GOLD MINING ON THE WEST COAST.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 79, 2 April 1912, Page 8

GOLD MINING ON THE WEST COAST.

« The Minister for Mines (Hon. J. Coltih) -vrill leave on Thursday for the West Coast for the purpose of formally opening the Kumara -naterrace extension. The extension is the first of its kind in New Zealand. It extends the Kumara waterrace by a 30in syphon, under the Teremakau river, with the object of providing sluicing facilities for the gold-bearing terraces which it has hitherto been, found impossible to work without a water supply. The provision of that supply will, it is anticipated, provide work foi a great many miners, and a considerable development in the goldmining industry of the district is anticipated in consequence. There in plenty of water to spare in tho Kumara water-race, and even befyo the work was started the Government bad received undertakings that' all tho -water available (which ib charged for to the users) would be utilised, and thus provide full interest on the cost of construction. The work is also interesting from ihc engineering point of view. The pipub are not laid actually on the bed of the river — that would havo been dangerous owing to tho pressure of flood water — but bpecially-constructed flexible joints were imported from America, which will enable the pipe line to give very considerably in tho event of flood water preotture being exerted- Th© Minister will be accompanied by the Under-Secretary - for Mimes (Mr. H, J. H. Blow) and the Inspecting Engineer (Mr. F. Reed). Tho date of the ceremony has not yet been fixed, but it -Hill be Eomo time in Easter week.