512 Transactions. 



is usually blocked up with shingle thrown up by the sea. On the occur- 

 rence of a flood of sufficient volume the shingle bank is broken through, 

 when the greater part of the water flows directly out to sea, the remainder 

 finding its way into the Inner Harbour. Pure salt water thus occurs on 

 both sides of the Spit for more than three miles. 



Much consideration was given to the question of obtaining sufficient 

 fresh water for the works, only two sources apparently being available — 

 viz., from the Napier Borough supply or from an artesian well. On the 

 accompanying map are indicated a number of existing artesian wells, which 

 are situated to the south and west of Scinde Island, a hill consisting prin- 

 cipally of limestone and marl, on which the residential part of Napier is 

 built. These wells are apparently supplied from the Tutaekuri Kiver. This 

 river rises in the clay-slate ranges westward of Napier, and thence carries 

 shingle down to, or within a .short distance of, Taradale. From the point 

 where shingle ceases the course of the river is a meandering one across 

 an alluvial plain or delta formed of mud, which provides the necessary 

 watertight covering over some shingle or sand strata to produce artesian 

 water. The same conditions exist in the case of the Waimakariri River 

 and its relation to Banks Peninsula, where artesian water is obtainable 

 below the tidal estuary of the Heathcote River, and within a short distance 

 of the sea. The resemblance of the two places is so close that it seemed 

 reasonable to expect that artesian water could be obtained at Westshore. 

 It was therefore decided to sink a trial bore before undertaking the more 

 expensive alternative of laying a main to convey water from the Spit. The 

 result of the bore was, however, a disappointment, no water being obtained 

 down to a depth of 380 ft. Unfortunately the casing became bound at a 

 depth of 344 ft., otherwise the sinking would have been continued to at 

 least 500 ft. 



The bore is being preserved by casting a block of concrete over the top, 

 so as to be available if it should be decided at some future time to continue 

 an exploratory bore by inserting a smaller interior casing. A careful record 

 was kept of the strata passed through, which are indicated on the accom- 

 panying section. The strata marked "Compressed silt" are very tight, 

 and of a pug-like consistency ; otherwise the country below the first bed 

 of shingle was wholly sand. 



Nearly all the sand beds from 110 ft. below high-water mark carried an 

 inflammable gas. This gas when lighted burned quietly at the mouth of 

 the pipe, with a flame about 12 in. high, which was easily put out by 

 dropping the hammer over it. At levels 110 ft., 140 ft., and 156 ft., how- 

 ever, the gas was under considerable pressure — sufficient to throw mud and 

 water 10 ft. out of the pipe. 



The quicksand at 317 ft. caused considerable trouble ; three lengths of 

 the cleaning-out rods were caught as it forced its way up the casing, and 

 were lost for a time, but were eventually picked up again. 



As information of a negative character is quite as valuable as, and often 

 more so than, that of a positive description, the results obtained by this 

 bore should be placed on record in a manner easily accessible, for the infor- 

 mation at some future time of those who may be again considering the 

 question of artesian water at Westshore. 



The Transactions of the New Zealand Institute affords a well-known and 

 accessible means of placing on record valuable information, such as has 

 been obtained by this bore ; hence my decision to place this paper before 

 the Geological Section of the Wellington Philosophical Society, in the hope 

 that it may be accepted for publication. 



The exact location of the bore is 140 links to the right of 1 mile 7860 

 links on the original railway-survey mileage. 



