IRRIGATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 9 June 1924, Page 11

IRRIGATION.

IN CENTRAL OTAGO

INTERVIEW WITH AIR E. J. HOWARD, M.P.

Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., for Christchurch South, who was in Tiinaru last week, had something ui interest to say on the subject of irrigation in Central Otago, to a “Herald” reporter, who waited upon him. Mr Howard said that he had previously 6eea what irrigation is doing for Central Otago, and he was; convinced that, the work which was' being'done by the Government there, • in this connection, was of very great value. The matter was a most important one, even to residents of South Canterbury, as there were thousands of acres ol land >in Canterbury ht for irrigation, that would-, produce as good results, as had been obtained in Central Otago. In California, almost desert areas had been turned into thickly populated settlements. The public debt of New Zealand was approximately 220 million pounds,, and the private mortgages about 240 millions, with another 30 millions for local bodies. ... That vast debt had to be paid in goods. It had been said that fi man who made two blades of grass grow where one grew before, was a public benefactor. Their engineer's in .Central Otago were making thousands of Llades of grass grow where none grew before. The arid to semi-arid region of Central Otago extended over about 5000 square miles, comprising the interior or the southern portion of the South Island, where the Island attained the greatest width. Throughout a considerable portion of this area the rainfall is as low as ten inches, and in some cases that ten inches frequently fell in fierce thunderstorms, the watei running off before saturating the ground to any depth. The area suitable for close settlement under irrigation, was about 2000 square miles, and included many of the fertile valleys, some of them unmistakably old lake basins, and ideal for irrigation purposes. The earliest attempt at irrigation in the Clyde district was on an 80-acre farm, which was watered in 1889. The land had been constantly under irrigation ever since, and it was now stated by the present owner that the pastures were still improving. Tho 80 acref showed an annual profit of be tueen £4OO and £SOO. A number oi other private schemes-, of many years’• standing in the district were also showji!-' similar results The Vincent Comity Council had assisted with three at iioi-ues, one at Blackman’s gully, serving about 1000 acres; one at Bannockburn of about 1700 acres, and one at Matakanuie of about 5000 acres. The Ida Valley scheme which previ ously only, irrigated . 4400 acres, had been greatly, extended; and now watered 26.600, fibres;' the' works'including 90i miles or water races. The profit over working expenses in connection with scheme was £IOB3 In the Galloway Flat 'district, the 1200 .acres. under treatment'showed a marked improvement in production. Butter-fat, even in mid-winter, was railed to the factories, the dairy herds being fed on fitbrbafiTfiEiefne.. hay.; The „ Mairaherikia scheme, together with the. Ida. ,Valley' scheme, was considered the most ambitious. In this case there was no dam, the wfiter; being' taken rhrough a tunnel and led along tho mountain side in a concrete race, the main race being two and a-half miles in length.- - Twenty miles of earth races, seven large syphons and flumes, and thirty miles of distributing races were also in use. .The Teviot river scheme had the unique feature of being the first combined irrigation and hydro-electric power scheme in the Dominion,, with, the still further interest of .having J . been founded on the abandoned waterworks of one of tho largest gold mining claims in the district, the plant , of which was being used in the scheme which was to irrigate 18,000 acres. At the finish of the gold boom, tho miners turned their attention to agricultural pursuits, and by converting their old sluicing races for the purpose of conveying water to their -crops in times of drought, they became the pioneers of irrigation in Central Otago. The soil 1 was rich in all tho elements that go to make for fertility, consisting chiefly of j weathered schist rock. Plants absorbing their food mostly in a liquid form, were not capable of living even on this rich soil without water. The country before the introduction of water, was, in most cases, treeless, wind swept and barren, and heavy falls of snow were regular. The Ida Valley was admirably suited for dairy fanning, although not altogether suitable for fruit growing, on account of its height above sea level. The progress of the various schemes had brought about a wonderful state of development. In the Public Works .Statement of 1922, it was reported that one man grew 400 tons yff lucerne on 80 acres of irrigated land, and with i 350 tons of this tbdcler r he wintered 1 5000 shebp, 75. ea.tt.ie and- 20 -horses. With tho aid of'the pasture on irrigated land he was able to sell 4900 fat sheep from a property that had previously never, been . able to turn off a. single fat sheep. Another settler ’ brought iff a private scheme costing £2O ‘ per acre, 1 aqd was then able, on 400 acres of land, which was previously drifting sand oi no value, to winter 3300 sheep, as well as horses and cattle. In addition to this-he held 2000 sheep and fattened

300 wethers in the month of February.Figures of this description must carry conviction to the most sceptical, II

was also stated that a certain man, before irrigation, grazed 100 sheep and fattened 8D on a little over 300 acres. He nor.' grazed 600 sheep and fattened 400. Another previously sold 250 fat sheep aud 13 bales of wool per annum. As a result of. irrigation, he now sells 1200 fat sheep and 35 bales of wool. That man also estimated that the nmol off irrigated land was two or three pounds heavier per sheep, and realised 3d to 4d per pound more as compared with adjoining unirrigated land. With lucerne it was possible to get as many as,.eight cuts per year, from two foot six-inches and uj> to 3 feet, and. sometimes more

The principle adopted in regard to the water charges had been to try and make the schemes pay interest and sinking fund on the capital cost of con-

struction. At Ida Valley the. charge was'los per acre per annum; Manuherikia, Galloway and Olrig Terrace, 16s per. acre, and the others 15s. These charges were not levied immediately, but.on a sliding scale. The cost of the works to date was given as .fi-1b.579. At the present tune ±12500 worth ot water was being sold annually, and the amount was increasing from month to month. It had been stated that the average enhancement in land, values per acre was 06 7s Cd. Taking the farmers’ value of enhancement aud capitalising the water rents receivable, it was found that in the case of the Ida Valiev scheme, there was an asset worth £226,325 from an expenditure ot .£160,000. If the extremely conservative values adduced by the _ Department’s officers from actual flock and crop returns bo taken, the national | asset was reallv £231,1-16. front an ex- I ponditure of Ci 60.000. . With 356,000 acres under irrigation, | Central Otago should carry a big population in the rears to come. The success achieved in Central Otago carrier! a lesson to all There were thousands of acres of land in Canterbury suitable for irrigation, and this. would show just as good results as had boon obtained in Control Otago Ir. conclusion Mr Howard paid a tribute to Mr ,T. It. Marks, .he local engineer, and Mr F. V, r . Furkctt, on-ginoor-in-ehio? of the Public Works Department, both of whom were in no , Minall measure respousi l !c for the excel- ; lent results achieved. j