KUMARA WATER-RACE AND SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2514, 11 July 1884, Page 2

KUMARA WATER-RACE AND SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

From the Report on “ The Goldfields of New Zealand,” laid upon the table of

the House of Representatives during

the late session of Parliament, we re-

print the following Report from Mr Gow, the Manager Waimea-Kumara Water-Race and Sludge-Channel:—

Mr J. Gow, Manager of the WaimeaKumara Water-race and Sludgechannel, to the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields.

Sir—l have the honour to report steady progress in sluicing operations in connection with the Waimea-Kum-ara Races and Kumara Sludge-channel for the year ending the 31st March, 1884.

Waimea Race.—During the year many of the old original claims have been completely worked out, and a somewhat less number of claims opened, consequently the sales of water do not now equal the sales of the corresponding month of last year. lam of opinion, however, that the present sales will be maintained for some time, and that the race will keep employed from 130 to 140 miners for the ensuing year at average earnings on the coast. Some of the timber in the high flumes near the Kawhaka is showing decay, especially the legs and tracing, and the decay is almost wholly confined to the totara ; there are only a few Kawhaka spars really bad; the silver-pine and rata spars are in excellent condition. Many of the old legs will have to be replaced with new ones at an early date, the cost of which is included in the estimated expenditure for the incoming financial year. Kumara Race.—This race and its branches are in excellent condition, and their carrying capacity has been much increased since my last annual report, in which I stated that the main race was being enlarged. It is now about Bft. wide by 3ft. deep, with a fall of o’2sft. per chain; and the principal branch leading to the sludgechannel is sft. wide by 4ft. deep, with a fall of o‘3oft. per chain, equal to 4,320,000 cubic feet. I could dispose of move water if I bad a better supply. The storing capacity of the dams has proved unequal to the steady requirements of this goldfield; the winter rains may, however, keep up a full supply for some months to come, by which time a little work at the Loopline Dam could be done, which would increase its storing capacity considerably. Many of the claims have lately lost much time for the' want of water.

There are now thirteen sluicing parties taking water from the Government race who no not use the sludge-channel, and each of them takes from six to ten heads. If an unlimited supply was always available they would take more. The thirty claims making use of the sludge-channel use from six to eight Heads each, and many of them are continually asking for more; but, as a much larger quantity to each would to a certainty reduce the number of parties in the channel each shift, I have given over six heads only to those who have small fall. I hope to be able in a short time to give them all seven heads each. Amongst the fortythree claims now taking water from the Government race there are twentyseven giant-nozzles in use, and there is every probability of many more being procnred when the back-number claims are more fully opened out. Nearly all of the forty-three claims may now be considered as fairly opened and in a good style of working, most of them having plenty of room at hand to stow away stones on the ground worked out, and handy appliances for that purpose, consisting of fifteen water-balances, eight horse-whims, and five waterwheels, The shareholders generally are well pleased with the result of their washings. Some of the claims have yielded remarkably good returns and are likely to do so for some time to come; while others, as might be expected in so large a sluicing field, have yielded very small returns indeed, and I fear that a few of these, with even a reduction of one-third in the present price for water, would never pay even small wages ; and this is the opinion of many of the miners who had previously driven out parts of the ground now being sluiced. There are all over this field strips of ground running nearly oast and west which, are generally :ermed here duffer bars,” and I have 10 doubt tints some of these poor claims aave opened out in these poor strips, and when these are passed through netter returns may be reasonably expected.

Tho result of the past year’s working has, financially, placed the miners in a much better position: each party of

miners shows less indebtedness for water and channel, and speak hopefully of soon being out of debt. I also learn from storekeepers and others that their ■outstanding accounts are being gradually reduced, and that money is more plentiful, especially within the last six months.

Sludge-Channel.—This is my great trouble, and I fear it will continue to be a trouble to the Manager and others till the field is worked out. There is however some comfort to be expected if the new regulations are agreed to, and when the majority of the claims have permits under them, which is likely to be the case early in June. At the time of writing my last annual report there were only twenty parties using the sludge-channel; since then the other ten parties have opened their claims, or nearly so, three only not having washed up yet. These thirty claims are represented by or employing 181 miners. Although the channel is still being used three shifts each day, I am unable to accommodate all. I can serve only twenty parties each day. As som6 of these have the first right to the use of the channel, but do not avail themselves of its use every day, I am enabled to give the back numbers a turn; and to help them still more I have for some time back taken one day every week from each of the eight parties whose original permits have expired. This plan has enabled the outside numbers to make use of the channel from one to three shifts in the week.

Blocking or Paving.—l have now about 33 chains of the channel paved with 14-inch stone paving, which appears to answer the purpose very well. It is not and never will be as smooth as the wooden blocks, but I do not think the stone-paving will reduce the carrying capacity of the channel more than one party each shift. I have now less difficulty in getting suitable stone-paving; there are more men at the work, and experience is. enabling them to turn out more shapely stones. In time I hope to get a stock on hand ready to replace others as they are worn out. I think the paving will last about eight months. The Tailing Site.—The tailing site is fast filling up of late, and, at the present rate of extension of the channel, will reach the river-bed in less than twelve months, as stated by me at the sludge-channel inquiry. The tail end of the channel was at that time nearly 8 chains from the river-bed; since then the extension of the channel is averaging 2 chains per month. As yet the tailings run into the river by the channel have not been moved by the floods. Kapitea and Loopline Dams.—The dams are in good order, and with ordinary “ West Coast ” weather we should not lose a great deal of time for the want of water. Electric Light.—The advantages of a light of this sort throughout the length of the channel would be very great both by day and by night. It would save the heavy cost of candles, as there is great waste on account of the constant draught. Each man uses two candles, but they do not give light enough to enable him to do his work quickly. With the electric light overhead the men could see what they were doing without having to continually take a candle in hand to examine their work, or to search for every tool required. As it is at present a nail cannot be driven unless a candle-is placed in a position very close to see it, A good light from end to end of the channel while it is in use by the miners would enable the man in charge to see at once when it was choking, and facilitate his movements in giving the signals quickly, thus saving much valuable time to the miners. Herewith please find tables showing the revenue and expenditure on account of the Waimea-Knmara Races and and Sludge-channel, maintained by the Government from the Ist April, 1883, to the 31st March, 1884. Also the number of men employed by. the races, their average earnings (approximately), and qnantity of gold obtained by them, after deducting water-charges. I have, (iic., J. Gow, Manager. Waimea-Kumara Races, Manager’s Office, 12th April, 1884.