THE PROPOSED NEW TAILRACE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2586, 18 December 1884, Page 3

THE PROPOSED NEW TAILRACE.

At the public meeting at the Town Hall on Monday evening last of miners and others interested in the construction of the new tail-race to connect with the sludge-channel, Mr R, J. Seddon quoted some figures from letters of Messrs Gordon and Gow to the Mines Department at Wellington in reference to the new tail-race, showing that they estimated that it would cost considerably over £2OOO, unless the miners did part of the work themselves. The following is the correspondence referred to ; To the Under-Secretary for Goldfields, Wellington. Re proposed new tail-race to near the top end of the Kumara sludgechannel to relieve the same of the excessive work now thrown upon it. Sir—ln conformity with your request in the telegram of the 14th inst,, I have the honor to report as follows : Although the channel with the four three-hour shifts of six parties each fully accommodated all who have a right to use it, the energetic way in which most of the claims are now being worked renders it totally inadequate to accommodate the same number of parties divided into three shifts, during four months in midwinter. The only remedy to resort to to prevent a total cessation of work during that time by about one-third of the pai ties is to. give them turn and turn about, which will average a little more than half time or from three to four shifts each week. This loss of time reduces a fairly payable claim to a non-payable one for the time, and saddles a very poor claim with a debt at the commencement of the full-shift time. The desire to remedy this evil, and at the same time to procure additional tailing-room where they would feel certain of being able to work the whole of their claims, has suggested this new channel to be constructed at Government cost, instead of granting a subsidy to a tail-race intended to accommodate four claims only, which would only be a partial cure. I have compared Mr Wylde’s plan with my own, and find his levels correct. Of the two schemes, the one to tap the present channel would prove of greatest utility. It would open an extended area for tailings, and I think cure all claims for priority.

My estimate of cost of the two schemes includes stone paving in the pew channel ready for work, and wood

blocks in the tail-race to work the four

claims only. The tunnel for new channel to be 7ft. high by 4ft. Tin. wide in clear, legs Tin. and caps 9in. diameter, red birch, planking l|in. thick, and channel 32in. wide by 32in. deep, set on one side of tunnel, and a side walk 14in. wide between side straps and legs. The tram to be on edge of channel. 14in. stone paving, estimated to cost £1 16s 6d per foot = ,£4,456 13s Od. An ordinary tail-race to work the four claims, 15 chains, at 13s ... .£1372 16 0 Two branches to present workings, 15 chains, at 12s 594 0 0 £1966 16 0 This is about what it would cost if miners did the work, but I am doubtful if they care to do anything towards it unless they are paid £3 per week for their labour. If the branch channel be constructed I am of opinion that some of the claimholders will be expecting payment from someone for having to drive a new tail-race into it, otherwise they will refuse to leave or cancel their right to use of old channel. This would have to bo arranged beforehand and made very clear. Additional flushing water would be required, and larger storing capacity at the Loopline dam, and probable enlargement of race, tunnel, and race from there to the claims. I have, &c., J. Gow, Manager. Kumara, 18th October, 1884. [Copy of telegram from Mr Gow to Mr to Mr Gordon, Inspector and Government Engineer.] The estimate, equal to £4456 is for 37 chains of main tail-race only. If two branches are to be included in this work, the right hand one equal to eight and left hand one equal to seven chains will reach present workings and work Rothwell’s and Mansfield’s claims. J. Gow. Kumara, October 24, 1884. [Copy of Minute by Mr Gordon.] Mr Elliott —You will observe that Mr Gow’a estimate is only for 37 chains of main tail-race, and does not include any of the branches shown on plan, I calculated for the entire length of branches (26 chains), but according to this telegram 15 chains would be all that is required. This would reduce my estimate to about £7051 and it would increase Mr Gow’s estimate to £6263 Bs, to which ought to be added 10 per cent, for contingencies and supervision, which would make it £6890. I made the same allowance when making up mine. Henry A, Gordon. October 25, 1884.