NEW WATER RACE APPROVED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21988, 12 January 1937, Page 8

NEW WATER RACE APPROVED

BANGITATA mVEKsidi SCHEME t ‘. • ’ THREE YEARS’ WORK FO* 130 MEN . . ■ . f JOB COSTING £134,00® TO BEGIN AT ONCE _ • ’ The construction of the £134,00} diversion race from the Baogitjb river—the largest and most iropog. ant project of its kind in New land—is to begin immediately, jy. vice was received yesterday foe Mr T. G. Beck, resident engineer io the Public Works Department «t Temuka, that he had been-notified through the district engineer (MrF. Langbein) that the Governnanfj approval for the commencement the scheme had been given. k;^ A ’ The department is awaiting arrival of heavy machinery/ 'fcsj;£ - limited number of men will bfr-put on to preliminary excavation wro almost immediately, when the oa£ site, the preparation of whidyw£ .begun.jast month, is finished-’ i|- lL ■ % According to statements Mr Beck, tthe 34 miles diversion'aa. refill cs^rr-sufficient water'to’^wrc the whole Ashburton county' sotonly for irrigation, but for stedfc and domestic supplies, , and to, mg any demands .that may arise future; - It is: estimated tbat'uoi| will be sufficient water su^. possible schemes in irrigable dp tricts within reasonable reach. The original plan provides tbit the race should feed the Ashhurtflb Lyndhurst irrigation 'scheme 5 nob' within two years of completion,~bi* its size will allow room for dewk opments in other areas. The canstruction will occupy three .yeajn and provide ■ employment foraiTiS proximate average - of 130 men.^V The earthworks will require about. 1,276,000 cubic yards of material making it the largest ‘undertaSg of its kind in' New Zealand. Th capacity ; of the race will be IW‘. cusecs over the first seven miiw, 660 over the next 10, ASOlovcr/fc next 11, and 220 for the remain®* six. * The diversion race will leave the Raxigitata? near Rocky Gorge the entrance to the plains. Thecoe it will pass over the terraced country, turn north, and cross the Hinds sad Ashburton rivers. ■ ■ ■= •=