IRRIGATION MEETING AT A RAKAIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1308, 6 August 1886, Page 2

IRRIGATION MEETING AT A RAKAIA

A meeting in respect to the irrigation scheme was held in tha Town Hall, South Rakaia, last evening. Thera was only a moderate attendance of interested ratepayers, but a considerable number ot township residents put in an appearance. The chair was taken by Mr Hardy, and Mr Coster, the representative for the district, and Ur Baxter, the Council's Engineer, were also in attendance. The Chairman briefly explained the object of the meering. Mr E. S. Coster represented the Council's views on the matter at soma length, and concluded by stating that that body had no wish to force tha scheme on (he ratepayers, and it was for them to deoide if they would have irrigation or not. Mr Baxter, at considerable length, explained the proposed scheme, illustrating the same with diagrams. The townships were not included in the soheme, neither were the suburban or village settlement lands, and holders of these properties would not be rated for the water. There would bo plenty of water to spare for these holdings, and they could pay for it if needed, but it was not the present intention to supply them. , Mr Allan thought it would be best to test

the scheme on a small eoale at first. In the ( Rakaia district there was no opposition to an ( irrigation soheme, but there was a great deal against that portion of the district being ' asked to pay for an uncertainty. He thought ' the experiment should be made on No. 4 1 block where the cost would be so much less. Mr Coster was of opinion that no small 1 scale trial eould be carried out on that side of the county. The water race system was not yet completed, and it eould not be completed in that portion of the district without another rate, there being no money left. About £2OOO was required for the purpose and this should

be paid out of the general land, as already some £2500 had been spent. Mr Baxter said that in order to try the experiment on a small soalo it would be necessary to enter into an arrangement with private parties but, no doubt, the Council could run a small supply from the Wakanui creek On to one of the dry farms. There was no doubt that land' near the sea would derive a much greater benefit than that near the hills. Mr Coster moved “ That it is ds arable that the County Council should have the power to declare irrigation districts in the county of Ashburton." Seconded by Mr Allan and carried. Mr Allan "said the Bakaia district had never had justice from the County Council. Taking into consideration the size of the district some £12,000 should have been spent hero instead of under £6,000. He moved “ That in the opinion of this meeting the scheme of irrigation proposed by the Council is to a large extent experimental, bat that we will agree to the experiment being tried on ns on the following conditions:—The irrigation {of Block 1 as proposed by the Council to be carried out at the general expense of the county; and should the scheme prove a success we are willing to pay a special rate lor the cost of the work, less cost of an efficient water supply which the Council at present owes ns.” Mr Tucker seconded the motion, but said ho should like to see the township lands included. ■ The motion was carried. Votes of thanks to Messrs Baxter and Coster and the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.