CHARLESTON
A dray-road had been made to Ballarat Terrace in 1870. Later, the dam and water-race were taken over by the Buller County Council, who raised a loan under the Local Bodies Loans Act to provide the cost of purchase and of bringing the Four-mile Creek into the Argyle dam, thus augmenting the supply. The Council struck a special rate to meet the interest, etc., but this proving insufficient, it suffered a loss. However, the field undoubtedly had its life lengthened by its main water supply being extended and continued to a greater extent than a private company could have afforded.
In 1906, the County Council gave a lease of the race for a term of five years, to P. Walsh and party, at £45 per annum with right of renewal. They sold water, and also worked old tailings on the Back Lead. This race has not been in use since about 1910, and but little trace of it now remains—it is but a memory.
Other large water-races were James Butterworth’s at Four-mile and Whiskey Creek, and one owned by “The Charleston Water Race Company” which had a capital of £5,000, some of the shareholders being Philip McCarthy, of Candlelight, Thomas Sexton, of City Hotel, Joseph Henry, Chas. Woodcock, Thos. Bowling, W. Henry, W. Hartill, James Parsons, C. Gasquoine, E. Drennan, M. E. Gardner, Walton Pell, R. Warne, T. Crumpton, Bridget Power, Duke Ballam, Robt. Shepherd, Arthur King, Edwin Perrett and James Walker.
The Dublin City: 1868. On Back Lead. 12 heads of stampers of 135 lbs. each. Area 13½ acres. The face was from 7 to 9 feet high, from which a tram ran 36 chains to the shoot. The water-wheel (claimed to be the largest in district) was 30 feet in diameter with 3 feet breast. It crushed 19 cubic yards per day of 9 hours. The water was brought from the upper reaches of the Nile. It was, about 1888, re-built and enlarged. Owners—M. Twohill and party; Kirwin and party; T. J. O’Leary, E. Whelan; P. O’Conor; Wm. Norris.
Pakihi Cement Crushing Company: 1867. Capital £1,500. Owners—Chas. Haines and party.
Nee’s Battery: 1867. On Buller Road. Owner—Charles Nees.
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