GREAT EXPECTATIONS

KAWARAU DAM CLOSED

MAN'S CONQUEST OVER NATURE

MINERS READY AT HAND.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

With the closing of the dam yesterday morning, the curtain was rung up on the Kawarau gold-mining scheme, and after centuries of careering over rocky falls, the waters of Wakatipu were at last barred an outlet. The exact time of the closing was 11 o'clock, and ten winches were set in action when the steam whistle was blown, within one minute the dam was closed, and within three-quarters of au hour of the closing of the sluices the river below the dam had fallen two feet. During the week-end nearly all the Kawarau claim-holders arrived, and tents were erected. However, there will not be the same activity on the small claims as on those held by the bigger companies. Mr. Vickerman, of the consulting engmx firm of Vickerman and Lancaster, made a statement as a final shot to the pessimists and sceptical who held that when Lake Wakatipu rose the pressure would be so great that the gates would collapse. For a rise of one inch in the lake level it has been assessed that the added quantity of water in the lake will be 750,000,000 tons, but, as Mr. Vickerman explained, all the pressure would be against the bottom of the lake, and not on the outlet. The approximate weight of the dam structure is over 12,000 tons. The bridge of the dam itself is an amazingly massive structure, the bridge being 34 feet above the sills, extending for 477 feet across the outlet, enlarged by the excavation of the left bank. AH the visitors to the dam are gratified over the job, but they know not of the wor,k under water. One of the pier foundations goes down for 24 feet. The water passing through the dam this week was the same in amount as that passing through, the Arapuni hydro-electric works in the summer time. Two to three times as much water passes over the Kawarau falls as at Arapuni. The Kawarau dam is of the barrage type, that is, it is for controlling the flow, and not for raising the level of the water. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Eeports show a fall of the Kawarau Biver varying from four feet at some spots to eleven feet at Cromwell. With the development of the company's weir many gorge claim-holders were having a try-out this morning, but the major operations are not likely to commence before late in the afternoon or to-mor-row.