The Cromwell Development Company, Part 2.

WHERE ORCHARDS FAILED

RIPPONVALE AND FRUITLANDS 

THE POSITION ANALYSED BY IRRIGATION COMMITTEE 

Fruit growing in Central Otago, especially with irrigation, has been on the whole the feature of this province’s development in primary production during the last thirty years. It has not, however, been an unqualified success. There have been the exceptions which prove the rule. Two of the exceptions are dealt with in the report of the committee which irrigation in Central Otago — Ripponvale, which is served by private enterprise in the matter of water; and Fruitlands, which lies in the district formerly known as Bald Hill Flat, near Alexandra, on the opposite side of the Molyneux. This latter area is irrigated by a Government scheme, in which use was made of the Last Chance old mining race. The committee’s reports, are as follow:

The Ripponvale Orchard Settlement was established by the Cromwell Development Company some thirteen years ago, and comprises approximately 460 acres, the area being subdivided into thirty allotments. About 300 acres of the total area were commanded by water races known as the ‘‘Byron” and ‘‘Lowburn." The Delevopment Company acquired rights from these races and contracted with settlers to supply irrigation water on certain conditions contemporaneous with the agreement to purchase allotments.

The charge for water was originally fixed at the animal into of £1 15s per acre; the allotment was at the rate of 1-200 part of a head per acre, delivered from the main races during an irrigation season of 181 days. 

Up to the eighth year following the establishment of the orchards everything pointed towards success. In succeeding years, however, the apple trees, instead of making progress and showing increased yields in line with age, perceptibly weakened in growth and yield of fruit. This is a condition of affairs which is not peculiar alone to Ripponvale, but has been experienced generally throughout Central Otago. So pronounced was the deterioration that a considerable reduction in yield was recorded not only in the case of individual holdings but over the whole settlement. Five years age 7,000 cases of apples were put through the co-operative packing shed, but in the 1927 season only 3,000 and this season it is probable the total will again not exceed 3,000. Had the orchards progressed as might reasonably have been expected the output should by now have readied at least 20,000 cases.

So serious is the position created by the yield failure that a number of settlers have abandoned their holdings, and those who remain are faced with considerable loss of capital even if they can carry on. The settlers invariably blamed the failure to the lack of an adequate supply of water. A deputation of settlers waited on the Prime Minister when the Ministerial party visited Central Otago in March last. They expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions regarding the supply of water by the Development Company and requested that the Government acquire the company’s water rights and assume control of an irrigation scheme serving the settlement.  -Evening Star, 5/11/1928.

OTAGO CENTRAL LAND HUNGER

PETITION TO GOVERNMENT 

RESUMPTION OF CROMWELL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY'S AREA URGED 

The following petition, urging the Government to resume possession of certain lands now under lease to the Cromwell Development Company, has been presented to the Premier and the Minister of Public Works by Mr C. W. J. Roberts, of Cromwell and others: — 

“The undersigned residents of Otago and more directly Cromwell and surrounding districts, respectfully wish to bring to your notice the present conditions obtaining in regard to a large area of land held for closer settlement, and at present under lease to the Cromwell Development Company, Limited. We urge that the Government should now resume possession of all low-lying country in the vicinity of Cromwell and Lowburn, at present under lease to the Cromwell Development Company; also acquire the hydro-electric works and all water rights of the Cromwell Development Company, together with any freehold land held by the company. 

“1. The progress of the community is being retarded by so large an area lying undeveloped and unsettled. 

"2. The land is adjacent to town and rail, and it has now been clearly demonstrated that even without water the carrying capacity of such land can be substantially increased, while, if under water, the area on Cromwell flat would be capable of settling, on a conservative estimate, at least forty families. 

“3. We submit that the Cromwell Development Company, Limited, has failed in its attempt to settle the Cromwell flat, for after a period of fourteen, years’ operation not one settler is resident on the flat, nor, indeed, has any land been disposed of by the company. 

”4. Though some 480 acres in the Sarita block have been open for selection for some time, none of the land has been disposed of, and we submit as a reason therefor the present apparent insecurity of the company’s main water works and supply, coupled with the high price of the land and water. 

”5. We further suggest that lack of confidence in the present administration of the water supply has also been detrimental to any settlement, for the unfortunate and striking example is in evidence in the many failures on the Ripponvale settlement, resultant from an inadequate and inefficient water supply and service. 

