C.-- 3,

102

uniformly at the rate of 2dwt. 20gr. per ton. Taking the average as ldwt., the value of the gold in the portion of the Main Slide Lead in the company's ground would be about £1,000,000, If the lead extends in depth, and is continuous under the mud-flat to the sea-coast, it would present a most favourable field for dredging and working by hydraulic excavation, and probably an additional amount co the value of £500,000 could thus be extracted. " These figures appear to be large, but from the tests made and the past experience in the district the estimates appear reasonable. They may be summarised as follow :—

A second syndicate was formed in Wellington to take up ground on this field, with a view of getting portions of the leads running through the Parapara Company's grounds; and to enable them to do this they purchased a claim and water-race held by a private company in Glengyle Gully. This purchase gave the syndicate the second rights of water from the Parapara Biver, and they also took up some other ground at Appo's Gully. Both the syndicates referred to made arrangements to amalgamate their interests, and, as the only other right to water from the Parapara Eiver was that held by the Eed Hill Company, which was at that time going into liquidation, the whole of the property belonging to the latter company was purchased for about £600. The price originally given by an English company for the Eed Hill property was £100,000 in paid-up shares. After the Parapara Company had completed the purchase of the Eed Hill property, arrangements were made to bring the water from the Parapara Eiver, and the necessary works were commenced over two years ago. Head Works. —A concrete weir has been constructed in the bed of the Parapara Eiver, just at the upper end of the first gorge, where good facilities offered for the construction of a dam, as the water at this point flows through a narrow rocky passage. The weir is constructed, approximately, about 25ft. in height above the bed of the gorge of the river, and is about a chain in length across the top. This weir delivers the water into an open cutting about 4 chains in length, at the end of which there is a tunnel leading through the range to the head of Appo's Gully. Tunnel. —This tunnel is about 24 chains in length, and constructed about 4ft. wide and sft. in height, close-timbered throughout. At one time during the construction some difficulty was experienced owing to its passing through slightly-swelling ground, but, with the exception of having to double timber about 2 chains of the tunnel, the rest of the driving was very good, and presented comparatively little difficulty. At the end of the tunnel there is about 20 chains of boxing laid on the ground; thence the water falls into a concrete penstock of from 6ft. to Bft. in depth, having a division in the centre which forms two chambers. In the second chamber is an outlet-pipe set in the concrete wall, and any gravel or sediment that may come from the tunnel or boxing falls into the first division, and can by this arrangement be cleaned out without allowing it to pass through the pipes. Pipes. —The water is conveyed from this penstock to the claim, a distance of about two miles, in wrought-steel riveted pipes, which are about 30in. in diameter at the penstock, and gradually narrow down to 24in., having branches of 14in. diameter at the claim. These pipes are laid along the sideling at Appo's Gully, and cross the saddle between Appo's and Glengyle Gully, following down the side of the latter, and crossing the Parapara on a suspension-bridge erected at a considerable angle to the stream. Some difficulty was experienced when the water was first conveyed into the pipes through their not having been properly secured to the foundations laid to receive them, the consequence of which was that some joints gave way ; but accidents of this kind generally arise upon the completion of new works, as every little detail is not worked out so minutely as, perhaps, it ought to be. Until such time as the pipes have been properly secured, the total head of water, which is something like 500 ft., cannot be utilised. It is said that at the present time a pressure of not more than 401b. to the square inch can be used on to the pipes at the claim. This is equal to nearly 100 ft. head, which is not nearly sufficient to do the quantity of work which would be done if the full pressure was utilised. The branch lines of pipes are 14in.. in diameter, and these supply water to Giant nozzles in each claim. These nozzles are said to be only 4in. in diameter. If the information supplied to me with respect to the size of the nozzle and the pressure of water is correct, then it would seem to show that, at the present time, with a 100 ft,

* Evidently either the totals or some of the figures in the columns printed in the report quoted are Wrong, aa they do not add cprrectly. The corrected totals are given below them.

Lead. Cubic Yards. At Pi Per Load or Cubic Yard. At ldwt. At 2dwt. No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 Main Slide ... Deep Workings 150,000 50,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 5,000,000 2,600,000 £ 3,000 250 40,000 10,000 100,000 52,000 £ 30,000 2,500 400,000 300,000 1,000,000 520,000 £ 60,000 5,000 800,000 600,000 2,000,000 1,040,000 * 14,800,000 295,250 2,952,500 5,905,000" Corrected totals] [11,300,000] [205,250] [2,252,500] [4,505,000]