OPENING OF LAKE ELLESMERE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9156, 13 July 1895, Page 8

OPENING OF LAKE ELLESMERE.

The opening of L»ke Ellesmere was safely accomplished on Thursday. The channel was scooped out on Wednesday night, and as soon aa the tide was favourable the opening on the Lake side was made at 10 a.m. on Thursday and a good current ac ouce started to run. At noon yesterday the chaunel had increased from a narrow stream a few yards wide to one five chains wide, with an enormous volume of water rushing out. The opening is now safe. The heaviest storm that can visit the coast will not stop the outlet until the Lake is lowered to its usual low water level. The news will be received with thankfulness by the settlers swamped out uud also by a iarge number of sympathisers. As there is more than the usual amount of interest taken in Lake Ellesmere this year, it will not be out of place to explain briefly what the opening referred to means. Lake Ellesmere is the natural drainage or basin for draiuing a large tract, of country, taking a line from midway between the Selwyn aud Waimakariri rivers on the north-east side, from the Rakaia ou the south-west side, from the ranges that feed these two rivers ou the north side, and the Port Hills from say Cooper's Kuob3 bo Birdling's Fiat. On the east side we have a large tract of country all draining into the huge basin called Lake Ellesmere. The Lake is separated on the south-east and south-west side from the sea by the Ninety Mile Beach, which, when the opening is clojed up, raises the Lake several feet above the sea level, and so this time the Lake rose to 6ft 7in above sea level. As soon as the Lake rises above sea level a contract is usually let to cut an opening through this beach or shingle ridge, which is at the narrowest part about six chains wide. The cutting is made on the same plan as an ordinary drain or caual, by teams and men with scoops, who draw out the shingle from tho cutting and throw it up on either side. The heavy pressure of waber in the lake soon gets a strong current running, which is generally, except in cases of very heavy seas, strong enough to resist tides and seas. The sight is a very grand one, the two opposing forces of water, fresh and salt, meetiug each other and fighting for a victory. The spectacle now is a very grand one and well worth a visit.