8 Oct 2021 OceanaGold WNP Project, Waihi - Archaeological / Heritage Assessment Mataura Water Race (part of the Waihi Gold Mining Co. High Level Water Race) As part of this assessment the Mataura Water Race has been recorded as T13/961 in the NZAA site record file (Figure 7, Figure 9 and Figure 10). A reliable supply of water was a significant part of mining operations in Waihi and played an integral role in maintaining power supply (i.e. to Pelton wheels and steam engines) and processing the ore (i.e. wet crushing, washing, slimes, separation, cyanide and other processes) (Clough et al 2004:79). Water races were channels cut across a hillside bringing water from streams to places where gold was mined or processed. They were, however, only part of what were often very complex hydraulic systems. The water was tapped, stored, distributed and disposed of in a variety of different ways, from simple ground sluicing early in the gold mining era, through to the operation of complex hydraulic elevating technology and ore-processing machinery, as well as the removal of tailings and other mining waste. As needs changed during the use-life of an individual race, that race could be altered, re-routed, enlarged and supplemented with ancillary dams and other engineering works (Jacomb et al. Aug 2011:3). The technology of race design and construction was introduced from the Californian and Australian gold-fields but the technology developed quickly in New Zealand gold fields and local innovations occurred rapidly. Water for the Waihi gold mines was obtained from three main sources – the Mataura Stream, Ohinemuri River and Waitete Stream. The high level (or high pressure) race (also known as the Waitete water race) was completed by 1892 to deliver additional water to the mill fromWaitete, Walmsley and Mataura Streams. A wooden intake dam was constructed in the Mataura Stream near the edge of the current day bush line and the Mataura Water Race or Waihi Gold Mining Company Water Race was constructed around the contour of the hills and valleys on an easy grade for 5.593km to terminate on the banks of the Walmsley Creek. The Mataura Water Race would most likely have been an unlined earth channel cut into the slope of the hillside, although it may have had some timber fluming. At Walmsley Creek a retaining dam was built and a further race, the Walmsley Water Race, was constructed to conduct water across to Bulltown and then by pressure pipe to the Pelton wheel via Pipe Lane and the Waihi Battery on Union Hill (Figure 8 and Figure 10) (Clough et al 2004:79; Robinson Jun 1974). Three Pelton wheels ran on this water and the races totalled 12 miles in length (AJHR 1892 C-03:46). Progress on the construction of the race was reported in May 1891 by the Thames Star (18th May 1891:4): ‘The circular saw, which is humming away every day, is doing good work. Two experienced men from the Thames are working it, and they turn out from 5000 to 7000 feet daily. Five teams of horses are continually bringing timber from Waitekauri to keep the saw going, the timber arriving in junks or flitches. There are no less than 12 pair of sawyers breaking down and flitching. After being cut into suitable sizes by the circular saw, the timber is carted away for miles in every direction for the purpose of constructing fluming, building dams; and erecting trestle work. The water pipes which are to convey the water to the Pelton wheels for the new 30 head of stampers, are arriving daily on the ground. Messrs Price Bros., who have the contract for supplying and placing the same in position, are expected to commence the work in a week or ten days, or as soon as all the earthwork is completed. The pipes when laid will cover a distance of half a mile. They are 26 inches in
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