GALLOWAY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3352, 20 December 1926, Page 5

GALLOWAY.

The annual picnic held by the’residents of Galloway and Springvalc on the occasion of the break-up for the school holidays took place on Thursday last. The party went by train to Chatto Creek and the site chosen was alongside the creek in Mr Kinney’s section, close to the big water syphons. It is an ideal spot for a picnic, and there under the , willows a most enjoyable day was spent. Morning tea was the first item on the programme and while this was being prepared the children gave a splendid exhibition with the skipping rope. Afterwards there were sports for young and old—high jumps, wheelbarrow races, etc. After the real “blow out” the school prices were distributed. Cheers were given for all and sundry and everyone was well satisfied with the day's outing. At a well attended meeting of the Dunstan Branch of the Farmers Union (Mr R. Tohill in the chair) at which Mr Horn M.P. and Mr Marks were present, a duestiop of vital importance to the district was discussed, This was concerning the price for surplus water. The chairman mentioned that Mr Coates on a recent visit had agreed that it should be 2s per head, but since then the new minister had written to say that the,concession was only in reference to certain areas of land suitable for the border dyke method of irrigating, and staling that on certain schemes, namely Manuhcfikia, Tcviot, Ardgour and Tarras, thp water supply is drawn direct from flowing rivers and not from a storage reservoir, and that nt times there is surplus water running ,in w -t ■* iii such rivers. The minister 1 in,so staled that the suggestion made I by the Farmers Union that the Dept, should establish an experimental block on the contour system at iSpringvale j had been considered, but that lie could i not see his way clear to authorise the j commencement of this class of experi- ) meat. j As to the Mapuherikia river erosion i Mr Marks stated that thp pa'loway j Springvglp jn'i'fjgp paps tp be in the first division and he understood that plans for its .erection were now being prepared. It was decided to interview the County Council and see if arrangements could be made in the meantime to go on with the building of the approach to the bridge that this would save further damage being clone by the riycr. As to Hie unoccupied lands in the neighbourhood of Springvalo and Clyde racecourse these are to bo grouped and I opepe4 for selection e-arjy the year-