WATER SUPPLY FROM BIG KYEBURN.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 125, 21 July 1871, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY FROM BIG KYEBURN.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida Chronicle.)

Sir, —Some time ago I read in your paper that there was a probability of fifteen or twenty Government heads of water being brought from the Big Kyeburn to Mount Ida. However, as nothing more has been heard of it, I made some enquiries concerning the truth of the statement, and I found, as usual, you were correct. The water is there, and, I am informed, can be brought on the ridge opposite the township. But now comes the question, How is it to be done ? The cost, including the purchase of the existing rights, will be something like £IO,OOO —that is, £3OOO to buy the rights, and £7OOO for construction. Now, how much money are we likely to get out of the New Zealand Loan? I am afraid not sufficient for the purpose ; and there is no hope of getting any from the current revenue. Well, I have a scheme to propose, and perhaps you will be kind enough to give it publicity, when I hope some of our leading miners will give the matter their consideration, and make something out of it. Say the cost of cutting would be £4BOO ; the cost of fluming, manager, overseers, wages, &c.,- £2200; in all £7OOO. Well, I would propose that 100 men be engaged at £4 per week, for twelve weeks, which would amount to £4BOO : but instead of paying them in full, pay £1 per week, and give them a cheque for £3, to be taken out in water at the present Hogburn rate ; thus, then, £I2OO would be paid in cash, the remaining £3600 to be paid in water. I would make the cheques transferable on application to the manager, who would euter the same in his books. Well, then I would give the present holders of the water right onethird of the value in cash, and twothirds to be paid in water same as the others, thus effecting a saving of £2OOO allowing the value to be £3OO0 —viz., £IOOO cash, £2OOO in water. The remaining £2200 would then be ample to purchase fluming, pay carriage, and other expenses. Thus the whole money outlay would be £4400, and the in-

debtedness to be pai I iti water £5600 I believe this would the very outside of what it would cost -viz., £IO,OOO.

Now, sir, if we look at the advantages that will accrue from a work of this nature, we have only to point out that for over ten miles along the proposed course of the race the ground is more or less auriferous, and 1 feel certain that population would be settled along the course of the race during its construction, and who would be only too glad to purchase water, thus lessening the cost as the work proceeds. The slopes on either side of Speck Grully are at present being prospected with very satisfactory results ; and, in fact, we are fast beginning to find out that the vast resources of this district are scarcely touched. lam therefore of the opinion that this will serve more to open up country than to assist in working what has already been prospected. I see no difficulty in getting men on the terms mentioned. One pound per week will feed and cloche, and three pounds worth of water transferable should offer sufficient inducements to many of our hard working honest miners, and certainly should empty the JDunedin labor market of all those who are desirous of bettering themselves and making a home, it may be, for their families. It is well known that it only requires plenty of water to give employment to twice or ten times the population we have at present. Now, sir, I see no reason why we should not make sure of the. Government giving us this sum, as it can be easily shown that indirectly (I mean extra population, duty on gold, &c, &c.) it would pay itself in four years, but directly the race would pay itself by sale of water iti about the same time. At the present time a water race bringing in some two Government heads is rented at £SOO per annum. After the race has paid up all the outlay, together with interest, it will be for the Government to say how it will be disposed of. In fact, lam satisfied that should they offer the race for sale when completed, binding the purchaser to sell at a mnch lower price than at present obtains on the fiogburn, they would have no difficulty in selling at a profit, so that the money would be more a loan than anything else. You may hear from me again upon this and other matters, in the meantime I trust this effort to do good to the district will not be altogether thrown away. —I am, &c, An Old Mines.