MUDDY TERRACE SLUICING COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 27

MUDDY TERRACE SLUICING COMPANY.

About three years ago (says the Mataura^ Ensign) Mr P. Gordon, of Dunedin, suggested to a few friends the possibility ofl working the Muddy Terraces by means; of water carried from the Dome Creeks about 20 miles from Waikaia, and as th«» ' outcome a company was formed with a' capital of about £12,000, subsequently in-j creased to about £22,000, including abouti £8000 borrowed from the Government This is the total cost of the race and pipe.^ line. The' work of surveying was put in^ hand at once with a view to calling teny ders, and the contract was secured bjft. Messrs P. Gordon and J. J. Jones, ofT ; Dunedin, with Mr Jones as manager, Mr^' Gordon acting as agent for the works irS supplying men from Dunedin. Under Me; Jonca were Mejtsrp W. parley, and Jt.*

. ■ W «T . Hiordon as overseers. Nearly three years ago th«^ contractors started work about two miles from the penstock and worked ■£botb ways from the nret camp. The.contractors had a eookshop and the men were catered for at per head. So 'the work .went on till last Saturday, when the race .was completed. The contractors are to be congratulated on the' work. Besides the race," which is about 14 miles long, there j *is two miles and a-quarter of pipe-line ' Vrom-thfr penstock to the-workings. The ! -pipes are 3}£iit at the penstock and 30in at the .workings. The penstock is over 80ft above the working level. From the penstock the pipes are laid down-hill for about half a mile, across the fields to (Muddy Terrace, - along the foot of the tills some distance, then up to the top, •where the main workings are to be. 'At present there is only one tail-race, about 50ft above the flat, but other tailraces will be constructed at an early date. Besides working the high levels an ele.vating plant will be set to work on the flatj where the Nugent Wood dredge was yworking some time ago. A line will also he taken to work the ground north of the main line. ' The pipe-line was constructed ! i>y the company under the supervision of Mr W. Moffitt, who has been appointed manager, and both Mr Moffitt and' the men -under him are to be. congratulated j on the results achieved. M% Moffitt Las [ ■ under him at present 14 men, or whom j five are .appointed, to look- after the race, ! one blacksmith with aa assistant, and the ' others will. be appointed, at, the various nozzles. Mr Moffitt does not intend to :': ' lose any time, as en Monday morning { the water was rushing through the nozzles ! on the auriferous drift. It is to be hoped that the company will reap - the success which such a huge venture deserves. - ' , ! j ' i ' ! , , I | j