352 Transactions. — Geology. 



water. The Kidnapper series is formed of many varieties of 

 beds, most of them being highly pervious to water : hence we 

 may assume that some of the beds which have assisted in the 

 filling-up of the Euataniwha Plain are saturated with water, 

 seeing that wherever flowing water passes over beds at or 

 near their outcrop a large quantity must pass away in the 

 direction of the dip of the beds. 



Until sinkings had been made it was impossible to tell 

 the depth of the more recent shingle and debris which have 

 been deposited within the Euataniwha basin ; and it was 

 with pleasure that I learnt in the early months of this 

 year that Mr. Harding, of Mount Vernon, had determined 

 to try for artesian water on the plain. The contract was 

 undertaken by Mr. J. Gilberd, who consulted me as to 

 the probable depth it would be necessary to go. He was 

 informed by letter than an artesian flow must not be antici- 

 pated before 300ft. had been pierced. During the sinking 

 some valuable experiences were met with, because the beds 

 to be passed through necessarily differed from those within the 

 Heretaunga artesian basin ; but, although the difficulties were 

 many, a bed of flowing water was reached when the tube- 

 bore had pierced nearly 300ft. of the heavy shingle-deposits, 

 and at a depth of 316ft. a good flow was obtained, the water 

 rising 16ft. above the surface. During the sinking three water- 

 tight dividing-beds separating the shingle-deposits were met 

 with. The first watertight bed commenced at 60ft. and con- 

 tinued to 80ft. ; the second one began at 120ft. and was passed 

 at 135ft. ; and the third one was met with at 236ft. and was 

 passed at 268ft. These three watertight beds separated three 

 distinct water-basins, for during the first 60ft. of sinking there 

 was an unlimited supply of water which rose to within 6ft. of 

 the top of the pipe, and continued there until the first water- 

 tight bed had been pierced. Whilst passing through the 40ft. 

 of shingle which separates the first and second watertight beds, 

 there was still an unlimited supply of water in the pipe ; but, 

 curiously, it stood at an average height of 33ft. from the top, 

 and remained at that height until the second watertight bed had 

 been pierced. The water then fell to 60ft. from the surface, and 

 remained constant until the third watertight bed was passed, 

 when the water at once rose to the top of the pipe, and the 

 flow continued to increase in quantity each foot that the pipe 

 was lowered. As the quantity of water obtained at the depth 

 of 316ft. is sufficient for Mr. Harding's requirements the work 

 was stopped, but there is every appearance from the material 

 brought up that the true Kidnapper beds are not far away. 



At present the flow is at the rate of 18 gallons a minute, 

 the tube-bore being only 2in. diameter, and telescoped through 

 a 3in. pipe, the latter having bent at 275ft. The rise of water 



