Hill. — The Artesian Well System of Haivke's Bay. 289 



discharged themselves into what is now the Heretaunga Plain. 

 These beds are not constant or identical in structure over 

 the whole plain, nor should they be, considering the manner 

 of their deposition ; but for all that they are practically 

 and geologically the same. In times of flood a river brings 

 down vast quantities of materials, of various kinds and 

 densities. These are not equally distributed over the area of 

 deposition. Shingle may be in one place, pumice in another, 

 sand or clay in another, and fine sediment in another, the 

 deposits being modified as much by surface irregularities as by 

 difference in the specific gravity of the materials brought 

 down. 



Bearing this hi mind, let us now proceed to inquire as to 

 the character of the artesian supply-wells in this district. 

 Through the kindness of Mr. Garry, to whom I am much in- 

 debted for valuable information upon this point, I find that the 

 character of the beds passed through when sinking in different 

 parts of the district, varies greatly, in the 60 wells which Mr. Garry 

 himself has sunk. Speaking generally, there is comparatively 

 little alteration in the character of the beds between Napier and 

 Pakowhai, but the beds in the direction of Eedcliffe and West 

 Clive vary much in character. So also do the wells vary in 

 these places iu depth, there being a marked diminution as com- 

 pared with the depth of the wells in places like Pakowhai and 

 Awatoto. But the change in the character of the beds and in 

 the depth of the wells, whether in the direction of Clive and the 

 Big Bush, or of Eedcliffe and Taradale, is only what might have 

 been anticipated at these places. They are at the points of the 

 troughing of the underlying beds, and between which the water 

 flowed when the Heretaunga Plain was an arm of the sea. 



Commencing at Pakipaki, which, as already stated, is 

 32-39 feet above sea-level, artesian water is found at depths 

 varying from 65 feet to 80 feet, or an average depth of say 

 70 feet, according to the point selected along the plain. This 

 depth would give about 40 feet below sea-level, and 206 feet 

 below the highest point taken near Koy's Hill. The depth cor- 

 responds to a point out in the bay, somewhat less than 2 miles 

 to the south-east from the Napier beach. At the Pakipaki 

 Hotel, water barely comes to the surface; and for this reason 

 wells have been put down some distance further along the plain, 

 so as to obtain a necessary flow. Near the railway- station, and 

 at the Maori pa near by, I am informed that the water rises 

 about 5 feet above the surface. At Pukahu, and at the railway 

 crossing, Longland's Boad, about midway between Pakipaki and 

 Hastings, water is obtained at depths varying from 80 to 

 110 feet, or say 55 feet below sea-level, with a flow rising 

 from 4 to 8 feet above the surface. The depth of the wells 

 in these places corresponds to a point out in the ocean above 



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