IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27254, 3 December 1949, Page 4

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

NATIONAL ASSETS OF GREAT VALUE

NORTH OTAGO’S EXPERIMENT

The authorities were realising that irrigation systems could be ah essential feature of closer settlement, increased production, and prosperity. Indeed, from a national point of view, they were assets of great value. This was stated in a letter received at Thursday night’s meeting of the North Otago Progress League from the North Otago Progress League Irrigation Farm, Ltd.

Writing under the heading of “ The Future of North Otago," the directors of the farm stated that they wished to put before the league the urgent necessity for the initiation of a move to revive the interest both on the part of the townspeople and country folk in the possibilities of local development by the use of water.

Some years ago, the directors stated, a committee was formed to investigate the practicability of taking water from below the Awakino dam by means of races, syphons, etc., in order to make water available to the whole of the tableland to the south of the Waitaki river for domestic, stock, and irrigation purposes. It was understood that the survey was completed as far as the Maerewhenua River, but the scheme had not been gone on with on the score of the finance involved.

An intake below the Awakino electrical installation, which was nearing completion, would be a comparatively simple engineering proposition, the letter stated.

“ It would be a lasting reflection on our leaders," the letter stated, “if they were prepared to allow the present opportunity to pass while the overwhelming supply of water in the Waitaki is allowed to slip past our doorway when it can be put to such vitally important work in the community's interest.”

The irrigation farm was a Small demonstration of what could be achieved with only a limited amount of privately-subscribed capital. It could well be imagined what could be achieved with the resources of the Public Works Department behind such activities. The league’s farm had demonstrated to North Otago the value of irrigation, and the suggestion was that the league take further steps in an endeavour to have irrigation applied to the whole of North Otago, Mr A. R. Tait, the chairman, said. In 1931 a committee was formed to explore the possibilities of irrigation, but this committee went into recess. Since the committee disbanded three developments had altered the position, Mr A. C. Hurst said. The operation of the dam at Awakino caused flucuations in the level of the Waitaki river, which affected the intakes to the Waitaki County and Oamaru Borough Council races; border-dyke irrigation had been introduced with beneficial results; ‘and, when the committee was in operation, it was thought that North Otago, by irrigation, would produce too much, but now all the production possible was required. “At present, residents of Ngapara are paying £6 per 1000 gallons of water for Household purposes,” said Mr Hurst. “ Thousands of head of sheep and big lots of cattle have left the district recently because of the dry conditions." The Downlands scheme in South Canterbury was an excellent one, said Mr R. K. Ireland, and he could see no reason why North Otago could not adopt a similar proposal. Some people considered North Otago too hilly for irrigation, but the electricity was available and water could be pumped to high levels for distribution. “At Ngapara the position is desperate," Mr D. H. Scott said. “I know of two women who came to Oamaru and paid 6d for a bath." It was decided to call a meeting of the borough and county councils. Federated Farmers, young farmers clubs, commercial gardeners, and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss: First, household water; secondly, water for stock; and, thirdly irrigation for the whole of North Otago with a view to placing the facts before the Government and asking it to formulate a scheme.’