DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 6

DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL OTAGO.

VALUE OF IRRIGATION

POTENTIALITIES OF THE DISTRICT. Mr F. W. Furkert (Inspecting Publio Works Engineer for the South Island) and Mr <J J. M'Kenzie (District Engineer) have returned to Dunedin after their tour of inspection through the Otago Central and Hillend-Tuapeka Mouth districts. The fast work to be inspected was the Manorburn dam, which is . now practically finished. A great quantity of water has gathered behind the dam. At the dam wall itself the water is 65ft in depth, and the lake, if it may be so termed, runs> back into the adjacent country, MttOUgh varying depths, for a distanco of six miles. A line little boating trip could now be taken on the lake. The farmers in the Ida Valley have this year had most favourable weather, and, despite the fact that the races leading from the Manorburn dam along the Blacks side of the valley are in a position to irrigate anywhere between 5000 to 6000 acres of land, the water is not, so far, required. With the warmer weather now being experienced in the Otago Central it is expected that the races will be tapped and the adjacent land irrigated. The system of charges, etc, for the use of the water has not yet been fully introduced. The Manuherikia irrigation works were next visited. Here the Galloway Fiat, and about four times as much flat on the opposite side of the river, will finally come under the influence of irrigation. Ihe workmen are busy at present putting in surface roads to carry the machinery required in the driving of a tunnel 23 chains in length. The construction of a tunnel will save the making of a dam through the river, which would be almost impossible to maintain considering the character of the river. The tunnel will also eliminate the construction of a considerable number of different races. - An inspection was next made of the Clyde-Cromwell Gorn;e, and an unofficial visit made to the Cromwell Development Company's works. The engineers also inspected the country proposed to be served with water by what is known as the Ardgowan scheme. Finally, Messrs Furkert and M'Kenzie motored to llillend, via Roxbuigh, to examine the railway routes being tried from Tuapcka Mouth, via llillend, and also via Crichton to all possible junctionings on the main line. Mr Furkert says the country is of such a character that a route for a railway is possible practically anywhere (including the Balclutha-Tuapcka Mouth route), and this fact makes it a matter of considerable difficulty to decide definitely on the very best route. Air Furkert says that he has been visiting the Otago Central districts every year from 1908, and has never seen the country looking so well. In the Lindis and Tarras districts there are some particularly fine crops of oats, wheat, barley, beans, and peas. The lucerne crops in the Central are also doing famously—the only drawback being that there is not half enough of this valuable fodder plant put down. A very significant point which should have its full value to the settler in the Otago Central district is that a difference is noticeable (wherever crops can be seen inclose proximity) in favour of those which may have had the advantage of being irrigated. Further value is lent to this outstanding feature, seeing that the crops this season have done wonderfully well m consequence of the heavy and numerous showers of rain which havo' fallen. That being so, the fact that

Judicious irrigation has improved even on this year's very excellent ' - natural crops 18 one more proof that the potentialities of the Otago Central can be exploited to an unknown extent by enterprising settlers -who can seo tho value of irrigation. So far as lucerne in particular is concerned, tho growth in the plots of this fodder which have been served by the small private races la described as something phenomenal. Tho people of Otago Central—and those of Dunedin, too, who desire to see this part of Otago como into its own —should take steps 'to see that the watchword, " Irrigate ! Irrigate ! Irrigate !" is sounded forth from one end of the district to the other. I« irrigation lies tho salvation of the Otago Central. In tho Otago Central lies to a great extent the further advancement of Dunedin.