SLUDGE CHANNELS FOR THE GOLDFIELDS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 72, 17 June 1870, Page 3

SLUDGE CHANNELS FOR THE GOLDFIELDS.

The following is the report of Mr. J. L. Gillies on Sludge Channels for the Goldfields:—

St. Bathaits.—The sludge channel here is doing its work most efficiently, and I feel bound to express my opinion that all parties conuected with that undertaking deserve grefct credit for the able and, as far as I am able to judge, economical manner in which the work has been carried out. The tailings are now being carried down so far on the flat as to render it probable that the present course of the creek will be altered so as to interfere with the tail races from Welshman's Gully, which discharge into the same creek. The road also is likely to be interfered with. An application has been made by the Welshman's people, which I would strongly recommend to be granted, viz.That a properly qualified officer or engineer,: be instructed to visit the ground together with the- Warden of the district, and, after consultation, advise what would be best to be done under the circumstances. They are prepared to do their share towards protecting their. own interests, but they consider the Government should, for the protection of the road, join in whatever small outlay may be necessary. As the evil is daily increasing, no time should be lost:

Blacks No. I.—A considerable sum of money has been subscribed here, and contributions in the shape of labor have been promised, for the purpose of constructing a sludge channel. The sum of £I,OOO has been voted towards this object by the Provincial Council. No properly organised committee had been formod at the time of my visit, but ] acvlsed that this should be done, and that the following points should be kept in view, viz.That the district should subscribe in money or labor £SOO, as against .the Government's £I,OOO. That a proper plan should be drawn out, and estimated cost per chain by con tract ascertained. That all labor subscribed should be taken at per chain of work according to schedule price j.

and that the value of one week's labor be reckoned at £3 sterling. \No properly organised committee has been formed here, although several enterprising men are anxious to enter upon the work, and are fully convinced of the great benefit it would confer upon the district, not only in assisting present workings, but in rendering available a large extent of ground which cannot at present be worked. I strongly advise the same action to be taken as at Black's, with the following addition, which, owing to the local circumstances, I would recommend the G-overnment to agree to, viz.That in the event of the Committee being able to secure the rights of one of the present tail races, whereby an immense savin* in the construction of a sludge channel would be effected, reasonable valuation should be allowed and held as equivalent to work done.

General K/emajiks. —These sludge ! channels are most important works. In my opinion the permanence and extent! of many of ou : - Goldfields actually de- j pend on a properly laid down scheme ) of water supply, and on a system of sludge channels for carrying off the j immense quantity of debris washed down from the large extent of sluicing claims in the Province. No money could be more usefully spent at the present time than by appointing a thoroughly qualified engineer to visit the various sluicing districts, with a view to. advise the various localities, as well as the Government, as to the best means of preventing the accumulation of tailings. These accumulations, if not provided against, will, in the course of a very short time, either preveut operations being carried on, or render them so expensive as to make them unprofitable. Not only are the channels of our creeks being changed, but the very beds of some of our largest rivers are being altered and narrowed by the large quantities of tailings which aredischarged into ihem. I am strongly of ppinion that the views of a practical engineer should be taken as to the probable effects in ease of floods, and the remedies which ought to be applied to prevent injury to life and property.