IRRIGATION IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 22

IRRIGATION IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

AMBITIOUS SCHEME LAUNCHED. DAMMING THE KAWARAU. AN ENGINEERING FEAT. (From Our Special Reporter.) CROMWELL, January 25. The greatest interest was taken to-day in the falling of the two huge pillars which have been built in the Kawarau River. Yesterday many people travelled to Cromwell from all parts of Otago to witness the unique event, s This morning broke beautifully fine. A procession of motor cars, motor wagons, and other vehicles streamed out of Cromwell for the mouth of the gorge, and at half-past 10 the locality presented a scene never bfore known in its history. For a distance of about a. mile the precipitous left-hand side of the Gorge was sprinkled with bunches of sijrhtseers anxiously awaiting to witness the fall on the right side. There must have been well on to 2000 people present. At 20 minutes past 10 o'clock the engine of the works sounded its whistle to give a 10-minutes' warning of the momentous event.- All eyes were at once fixed on the big column which was to fall first, and after a wait of 20 minutes the Cromwell Band struck up " God Save the King," and Mrs P. R. Sargood stepped forward to press the button which was to electrically fire the gelignite charge under the base of the pillar. A minor' explosion on Tuesday had blown off a piece of the bottom shoulder, leaving a gap at the foot of the pillar, thus rendering to-day's operation easier. FALL OF THE FIRST PILLAR.

Before Mrs Sargood placed her finger on the electric-button she said: "In pressing this button I seek to throw across the rushing torrent of the Kawarau a weir in the same way as every well-wisher of Otago would wish dammed any wave of pessimism that may seek to submerge the minds of its settlers. As over the weir, so may a rushing, all-pervading stream of optimism spread throughout Otago, and each one having interests therein seek to make good the watchword of the Otago Expansion League —' Onward Otago.' " The gelignite answered at once to the firing of the charge. The huge mass appeared to spring forward and lean slightly over as a tremor ran through its length. Momentarily it hung in the air, and then slowly bent and fell with a mighty crash into the river, the spray rising to. a height of about 60ft. From the time the explosion occurred till the pillar struck the water was just under nine seconds. The pillar appeared to give a roll when it again came to view, and the water of the river surged back .and then quickly resumed its onward flow, covering the obstruction. The pillar had apparently leapt out from its base as the explosion occurred, leaving a gap between its lower end and the bank of about 20ft, when it came to rest. When the pillar had finally settled, it was seen that it was lying in a diagonal position, its top facing up-stream. MR BRODRICK'S REMARKS. After the fall of the pillar Mr Brodrick (Mayor of Cromwell) addressed a large number of the sightseers from the vantage of a big rock on the roadside. He said that more than 20 years ago the Cromwell people had advocated some sort of an irrigation scheme. The matter was brought before the Government of the day by their member (Sir William Fraser), and reports were obtained by the Government, but nothing was done. When Sir William Fraser became a Minister of the Crown they looked to him to carry out what he had so-frequently advocated. They did not look in vain, and the.result was the Cromwell Development Company. The initiator of the scheme was the late George Neill. and it was through Mr Neill that the Kawarau Falls scheme was brought before the Government. It was through Mr Neill also that the attention of the Dunedin public was drawn to the scheme, and it was due to Messrs P. R. Sargood, P. Duncan, A. Moritzson, Scott, Stark. A. J. Butterfield, ancl Binstead that it was given practical and financial form. Mr Neill and the others met the difficulties and obstructions—not a few—in the right spirit, and they were overcome. About three years ago the Cromwell Development party started its scheme. Irrigation was of course the main object of the Cromwell Company, and the falling of the pillars was another step forward in the direction of bringing water on to the Cromwell Flat. They felt sure that the operations that day were an earnest that irrigation would come, and that the schema of the company would be completed and carried to a successful conclusion.--(A pplause.) The Cromwell Borough Council and the County Council had at all times recognised that the objects of the company were for the ultimate benefit of the town of Cromwell. If the company did nothing more than eliminate the snnd nuisance on the Cromwell Flat it would have justified its existence. Ho looked forward to the 3000 acres on the flat being covered with orchards, thus turnincr what was little other than a sandy desert into a flourishing locality. It was with great pleasure that he wished Mr .Sargood and his company every success. —(Loud applause.) MR SARGOOD'S ADDRESS.

