WATER FOR THE GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1005, 4 March 1871, Page 10

WATER FOR THE GOLDFIELDS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sic—l venture to question the propriety of entering into a newspaper correspondence on such a grave question as a Water Supply for the Goldfields, as I am assured that full justice cannot be given to such an important matter by having recourse to the medium of the press, but as the public is likely to be misled by certain letters appearing in your issue of the 1 lth and 18th curt., I feel it a duty to my fellow-miners to state a few fscrs. Mr Fuller is against the expenditure of any portion of the Loan scheme to aid in a water supply, and wishes the public to understand that ne entertains this opinion, without exception to any goldfield. But there are experienced miners who maintain an opposite opinion, and are certain that a grant of L 50,000 would develope an immense amount of mining industry in the district, thereby increasing the number of miners threefold. The Duns an Range, from St. Bathans to to Wai Keri Keri, is known to be auriferous, for "want of water" iB the cry. lam inclined to think that Mr F. hag not visited this goldfield for the last two or three years ; therefore he cannot be in a position to make his statements so positively. He refer? to 1479 heads of water registerpd. In a spirit of despair, it is more than likely that some of the old race companies chug to their registered right ; and I think it is unjustifiable on the part of Mr Fuller to make such a sweeping condemnation of all water-race property. As regards its depreciation, waterrace property has increased in value in this district — in fact, it would not bo an easy matter to find men inclined to dispose of their interests at Drybread, Tuckers, and adjacent gullies — because real practical miners have the working and management of their races. Surveys are made now-a-days, and our races will pay for years to ■ come. A subsidy judioioußly expended, and a percentage — Bay, 10 per cent. — for extension of races from main aqueducts to known auriferous ground, tested, faithfully, would yield profitable results, to the Government Treasury.

There is another matter I wish to touch upon. Your correspondent at Blacks states that 32 heads of water are registered and only five heads delivered at Blaoks. I must contradict this statement. The Golden. Gate Company can let five heads at the present moment, and has done so repeatedly. That Company has lately built a dam, and two others .are applied for. By those means they can fanusn six heads additional, and with extr» pipe over the; Mftaufcerik** <jan

..supply half as much again. The Suspension Race Company can f uruinh six heads daily, sometimes seven. It is now under repair, but will bo in operation Bbortly. The Lauder Creek Company can deliver six heads daily, with the aid of dams in course' of construction. There are also three other, races subject to rainfall which is stored, whioh can furnish for a considerable time throughout the year 1£ head each. All these races command ground that can be profitably wrought for the next 20 years. So much for "Miner's" statement, aDd I very much doubt if th» writer of 18th February letter is really a bona fide miner. Holding a bit of parchment in the shape of a miner's right will noc make a man a miner. Years of .experience ou a goldfield and plenty of' hard work, are better qualifications for the title. In conclusion, I would suggest that local boards of enquiry should • deal with the water supply scheme — wo don't even re«. quire a, polished Commissioner to vißit us. and deal with us— and finally dispose. of the most momentous question of the day.— l am, &0., Race Pkopkietok.

Blacks, February 21st.