ADDITIONAL FLOWING BORES IN 1903.
The report for 1903 was brief. During the year the number of flowing bores had increased by thirteen, and the aggregate flow by 10,000,000 gallons. The average flow was 669,279 gallons, or 3,048 gallons increase upon the flow for the preceding year. This in the face of the diminution of the flow in many bores cannot be considered unsatisfactory. The entire cost of well-boring in the State to 1903 is set down at £1,463,326, including abortive bores, and heavy sums for carriage of boring plant in the earlier days. It is mentioned in this report that the Whitewood bore, Bimerah, yielding only 70,000 gallons a day, at 5,045 ft., is still the deepest in Queensland. The shallowest is given as at Manfred Downs, at 10 ft., yielding 2,000 gallons a day; and the hottest water at Elderslie No. 2, where from a depth of 4,523 ft. emerge more than 1½ million gallons per diem at a temperature only 10 degrees below boiling point. The greatest static pressure is at the Thargomindah bore, where it is nearly 240 lb. to the square inch.
LATER INFORMATION.
Since 1902 until this year annual reports at length have not been furnished by the Hydraulic Engineer; but this year the work has been resumed, and advance information supplied in a condensed form.
In the foregoing epitome of the Hydraulic Engineer's reports extending over twenty-five years, no particular mention has been made of the failures inevitable when either the Government or private persons were engaged in deep boring for water exploration. The following particulars show some of the obstacles encountered in tapping the subterranean springs of our arid western country:—
In his report for 1902 the Hydraulic Engineer mentioned that a contract had been entered into with Mr. W. Woodley for the sinking of a bore at Eromanga to a depth of 2,000 ft. for the sum of £1,438, but that work could not be prosecuted in consequence of the prevailing drought in the West. The contract depth was reached on 29th August, 1903, without finding water. A further contract to carry the bore to 3,000 ft. was subsequently entered into, and on 30th June, 1904, at a depth of 2,612 ft., the work was suspended until the arrival of casing, which was delayed by rain. It was not until November, 1904, that the casings reached the bore site, and that work could be resumed. A suspension of work occurred on 4th March following for want of a competent driller. Boring was resumed in August and continued till March, 1906, without success. The only water tapped up to that time was a supply of 10,000 gallons per diem at a depth of 1,640 ft. The casings were allowed to remain in the bore, the gross cost of which had been £4,480. In May, 1906, a new contract with Mr. Woodley, for sinking another bore to a depth of 3,000 ft., was entered into. At 1,660 ft. a supply of 12,000 gallons a day was tapped; but, this being considered insufficient, another contract for deepening the bore to 3,500 ft. was entered into with Mr. Woodley, the additional cost being £1,000. On 9th March, 1908, the depth of 3,500 ft. was reached without any additional supply. Then a contract for sinking a further 500 ft. was entered into. At 3,980 ft. a small flow was tapped which dribbled over the surface, and the 4,000 ft. depth being reached arrangements were made for sinking another 100 ft. At 4,050 ft. a small flow of 110 gallons per hour was struck. At 4,135 ft. the flow increased to 250 gallons per hour. Delays occurred after this, until January, 1909, when boring was resumed, and at 4,270 ft. a flow of 306,234 gallons per diem was struck. The water was then brought under control, and found to have a pressure of 219 lb. per square inch, with a temperature of 198 degrees F. The water was fresh and drinkable, though having a slightly gaseous taste; but this was not noticeable after it had stood exposed to the air for a little time. On completion of the surface fittings the discharge was measured, and the flow ascertained to be 256,825 gallons per diem. The cost had not been adjusted at the date of our information, but it will be understood that a work extending over five years, and then yielding a comparatively small supply, makes bore-sinking a highly speculative industry, even in what the geologists declare to be artesian water-bearing country.
COOKTOWN AND ENDEAVOUR RIVER, NORTH QUEENSLAND
PEARLING FLEETS OFF BADU ISLAND, TORRES STRAIT