Mr P. R. Sargood said ho was proud Co

be the mouthpiece of the Cromwell Development Company and lo express the keenest appreciation of the interest in the company's work shown by such a large gathering. He regarded it as an evidence of public commendation and encouragement of the company's huge undertaking—an undertaking which had not been without its trials and discouragements—all now happily overcome. He had received apologies for non-attendance from the Right Hon. Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir William Fraser, the Hon. Mr MacDonald, and other Ministers, all of whom gave great encouragement to the scheme and expressed regret at not being able to be present. It was a great pleasure to know that the public wore showing such an interest in the concern and were offering encouragement. Many people had come hundreds of miles to witness what was a unique engineering feat in the annals of New Zealand. They had not got to the present stage without many difficulties. They had seen a pillar fall, and it had fallen exactly as thoir engineer (Mr Williams) had desired it to fall. It was an opportune time to say a few words about the scheme, ite genesis, aspirations, and hopes for the future of Otago. In doing so ho bore testimony to the optimism and faith of some of those who had been instru- , mental in bringing such a unique undertaking within the bounds of l possibility. The idea of falling huge reinforced concrete pillars was entirely new to New Zealand, and much credit was due to Messrs F. Williams and E. E. Stark, whose combined expert knowledge had thus been demonstrated and used for the good of Otago. To Mr Williams was entrusted the engineering control, and to the contractors, Messrs Byrnes and Johnson, the carrying out of the engineer's plans and instructions. A good job in every sense had been done under difficult conditions, to the credit of all concerned. (Applause.) The late Mr George Neill, a townsman of . Cromwell, was the initiating mind, and by his faith in its efficacy he imbued a like faith in the minds of others. T*> the late Mayor, Mr Jolly, and his fellow councillors they owed a debt of gratitude for. sympathetic encouragement and assistance. Though, as was only to be expected at the initiation of a new scheme for New Zealand, they were met in Government and other circles with a natural feeling of suspicion ; when once their aims were fully understood they had! had nothing but full appreciation and ready, though critical, assistance. From the head of the Government, Mr Massey. they had had, a broadminded understanding; of the value of their success, and to Sir William Fraser, the district member and Minister of more than one Government department they had had to deal with, they owed unstinted thanks for his support. Mr Sargood also congratulated Sir William Fraser on his recent honour. It was a well-merited recognition of many years of public service. The prosperity of Otago was a burning passion of the Minister. He' was always most enthusiastic when he spoke of the possibilities of irrigation in Central Otago. But for his encouragement and advice he (Mr Sargood) doubted if they would have stood up against much discouragement. The falling of the- monoliths synchronised with the opening of the railway to Cromwell. With railway facilities within three miles of the furthest portion of the company's lands, he looked forward with confidence to seeing in the near future the w-holo of the intervening space covered with smiling homesteads. It had been said that optimism was dead in Otago. Nothing of the sort. But there was a small minded, carping spirit abroad that looked askance at the employment of capital or the success of others. They must kill that - spirit and encourage capital all they could, for without it Otago must and would go back. —(Applause.) Irrigation schemes were not for small men, they must have faith, long-sighted men, and a ready and full purse to make possible the enormous potentialities of Otago's dry belt. Without water little could be done, with it the possibilities were almost limitless.—(Applause.) What was the Cromewll Development Company? It was a venture for the irrigation of Cromwell flats and their ultimate settlement by contented people on small holdings, where a good living under good conditions could be obtained. If the. company did not believe such were possible shareholders would hardjy have spent between £40,000 to £50,000. Such tilings were not done for fun, nor without hope of gain. But anyone having any idea of the subject must see that the company could not look for gain within the lifetime of any of its present shareholders. Therefore he claimed that they deserved the entire sympathy and support of the public—("Hear, hear.") Under an agreement with the Government the company could not hold any titles to Government lands, but as the properties were sold the Government issued the titles.. This Would show that the company was a development company, with the interests of the province at heart, first and last. The aims of the company embraced the close settlement under irrigation of Cromwell flats and adjacent lands where suitable, and to where the energy manufactured at its works could be translated—which might be easily a radius of 50 miles —where fruit farming, dairying, small Culture, poultry raising, and the many side lines of intensive farming might be carried on. In the future, as settlement progressed, it was hoped that co-operative' organisations would automatically follow, such as for picking, packing, grading, and vending of fruit and other products,—involving . the elimination of the employment by settlers of unnecessary capital,—securing in other words, efficiency in effort and organisation. The company was prepared to tend orchards at stated annual figures until settlers were readv to take possession. It would have available expert qrchardist and other advisers if required to assist settlers in every way possible, thus to make Cromwell the centre of an up-to-date irrigation colony of prosperous, contented settlors To make this possible the company must have the confidence and support of the public, for its success meant a new and permanent life for Cromwell and the full demonstration Nthat Otego could be the home of hundred-, of thousands of small settlers.— (Applause.) The directors sincerely hoped that' they might bo able to make such provision as would induce returned soldiers to make homes there, where they could enjoy the full fruits of their labours and recompense themselves with Nature's aid for the" long and arduous trials of the trenches. Such provision would, he hoped, be made public shortly, and it would embrace long and easy terms of purchase. They hoped, in the course of years, to see anything up to 500 settlers on the company's property. He wondered if many had given thought to the enormous potentialities of

