DEEPENING OF THE CHANNEL

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 286, 29 August 1874, Page 3

DEEPENING OF THE CHANNEL

We have not yet learnt that any definite instructions have.been received as to the alterations in the Channel. The Secretary to tho Progress Committee has kindly placed at our disposal the following letter,' which was sent some'time ago to' Wellington, in explanation of the telegram which was successful in arresting the determination of the Government as expressed to the Provincial Government, in answer to.their application, which does not appear' to, have been very energetically pushed. At any rare, aNo was taken :— : - • - [copy.] " ,\ Nnseby, The Honorable/the' Premier, Wellington. Sir, —I am instructed to acknowledge receipt of your telegram announcing that the Government would reconsider the alteration proposed in the , Naseby channel. Immediately after your telegram was received by my Committee a public meeting, n.t tended by over 100 miners and otherp, endorsed the views contained.in the telegram forwarded to you, proposing that—provided' the channel was made efficient it would be better]to let it terminate a little shortof the termination in the original plims than <o render the channel, for its whole length, comparatively useless. 'I am" further/instructed to sny that the heaviest expense of the alterations is in the last mile, i e., the mile nearest to the town of Naseby. Owing to alluvial workings having now been carried on for over ten years, im° mense beds of tailings have gradually collected in the i icinity of thetown, choking up the natural outlets. To biing the Channel at the increased depth into these artificial beds would iio doubt' render necessary expensive protective works, as the Engineer's .estimate of alterations will no doubt show.

If it should be found that the money the Government, have available is not sufficient to deepen the Channel for its entire original length, no great injury would ensue to the future reproduetiveness of the works, neither would there be any serious inconvenience, caused, affecting the mining residents, if the Channel terminated half a mile away from the proposed end in the township. In no case would discharge their tailings through short 'tail races constructed at right angles for the' Government; Channel; they would in all cases prefer to extend such tail races for some distance nearly parallel with the Government Channel, so as to Eave as much gold as possible. - The main and, indeed, paramount point in the success of any such work as the Naseby Channel is that at' its outlet, anl from thence to and through the auriferous ground, it shall he of. sufficient depth to enable the debris to be carried away by the hydraulic force available from the auriferous bottom,, below which at" present gold is not sought for' in Otago. All other deviations and alterations'-'.in the! plans are of minor importance, affecting more: or less the capabilities of the work to p-iy in-i terest on 'construction, but of none of which I it can be said-—as of the proposed deepening —that, if/neglected, the whole 1 expenditure, would be rendered comparatively useless. The Committee, feeling" sure that the Government must be most anxious that, as experimental works' on the Goldfields, these now in hand should have every chance to prove successful—feeling too that Ihe.prosperity of' the district is involved in the alterations "proposed being carried out, have had no scruple, in pressing the whole subject in detail upon the Government.

I have further to point out, in justice to, the Mount Ida District, that, while on the' other Water Works heing constructed out of the Water Supply Vote the estimates have been largely exceeded, as the Minister for Public Works has evidenced in his Public Works Statement, the Mount Ida Works are the only ones promising to be completed within the,estimated cost: the fact being the contracts have all been let under the Engineer's estimates. Trusting that the Government will see their way to agree to the alterations, and issue such instructions therewith that will lead to the sjieedy-completion of the worksunnecessary delay meaning loss of interest to the Government, while, at the same time, inflicting an injury upon those who are waiting to develop the resources of the district when the works are completed I have'the honor to be, Your.obedient servant, A. Craig, 1 - Hon. Sec. Mount Tda Progress Committee.