D.—l.

IREIGATION—CENTRAL OTAGO. Operation or Completed Irrigation Schemes. During the past year the several completed schemes have been maintained in good condition, and all lands requiring water have been supplied. The irrigation season was a fairly successful one, the water-supplies have been good, and the distribution of water has been subject to very little interruption. Of the schemes in operation, the following are on a trading basis : Ardgour, Bengerburn, Earnscleugh, Galloway, Hawkdun, Ida Valley, Last Chance, Manuherikia, Tarras, and Teviot. Accounts have been rendered for £14,120, and working-expenses amount to £14,152, or very nearly the same as the amount of the accounts as rendered. This does not show a return as well as last year, the reason being that the Hawkdun scheme has now been included on a trading basis where irrigators are paying on the earlier (lower) stages of the deferred scale ; and on two other schemes substantial areas have been withdrawn for the time being from irrigation. The number of irrigators in the total area irrigated on all Government schemes for the past year is as set out in the following table :—■

For the previous year the totals were 395 irrigators, with 41,895 acres under irrigation. Of these schemes, the Arrow scheme, which is now complete, has come into partial service. Some settlers have used little or no water, this being largely due to the wet summer experienced. At Galloway the temporary pumping-plant continued in use during the season to ease the draw-ofi from Mahorburn reservoir, but the need for its further use no longer exists, and it has been dismantled. At Ida Valley, a diminished supply was again given this year, on the same scale as indicated in my last year's report. Storage is now accumulating in the new Poolburn reservoir, and as Manorburn reservoir is now accumulating a much better storage than in the preceding two years the full supply will be given next season. The position in respect to the payment of last season's irrigation accounts is very serious, the greater amount being outstanding, although the time up to which rebate is allowed has lapsed. The matter requires the serious consideration of the Government. New Schemes and Additions to Schemes in operation. Poolburn Dam, Ida Valley Scheme. —This work, designed to supplement the storage necessary for the Ida Valley scheme, is now complete. Concreting recommenced, after the winter shut-down, on the 3rd November, 1930, and finished on the 22nd May last. The whole construction operations ran very satisfactorily, the plant layout was very suitable, and an excellent job has resulted. Quantity of concrete in this work is 13,980 cubic yards. Idaburn Scheme. —This small scheme, located at Oturehua, will supply water to 600 acres, distributed among eight settlers who have signed agreements. Work is proceeding on the excavations of the foundations for the dam, and some race-work has been put in hand. SUBVEYS AND INVESTIGATIONS. Lauder-Omakau Scheme (Upper Manuherikia). —Under this scheme 14,000 acres of irrigable land are included. Surveys and plans of the various works necessary are complete. The land under this scheme is favourably situated as an irrigation project. No steps have yet been taken to have irrigation agreements signed. Maniototo Scheme. —A survey party has now been in the field for two months, running contours, taking levels and cross-sections to enable a preliminary decision to be made regarding major works, and the most suitable area or areas for irrigation development. This scheme covers a very large area-— over 100,000 acres —very favourably situated, both as to aspect and easy slopes, for irrigation purposes, and as to roads and railways for the transport of the produce which will be grown when the land is irrigated.

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q , Number of Acres under o , ! Number of Acres under iscneme. Irrigators. Irrigation. ecneme. Irrigators. Irrigation. Mēgom .. .. 12 1,462 Last Chance .. 23 2,915 Arrow .. .. 23 2,000 Manuherikia .. 77 5,830 Bengerburn .. 14 144 Tarras .. 17 2,495 Earnscleugh .. 52 2,048 Teviot .. 58 3,867 Galloway .. .. 22 2,453 ' Hawkdun .. .. 61 8,017 408 42,672 Ida Valley .. 49 11,441