THE PROPOSED DIVERTING OF LAKE WAKATIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 435, 13 May 1863, Page 5

THE PROPOSED DIVERTING OF LAKE WAKATIP.

(To the. Editor of the Daily^ Times.)

Sir,—My attention has b*en called to a leadins article m your journal r.f the 6th inst, respecting the diversion of the water flowing into the Kawarau river from the Lnke Wak-itip, i,i which, you sny that "we have_ now to lay, before our ; readers another project, the idea oi a gentleman whose name we will not for the present mention, which &rems cveu better than tiie one already referred to." •■■You then go onto describe that the project is to divert the stream now flowing into the Kawarau from the Lake into the Mataura River, by cutting a channel from the Lake at Kingston, on St. John's, down to the present level of the Lake until it will flow into the Mataura River, &c &c. Now, I don't know who the gentleman may be to whom you refer, but I believe thnt I first suirtrested the idea of turning the river: Kawarau as stated in your leader of the 6th inst.

In a lev words I may state, fat being in the Lake District m February last, I visited the various diggings, viz— the Dunstun, Kawarau, Arrow, nnd Shoto- er Rivers, &c, also the new township ot Frankton. At the last named place the Lake Wakatip discharges into the Kawarau Itiver, and the-idea at once occurred to me how easy it would be to stop the flow of the water from the. Lake into the Kawarau, and so diminish the volume of water flowing into the Molyneux by nearly one-half, and almost lay the Kawaiuu dry. The next question was—what was to become of the water now flowing; down the Kawarau 1 This point.Wßs solved at once on my visiting Kingston, situated at one end of the Lake : which place, I think, was originally the outlet of the Lake. I named the matter to gentlemen in the district aa soon aa I had satisfied myself, of the feasibility of the scheme, who at once approved of it, but could not see how the necessary funds were to be obtained, as the Government of Southland would probably protest against the diveision of water from the Lake into the Mataura, presuming that damage to adjoining property would probably be the result. On my way from the Lake to Dunedin I noticed the Mataura, and feel satisfied that by proper precautions being adopted no damage need be apprehended by any one along the banks of that river. ■

I have no occasion to enter into the meats of the advantages likely to result from the above scheme as you have already placed them before the public. I may, in conclusion, say that about three weeks ago, in conversation with Vincent Pyke, Esq, I named the matter to him, and that I am still engaged maturing a plan for carrying out the project.

I am, &c, R. Dotikin, Late Engineer-in-chief Sewerage and Water Department, Melbourne. No 6 Victoria Chambers, Manse street, 11th May, 18(33.