KAWARAU DAM

Southland Times, Issue 20205, 16 June 1927, Page 8

KAWARAU DAM

GATES CLOSED SHOTOVER LOWER THAN LAST YEAR LITTLE ACTIVITY ON RIVER YET (From Our Special Reporter). Queenstown, June 15. The Kawarau dam gates were closed at 9 o’clock this morning for the second time but without any particular ceremony. About 25 people were present, including Mr W. Annam, director of the parent company, and a few shareholders in claims. The gates were lowered in 20 minutes. There was about 1-ft. of water on the sill with the draw before the gates were closed. After the closing, the water backed up to 2-ft. 2-in. on the sill. For the week ending to-day, the lake lowered three inches, the gauge standing at 3-ft. 2-in. On the river, side of the dam the gauge showed 2-ft. 4-in., a drop of five inches in a week. At 11 o’clock the gauge on the river side dropped to the 6-inch mark. At noon there was a further drop to $ of an inch above the zero mark. The lowest river reading last year was inches above zero. The lake reading now shows 3-ft. 3-in. on account of the rebound. As far as can be gathered, the Shotover is 1-ft. lower than it was when the gates were closed last year. All the other tributaries are showing much less water than at the last closing. it is certain that mining on a big scale will not be undertaken this year no matter how far the river level falls. Prospecting only will be done to ascertain the machinery and plant needed to work the river properly. Gauges have been placed at various parts of the river and more authentic readings of the fall will be obtained this year. There is little activity on the river yet. Kawarau Consolidated intend concentrating on claims 100, 76 and 34, purely prospecting operations. A few men are on Vogel’s Vision and the Natural Bridge men are ready to start. With a continuance of the present frost there is sure to be a gradual drop in the streams.