OTAGO CENTRAL IRRIGATION.

Evening Star, Issue 17880, 28 January 1922, Page 15

OTAGO CENTRAL IRRIGATION.

SPLENDID RESULTS, In the Public Works Statement presented to Parliament last evening occur the following references to irrigation in Otago Central IDA VALLEY SCHEME. Syndicate Race.—This has been extended nearly twi miles, and is completed, with the exception of a few culverts, to 11 miles 76 chains. German Hill Race.—The work of completing this race, which had been previously partially constructed, was commence'd in the spring of last year, and is still in progress. - A deviation to avoid a flume at Kirk’s Creek has been made. The only works now remaining to be done to link up this section are a flume at Moa Creek and a weir at Poolburn. Drainage.—The scheme for drainage of portion of the valley was extended by clearing twenty chains of Moa Creek, and the erection of one private crossing bridge and one public road bridge. Irrigation.—-About forty miles of races were maintained for the supply of water during the season 1920-21. Over 4,400 acres were Irrigated. GALLOWAY FLAT. Dip Creek Weir.—A concrete diverting weir and measuring device at the intake were completed. Main Race.—Hie main race, seven miles and a-half in length, together with necessary flumes and gauge boxes, has been completed with the exception of a few minor details. Water was used from it towards the end of the Ligation season. Irrigation.—The previously-constructed race which supplies water on the north side of the railway was cleaned out. A limited quantity of water was supplied by temporary means. About 160 acres were irrigated. OLR.TG TERRACE SCHEME. No construction was undertaken during the year. About seventy-five acres wero irrigated, the water being supplied through on old existing race MANUHEIHKTA SCHEME. Intake Tunnel.—The remaining _ 1.22 chains of tunnel was driven. Lining, where necessary, over a distance of four and one-third chains, is completed. Of the remainder about four chains require lining. Excavation for an inlet from the Manuhcrikia River to the tunnel is in progress and about three-fourths completed. Excavation for the gravel trap at tunnel outlet is ready for concreting, Alain Race)—Excavation of the main race has been extended to its termirfus. Three deviations to avoid flumes have been made. Chatto Creek Siphon.—A double line of l,Boo£t of piping (22iu to 26in diameter) is on the site ready for setting when the necessary Australian hardwood arrives. ARDGOUR SETTLEMENT SCHEME. This is a now scheme, commenced in June last, and when completed will supply water for the irrigation of,about 2,000 acres of good settled land. EARNSCLEUGH SCHEME. '- Water rights and races from the Fraser River have been purchased from the 1 Sandy Point Gold Mining Company, and plans and estimates for a comprehensive) scheme to irrigate Earnscleugh Flat with water therefrom have been completed. Water will be available for irrigators during the coming season. SALVATION OF THE CENTRAL. After personally inspecting the arid mens proposed to be imgatod and those already irrigated, 1 am satisfied that in irrigation will be found the salvation of Central Otago. Really wonderful results have already been achieved: 1,700 sheep carried on 500 acres, not all irrigated, is an example, while £2O clear per acro_ is being taken from lucerne after allowing for water rates, lent, labor, etc. While tiie area irrigated is still only a small proportion of that commanded, the work is steadily increasing, and as labor becomes easier to obtain still will it more rapidly increase. ’ Already the work is self-supporting, though interest is not yet covered. It is recognised that irrigation farming, like bringing into profit bush and swamp areas, involves expense and very heavy uork on the landowners. A man with a fair area of land cannot bring the whole of it into profit immediately the water is turned on, and in order to meet this difficulty and give irrigators time to bring their farms into full bearing arrangements have been made to charge lor water on a graduated scale, commencing at a very low figure and increasing annually, so that at the end of five years (by which time the land should bo fully developed) the full charge for water will have been readied. As this concession in the early stages will result in a certain amount of loss, this loss has been added to the capital invested for the purpose of computing the annual charges, so that eventually there will be no loss to the State. ’