Further High Country Surveying Planned

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 6

Further High Country Surveying Planned

“This is another step in getting the complete picture of the high country, so that we will know where we are going,” said Mr J. M. Pickering, when the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday approved of further high country survey work for the coming year. The board decided to apply for a £2OOO grant from the Soil Conservation Council to enable it to do a land inventory survey on 100,000 acres of high country—on Mount Algidus . run (58,000 acres) and Mount Hutt (12,000 acres) in the Rakaia catchment, in the Gientui and Garry river headwaters (20.000 acres), and on 10,000 acres of individual property. Dr. W. R. Holmes asked how long the information gained by such surveys remained effective. The soil conservation officer (Mr R. D. Dick) said that if a detailed conservation plan were wanted, say, 10 years later, a small amount of work to check on erosion and vegetation would be all that was needed.

“We hope that practical work will follow the surveys,” said Mr Dick. “This has happened already at Lees Valley, where Snowdale and Wharfedale stations have applied for detailed farm plans."

Mr D. R. Wilkie, the Department of Agriculture's soil conservation officer, said that the department had completed its survey of the upper Waimakariri area, and a report would be presented to the next board meeting. Mr A. T. Bell asked whether the board should not ask high country men to have detailed surveys done, rather than wait for them to come to the board. The board, however, faced difficulties in lack of trained staff.

Last year, the board did similar surveys on 93,325 acres, at a cost of £1907.

Shingle Rights.—lt was agreed to extend the agreement for Farrier-Waimak, Ltd., to take shingle from the Waimakariri for 10 years, with right of renewal for a similar term. It was said that

farmers would still have the right to take shingle.

Culverts.—The Ellesmere County Council will be asked to consider final plans for landward extensions of the two culverts draining Cooper’s lagoon, between Lake Ellesmere and the Rakaia river. The total cost is estimated at £8950.

Upper Cust Scheme.—The board decided to arrange a joint meeting with the Rangiora and Oxford county councils to discuss upper Cust drainage problems.

Gem Stones.—The rivers control committee reported that the Mines Department had indicated that 61 acres adjoining the mouth of Lake Forsyth would be withdrawn from the operations of the Mining Act, and that further inquiries would be made as to mining rights on the beach at the outlet. A recent Warden’s Court application for a mining right to take gem stones from the beach raised the question as to whether the Mining Act applied.