Plan for the Waimea water race (detail). Cartographer: Public Works Dept. (ATL ref. Map Coll 834.4ghhd/1874/Acc.53897) Waimea, on the West Coast, was one of the most promising of New Zealand's early goldfields, and settlers flocked to it. However, by the late 1860 s many mines were sunk and there was inadequate water for sluicing. The high price charged for water meant it was not always economically viable to work the mines. The government was petitioned to build a water race to service the area, but the expense meant that the debate in Parliament dragged on. Newspapers recorded many disputes over water rights, including unauthorized diversions and illegal dams. Work on the water race eventually began in 1874, and was completed at an estimated cost of £106,000.
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Turnbull Library Record, Volume 45, 1 January 2013, Page 89
Word Count
126Plan for the Waimea water race (detail). Cartographer: Public Works Dept. (ATL ref. MapColl 834.4ghhd/1874/Acc.53897) Waimea, on the West Coast, was one of the most promising of New Zealand's early goldfields, and settlers flocked to it. However, by the late 1860s many mines were sunk and there was inadequate water for sluicing. The high price charged for water meant it was not always economically viable to work the mines. The government was petitioned to build a water race to service the area, but the expense meant that the debate in Parliament dragged on. Newspapers recorded many disputes over water rights, including unauthorized diversions and illegal dams. Work on the water race eventually began in 1874, and was completed at an estimated cost of £106,000. Turnbull Library Record, Volume 45, 1 January 2013, Page 89
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• David Blackwood Paul, “The Second Walpole Memorial Lecture”. Turnbull Library Record 12: (September 1954) pp.3-20
• Eric Ramsden, “The Journal of John B. Williams”. Turnbull Library Record 11: (November 1953), pp.3-7
• Arnold Wall, “Sir Hugh Walpole and his writings”. Turnbull Library Record 6: (1946), pp.1-12
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