348 Transactions. — Geology. 



Art. XLVII. — Artesian Wells, Wanganui, New Zealand. 

 By H. Hill, B.A., F.G.S. 



[Read before the Baioke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 28th November, 



1892.] 



Plate XLV. 



At the meeting of this society in July last I read a paper on 

 the geology of the Wanganui district, with special reference to 

 the possibility of Wanganui itself being situated within an 

 artesian-water-bearing area. At that time I had no idea that 

 the governing body in Wanganui would so soon act upon the 

 recommendations made by me in a special report made to 

 them ; but, the test having been made and success achieved, 

 it is with pleasure that I bring the matter once more under 

 the notice of members. 



It will be remembered that a suggestion was made in 

 my paper to the effect that two trial-bores be put down 

 in places indicated on a plan of the district — one of the 

 places being near the Girls' High School, the other one 

 being near the spot marked as the " Asylum." To test 

 the matter, the Wanganui Borough Council decided to put 

 down a trial-bore near the first-named place ; and, tenders 

 having been called for, Mr. Gilberd, of Taradale, obtained the 

 contract, and on the 8th of the present month he struck a 

 fine flow of water at a depth of 218ft. The pipe is a 4|in. 

 bore, and the daily flow is estimated at 100,000 gallons, with a 

 pressure of 7-Jlb. to the square inch, which is equal to a rise 

 of about 14ft. above the surface, when friction is taken into 

 account. At the spot where the well is situated the height 

 above sea-level is 46ft. As the location of the second well 

 appears to be outside the ordinary borough limits, no contract 

 has been made for sinking the second well ; but, now that 

 artesian water is known to exist in the district, no doubt 

 those who are interested in obtaining a water-supply at or 

 near the place indicated will not be long in providing them- 

 selves with the inestimable boon of unlimited pure water, 

 without which sanitation, according to hygienic laws, is im- 

 possible. 



The authorities in Wanganui have sent me specimens of 

 the different strata met with during the sinking, and the 

 beautiful section here shown, with the photograph of the well, 

 have been prepared for me by Mr. A. Atkins, F.B.I.B.A., of 

 Wanganui, to whom I am indebted for valuable help during 

 my visit to the town, and who first brought the question of 

 an artesian water-supply for Wanganui to my notice. The 



