COMPLETION OF THE MT. IDA water works.

Otago Witness, Issue 1343, 25 August 1877, Page 7

COMPLETION OF THE MT. IDA water works.

About four years ago the General Govern* ment, under the -Public Works Act;" commenced these important works— rtheir object being to place a constant Buppiy 1 of water ■ within the reach of the mining- community near Naseby, and to enable,, by means of a deep , channel, or tail-race, a large area of auriferous ground in the Hogburn Gully to, be opened , ud or worked. Mr Dl L. Simpson, C.E., being entrusted with the surveys, reported that water could be 'brought. to Na<soby by^ diverting the head" waters of the t Manuherikia river by means of a : large open 1 race 60 miles in length, and that td carry j away the tailings' from the mining claims in the vicinity- of Naaeby a channel should be. constructed, estimated' 10 miles long arid 10ft deep. Early in 1874, Mr ' James Macaudrew (then Superintendent), accampanied; by Mr Horace Bastings Secretary for Works, atid Mr D. L .Simpson, Provincial Engineer, visited Naseby and officially removed the first sod — contracts having been entered into" for the construction of . the channel and a portion of the head race. fj The supervision of the works being entrusted to Mr R H." Browne. t ' The headracej 64! miles in length," has, after" mauy .delays,' owing l tlo,-ttie scarcity of labour in the districti'the severity' of the winters, been at length completed ; the difficulties attending tho construction of so large a race (capable of carrying SO Governmenfc heads) along the steep rooky sidlings of the Hawkdun and Mount Ida ranges,; the crossing of numerous wide shingly- bottomed creeks, each creek being at times a mountain torrent, conducting the water over loose drift, through beds of sand and large ever-moving land-slips, presented; obstacles to the more rapid completion of so lengthy a race. Pluming to a great extent was avoided, and the race cut out of the solid. ' Year by year, as the race lengthened, the difficulties to those in charge > increased ; the constant care and watchfulness to prevent the breaking away of .the race during* storms of rain r the destructive effect of' the hard, frosts and subsequent thaws, necessitated a^ large and increasing, expenditure, in! maintenance; and, lastly, the stauncning and making water-tight by various means the' whole length; ihe result being that" at this' date the entire race is in good oider and carrying water to the extent required.' In connection with the -head race there has 1 been constructed a dam embankment 30 feet high,- -which forms a reservoir with a surface area when full of nearly 14 acres. This,, for- ' some months past, has been kept full, without showing signs of weakness (or weeping), ! A flushing race, two miles long, for.conduct,j ing water from the reservoir to the channel, , !,has been constructed, the difference of level I being ab.ouib 200 ft. .' The necessity" ' for constructing;^' race capable of carrying 50 headsI of water presented some difficulties, owingto' | the rapid fall from point to point in certain places — gradients of 1 in 5 to 1 'in B. • These |; difficulties were overcome, various ingenious contrivances having been adopted ; and the work has withstood the severest tests. The sluice channel, or tail race— constructed at a coot of £23,500— has been completed for some time past. Its average depth is 10ft. ; ! bottom width 6ft., pitched with stone; the sides, to a height of sffc., being lined with' stone and sod- work. During the progress, and after completion, this work was to some i extent endangered by floods ; but precautionary measures, combined with'- the capabilities of the channel to carry- an immense volume of water, prevented any serious damage accruing. .The cost of completion of these works by contracts and day labour, in construction, • staunching, and maintenance, was about £55,000 The Works being completed, were formally opened in July last, Warden Eobinson, the Chairman and Councillors of Mauiototo County, the Mayor and' Councillors of Naseby, the Resident' Engineer, and about 200 of the inhabitants, being present at the j reservoir. After some remarks by Mr Robinson, the valve being lifted, the inevit- | able bottle of. wine being artistically broken i by Mrs Browne, wife of the Engineer^ amid ! the cheers of the spectators, the party then adjourned to a luncheon provided by the County and Town in the .Naseby' Town Hall, the Engineers, particularising the Resident Engineer, receiving the .greatest! amount of praise from all sides. ' To Mir' Browne's carefulness, untiring care; and per« severance, the present satisfactory' completion of the work is undoubtedly due, and that his efforts were appreciated by the residents was fully shown by the hearty: manner in which the- toast; of "The Engineers " was received.