MINING ON THE MOLYNEUX. (From Our Roxburgh Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 30

MINING ON THE MOLYNEUX. (From Our Roxburgh Correspondent.)

March I.— There is little to chronicle in mining matters at present. The chief Claims are shut down, and will be so until rain falls. The Ettrick dredge, for the weet ending Saturday last, produced 10 .z 12d\vt ; the Golden Gate, 14oz lSlwt; the Otago, 18oz; Golden Treasure, 330z 9dwt. » The public meeting called last Wednesday evening to consider the question of water conseivation was largely attended. Mr Jabez Burton, convener ot the meeting, was voted to the chair, and stated that the object of the meeting was to petition the Government to take over the Dismal Swamp (Lake Onslow) and increase the height of tha wall and there ~>y the storage capacity. At present about 100 men are out of work through the drought. The following petition, signed by between 200 aud 300 people, was read :— "To Mb Excellency the Governor an J his advisers, the members of the Executive Council. " The prayer of your humble petitioners, resident in the valley of the Clutha between Coal Creek and Beaumont, respectfully showeth that for reasons hereinafter set torth it would assist in a very great degree the development of mining in this district, and would give an enormous impetus tothe industry, if the Government aoquire<i,and took over the water area known as the Dismal Swamp reservoir, otherwise named Lake Oublow, and conserved the water therm for the whole district. They would point out : — "1. That the Roxburgh Amalgamated Goldmining Company at present holds the only available site for water conservation at Laka Onslow, the water, which is dammed back by a wall 20ft high (constructed by the Amalgamated Company), covering an extent of 1500 acres. "■2. That by taking this dam at constructed— all existing rights to be protected— and by raising the wall to such additional height as may be considered necessary, a large area of auriferous country, which is now undeveloped, might be worked profitably. "3. That this land, extending from Coal Creek to the Beaumont on both sides of the Molyneux River, a distance of 25 nines, is known to be payably auriferous from prospects obtained, and almost the whole of it is at present lying idle, being impossible to work for want of water. "4. That there are at present applications before the local Warden's Court for 150 heads of water, representing an outlay of capital amounting to .£75,000, and these applications it will in all likelihood be found impossible to grant under existing conditions.-< Your petitioners are aware that there would be a great many more applications for water rights but for the fact that it is useless at present to apply. "5. That the watershed drained by the dam consists of the LammerlawandPenelheugh ranges and Mount Teviot, comprising an area of 72 miles, so that by raising the wall the dam would afford an unlimited supply of water. "6. That this water, apart from its uses for mining, would be highly beneficial for irrigation, and large tracts of country now barren could be fertilised and turned into fruitful orchards, for which our soil and climate are specially adapted. "7. That the revenue accruing from mining investments possible from an increased water supply would more than recoup the outlay in a short period of years. "Your petitioners would respectfully point out that, if deemed advisable, no time should be lost iv prosecuting the work, as from their own knowledge they are aware that there would be an influx of J£nglish and other foreign capital into this district for mining investment, as there is at the present time all over the colony, if only necessary water rights were procurable ; and, as is well known, capital will not wait on circumstance. "In conclusion, we w iuld therefore ask that you vyill favourably consider the prayer of your petitioner?, and will thus acquire a most valuable property for the State, and one that will be a source of revenue for all time." The petition was adopted, and on the motion of Messrs Cormack and Wheian it was resolved to bring before their representative, the Hon. Mr Larnach, the importance of water conservation by the Government at Lake Onslow. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.