“6. We would point out that, while the foundations of a pumping scheme on the river have been laid, it now seems obvious that only under Government control and the expenditure of a further sum can the works he made secure, and developed to the full capacity of forty heads of water, with the required security of continuity of service which is so essential to the successful settlement of Cromwell flat. 

“7. We would urge that this scheme possesses the potentialities necessary to make it the most reliable irrigation scheme in Central Otago, possessing as it does an unlimited supply of water at its source (the Kawarau River), so readily accessible from the area irrigated. 

”8. The fertility of the land in question has been amply demonstrated in years past by the various small successfully conducted farms, irrigated by old mining races, the rights of which unfortunately have in later years been transferred elsewhere. 

“9. The present progress of the scheme and lack of development and settlement is detrimental to the welfare of the town of Cromwell and district. 

‘‘10. Under Government supervision, dairying and mixed farming would soon be successfully established, with a consequent increased production, meaning additional freight and revenue for the railways, and an increased export. 

“11. The whole of the area referred to is covered by telephone service and an electric power scheme, served by a daily mail delivery, and public conveyance of children to the District High School, while no settler would be a greater distance than four miles from the township of Cromwell, so that the area would offer all attractions most desirable in a new settlement. 

“12. There is an increasing and unsatisfied demand for land m this district, both for dairying and sheep, as is evidenced in the adjoining districts of Bannockburn and Lowburn, where every available small area of land is fenced, and is being improved to carry sheep and dairy cattle. Moreover, there are many of the Ripponvale settlers, holding as they do only small areas of about fifteen acres, who desire to obtain, at a reasonable figure, more land adjoining their present small holdings, so as to go in for dairying as well as fruitgrowing. As several of the Ripponvale orchards are being removed and a change made to dairying, it is essential to make a success of dairying, that those settlers secure more land, and the only land available is that held by the Cromwell Development Company 

“13. We are grateful for the fact that the Hon. the Prime Minister and many others of his colleagues are fully conversant with the whole of the details of the scheme, and appreciate the wonderful possibilities of the country, and we respectfully urge that immediate steps be taken, either by negotiation or arbitration, to acquire the interests of the Cromwell Development Company, Limited, and thus make accessible to settlers areas that will be readily sought after if available under reasonable conditions.''  -Evening Star, 14/8/1929.

The Cromwell Development Company is in an anxious position. With the Kawarau shut off during the winter some effective work was done towards sealing the weir in the river. This was not completed when the lake was opened. With a low river a week ago the company was sanguine of another closing and with that hoped to complete the weir. This was objected to by country members of the board, who contended that there was a heavy coat of snow on the mountains, and the lake was high. A high lake did not seem to be borne out by the low river. The company is now in the unfortunate position that if it cannot continue the work at the weir there will be little hope of water for the vast flats during the summer, and its employees will have to seek other work.  -Otago Daily Times, 9/10/1929.

IRRIGATION. 

The frequent rains have kept the river at a level which has enabled the Cromwell Development Company to pump continuously. To-day, however, the river is again touching a low mark, and a further drop will throw the pumps out of commission.  -Otago Daily Times, 22/1/1930.

CROMWELL NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL, May 15. 

With the river low and with hard frosts up to the time of closing, the Kawarau gates were closed on Sunday. There was a big fall in the river through the night and the waters receded still further until Tuesday. It was on Tuesday that the lowest level was touched, and at that time, in unobstructed sections of the stream, the water was lower than at any time since the building of the dam. But the period of this level was brief, and did not permit of much work being done by claimholders. With the closing, the hard frost ceased, and the weather has been unusually mild, with rain repeatedly threatening. These conditions continue this morning, and while there has been no rain locally, a slight rise in the river indicates showers in the back country. While the river was at its lowest on Tuesday afternoon, a number of shareholders spent one hour and a-half on their property, and won just on £3 worth of heavy gold. At present the river is too high to permit further work being done, but nothing has happened to warrant the reopening of the gates. The Cromwell Development Company has a number of men at work on the weir. The initial work is repairing a big breach under the main column on the roadside. An inspection reveals that if this work is accomplished the method of completing the work has every prospect of being successful. A longer closing than that now proposed, however, will be necessary and under favourable weather conditions this can quite reasonably be granted.  -Otago Daily Times, 17/5/1930.

