Water racemen
The raceman's job was to control the flow of water through the water race. Water races were maintained in the same way roads used to be - a raceman was positioned every few miles to look after a section of race.
Doc Andrews at the Wards Road hut
The raceman constantly checked his section for any blockages by debris such as fallen trees, and to ensure the embankment and timber supports hadn't collapsed. Sometimes they would work all through the night to keep the race open as they could not afford to have the station out of operation for long. Often the raceman would float down the race on a raft carrying timber from Wards Road. The timber was used to repair the race.
Historic huts
Two huts were built for the racemen to live in, one at Wards Road, one at Lake Kaniere.
The hut at Wards Road
The hut at Wards Road was there before the access road was built. The only way to get to the hut was to follow the race.
Irene Muir worked as a cook at the sawmill at Wards Road, and recalls that her family used supply her with milk by floating it down the race from their farm at Lake Kaniere. Mrs Muir also used water from the race for washing up.
Water racemen
The following men lived at the hut at Wards Road:
- Frank Radomski (gold mining days)
- Jim Milner (1st raceman when power station built)
- Scotty Ridland
- Doc Andrews
- Sam Hyndman
- Jim Howat Snr
These racemen worked from a hut at Lake Kaniere:
- Jimmy Roxborough
- Herbie Winter
- Jim Howat Jnr
Colin Howat Snr - was head raceman until about 1967. He lived in Arthurstown and would bike to work every day.
Sources
The following records are held in the DOC West Coast Conservancy Historic Archive.
Colin Howat Snr 14/12/1982. Oral history interview with Dave Eastwood, New Zealand Forest Service, Hokitika.
Irene Muir 14/5/1984. Oral history interview. Department of Lands and Surveys, Hokitika.
Gerald Wratt 15/4/1982. Oral history interview. Department of Lands and Surveys, Hokitika.