The Oxford Observer. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 9th, 1894. WATER SUPPLY.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 9 June 1894, Page 2

The Oxford Observer. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 9 th, 1894. WATER SUPPLY.

We feel, that m view of the Very great importance of tbis subject, there is no need to appologise to our readers for keeping it constantly m the forground particularly as, the butter industry has become one of the main factors m ministering to the future prosperity of our District and iv passing we tbink tbat we cannot pay too high a compliment to our valued contributor writing under the Non de plume of Pemrib for his excellent articles upon the Dairy cow. No matter how rich the feed, how favourable the climate, or how favorable all the conditions under which cows are likely to flourish all will be of no avail, m the absence of a bountiful supply of clean water and nobody denies that the cheapest and best means of supply are by a proper system of water-race. Every milkman knows that a great point is gained when a milker has been induced by proper treatment to adopt regular habits and if feed and water are always approachable and the milking hours strickly adhered to, she will become so regular m her habits of feeding, watering, camping and will approach the milking shed at the proper time with pleasurable anticipations of relief to her distended udder and will feel positive affection for the milkman or milkmaid who speaks to her. As our readers are aware we have been staunch advocate of the Eockford Scheme and had it not been for that unfortunate flaw m the Water-race Act which tied the hands of the Board, the system by this time would have been an accomplished fact. The Wo main causes that have operated against the carrying out of this important work are first the persistent opposition offered by Mr Dixon and secondly a cycle of wet seasons which for a time has lulled tUe fears of the farmers that they are likely at some time or other to be very heavy losers for the want of an adequate water supply when a cycle of dry seasons do set m. As for Mr Dixon's objections, they were but natural and much as we deplore, that he felt the necessity, m his own interest, of placing obstacles m the way no doubt almost any other men placed m the same position would have acted m axactly the same way. Experience proves almost invariably that a cycle of dry summers m Europe is repeated m these Islands and both the last winter and summer of Europe have been unprecendently dry and we predict from former experience that they will be repeated here and we shall not be at all surprised that at the end of next summer the people will bitterly lament

not having carried out the Bockford Scheme- As we said m our last, even if the report of the Mining Engineer is favourable to the Bockford Scheme, bearing m mind the constitution of the Board; we do not expect to see his advise acted upon 1 . Certainly so far as Oxford ia concerned, the Bockford system was not all that could be desired, as a very large area of waterless land hi the Western position would not have been supplied and the further down the river we go for the entake the larger will the unwatered area become. No doubt the Board are actuated by a desire to serve the various Districts faithfully but all their efforts will be m vain without, a unanimity of purpose. We are not generally m the habit of croaxing and only venture to hope that our fears may be entirely groundless. We shall watch the actions of the Board with great tepidation, especially if the Engineer's report is favorable to the Bockford Scheme (and we believe it will be). And till then we can only speculate upon what the probable result will be. In the meantime Cooper's Creek system, the thoughts of which have laid dorment for about three years are again revived and many believe, that if even the large scheme should be carried out the necessity for Cooper's creek race would still exist. It will be m the memory of our readers that strong opposition was offered to this scheme by a few individuals on account of private injuries likely to accrue by : diverting the water, but our opinion ■ was and still is, that the vallidity of those objections were never substantiated. We have always advocated this system not only because it would add value to the land all along the line of race, but to the Town lots of Oxford m particular and m consequence of there being so many small holdings and cottage rates to collect the undertaking would be a very profitable investment. Speaking from rumour the amount named for bringing m the raceis £100 C and if it should exceed that by ever £500 we are informed by those whe are competant to give an opinion thai it would still be a profitable affair. We write under correction but we have an idea that this particular District has ai the instigation of the Road Board been proclaimed a Water Race District and if so the initiatory steps have already been taken, whether the area is within the jurisdiction of the present Water Supply Board we have yet to learn, and as we have m our previous issue invited correspondence upon the subject, we hope to learn all that there is worth knowing upon the subject so thai we can place the matter before oui readers m a proper light.