CROMWELL FLAT GOLD

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION OUTLINED 

RIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENT COMPANY 

LEGAL ASPECTS TO BE CONSIDERED

The question of throwing open the Cromwell Flat for gold mining and the rights of the Cromwell Development Company were touched on by the Minister of Mines (Hon. C. E. Macmillan) before he left for the north this morning. The Government would take no immediate action in regard to this land and no leases would be granted until the Government had investigated the position and had satisfied itself regarding the legal position in respect to the applications for land within the boundaries of the Cromwell Development Company, and until it was assured that there was no. danger of the investing public being exploited by promoters of companies which would have no prospect of providing a reasonable return on the capital invested. 

The Minister explained that the position with regard to the Cromwell Flat was unusually complicated and presented features which had not been encountered elsewhere in the dominion. He stated that when the Cromwell Development Company obtained the land on the Cromwell Flat it did so under what was known as a “contractual” title. It was claimed by the company that among its rights under the title was the sole authority to deliver water to the land held by it on the flat. If this right was admitted then mining could not he carried on within the boundaries of the land at present held by the company without its consent, as, of course, mining operations could not be conducted without water. The Minister stated that the Government had not as yet admitted the validity of these claims by the company, and one of the reasons why the granting of the application recommended by the warden had been withheld was to give the Crown solicitors full opportunity to review the legal aspects of the case. 

In addition to this, Mr Macmillan stated, the company had a valuable property on the Cromwell Flat worth many thousands of pounds, and the Government could not he expected to allow this to be entered and broken up by mining operations without a definite assurance that such action would be justified by the returns of gold won. He stressed the fact that no definite proof was yet forthcoming that the lead of gold which had been struck by two prospecting parties actually continued into the flat. He stated that the prospectus of one company which proposed to extend operations into the flat claimed that the lead was no more than two feet in width and six feet in depth. In view of this, and also of the fact that several shafts sunk on the flat recently had “bottomed ” and he had received no official notification that gold-bearing wash had been struck, would he be justified, the Minister asked, in allowing numbers of would-be miners to enter the company’s land and destroy it by their operations, thus rendering useless the costly development work of the company in the past? Even if the Government were prepared to grant the applications and ignore tho possible loss to the company, the legal aspect had to be considered, for if the claims made by the company as to its rights under its title were valid, the Government would then bo liable for compensation to the company amounting, perhaps to thousands of pounds. The people who now blamed the Minister for bis delay in granting the applications would then be the first to accuse him of carelessness in involving the Government in such unjustifiedexpenditure. ' Asked as to what steps the Government'intended to take, to protect the investing public, the Minister said that no applications would be granted until the Government was satisfied that goldbearing wash of a payable nature existed under the Cromwell Flat. He said that although consideration had been given to the best method designed to prove the’ value of the flat from a mining point of view, no decision. had yet been arrived at. ihe Government, however, would undertake the work of testing the flat, and a grant would have to bo applied for by the Department of Mines for this purpose. The Minister indicated that the work would probably be doiie by the sinking of test shafts, and in some cases boring might possibly be resorted to Once the Government was satisfied that the flat was really gold bearing, Mr Macmillan said, he thought there would be no objection to the granfmg of the applications, and the matter would then lie between the claimholders and the Cromwell Development Company. In the meantime, the Minister said, any attempt to enter the land of the company could only be regarded as trespassing, and even the Government would ,bo obliged to come to an agreement with the company before it could undertake the work of testing the flat. •.. . , , Asked as to when it was expected that this work would be completed and the whole position cleared up, Mr Macmillan said that matters were at present not sufficiently advanced to enable him to give a definite answer. The position therefore is that no applications will be granted by the Minister until tho Government is satisfied on the one hand as to its legal position in respect to the company s title and on tho other as to the, value of the flat as a mining field.  -ES, 1/6/1933.

It would seem that since the last repairs there has been a further breach under the main weir at the Cromwell Development Company's works. With the closing of the Kawarau dam last week all the water was passing- under the structure.  -CA, 3/7/1933.

