DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 136, 25 June 1937, Page 4

DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION

Landholders. and perhaps orchardists in particular. will have read with interest what an expert member of the Soil Survey Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, as reported yesterday. has had to say with regard to the need for providing an effective system of drainage for a large and highly fertile area of the Heretaunga Plain. To secure the best results this is represented to be just as essential as an irrigation system designed to meet occasional drought conditions. It is easy even for the inexpert to understand that the productive capacity of land may be just as much prejudiced by over-saturation with moisture as by the lack of it. It is indicated that such a condition on the Heretaunga Plain may arise ,in fact does arise, from some of the smaller streams that previously helped to earry off exeess water being deprived of their discharge into the Ngaruroro River. This means the accumulation and backing-up of their waters. which not only percolate into the immediately adjoining land but also preclude the discharge from drains that have been construeted to run' into them. This is not an altogether newly discovered difficulty, for some considerable time ago Mr. George Nelson, in discussing schemes for flood prevention by the diversion of the bigger rivers, plainly foresaw it and in his own proposals made provision for meeting it. However. that is now a comparatively old story, but evidently none the less true. The question now is as to what should be done about it under the conditions that now obtain. Suggestions are now thrown out that will doubtless secure consideration from those concerned, although it is to be observed that as yet all the necessary data have not been secured.