﻿Thomson. — On Economimig the Current of Large Rivers. 14:1 



of the hundred and odd fishes that inhabit the sea on our coast, there are only 

 about a dozen specimens on the shelves. 



I am afraid these details are rather dry and wearisome, but the importance 

 of the subject must be pleaded as an excuse. Enough has been said to show 

 the breadth of the field of study which lies before us ; but one other thing I 

 would like to enjoin, more particularly on those of our members who happen 

 to live near the coast, and that is to keep a careful look out for those shoals of 

 fish which every now and then come in on the beaches in such numbers. An 

 effort should be made to get as perfect a specimen, or two if possible, as can be 

 got, for preservation in spirits or otherwise. Every now and then, too, one 

 hears of " odd fish " turning up, all of which should be secured for preservation 

 or comparison. In short, all the members of the Institute ought to be Field 

 Naturalists, and never lose an opportunity of securing specimens, whether for 

 the museum or their own collections. 



I have hitherto said nothing about the personal effect of such work on a 

 man, both mentally and bodily ; that is, I think, too obvious to need remark. 

 I will bring these notes to a close by formally moving the establishment of a 

 society, having for its objects work such as I have attempted to describe above, 

 to be called The Dunedin Field Naturalist Club, to consist of all the members 

 of the Institute who are willing to join. Their first meeting to take place — 

 weather permitting — at the north end of George-street, at one o'clock on the 

 afternoon of Saturday ; the field for exploration to be the Leith Yalley. 



Art. XIII. — Description of a Simple Contrivance for Economising the Current 

 of Large Rivers, for Gold-sluicing^ Town Supplies, and Mill-power. By 

 J. T. Thomson, F.E,.aS. 



[Read before the Otar/o Institute, 21st February, 1871.] 



I CLAIM for my present little contrivance some indulgence from the members 

 of this Society while I endeavour to explain its properties and probable uses. 

 By way of preface, I may say that in my report to Government, dated 12th 

 August, 1867, I find I wrote as follows : — 



" Large sluicing operations would appear to be the ultimate great industry 

 of the interior (of Otago), and that the mining portion of the population have 

 been fully alive to this will be proved by the enumeration in those reports of 

 their great and numerous water races. 



" The principal sources of water are in the Snowy Ranges, and others, the 

 Dunstan, Umbrella, Nevis, Richardson, Pisa, Hawkdun, Kakanui, Rock and 

 Pillar, Lammermoor, etc., etc. But it appears to me that in the Golden 



