Irrigation in Central Otago. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 11

Irrigation in Central Otago. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Iv Mr J. A. Millar's speech at the C'tago League's "meeting* on the 2;th ult. he is reported as i-aying: — " Them was another thing h& would like to point out as a matter of great moment to Otago : he referred- to tbe question of irrigation." -Vnd again: "Irrigation was a question tho league wculd yet hay". to take up and work for unitedly, even if t'lev had to leave out som-efchiug- else until it had been carried through." In the Alexandra and Clyde districts irrigation is a necessary and first condit on to any settlement, and all other questions are of miner importance, not excluding even that of railway communication. To irrigate a large area on the Earnscleuah Fiat a comparatively t-mall sum is required. Were a dam to be constructed at the outlet of the Fraser River Gorg-o thousands of acres could be made suitable for fruit culture. A sum of £3000 to £4000 so spent would irrigate a -large area. In the North Island £4 to £5 an acre is spemfc in clearing bu-^h land to make it fair grazing country. If half of that amount, say £2 an acre, were spent on irrigation in the districts mentioned I am quit© sure the per acre would exceed that obtained where bush clearing is necessary. Another place where an irrigation schema could be worked with a small expenditure is the land lying between Chatto Creek and Alexandra. All the land lying below the road could be irrigated by the water races now constructed, and a dam in Chatto Creek would materially increase the present supply of water available, as during the spring months millions of gallons go to waste. Ail this should be conserved and made available for the dry summer months. There are several thoiieand acres here.

If support to the league is looked for from these districts the question of irrigation must"bo undertaken at once, and not, as Mr Millar seems to suggest, when othecr

matters have been dealt with. His expression "Irrigation was a question the league would yet have to talca u>" leads one to think it is not thought no be of fiv=f importance. To us, who reside here, it is first, second, and third— in fact, water is our greatest want, and one thai mtu-t he fulfilled if we are to help materially to ad- , vance. Otago. Much larger and more comprehensive schemes are required to deal with the matter in these and surrounding districts, and I merely mention these two instances to show where great benefit will result immediately the schfme is in operation, which can bo dbne at a comparatively i-inpll en^f. — T am, etc ,

Ai.ES.vxni' \

The Queensland GovernnwMic )iu.- i- - ceived advice that a pom-pom aud carriage and a ELrupp ?un and carriage and 150 rifles, all trophies of the Soi.'h African war, have been shippod by Ih • \Var OffiVo to Brisbane.

An old-age pensioner fell ii.1.0 \,w c-nor which cost him a few pounds (says the Timaru Post. Last year, through not stating the amount of money he had in the Po*t Office (£4-1) he had to make a refund of £7 from the pension he had recci-veri. In order to do this he drew out the whole of his £41, intending to ro-deposit the halance, but the money so drawn counts as income for the year, and this has entailed a loss to him this year of £5 in tho pension he is to .receive.