IRRIGATED LANDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1926, Page 4

IRRIGATED LANDS.

SEEING IS BELIE V I NO. ALEXANDRA. -March 2. To-day tlit' Ministerial party visited an extensive area of land which it i proposed to serve with irrigation. Leaving Queenstown in the morning, the party inspected the Kawarau dam works in connexion with the scheme to hold up Lake Wakatipu in dry seasons of the year, and to lower the water in the lied of the liver for mining purposes. Seven of the ten piers are completed, and from a purely engineering standpoint the enterprise is likely to he a success. I rrign Lioua! practice* in ll.e \ it inity of Lake Haves were inspected. and a scheme tit Arrowtow n was also discussed with setl lers. The Crown range route to Pembroke was followed, theme over the' ferry at lln wea. In this district there is an area of •id,Olid acres capable of irrigation. Private enterprise has caused a good deal of development in the Tanas district, and frequent demonstrations were to he seen of the effect water had on pastures, and on the crop.-. Exceptionally good lieiiis ol lucerne, dot, 1 lie landscape, where t water lias been applied, and in the wide use of this plant, and ordinary pasture the party recognised the main forces operating towards increased production. In the Terras alone -12,(itlit acres are irrigable, and the .Public Works are busily engaged in bringing reticulation seiches in this and the I! a wea areas. Most ol it is Hat and easy plateau land, and can he .served at rcsonablo cost. DAXCKH OK HIGH COSTS. The expeii.v of irrigating some ol the are as proposed at various places ia potential danger. A project which was put liefcre the Prime .Minister today was t.-i-limited In cost users 20per acre in water-rates, r l his Mr Coates considered was well beyond what was commercialy feasible. One instance was pointed out on the trip wimre con-1 national i rets in a private ■ • n l ad lecu heavy enough to make the rate grnhihith 0 to many of t ho-. ■ v.irh in the area. All experimental area is being watered oil the Karnseleugh Elat, with the object of demonstrating idle correct; quantity to apple. Harm lias been done in ihe pa-t by excessive application .o' v. a:er. and the area wilj sen e a■- i u-r fid guiib .as from the various -1, ai , ■ rnv, lie".idng (onirilet ion. and prep 'd. it i - pu'-ib’e Mint well on 1- a.i) - .. d; i . irrigated within Then' ai)" several icry extensive project to inspci t to-morr.nv. but. it is obvious that the .Minister-', have seen enough io impress them with the wisdom o! 1.:,n pHL'seiit policy of the (!overiiiiieni in the matter of irrigation. UAIIAVAY VIEWPOINT.

In one of In- replies to a deputation. Air Coates relerivd to the ivcenl more encouraging returns of the Otago ('mitral railway, ami discussed the inlluenee irrigation would have in enhaii, ;n", tin so returns If the Paihvay Depart'i'eut could see a return 10 or prod net ion. it would inlluenee railway const met ion p>l i,-y _ f n the men ntime, ho' ever, no single argiiinei'd could he bi-.eighl f.-rward from a railway viowjioint in justify the exten--iou of ih.- lip.' I law ea. An "'d I'oquesi dm !i Ihe d"pnt at ion made (or prodimt ion in the district Would have to b,. very re inn rknhly in1 1.0 watra.Pi a. railway. 'wviKJ\*arr.'3Ba