IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18465, 28 January 1922, Page 13

IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY.

THE PROGRESS OP THE YEAR, / The following is extracted from the Public Works Statement presented to Parliament yesterday: IDA VALLEY SCHEME. Syndicate Race.—This haa been extended nearly two miles, and is completed, with the exception of a few culverte, to 11 miles 76 chains. German HiTl Race.—The work of completing this race, which had been previously partially constructed, was commenced in the spring b! last year, and is still in progress. A deviation to avoid a flume at fork’s Creek has been made. The ’bnlv works now remaining to bo done to link np this section are a flume at Moa Creek and a weir at Podbarn, Drainage.—The scheme for drainage of portion of the valley was extended by clearing 20 chains of Moa Creek, and the erection of one private crossing bridge and one public road bridge. Irrigation.—About 40 miles of races were maintained for the supply of water during the season 1920-2 L Over 4400 acres were irrigated. GALtOWAY PLAT. Dip Creek Weir.—A concrete diverting Weir and measuring device at the intake were completed. Main Race.—The main race, 7} miles 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 irrigation 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 sores were irrigated. OLRIG TERRACE SCHEME. No construction was undertaken during the year.. About 75 acres wore irrigated, the water being supplied through an old existing race. MANUHEREKIA SCHEME. Intake Tunnel.—The remaining 1.22 .chains of tunnel was driven. Lining, where necessary, over a distance of 4 1-3 chains, is completed. Of the remainder about four chains require lining. Excavation for on inlet from the Manuherikia River to the tunnel is in progress and about three-fourths complete. Excavation for the gravel trap at tunnel outlet >» ready for concreting. Main Race.—Excavation of the mom race has been . extended to its terminus. Three deviations to avoid flumes have been made. Chatto Creek Siphon.—A double line of 1800 ft of piping (22in 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 lost, and when completed win supply water for the irrigation ol about 2300 acres of good settled land. ■' EARNSCLBDGH SCHEME. Watertight* and races from the Fraser River h3ve been ptndbased from the Sandy Point Hold-mining Company, and plans and estimates for a comprehensive scheme to irrigate Eornadengh Slat with water therefrom have been completed. Water will be available for irrigatoa during the coming season. After personally inspecting the arid areas proposed to he irrigated and those already irrigated I am satisfied that in irrigation will be found the salvation of Centra] Otago. Really wonderful results heie olready been achieved: IVDO sheep carried on 200 scree, not aQ irrigated, is an example, while £2O clear per acre is being taken from Income after allowing for water rates, rant, labour, eta. While the area irrigated Ja stdl only a small proportion of that ocmmSnded, the work fe steadily increasing, and, as labour becomes easier to obtain, rtißj wQI it more rapidly increase. Already the work hi self-supporting, though interest is not yet covered. . It is. recognised that irrigation farming, like bringing into profit bush and swamp areas, involves expense end, very heovy worls on the landowners. A man with a fair area of land cannot bring the whole of it into profit immediately the- water is tuned on, and in -ordqr to meet this ; difficulty and give irrigators time to bring their farms into full bearing arrangements have been made to charge for water on a graduated scale, commencing at a very low figure and increasing annually, so that at the end of five yean (by which time the land should be fully developed) the full charge 'for water will have been reached -As this concession in the early stages -will result in a certain amount of logs, this low haa 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.