Coal Pit Dam

On the way home we stopped of at Coal pit Dam, a lot of mining in these parts, not to long after leaving the Dam along one of the track is the Mt Ida water race, lovely walking a biking. the extra photo's Hoffman Dam just a small part and Sam having a clean up in the Water race he got a tad muddy .
Alluvial gold mining began in Naseby in 1863 (Hamel),
using water from the Hogburn and a number of other
races from the East Eweburn and the Kyeburn. The
disposal of tailings was difficult, because of the lack of
flushing water and the relatively flat grade from the
mining area out to the Maniototo plain. It was
considered that two to three times as much water as was
available in 1871 would be required and that the
Manuherikia would provide the most reliable supply,
although expensive.
 Estimated cost was $20,000 for the
construction of this water race. The primary purpose
was to flush accumulated and future tailings down the
new sludge channel.
The race was designed and supervised by Mr DL
Simpson, the Otago Provincial Engineer. He also
designed the 16km long sludge channel down the
Hogburn.
The Mt Ida Race works were authorised by Governor’s
Proclamation on 17 October 1873, and the route of the
race and the streams reserved for its supply are identical
with present day usage. The race was opened on 26
July 1877.
The Mt Ida Race sidles the Hawkdun Range from the
tributaries of the Manuherikia River for 108km