THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 184, 13 September 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1872.

We this day publish in extenso M!r. Simpson's report on the Water Suppiy and Sludge C hannel questions; '.the report is-a very elaborate one, and vre> doubt not, iii an erigin&esriiig poifit df View; highly creditable; to fc. ; Simpsbn. . Still, we cannot but think that a ; very large amount of 'perfectly unnecessary expense is recommended—-an amount we ? may strilce a fatal 'blow at thei ;whole' scheme: r &s N iion ".not pretend |;Q j)jf%r.' an opinion ,a 4 to the. correct[wiffi ; »|you^tf^j : ' ;^?eyerthele^s r item?; therein,' which- form by far the llargest of the entire' esti-; ijaated cost of . the Channel; which are, iii v the o pinioii 'of . thpst' practical miners here, entirely unnecessary; We allude, in the Hfirst instancs, , to 'the i item " excavation," which; is set dovvri, 141,206 s cubic feet at Is. ;per = ; yard, amoaitrng to a' sum of £7,060, If 1 we are rightly informed in this mat-

ter, nearly the whole of this item might be saved by using water instead . labor, and a large amount of M : S a yed. It would : r appear, indeed, that the calculation has beenmade, by a gentleman more acquainted with the construction of railways than Sludge Channels, or .woika of that, description. t We know not what Mr. Simpson's experience of mining operations may be, still we. think that we are justified in asserting that by far thfi ; larger portion of the " excavation" might well be dispensed, with, and a large amount of saving thereby effected. Again, under the item pitching" .we find the sum of £13,200 set down. Now, this work is, in, the opinion of the oldest, ablest, and; most practical miners,here,. an entirely unnecessary waste of money. No doubt a work constructed upon the principle, suggested by M*." Simpson would be of the , most durable, character. \ The question,. however, is whether an equally available work cannot, be con.structed upon a m <>re economical principle. We are of opinion. that it can,,, and "vy'e. fear that the large, sums set. forth in Mr. Simpson's, report may—though they, should not—deter any (Government from: entering, upoa thi» • most important and necessary-work. Whether Mr. Simpson's 1 in the < matter of expense' ille right or wrong; there.is at least one consolation,' which is, that in his' opinion the ' "- Channel Scheme is perfectly feasible, and, if carried out, will be a work of " considerable utility, and cannot-fail " to be the means of advancing the interests of the district and extending < " its resources." Mr. Simpson further adds .that " the Scheme of Water Supply from the Kyeburn is practicable" " ,but expensive, and would therefore / suggest deferring the consideration "' of it 'until the Manuherikia water- "• she'd Has been examined an i reported " upon;"- In this remark we cordially coincide; and admit that we would fer the. water-. to be lifted from the ; Maniihefilda frather than the - as being the::rlarger and ; far more, per-maueiifr-%o'iiof«supply-&& the esi Still, w h atev er in ay be the result p.f tlie present ' survey of the Manuherikia watershed as against, as it were, that of the Kyeburn, it is manifest that su *h survey should not in any be allowed to interfere with the immedi--ate construction of the Sludge Channel,- a, work which has been" demonstrated by more .than.-one able engineer to be; ;■? perfectly sfeasiblej" and calculated to " advance the interests of the te " trict,' m Ore Over, - the construction. of which the IjGrOveririment has sanctioned, and for -which its honor is certainly pledged. > We confess that we are/anything but satisfied-with the re P?y lately given by .'Mr. -Reeves to Mr, Mervyn, in reference to this matter. •/ The question and ; reply will be found,elsewhere. ' The question asked, was a simple and a proper one, and the reply >,to our mind, ;.unsatisfact6jy; and evasive in the ; extreme. More .efigir neering , information—more engineering information—appeared to be the burden of Mrs. ,'iieeves' song; or, in other words, put off, put off, put (lelay, delay, delay—as though, a subject which has already been * reported upon -by scientific men-on five different occasions, should not; be sufficient in justifying the Government in the, construction of the work, even were it necessary; to go to the extreme of Mr. Simpson s estimate. -.What"we want,and what we demand, is that prompt action should be taken in this matter;. and that the work^.should be commenced at i»fit can-be shownthat a really efficient Channel can :be constructed at a less cost than that estimated by Mi-. Simpson, by the use. of- water and the abolition of the pitching, well and; goad. ? Stilly we say : do .< - - something, and \ .do that something forthwith. " • • . . ° . The Yogel 'Minigtry is defunct, and Stafford now reigns un its stead.' It is, therefore, to be hoped that' a chano-e'of Ministry will operate favorably to°this place—at all events, it would be difficult to imagine one which can do less than 'that which has lately its liist. ' ' - ' ' '-J.v

We invite-the opinions of the miners upon the subject of the construction.of this, Channel, and we ma 7 at the same

time state that the plans of Mr. Simpson can be seen application at this office.