," says Jimmy, "its bono and muscle that's wanted here ; not paper ! Our plan is to stop the water, and if this bank don't stand, why, I'll eat it. Examine for yourself, and give us your opinion." This I did, and found the embankment at its base to be thirty feet; a puddle wall, four feet thick, runß through the centre of the wall. The height of the bank will average fifteen feet and is crescent-shaped, commencing at the Christchurch road, and

finishing at the opposite bank of the Oknku Creek. The work iR about half completed, and it will take the present number of hands about three months to finish. When Completed, I am of opinion that it will be one of the best pieces of work on the Coast and can be safely backed against the monument of engineering incapacity known as the Kapitea dam. If not too late, I would suggest that the Government send some of their engineers to take a lesson from the half-dozen diggers now building Holmes' third dam; and, in the words of my frieud Charley Harris, they will nod that "in dam building, a theatrical ite is not necessary, and that dams can be built without breaking away three or four times, and those doing the work will say nothing about it." Mr" Holmes is to be complimented for the plucky manner in which he baa undertaken the extension of his water-sup-ply, and the worst wish from the miners is that they are sorry he has not enough water to supply all hands. From the capacity of the third dam, he should be able to supply at least four or five more parties in addition to making the supply to bis present customers permanent If he holds a christening of the dam when completed, I will, being a temperate man, drink his health and sue* cess in a glass of the newly-stored aqua pnra, and Wish the Government to fol» low such a glorious example* and let the dark deeds of the past be buried in oblivion.