THE GOLDFIELDS WATER SUPPLY.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 782, 28 February 1871, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS WATER SUPPLY.

(From the Grey River Argus.) As our readers are aware, the autn of £300,000 at the rate of £IOO,OOO per annum for three years, has been authorised by the Assembly to be expended on water supply for the goldflelds of the Colony, and at the next session it is expected that Parliament will be able to decide upon the particular works that are to be constructed out of this sum. We suppose that it will be apportioned amongst the gold-producing Provinces, in proportion to their population. Should that be the case, it may be roughly estimated that it would be equally divided between Auckland, Nelson, Westland and Otago, whose mining population are tolerabiy equal to each other- Twenty-five thousand pounds would not go far in any of these districts, if it had to be expended entirely on the construction of works solely undertaken by the Government. But it might be made to go a good way in the direction of subsidies to public or private associations, who would take upon themselves a portion of the cost of waterworks. And it is in this direction that we think the aid of the Government can be made more generally useful and valuable. Except in extreme cases, we do not think it would be politic or profitable for the Government to undertake the entire cost and management of water races, whilst we know that many schemes would be undertaken and carried out by private enterprise with a moderate amount of assistance from the Government. In the County of Westland two large and costly water schemes have been initiated by local enterprise, but ha%'e had to be temporarily abandoned in consequence of the inability to raise the required capital. We have no doubt, for instituce, that both the Kanieri Lake Water Race, and the Ross and Mikonui race could be successfully carried out, if the Government were to either advance a proportion of the cost or guarantee a liberal rate of interest on the money expended. In the Grey Valley district again, there is the projected large race from Kendall's river, which would command the v»hole Napoleon district ; that scheme would probably be carried into effect with the aid of Government money or a liberal guarantee. Supposing the £25,000 annually available for the Nelson goldflelds, and the like sum for Westland were applied in the shape of bonuses, it might be the means of enabling works costing £IOO,OOO to be constructed in each Province annually for three years. No one can doubt that the expenditure of such a sum on properly considered water schemes would have an enormous effect on the progress and prosperity of the goldflelds. Abundant and permanent supplies of water would give a security to the mining interest which nothing else can afford. We have plenty of gold, and only require plenty of water to extract it. The County Council of Westland has already taken steps to secure attention to its wants in this particular, and we should be glad to learn that the Nelson authorities were doing the same. The Provincial Council does not meet, we believe, until April, but in the meantime the Government ought to make full enquiries, and instruct its surveyors to obtain the fullest information with regard to water supply for the South-west Goldflelds.