IRRIGATION PLANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 3

IRRIGATION PLANS.

INVESTIGATION IN CANTERBURY. THE TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY. (Special to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, October 3. The subject of irrigation was dealt with by the Minister of Public Works in his statement. After referring to the Maniototo scheme, Mr Bitchener said: With the exception of this scheme, Otago Central does not seem at present to warrant any really justifiable extension in

irrigation, and the scene of future operations would appear to be shifting to the Province of Canterbury, where irrigation, although perhaps not so vitally needed, can be undertaken so much more cheaply than in Otago Central. The frequent droughts experienced so often in Canterbury in summer, together with the severe drying effect of the north-west winds, seems to have at last roused the farmers to the necessity for an assured supply oi water, and I predict an increasing demand for irrigation there in the future. For this reason, I have not hesitated

to expend a fairly considerable amount of money in surveying the water resources of Canterbury, and in making a careful investigation to determine what amount of irrigation is required to produce the most beneficial results. Careful and regular measurements oi soil-moisture at successive depths 'already indicate a serious deficiency in moisture-content in the dry months of the year, and these measurements, in conjunction with rainfall, wind-move-ment, and evaporation statistics, as well as soil-analysis, are being constantly recorded, and will be continued for

at least some years. Comprehensive investigation is also being made into the amount of water available from the Canterbury rivers. This information is valuable not only for land irrigation, but in connection with hydro-electric-power development, general water supplies and bridge con-

struction. A thorough topographic survey of the whole of Canterbury Province to determine the location or water-races and the cost of irrigation is well advanced, and to date 1,100,000 acres have been contour-surveyed. Dealing with the works in hand, the Minister said: Construction on the first irrigation scheme to be undertaken m Canterbury was commenced during the year—the Redcliff irrigation scheme. About 80 men are now employed on it, and to date three miles of main race and five miles of lateral race are completed. This scheme will supply water to an area of 4GOO acres, and it is expected that.water will be available during the coming summer.