MINING ON CROMWELL FLAT

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Some time ago a great part of Cromwell Flat was granted in blocks to prospectors for gold on payment of about XlO each. Having paid their money they expected a square deal, but the Minister of Mines, when “-delivering the goods,” loaded the license with such provisions, limitations, restrictions, and demands in regard to working as to make it practically useless. The unhappy Minister of Mines has evidently been crushed under tjie heel of the Cromwell Development Company, and made practically impotent to act in regard to the Cromwell jFlat grants. The geophysical surveys which were to achieve such great results have been stopped, because the company has, it is alleged, forbidden a continuance of surveys because of the holes which the blasting creates in its Gs per acre land. When is this kind of thing going to end, and when is the flat to be thrown open, as the Mining Act requires, to legitimate gold prospecting? If the Minister thinks that he can stop speculation in gold mining he is far out in his guess. Dairy factory procedure does not form a precedent in mining matters. Is Mr Coates big enough and strong enough to lift the embargoes placed by the Mines Department.and the Cromwell Development Company on mining activities on the flat? -One wonders! Meanwhile, the Mines Department is at a standstill, and evidently winks at this land being sold at. it is alleged, fabulous prices. Notwithstanding the clauses secured by the Cromwell Development Company in legislative enactments, there is ground for hoping that the Mining Act still remains authoritative, — I am, etc., Fair Flat is Bonnie Flat.  -ODT, 7/6/1934.

At the depth of the Great Depression, New Zealand knew that there was one thing that could produce a relative prosperity — gold.  The struggle between the company and mining interests went on through the late 1930s. There was also a disagreement over rent for its lease between the company and the Cromwell Borough which went as far as the Supreme Court before a settlement was reached.

The death in 1940 of Sir Percival Sargood seems to have ended the reign of the Company. In January 1941 newspapers are discussing the disposal of the company's assets. In August of that year there was an auction of farm and orchard equipment, and again in December, 1944. In 19149, reporting on a slip on the highway after heavy rain, the Otago Daily Times refers to the "defunct" weir.

Foaming rapids conquered

By MURRAY OLDS

Sargoods Weir, a dangerous and uncompromising stretch of white water on the Kawarau River in Central Otago, has long been recognised by New Zealand canoeists as one of the two “big rapids” in this country. Brutal and deadly, Sargoods Weir, until last Sunday, had resisted all previous attempts at canoeing and conquering its turbulent waters.

An expedition in 1968 by a Hamilton party almost ended in tragedy and, five years ago, a member of an American team attempting to raft down the river was drowned in an accident. Sir Edmund Hillary’s attempt at jet-boating up the river also foundered, but Mick Hopkinson, a burly Englishman and a veteran of a number of marathon canoeing expeditions, managed the feat last week-end.

Hopkinson, a vastly experienced canoeist, is on a lecture tour of New Zealand, speaking to canoe clubs and other interested organisations about his many expeditions in different parts of the world. At an address at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre last week, the subject of Sargoods Weir and the other major unconquered rapid in this country, Nevis Bluff, was raised. Both stretches of water are on the Kawarau River, which flows out of Lake Wakatipu down to the Clutha.

“When you are visiting a country and talking to canoeists, the major rapids are always discussed, so we decided to have a crack at Sargoods Weir." said Hopkinson this week.

The attempt was successful, and Hopkinson enjoyed himself so much that he plans to tackle Nevis Bluff in the next couple of months. Negotiations are in train with TV1 to film the expedition, along similar lines to the film work Hopkinson has been associated with overseas.

Hopkinson took part in the 1972 expedition down the top 200 miles of the African Blue Nile, the first descent of the stretch of water, and a book about the trip has recently been released in New Zealand.

Rough water was one of the least dangerous aspects of the foray into darkest Africa, Hopkinson said with a grin; attacks from rifle-wielding bandits and brushes with crocodiles also punctuated the journey. A television film was made of a 1976 trip to the Himalayas, when the party tackled the steepest river covered by canoe, and Hopkinson was on a 1978 expedition to Pakistan in which the leader, Mike Jones, was drowned. Hopkinson spoke highly of the equipment donated for the Sargoods Weir attempt by New Zealand manufacturers. The canoe came by courtesy of Graham Sisson, a Nelson-based canoe maker who also supplied the boat used by Paul Caffyn in his circumnavigation of the South Island last year, while the paddles were donated by a Palmerston North factory. Hopkinson is also a keen speleologist (or caver to the layman) and he has plans to make a film of caving activities in this country.  -Press, 23/1/1980.