WATER-BEARIXG STRATA. 341 



necessitating the lowering into tlie shaft of the second 14-in. 

 pump in place of the 10-in. pump, which had to be removed, 

 the clack seat having burst through too fast driving. 



Sinking now went on at the rate of 2 feet per week, with a 

 quantity of water to be pumped of 500 gallons per minute, 

 the strata passed through being variegated sandstone and a 

 grey stone in beds of from 9 to 18 inches thick, giving out 

 v/ater. 



I may here mention (to show the large amount of w^ater 

 held in this area) that a small well only 80 feet distant, with 

 bore-holes to a depth of 140 feet, was overflowing the surface 

 of the ground at the rate of 190 to 200 gallons per minute at 

 the same time as the sinking was going on in this well. 



Another stage of sinking to a depth of 142 feet w^as reached, 

 at which depth further yields of water were met with in the 

 pebbly joints before mentioned, these pebbles being quite 

 loose in the fissures, which were large enough to allow of the 

 hand and wrist being inserted, and had evidently been rolled 

 about by the action of the water in its passage through the 

 joints of the sandstone. 



It w^as here decided to sink the well to a depth of 160 feet, 

 with a view of driving headings at a depth of 140 feet. 



To prove the ground a 4-in. bore-hole was put down, and at 

 a depth of 177 to 180 feet a spring of 200 gallons per minute 

 was tapped. 



The sinking to the stage of 160 feet proved to be slow, on 

 account of the difficulty experienced in coping with the 

 water, taking six months to accomplish the depth of 20 feet, 

 the buckets and valves of the pumps having to be constantly 

 withdrawn for examination, for if the least worn the pumps 

 w^ere overpowered. 



The quantity pumped at the termination of the sinking 

 was equal to 1| million gallons a day. 



