THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1873.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 209, 28 February 1873, Page 5

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1873.

The agitation about the diversion of water for gold mining purposes from the Kakanui Kiver appears to be opening up the whole question as to the legal rights of sluicing on the Goldfields. No more important difficulty has ever yet arisen in New Zealand history than this one. By what right and to what extent can rivers be closed against the energetic men who are prepared to develope the gold mines of the Colony ? A first provision in the Bill to be brought forward in the ensuing session, should be one dealing with the matter of river pollution. It should be no longer tolerated that mining should go on simply by grace, and not by law. The industry that has made Otago what it is—the wealthiest and most populous Province in New Zealand—should be legally protected, and more than protected—encouraged. Then, again, as to river diversion, as in the case of the Kakanui Biver—this, too, should be legally defined.

The Maerewhenua Groldfield, for its development is dependent to a great extent upon the Kakanui River. Two companies have already obtained extensive rights to lift water from the upper branches ; and a third company, representing a large amount of practical skill and capital, expended a considerable sum of money in the survey of a line of race, also from this river. Owing, however, to the uncertainty of their position, and the refusal by the Warden of their application for further water they have withdrawn from the field—thus depriving the Province of the advantage of having several' thousands of pounds invested in it in a manner that would have settled a large thriving population on the Maerewhenua. Climate and soil alike combine to render this virgin field second to none in permanence and prosperity. However, the state of uncertainty that has been created about the real value of these Kakanui rights is seriously injuring the companies that already are doing their utmost to make use of the grants they actually are possessed of. It is rumored that the Government is to be petitioned to cancel these rights. While, of course, not attaching any real weight to flying rumors, yet their existence entirely destroys public confidence ; and unless these compaiiies are worked by men of adamant courage and unlimited funds, we do not see any prospect before them but blank ruin. A large amount of foreign capital has been induced to embark in the scheme 'of bringing water on to the Maerewhenua —not without official encouragement —and it will be most deplorable that the confidence of English capitalists should be shaken in their first venture on the Mount Ida Groldfielda.

The real question in dispute is a small one. One mill requires sufficient water to constitute driving power; the fellmongeries and other bodies merely require water for cleaning and domestic purposes, which is a small matter. At present the mill, when it can, diverts a body of water sufficient to flush a flume six feet by- eighteen inches. This water is not again returned to the river till near the mouth, so that, if the mill supply were stopped, the settlers lower down fellmongeries, &c.— would be in a better position than they are at presenb —at any rate, all through the dry weather, /Several practical

plans have been suggested to deal with the question ; the one most favorably considered being to put a darn through the shingle, making the underflow a surface supply, to, be run off, by means of a race, to the mill. This would be a matter of great expense, and would present this difficulty : that the river frontage from the dam down to the mill would be lost, and the settlers, consequently, on the opposite side to the race would be without their (at present legal) water rights. Perhaps it might not be impossible for the Government to make an arrangement, compensating the millowners to a certain extent for the expense of putting on machinery to work by steam when water is slack. The owners of the flour mill at Oamaru, which depends on the wind for its main supply, have found it advisable to go to the great expense of lifting water up a high hill by hydraulic power, to keep a steamengine going during calm weather; and we have no doubt that, now the Kakanui district is so developed, it would pay the mill there to secure constant work by adding steam machinery. If this could be arranged, there would be, in spite of the G-old-field races higher up, a sufficient supply for all other purposes on the river. At any rate, in justice to the companies who are still laying out money on these races, their position should be determined, removing all uncertainty, and enabling them to complete works that will add greatly to the prosperity of the Province.