CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3703, 6 January 1891, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Irrigation. (To THE editok). Sib—l have read your leader of the 2nd inst upon the above matter, and lam certain your readers will regret, as I do, to see it. My reason for calling the late meeting was in order *o prevent, if possible, Mr Roe's return to Canterbury— not out of any discourtesy to the County engineer. This irrigation business, being a special work, devolving upon the lands and people directly interested, the County Council could not well act before it was petitioned to do so. A preliminary survey must therefore be made, and Mr Roe, having been for many years past assistant to Mr Davies, the chief irrigation engineer in Canterbury, we must consider his services the best and most practical we can obtain. I do not think Messrs Pharazyn and Elgar wculd have asked him up here, and entrusted him with the carrying out of their own irrigation works near Peatherston, unless they had full confidence in him. The levels he has taken at Dry River and Maryborough, Bhows me that he is a thoroughly practical man. He is a young man, it is true, but he knows his business. As soon a? the works I have in contemplation near Gray town, Carterton and Masterton aro done, that is to say the preliminary levels taken, I hav 0 suggested the advisability of Mr Davies himself coming up here for a few days to run over and check Mr Roe's own work before any expenditure is incurred out oi loan. The cost of Mr Roe's preliminary work is infinitesimal, and I shall be glad to hear that the sum I mentioned at the late Masterton meeting has been subscribed so that Mr Roe can set to work at once. If afterwards it is thought best to entrust the carrying out of the work to the County Engineer that is a matter for the Council to determine, I did not call ihe late meeting in any one sided manner, as you allege, seeing that I spoke to many persons about it, notably Mr W. H. Beethani and the Mayor. There are, I Bhould think, some 00,000 to 80,000 acres of land in the valley sadly requiring 1 irrigation, and I should much like to see them irrigated as tho Canterbury lands are. This should be a subject of commendation upon your part not condemnation. I am, &o„ Coleman Phillips. The Knoll, Featherstou, January sth, 1891. [The fact that practical settlers like Messrs Pharazyn and Elgar have in* vited Mr Roe to the Wairarapa and entrusted him with work is new to us and alters the opinion we previously expressed. We hope the small sum demanded for a preliminary service will be forthcoming ind shall be happy to subscribe towards it ourselves. Ed. W. P.]