WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 63, 28 October 1865, Page 2

WAIMEA.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 26.

The Government at last appear inclined to shew us somo slight consideration upon the eubjeot upon which I dwelt in my last communication, namely, the formation of tho track. Mr Sale, accompanied by Mr Rochfort, ua a visit on Thursday last, and I believe announced that the work would be at once commenced. The job will be done by wages men, I am informed, in preference to contract work, and as wages are very low in town at present, the work will doubtless be completed at a small expense Meehan's monster dam is slowly but surely approaching • completion The great height of the embankment (fortyfive feet) necessarily involves an immense amount of labour, as the earthwork must be of proportionate width to give solidity and strength to the structures The inside of the dam will be sheathed with two-inch planks, covered at tho joints by battens, and of other timber, in the shape of logs, &c, an immense quantity has been used. The dam is being constructed in a spot extremely favorable for such nn undertaking, viz., in the mouth of a gorge, by this means the labour saved is something considerable, the gorge not being above seventy or eighty feet wide. A deep channel has likewise been constructed above the works to carry the water during the time occupied in building the dam, by this means keeping the clay and earth eomparativoly dry^ thus improving the chances of making a good job of it, and of having a tight dam. When completed, it is calculated that it will lay more than a milo of tho gully under water, nnd is expected to be finished in about a month or six weeks. The expense attached to such a work is of necessity something considerable, but the party aro to' a man sanguine as to the ultimate success of the undertaking, as the water being at suoh a high level, will command all the terraces for many miles below them, which have remained unoccupied up to the present time, in consequence of the want of water.

# Murphy and party, whoso claim is situate immediately below tho township on a terrace on the north bank of the Waimea, are obtaining very good wages, to repay them for tho heavy labour of cutting their race, which has been carried along the side of the range for a considerable distance ; tho cutting in some places being upwards of ten feet in depth, and the sides of it are for the most part timbered, Soveral parties have been engaged during the last few week in prospecting some high terraces situated up the left hand branch of the Waimea, and express themselves satisfied with the prospects obtained; the principal difficulty being their inability to convoy water to tho desired point. Payable prospects were in many instances obtained, three to four grains to the dish being washed on several occasions.