IRRIGATION PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 253, 7 August 1941, Page 3

IRRIGATION PLAN

THE POSITION IN CANTERBURY. INCREASE BELOW EXPECTATION. WELLINGTON, August 0. Tn the opinion of the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) the increase in the area of land irrigated in Canterbury in 1940-41 is below expectation. This view is set out in the Minister’s annual Public Works Statement, and the position is attributed to war circumstances. On a demonstration area in Mid-Canter-bury during the irrigation season 14.1 shee]> were carried to the acre. The statement dealing with irrigation and water supply was as follows: “Steady progress has been maintained on this phase of development work. The completed schemes continue to function well, and the area irrigated shows a slight increase on the previous total. In Otago. 13 completed schemes are in operation and 52,107 acres were irrigated, out of a total commanded area of 64,000 acres. The annual revenue amounted to £26.730, being £834 in excess of last year’s revenue.

“In Canterbury, two completed schemes are in operation where 3350 acres were irrigated, out of a total commanded area of 17,403 acres. The annual revenue amounted to £844, being £157 in excess of last year’s revenue. The increase in the use of the Canterbury schemes is below expectation, but this is probably due to reluctance of farmers to prepare their land for irrigation during the war period. The year’s construction activity, was confined to the continuation of the large Canterbury schemes which will derive their water 1 supply . from the Rangitata River diversion race. Work on the Rangitata irrigation and hydro-electric powe>r water-race was continued during the year, and the excavation work is in ail advanced state of completion over a length of 40 miles. The total excavation now totals 3,220,000 cubic yards, of which 939,000 cubic yards were excavated during the year. The total number of concrete bridges, siphons, and regulating structures now completed on the race is 85, of which 59 were, completed during the year. The large intake structure is nearing completion, and the large pressure siphon at Surrey Hills is well in hand. This latter structure is nearly If miles long, and is made up of precast reinforced concrete pipes 12ft in diameter and 12ft long, each pipe weighing 28 tons. These pipes are manufactured in a speciallydesigned pipe factory near the site of the works. Work in Mid-Canterbury.

“The construction of the AshburtonLyndhurst scheme, 34,000 acres, and the Mayfield - Hinds scheme, 04,000 acres, has been continued as circumstances permitted; the former scheme is now 94 per cent, completed and the latter scheme 40 per cent, completed. The construction of these schemes is subservient to the completion of the Rangitata diversion race, and labour and materials have been diverted temporarily to this major work. The operation of a. demonstration, area on the Ashburton - Lyndhurst scheme was continued, and last- year the average number of sheep carried per acre was 9.96, while 14.1 sheep per acre were carried during the irrigation season. The Downlands water supply scheme is now in an advanced state of completion, and 7,00 farms, comprising a total of 109,000 acres, are now' being supplied with water for domestic and stock purposes. Pleasant Point township is also served with a water supply and fire service. The length of mains and submains laid is 37 miles, or 70 per cent, of the total, and the length of galvanised reticulation piping laid is 572 miles, or 82 per cent, of the total. Five of the six reservoirs are now completed. It is difficult to forecast when the remaining portion of the scheme will he completed owing to the difficulty of obtaining the remaining piping under present war conditions. In view of the importance of irrigation and its hearing on closer settlement, it is my endeavour to continue the irrigation works in progress as actively as the .present war conditions will permit.”