340 WATER-BEAEIXG STEATA. 



to allow of the escape of air, penned in by the water. 

 When the cocks were finally closed and the masonry had 

 set, these were, after a few days, hammered up, it being 

 previously ascertained that all the air was out. 



The sinking was again proceeded with, the work of pump- 

 ing being reduced from about nineteen strokes per minute to 

 three or four. 



A depth of 100 feet was reached in March, 1872, or a little 

 over four weeks (being at the rate of about 5 feet a week), 

 when the strata reached showed itself to be more of a sandy 

 nature and with more water, and it was therefore deemed 

 advisable to fix extra pumping power, and pumps of 14 inches 

 diameter, with a 5-ft. stroke, were decided upon, and one fixed 

 in addition to the 10-in. pump already at work. The arrange- 

 ment of fixing this pump was by securing it by the flanges 

 upon transomes or cross timbers fixed at intervals in the 

 well (provision was also made for the second 14-in. pump 

 when necessity arose), strutting pieces being put under the 

 flanges to accommodate the different levels to which they 

 might come in lowering the pumps down. 



A gantry was also fixed over the well for lowering the 

 pumps and putting in extra rising pieces as the sinking pro- 

 ceeded. 



An engine-house was erected for working this pump, in 

 which a 20-in. cylinder horizontal engine of 4-ft. stroke was 

 erected. I may here mention this method of fixing pumps- 

 has since been superseded by hanging them in sling rods 

 from the surface, so that they are able to be raised or 

 lowered without employing a diver, which had to be done 

 (owing to the pumps not being able to cope with the water) 

 when any alterations were required. 



At a depth of 120 feet a further yield of water was 

 obtained in the sandstone, in pebble pockets and beds. 



