IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23401, 7 August 1941, Page 5

IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

INCREASE BELOW EXPECTATION MINISTER’S REVIEW (P.R.) WELLINGTON, August 6. In the opinion of the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) the increase in the area of land irrigated in Canterbury in 194041 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 sheep were carried to the acre.

The statement dealing with irrigation and water supply 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 supply from the Rangitata river diversion race. Work on the Rangitata irrigation and hydro-electric power water-race was continued during the year, and the excavation work is in an advanced state of completion over a length of 40 miles. The total excavation now amounts to 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 a mile and three-quarters 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 specially designed

pipe factory near the site of the works. Mid-Canterbury Schemes “The construction of the AshburtonLyndhurst scheme, 34,000 acres, and Mayfield-Hinds scheme, 54,000 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 tempor-

arily 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 an acre was 9.96, while 14.1 sheep an acre were carried during the irrigation season. The Downlands water sjipply scheme is now in an advanced state of completion, and 700 farms, comprising a total of 109,000 acres, are now being supplied with water for domestic and stock purposes. Pleasant Point township ii= also served with a water supply and fire service. The length of mains and sub-mains 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 be completed owing to the difficulty of obtaining the remaining piping under present war conditions. In view of the importance of irrigation and its bearing on closer settlement, it is my endeavour to continue the irrigation works in progress as actively as the present war conditions will permit.”

LESS TRAFFIC OX ROADS

LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS £2,659,000 SPENT IN 1940-41 (P.R.) WELLINGTON. August 6. Reduced, traffic on the Dominion’s main highways led to a decrease in the average cost of maintenance a mile during 1940-41. This is shown ,in the annual Public Works Statement, presented by the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) iff the House of Representatives to-day. , The statement reads as follows: “Having regard to the necessity for curtailing expenditure as far as possible on works that, although they may be desirable .under normal conditions, are not essential at the present time, it has been the policy during the last year to taper off all improvements or reconstruction works in hand, so that when they reach a stage where they can be left without endangering the safety of the travelling public, they can be closed down altogether. The programme for the elimination of dangerous railway crossings has been suspended for the present, except that particular schemes, which were well advanced, are being carried through to completion. “The activities of the Main Highways Board for the last financial year are described in its annual report. The report indicates that the total receipts from revenue sources amounted to £2,202,638, as compared with £2,758,808 for the preceding period. The reduced income from motorspirits tax accounts for £475,208 of the decrease of £556,170, and this reduction is, of course, directly attributable to the petrol restrictions that have operated over the period. The total expenditure from the Main Highways Account for the financial year ended March 31, 1941, on actual works, as distinct from loan and special charges, amounted ,to £2,659,002, which is a very substantial reduction on the preceding year’s figures. Maintenance expenditure was reduced by £235,088, the renewal of bridges involved £29,727 less than in the previous year, while the curtailment in constructional activities showed a saving of £1,675.205. The total reduction in main highways expenditure therefore was no less than £1,940,020, as compared with the previous year. In addition, interest and loan charges amounted to £587,747. and general rate subsidies paid to local authorities totalled £213,457. The improvements completed included formation and widening lengths totalling 186 miles and the metalling of various sections aggregating ip Jength 128 miles. The length of dustless surfacing added during the year was 243 miles, and the length of new bridging totalled 9405 lin. ft. . “The maintenance of the mam highways system, including the amounts spent by the Main Highways Board and local authorities, represents an average cost per mile of £97.1, compared' with £117.6 for the preceding year. While a decrease in the average maintenance cost per mile has resulted, due to the reduced traffic, the general standard of maintenance has been maintained. The Highways Board’s proposals for the current year provide for adequate and reasonable maintenance of the existing assets, the renewal of decayed or dangerous bridges, and the comoletion of contracts already in hand, along with the improvement of sections of highway considered necessary by the Army authorities.”