The Proposed Puru Water Race.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4350, 9 December 1882, Page 2

The Proposed Puru Water Race.

The following is a copy of the letter forwarded to the Minister of Mines by the County Chairman yesterday on the subject of bringing in a supply of water from Puru Creek for battery purposes : — "It will be gratifying to the Government to learn that in consequence of the im petus given to mining operations on this goldfield by recent discoveries, and a more systematic working of the mines, the County water race is now inadequate to meet the demands made upon the Council for motive power. The present race is a pronounced success. It has so reduced the price of crushing that low f>rade quartz can be treated with a fair margin of profit to the mines, which under . steam power was consigned to the mullock tip. It affords a superb supply to the township, and the Council has expended every available shilling on by-races for introducing some of the- minor streams, but notwithstanding the flume is always running full another supply is becoming an absolute necessity. Under these gratifying circumstances I have, on behalf of the Council, the honor to submit the following scheme for-approval of the Government. About 5J miles from Grahamstown there is a perennial stream running 20 sluicebeads through the summer months, named Puru, which the Council desire to bring by race into the township. It can be trapped at a 250 feet level, and would develop 220 h.p. at a, 160 feet head. The country through which the race would be taken presents no great engineering difficulties, a flying survey having already determined that fact, and the reproductive nature of the work cannot be disputed. With the Council it is purely a question of ways and means, and as they have not the wherewith to undertake this work, which is essentially a great public necessity, and would confer an incalculable benefit on the community, they trust the Government will entertain the proposal, if its necessity and reproductiveness can be shown, and be induced to place upon the estimates a sum sufficient for its construction. The Council will be happy to furnish, you with any additional details you may require, and should you visit the Thames I have no doubt you would be most favorably impressed with the richness of our mines, and the extensive operations in progress on the goldfield." .