WAITOHI FLAT WATER RACES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1926, 6 August 1889, Page 3

WAITOHI FLAT WATER RACES.

10 THE EDITOR. . jg IB> —By a n advertisement which appeared recently in your paper I see that it is intended to test the wishes of the ratepayers on the Waitohi Flat as to whether they will sanction ;an irrigation scheme for their district not. I trust that the ratepayers will go fully into the matter of expense before sanctioning such a scheme. To put the matter simply, the amount proposed to be raised is £2500, at 6 per cent, £150; maintenance and supervision, £l5O per annum; total annual cost, £3OO. The area of the "Waitohi Flat is about 8000 acres, and £3OO will just give the rate per acre per annum at 9d, a very respectable addition to our already heavy list of taxes. Some of the ratepayers are under the impression that they will only have to pay for the portions of their farms through which the waterraces will actually pass, but I believe they will find that they are mistaken ia this, and that they will have to pay for the whole area. I would point out to my, fellow ratepayers that the taxes which we are now paying are in a great measure the cause of the difficulty in disposing of property, and preventing the influx of capital, and before burdening ourselves with another heavy tax.it would be well to ascertain if some cheaper way of providing water is not feasible. For my own part I have erected dams in ©very paddock, and found that they acted admirably during last season, which was one of the driest on record. Trusting you will be able to find room for the above, I am, etc., A. M. 'Clabx.