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During the year a small concrete dam across the Idaburn at Oturehua was completed, and water from the reservoir was utilized during last season for the irrigation of 600 acres immediately below the dam. A single men's unemployed camp has been set up, and forty men are employed in cleaning out the races on the Steward Settlement irrigation scheme. During last season twelve schemes were in operation and 44,587 acres of land were irrigated, water being supplied to 425 irrigators. The schemes in operation on a trading basis are Ardgour, Arrow, Bengerburn, Earnscleugh, Galloway, Hawkdun, Idaburn, Ida Valley, Last Chance, Manuherikia, Tarras, and Teviot. All schemes have been adequately maintained, and supplies of water have been uninterrupted throughout the season. In Ardgour scheme 1,650 ft. of main pipeline were dismantled, and the pipes were recoated inside and out with bitumen, and replaced in position. The following graph shows the growth of irrigation under Government schemes for the last thirteen years —

Future Proposals.

The amount proposed to be made available this year for the development of irrigation is £80,000. So far, irrigation by the Government has chiefly been confined to lands in Central Otago, but many requests have been made during the year for the investigation of schemes in Canterbury and other parts of Otago. In compliance with representations by settlers in South Canterbury, a survey is now being carried out to ascertain the possibility of economically irrigating from the Waitaki River an area of approximately 30,000 acres of good land along the north side of the Waitaki River, and the coast lands between Glenavy and Morven. Preliminary investigations indicate that water could be supplied to this area at a very much less cost per acre than the average cost of irrigation per acre in Central Otago. It is anticipated that the survey and a report on the scheme will be completed in two months' time. It may be found necessary to carry out a good deal of work on the actual farms in the way of building borders, &c., to obviate unequal watering or heavy expenses in levelling. A survey was made for a scheme to take water for irrigation purposes from the Waitaki hydro-electric supply dam when completed. The land proposed to be irrigated lies in a long strip on the south side of the Waitaki River down-stream

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