The future of Central Otago lies in its soil

The Minister of Public Works, Hon. W. Fraser, turns the first sod on the site of the Cromwell...
The Minister of Public Works, Hon. W. Fraser, turns the first sod on the site of the Cromwell Development Company's power house, in the Kawarau Gorge. COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.
The people of Dunedin who know the country - it is unfortunate that there are not more of them - have a strong faith in the potentialities of Central Otago as a rich producing area for which Cromwell is the natural outlet.

It has been shown that soil and climate in that part of the provincial district combine to produce magnificent results where the water supply is adequate. The crying want of Central Otago has been, and is, irrigation.

Time was when the mining industry produced many flourishing settlements where now a condition that approximates to stagnation and decadence is to be observed.

The future of the district lies, as has long been recognised, in the development of its soil, not in the old way but on lines that should make for permanent prosperity and closer settlement.

It is possible, therefore, to view with considerable satisfaction the enterprise which the Cromwell Development Company is showing in launching a fairly ambitious scheme that promises, if successful, to bring new life to a languishing district.

The arid-looking area known as the Cromwell Flat is a familiar feature of the landscape to all who know Central Otago, and the project for its development by irrigation is one which, albeit possibly to an extent speculative, is fraught with great potentialities.

If the Development Company meets with the success which we trust will attend its scheme of operations, it may be expected that a great impetus will be given to enterprise in Central Otago generally.

Speaking at the ceremonies arranged at Cromwell to celebrate the inauguration of the new undertaking, the Minister of Public Works, who is as well qualified as anyone is to pronounce upon the possibilities of the district, and who has its interests warmly at heart, expressed himself in optimistic terms respecting the prospects capable of achievement in the development of the resources of this part of Central Otago by irrigation, and detailed the precautions taken by his department in the interests of prospective settlers.

The people of Otago should watch with interest the outcome of the experiment which is to be inaugurated at Cromwell.

The feature of it is to be the raising of water from the turbulent Kawarau and its distribution over the Flat for irrigation purposes.

There are doubtless more or less serious problems to be overcome in connection with the project, but they should not prove so formidable as to prevent the happy fulfilment of the prophecy, ''the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.''

The city and suburban primary school teachers brought a most valuable and useful fortnight of physical training to a conclusion yesterday afternoon, the camp having been attended by the same good results as those secured in the case of the country teachers.

The period of training has been of the utmost benefit from a physical point of view, and the bringing together of so many teachers has done a vast amount of good socially.

The instructors have succeeded, without exception, in gaining the respect and esteem of their classes in a most marked manner, and these sentiments took tangible form yesterday afternoon, when each was made the recipient of a handsome presentation.

The formal breaking of the camp at Tahuna Park was attended by no further ceremony than a general cleaning up and a series of hearty handshakes, that testified to the excellent spirit of camaraderie that had been engendered; but at several of the ladies' classrooms friends and visitors were present, and these were entertained at afternoon tea. - ODT, 7.5.1915.

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