The Kawarau Dam

Dunstan Times, Issue 3379, 20 June 1927, Page 5

The Kawarau Dam

The closing (If the gates at the Frankton Falls on Wednesday last did not create much interest. The actual lowering of the ten gates w’as witnessed by only about twenty people. During the week prior to the closing the level at the dam had fallen Sin, and the reading on Wednesday was 3it 2ins as against 4ft 5% in at the first closing on August 30th last. It is reckoned that at least sft of storage will ho provided in the lake. At first the drainage at the dam was very slow, owing to the flat fall of the river, hut a fall of 2ft was recorded in the first half hour.

The Shotover, though lower than last year, is still a big factor, while other streams are helping considerably to swell the body of water that flows down the Kawarau.

In At;gust last (according to the Dunedin ‘Star’) the guage just below the dam gave the level of the Kawarau as 2ft 9in, and this time it was sius lower, and down the whole length of the river and the level is lower than nine months ago. The drainage of the river will neocss arily be slow, and at least a week will pass before the Kawarau reaches its lowest level.

The Consolidated Kawarau Co npany which has about seventy claims, is concentrating on only three—Nos. 100 (the main camp), 74, and 34. A party ot West Coast miners are ready on 7!), anil the manager of Vogel’s Vision has been working at the main camp at the Hearing Meg. Cromwell claimholders are the only others in readiness. A “wait-.u.d-sce policy’ is being adopted by many claimholders, who have decided to await reports of the result of the closing and the fall of thu rjyer before coming to Kawarau. It is certain that mining on a big scale will not be undertaken this year, no matter how far the river level falls. Prospecting only will lie done to ascertain the machinery apd p'ant needed to work the river properly. Ganges have been placed at various parts of (he river, and more authentic readings of the fall wili be obtained this year. Ai the Natural Bridge claim, where the water is said to be lower than it was last year, G ounces of gold has been won.

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