WAIMAKARIRI-ASHLEY WATER SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8728, 26 February 1894, Page 6

WAIMAKARIRI-ASHLEY WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PKESS. Sm, —Who our friend " Nux " writing on the above subject in the Press on February 23rd 13, I will not pretend to say, but he is evidently at a loss to say something spiteful and vicious about Mr Dixon, and 1 am sorry to say is not the only one who deliberately and wilfully throws mud at a fair, honest, and truly philanthropic name as there exists. Mr Dixon has always advocated the Brown's Rocks scheme of water supply, ffhich will cross the upper end of the district, from the east side of Burnt Hill to within thirty-five chains of the East Oxford railway station, and thence could be taken right into the Ashley Gorge if necessary, across the top of ElUs's Flat, and which supply can be made absolutely permanent for a sum not exceeding £600. Mr Dixon's offers ate, and have baen, bona fide contract offers, to be carried out under proper authority, for a supply of the whole district east of Oxford, equal to the proposed Rock Ford supply. These offers are such as no district ever bad made to them, and it would only pay Mr Dixon to carry them out on account of the large strip of barren country which he has undertaken to improve, and which can never be improved or pay for any elaborate and expensive scheme, and if it cannot pay its share the good lands will have to pay for it. No "Nux," I repeat Mr Dixon's offers are the most large-minded and public spirited offers for water supply ever made to any district. Again, "Nux, ,, allow mc to call you to order. Mr Dixon had practically bought this piece of wilderness with the object of trying to improve it from Brown's Rocks, before the Water Board came into existence, and not after, as you insinuate; but it so happens that his wants of a cheap, plentiful and permanent supply are exactly the same as every taxpayer from East Oxford to Rangiora. And now, Mr "Nux," I will agree with you on one point. It is this—pure irrigation on the lightest land is not altogether a success. And, personally speaking, I know the value and capability of every acre of land in this water district, and also, having bad some practice and reading in irrigation, can form a pretty sound opinion as to the j irrigation value of such land. I will therefore divide the district into three equal parts—one third which cannot pay anything for water, manuka scrub; one third only competent to receive only a very second-rate benefit, light shingly land and clay downs; and one third which kind Mr "Nux" suggests should pay for the keep of the gigantic white elephant known as the Rock Ford scheme, which, as I have heard two members of the Board say, " will have to be closed after it is made on account of the expense of maintenance." Out of eleven principal" water intakes'" in Canterbury, five are from open, rolling shingle beds, and are very satisfactory, but Brown's Rocks has one hundred times the advantage over an open shingle bed as an intake. But from my knowledge of the. wants of the district, the cheap drinking supply from the Ashley Gorge, advertised ao much for ten years back by the late Mr Ed. Chapman, would meet all the wants of the district north of the Eyre. Apologising, Mr Editor, for undue length.—Yours, 4c, Cheapbb Supply. j to the editor of the press. Sib,—l am glad to find your correspondent *' Nux "withdraws his statement re the extent of Mr M. Dixon's irrigation scheme. I have yet hopes of his discussing the matter from other than a personal platform. I leave " Irrigation'"' to answer for himself, and come to his critique on my former letter on the above subject, just calling attention by the way to the statement that the Water Supply Board has &cted throughout very fairly and with excellent temper towards Mr Dixon. I know of at least one instance to the contrary, viz., at the meeting held at the Road Board Office, Oxford, when Mr Dixon was not allowed to speak on the question, although a resolution to that effect was, I believe, carried at that meeting; the fact anyway is that he was not allowed to speak. Probably " Nux " knows what he means himself. Whether in consequence of my denseness or not I cannot say, but certainly the statement that "Waiting Still" " i«J so dense that he cannot see that his assertion that the W.R.B. is committing the ratepayers to any scheme or an immense expenditure " is too much for mc, the mass of figures notwithstanding. The petition to Parliament for extended powers, clause 7 shows the Board finds the powers delegated to it are insufficient for properly carrying out the scheme, and clearly shows that they were mistaken, and just the same thine has occurred, with the large majority ot those who voted for the irrigation scheme. Your correspondent is in a perfect fog when he speaks of Mr Dixou relying on getting some advantage over the Waimakariri Water Supply Board at the next sessiou of Parliament. It is that body which is endeavonringtogefc control of Mr Dixon, as they have not the power at present, so that the uire catas- ■ trophe he predicts in such a case need not take place at all. I hope and believe I shall before the end of the next century be in a place where water-races will not be necessary, instead of as "Nux" predicts.— Youis, &c, Waitixg Still. •