CONSERVING SOIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27526, 21 October 1950, Page 4

CONSERVING SOIL

Catchment Board Proposal NEW EXPERIMENTAL AREA In conjunction with the Earnscleugh Rabbit Board, the Otago Catchment Board and the Department of Agriculture will take over an area of 350-400 acres of land on the Earnscleugh Station for experimental purposes to demonstrate the effect of complete spelling. The lessee of the land, Mr M. F. Mulvena, has offered to make it available for this purpose. The area is on the main RoxburghAlexandi'a highway about six miles from the latter town. This decision was taken by ihe Catchment Board at its monthly meeting yesterday on the recommendation of the board’s soil conservation committee. This was the type of opportunity the board was looking for, stated the committee chairman, Mr A. G. Elliott, who presented the report. The area would be substituted for the Kenmure block near Cromwell which was more difficult to fence; The money required to fence the new area was considerably less, and the scheme had the 100 per cent, approval of the Earnscleugh Rabbit Board. The rabbit board, the committee’s report stated, would be responsible for the eradication of rabbits, and a certain section of the area, would be left in its natural state to show the effect of eradication without grassing. Moving a resolution to rescind an earlier motion of the board concerning the Kenmure block, Mr J. McK. Morgan said the Earnscleugh area was already fenced on three sides. The estimated cost of the remaining fencing was £4OO and this would be erected by the rabbit board. Mining Operations Dealing with representations made by the board concerning dredging on the Earnscleugh Flats, the committee stated that earlier failures to produce from the area were due to insufficient water for irrigation purposes. A knowledge of soil types, however, suggested that productive orchards could be established and maintained if water were available. For this reason, and in principle, it would have opposed an application for a dredging licence had the matter been put before it. The committee’s report concluded with the statement “ that under the present circumstances a sufficiently good case for the introduction of special legislation could not be substantiated and recommends that no further action be taken.” Farm Land Development An application by the Lands and Survey Department for a subsidy on the main drain at the Waitepeka Farm Settlement at an estimated cost of £10,300, was recommended by the works committee to the board. The scheme had been approved by the SCRCC, the committee stated, and a subsidy of £ for £ would be made. The report, which was presented by Mr T. R. Beatty, was adopted. Flood Emergency The Lower Clutha River Trust proposed to hold a flood emergency radio trial on November 4, when all communication would be confined to radio, operators for the sets would be provided by'the Balclutha branch of the Radio Emergency Corps. This information was contained in the report of the executive committee which recommended the co-operation of the board. Finance The Finance Committee’s report indicated that the board had a credit in the general account of £5629 8s Id, but if outstanding accounts were paid, this would be reduced considerably, said the chairman of the committee, Mr W. S. Armitage. The position was sound,. however, for rates were now coming in from various county districts. Those present were Messrs L. J. Ireland (chairman), L. J. Edwards, J. Preston, K. W. Allison, A. G. Park, A. G. Elliott, W. T. Spelman, T. R. Beatty, W. S. Armitage, E. C. Stanton, H. Wilson, J. McK. Morgan, and E. W. Hayman.