WATER FOR IRRIGATION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 3 September 1932, Page 10

WATER FOR IRRIGATION

UNDER GROUND STREAMS. DISCOVERIES~AT NELSON. Some interesting information based on actual experience of underground water supplies on the Waimea Plains, Nelson, was given at a recent meeting of the Nelson Provincial Chamber of Commerce by Air. F. J. Banham, of Spring Grove, who has had something to do with irrigation in the United States.

Mr. Banham, who is a water diviner, gave instances of the valtie ; of irrigation to farming, stating that during the dry spell lie had taken three crops of clover off a paddock at Spring Grove, which he had irrigated. He obtained as much cream in winter as in summer feeding his cows off the clover hay. There was no reason, he said, why other farmers, providing they had the same facilities, could not do the same.

As to the water supply of the Waimea Plains, it had been stated, said Mr. Banham, that there was a time when the Wai-iti, Wairoa, and Motueka Rivers all flowed through the Waimea Plains, tie had opened up wells from four feet to 10 feet; and at the deeper depths in the blue gravel he had always found water. He believed that all tho land through Spring Drove down to Appleby could be irrigated by pumping from wells, a system which was in operation on his farm, ft eras important that the wells should be sunk on the lines of the underground streams. Mr. Banham said he had struck five different streams, none of which came from a river. From one well lie pumped 1500 gallons an hour, from another 6000 gallons, and from another, which lie had never been able to pump drv, 10,000 gallons. In some of the wells lie found iron . deposit in the water. Prom one well lie got water at less than 11 feet; while from another he got a very large flow at- eight feet.