irrigation when given such a magnificent climate as they had there, with soil unequalled in New Zealand. Take fruit. Was it too much to assert that the very low estimate of £l5O per a«re per annum could bo taken off an orchard? From lucerne, where five cuts a year could bo taken, £3O per aero was a low estimate. An acre of lucerne would grow at least eight tens of the very best of .hay, worth from £5 to £6 per ton, without ■ much labour. What a magnificent chance for dairying- and pigraising ! There were more hours of sunshine there than in any other place in New Zealand —a splendid dry, healthy climate, unequalled in the dominion. Mr Sargood concluded: "Let 'Onward, Otago,' be your watchword, optimism your faith, service your religion. We shall want all in tho new world that is dawning when peace is declared-—a world where there will be little use for personal jealousies and obstructive tactics. If our Empire is to live and expand, all must work in a spirit of service and tolerance." —(Applause.) As an earnest of their devotion, Mr Sargood then asked tho slathering to give three hearty cheers for tho province of Otacro, coupled with the name of the only legislator thoy had present with them that day (Mr Sidey). Three cheers were heartily given, wjth three cheers for the Orormvelh Development .Company,, and one for Mr Sargood. MR SIDEY'S SPEECH. ■Mr Sidey said that the people of Dunedin fully recognised that the interests of Central Otago and the . interests of Dunedin were the same. Whatever made for prosperity in Cromwell madicj for development in Dunedin. In years gone by it was the mining industry which placed Dunedin amongst the foremost cities of the dominion. Times, however, had changed since then. One of the hopes of Dunedin lay in the development of the permanent resources of Central Otago—resources which would not die like the mining, but would last for all time. Everything that lay in that direction would have his heartiest'support. He felt sure of the people of Dunedin. He believed there was no doubt of this, that the State must safeguard the great natural water resources with which the country was so liberally endowed.- It must keep a watchful eye on the extent to which these resources were to be exploited for private purposes, and for that reason the State had taken control of the whole of the water-power of the dominion. So far as the State was concerned m the settling of the land, be believed that the State, generally speaking, should carry it out for the purpose of giving easy terms, in order to give aettlers an opportunity of getting on the land. But they could not expect, if the State would not do these things, to allow their forces to lie idle and waste. How long. would they have had to wait if the State had been left to carry out this scheme?—(A Voice: " Never.") If the State could not do these things itself it had to let others do them, provided the State retained certain safeguards.—(Applause.)- A certain section of the House had stuck up the company's Bill for a time, but its good judgment had at last allowed it to go through with condit-'ons which safeguarded the position of the Government. Let tho State, if it wished, take powers to take over these things on the payment of suitable compensation once it,was seen that they were going to be successful. He wished the company every success. Mr R. S." Black said that as far as Dunedin was concerned it was always very anxious to see Otago Central advance.

