224 EEPORT — 1882. 



Mather and Piatt, of Mancliester, cost 2,315?., or at the rate of aboufc 

 21. 10s. per foot ran. The total expense, including the last-named amount 

 — the balance valve, the fuel for engines, guard pipe and sundry labour, 

 was about 3,700L 



Particulars of WaterworJcs Well sunk under superintendence of Mr. Henry 

 J. Marten, M. Inst. C.E., for the supply of Tamworth and the sur- 

 rounding district with water. 



1. The well is situate at Hopwas, about 2 miles to the west of Tam- 

 worth, and is sunk in the conglomerate beds of the New Red Sandstone 

 formation. 



la. The well was sunk in the year 1879, and has not been deepened 

 by sinking or boring since that date. 



2. The approximate height of the surface of the ground is 306 feet 

 above Ordnance datum. 



3. The depth from the surface of the ground to the bottom of the 

 well which is 10 feet in diameter, is 168 feet, and there is no bore-hole. 



3a. There are no horizontal drifts. 



4. Before pumping, the water stood at 1 29 feet below the surface of 

 the ground. The number of hours elapsing before ordinary level is 

 restored depends upon the extent and duration of the pumping. 



4a. The well was sunk practically di-y, until a depth of 168 feet below 

 the surface of the ground was reached, when, through the marl floor of 

 the well at that depth a large spring was met with, the initial inflow of 

 which was at the rate of about 1,500,000 gallons a day, and its artesian 

 force such that in a veiy few minutes it rose to a height of 39 feet above 

 the bottom of the well, or, as before stated, to 129 feet from the surface 

 of the oTOund, at which point it remained stationary, and to which point 

 it rises when not drawn upon by pumping. 



5. Durino- an experimental test extending over a period of 59 days, 

 from September 21 to November 19, 1881 , the pumps were kept continu- 

 ously at work day and night, and during that time the total quantity of 

 water raised from the well was 61,000,000 gallons, or rather over 

 1 000 000 callous a day. This continuous pumping at the i-ate named 

 lowered the water in the well 28 feet 7 inches, or to a depth of 157 feet 



7 inches below the surface of the ground, leaving a depth of 10 feet 

 5 inches in the well. On the cessation of pumping the water rose 



8 inches in 30 seconds, or at the rate of 945,000 gallons a day, and at 

 the end of 8 days it had regained 14 feet 2 inches of the loss of level. In 

 3 weeks (notwithstanding occasional pumping for the supply of about 

 800 houses then laid on), it had risen to a level some few inches higher 

 than the point at which it stood before the experimental test was made. 

 The averao'e quantity pumped for the supply at present of between 1,100 

 and 1,200 houses is about 55,000 gallons jjer diem. 



6. There is no decided information available as to whether the water- 

 level varies with the seasons. I am of opinion that it does, though only 

 to a limited extent. The well having only been regularly drawn upon for 

 water supply purposes for less than a year, and that at a rate very far 

 within the margin of its average yield, affords no experience at the 

 present time on the point whether the yield is diminishing or not. 



7. The ordinary water-level is not affected by local rains. It stands 



