IRRIGATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9428, 1 June 1891, Page 2

IRRIGATION.

MEETING AT ASHBURTON. A special meeting, convened by. the. County Council, was held at Ashburton on Saturday, to consider the irrigation report published on April 3. Mr W. C. Walker, Chairman of the County Council, occupied the chair, and Messrs E. G. Wright, J. Gcigg, H. Friedlander, C. J. Harper,, E. S.; Coster and D. Cameron, members of the Council, also attended. About one hundred farmers and others were present. The Chairman addressed the meeting, explaining the proposals that had been made by the engineer. Mr E. G. Wright moved—" That this meeting, having had placed before it the' several reports of the County Engineer on the question of irrigating the AshburtonRakaia plains, desires to express its opinion that a system of irrigation iadesirable.’’ Mr Wright said that he' thought it would be better, instead of taking a supply from the Rakaia river,; which would necessitate expensive tunnel-; ling to bring the water to the level of the plains, to expend JS4OOO and drain Lake Heron by the Ashburton instead of the; Rakaia river, and then take the water by races from the Ashburton river, a little above Winohmore.

Mr John Grigg seconded the motion. He stated that he had obtained very satisfactory results from a 800-acre paddock which he irrigated last summer. Mr James Brown attacked the portion of the Engineer’s report relating to the amount of water needed for irrigation purposes. The report allowed for only two inches, but Mr Brown stated, on authority, that four inches were required. Mr J. Megson supported the motion. Mr Mi. Bruce spoke against the motion. ; Mr Leadley opposed the motion in its' present form. He stated that he thought the time inopportune for taking up a scheme of irrigation. Mr Hardley stated that he thought: the time was very opportune,.and that he would have great pleasure in supporting; the motion.

Mr H. Priedlander atatod thaktheques* tion before the meeting was ** Do we want’ irrigation or do we not P” What the: farmers wanted was something to counteract the heat of the son, which dried up' the grass. Mr Allen spoke in favour'of the motion,' and said that he was sure that irrigation; would double the production of the farms of the district.

Mr J. Lambie said that what he wanted to know was whether irrigation would pay. (Loud cries of ** Yes " and “ No.") Mr Hargreaves said that he had had twenty-five years experience in irrigation,; and the question Did the watersupply contain any fertilising matter ? The motion was carried unanimously. Mr H. Priedlander then moved—** That the necessary steps be taken to define an; irrigation district to give effect to the' foregoing resolution." , . ; Mr Harper seconded the motion.. He had always advocated irrigation,and:.had' great pleasure in meeting the farmexi that day. The plains/ land was adapted for irrigation, and the: present; time was most opportunofor setting s scheme on foot. * ’ ; . Mr Colyer said that he was in favour,of irrigation, of which he had had some' experience. If, however, they oonld not; get a sufficient supply of water it was better to keep the money in their pockets, .as s' half system of irrigation was worse than none. . ■ • The motion was then-put and-camed unanimously. The meeting then terminated.