THE SECOND PILLAR. Preparations were made to fall the second pillar, and ait 5 o'clock the engine whistle sounded to gather the_ people to the edge of the road and the sides of the banks to see the column topple over. The explosion took place all right, broken stone flying out from the base across the river. The pillar, however, did not move, despite the fact, as in the case of the first pillar, that a wire connected with a winch had kept a steady strain on it. Workmen at once descended to put in another charge of gelignite, but it was ascertained that the hole provided in case of such an eventuality had been blocked by the first explosion. DESCRIPTION OF PILLARS. Each of the pillars is built of reinforced concrete. The column on the right-hand side of the river was '46ft high and 16ft square, and weighed 720 tons, and that on the left-hand side stood 36ft high and 13ft square, and weighed 530 tons. The spot on the Kawarau where the river is to be dammed back is about four and a-half- miles from its junction with the Clutha at Cromwell, and a few hundred yards inside the entrance to the gorge. The river here is very rapid and narrow, running at the rate of 300 ft per minute. The banks are very steep, and the tops of the pillars were not . on a level with their edges, the sightseers being able to look down on them. The works undertaken by the Development Co. necessitated the raising of the river, so that even at its lowest flow it would be high enough to run into the intake on the right-hand side, and theneo flow 30 chains, down a race to the power-house. It was not considered possible to undertake the building of a weir in the usual fashion, owing to the precipitous nature of the sides of the gorge and the great volume of water, which has a fairly uniform depth of 17ft. A number of other proposals were therefore suggested, and finally the pillar scheme was put forward by Mr Williams, and was decided on. Bv this moans it was considered that the river would be raised from its lowest level to a sufficient height to run into the intake. Of course, the race could not bo built down to the lowest level. It, in fact, had to bo built at a height to clear the maximum flood level; otherwise it would bo washed awa y. Everything h ready at the power-house for the water from the race. The turbine there will lift some 45 or 50 heads of water to a height of 160 ft, forcing it up through pipes. It will then run along a race and irrigate the Ripponvalo lands, lying at the foothills, abutting out on the Cromwell flat. This is purely a pumping scheme, but the company has also secured a right to take power from the river equalling about 1000 h.p., to be distributed on tho Cromwell flat and m the Olutha Valley, in the shape of eloetricity. There is no doubt that nn enormous_ lot of work has yet to be done beforo either scheme comes to fruition. Elec'trio machinery will also have to Ire installed in tho power-house. There aro about 2000 acres of Crown lands on the Cromwell flat which were talcen over by the company under special conditions, and a further 2000

acres of freehold and borough leases. The company's capital is about £45,000. It was rumoured on tho riverside to-day that Mr Sargood had bought out the rights of tho other members of the company, so far as the river power scheme is concerned, somo few weeks back, and that these directors had accepted land on the flat in hcu of their shares in tho power scheme. i The Cromwell Company's works have to bo seen to realise the magnitude of the | undertaking and the enormous task that j Messrs Byrnes and Johnson took on when I thev started their contract in April, 1916. | So "far, the work has been carried on • sue- . cessfully. .. I To state a plain fact, however, while everyone is keenly anxious, for the sake of the Cromwell district itself and the Otago province generally, to see the whole scheme an unqualified success, there are many who are inclined to doubt that it can be a success unless with the expenditure of a great deal more money. j i FALLING OF SECOND COLUMN. j CROMWELL, January 28. j The falling of the second pillar at .the Cromwell Development Company's works, which was attempted on Friday and was fixed for Saturday, but was again deferred to enable the Government kinema expert to take a picture of the event, duly took , place this morning in the presence of a j fair gathering of interested spectators. The explosion was very effective, dislodging the column in good style. Once over the balance the column dipped head first into the stream behind the first one, and appeared to be going in splendidly, when it was quickly seen that the column had broken into two pieces. The top section lodged ', well out, and the lower section hugged j the shore. Had the,column remained intact the fall would have 'been very success- j ful. As it is the engineer expressed satis- j faction at the foundation now established j with the new course of the stream. The larger pillar appears to have shifted some- i what; its base is perceptibly down stream. On your representative's last visit the water j was stili over seven feet below the intake, ■ and a considerable amount of filling is ! necessary. THE ENGINEER INTERVIEWED. A WORD FOR THE CONTRACTORS. Mr Williams, the company's engineer, on ' being interviewed after the falling of the ! pillar, expressed his satisfaction at the way it had fallen, and said it had come to rest practically in the place which he had allowed for it. Since the pillar had fallen the river had risen 3ft. It was lying just ' under the water. The intention was to i back it up with 1000 tons of mica schist, j This blocking, it was anticipated, would ; silt up finally with sand, and the whole j of the river would flow over the obstruction \ at -a sufficient height to enable it to com- \ fortably run into tho intake. He desired to i express his appreciation of the contractors, j Messrs Byrnes and Johnston, who had done i their gigantic work well, as the pillar had come over the intact. |