A SPLENDID ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 36, 10 August 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SPLENDID ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY.

The Superintendent of Public Watering - places in New South Wales has submitted to the Minister of Mines and Agriculture a telegram from Mr. Barnes, Inspector of Public Watering-places, Wilcannia district, intimating that he had measured the Clifton bore, on the Milparinka-Wanaaring-road, and found a depth of 1,638 ft, with a flow of 1,400,000 gallons, and a temperature of 138 degrees Fahrenheit. Water, the Superintendent adds, was first struck at a depth of 1,524 ft., the supply being 500,000 gallons per" day. Boring was continued, with the present result. Work was commenced on the 26thDecember, 1894. One hundred and sixty-eight days have been occupied in the work, aotual drilling absorbing 123 days of the time. The rate of progress has been a trifle over 9ft. per day. The total cost of the bore, including casing and carriage to one of the driest and most inaccessible portions of the colony, has been £3,390, made up as follows:— One thousand six hundred and thirty-eight feet of boring, £2,501 ; 1507 ft. of 6in. casing, £263; I,oooft. of Bin. casing, £295 ; 310 ft. of Bin. casing, £96 ; carriage and incidentals, £233. This is the second flowing well upon this road, and when the two remaining bores are complete the road, hitherto an absolutely dry one, will be magnificently watered, and will no doubt draw a large portion of the South Queensland traffic to the railway centre at Bourke. This further Euccess, Mr. Boultbee says, is a complete refutation of the theory that artesian water would not be obtained west of the Paroo. The temperature of the water is the highest yet recorded in the colony. Samples of the water and strata passed through are being forwarded to the Department.