RANGITATA AND ORARI WATER-RACE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1671, 10 December 1887, Page 2

RANGITATA AND ORARI WATER-RACE.

A NEW IMPLEMENT.

Doubtless some of our readers will remember the difficulties which the settlers in the Orari and Rangitata districts had in getting that locality proclaimed a water-supply district# In due course, however, they, sue* ceeded, and the plan of the waterrace was submitted and. approved. Tenders were invited for the work, and that of Mr Silcox accepted: Even then, however, matters did. not seem to he working very smoothly, and the actual construction of the race wa* delayed for several months. The reason of this was that the contractor had in preparation the plans of ft plough designed to lave him not only the expenditure of a large amount of labor, hut also to do more efficient work. These plans were submitted to Messrs Reid and Gray, who, however, declined to undertake the construction of the implement, and the work was, therefore, entrusted Ao Messrs P. and D. Duncan, of Christchurch. When completed it was found well adapted for its purpose, apd the construction of the water-race is being rapidly proceeded with. The plough itself is something in the principle of a large single horse-hoe. The beam measures lift, x s£in. x l|in. The coulter is 3ft. Sin. long x l£in. think, and the blade is about sin. wide. The mouldboards give a spread of 6ft. Each hoard is fitted with a cutting edge, and measures 6£t. x 20in. The share is of steel, and is similar in shape to the share used in drills. The plough is carried on four wheels, the two front ones being fitted with aA swivel arrangement that keeps the” plough following evenly after the motive power. The rear wheels of the plough are attached to a semicircular yoke at the end of the beam, and these can he steered by ; means of a lever rod. The plough works freely to the depth oi 2ft. or more, hut it is seldom necessary to use it at more than the depth of a foot. The race as formed by the plough is 3ft. 9in. at the top, about 2ft. at the i. bottom,, and about 9in. deep. At the rear of, the plough is a wooden frame or spreader, which removes the soil a distance of 18in. on either side from the edge of the race, and this not only forms a flood bank, hut keeps any rubbish from falling back into the channel. The plough is worked by means of a traction engine, and it requires very little attention, except in places where the ground w uneven. An implement like this for use in the formation of a water-race pos-

sesses many advantages overt.the f bld plough and scoop system. The soil is ploughed out of the solid end the .. course left for the water presents a perfectly J’equal ’ and harii surface. Loss by filtration is, therefore, not bo rapid. The use of the frame or spreader behind is also' of service, as. the loose soil is removed in an unbroken ridge to a given distance from from the edge, andjs not left in heaps here and there as wbuld be the case if the scoop were used. y, THo channel is therefore finished at one operation, and the only broken places are where fords or something of that kind have to be arranged. The motive power also has its advantages, as the weight of the engine preceding the plough firms the ground on either side of channel. The speed of the plough has not yet been accurately tested, but in a fairly good piece of ground with few deviations a mile of the race was formed in 40 minutes. Probably from six to eight miles a day can be (done with ease. This is excellent work, for the ground is in many places one mass of shingle, such as no ordinary machine could go through. Mr Silcox deserves every credit for his ingenuity. He has produced at a oomparatively slight cost an' implement that will materially reduce the expense of constructing races and such works, and probably the the machine will come into general use for such purposes. Mr Silcox has applied for a patent for his invention, and has also some intention pf having it exhibited in Australia, where waterraces are needed more frequently than here. The progress that is now being made with the race should he a source of great satisfaction to the promoters. Some of the land through which the race goes was nearly valueless. Even sheep did not thrive to any great extent. It will be interesting to note the improvement made in sundry paddocks by the introduction of a regular supply of water. It is hardly too much to predict that the carrying capacity of such lands will he nearly . doubled. In all, there will he close upon a hundred miles of water-course, and probably several divergent courses may yet be made. The water-supply „ is obtained from the Orari Gorge, where extensive headworks are being , erected. The contract is being carried v out under the supervision of Mr J. Radford, acting for the County Council.