574 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 



examined above the plains, the well at Mr. Abner's section is 

 about a quarter of a mile from the river and where the surface of 

 the country is higher, and water is obtained in the gravel at 

 river level ; this water rises and falls with the river, showing 

 a laternal percolation from the latter river of the distance named. 

 Proceeding up the river to a point near Highercombe I found 

 there is a remarkable abundance of water in the country and 

 springs exist a considerable height above the river, which issue 

 from the surface in a large number of gullies ; in fact, so 

 prevalent is the water at the surface in the form of permanent 

 springs that few wells are to be found at the river after you pass 

 through the gorge into the hills. At one place, in a small radius 

 of a mile or two from Section No. 5,494, Hundred of Yatala, 

 there are about fifty springs of considerable volume, I am informed, 

 some of which I examined, and I made a rough estimate of the 

 quantity of water thus issuing from the ground in these springs 

 in the gullies branching off from the valley of the Torrens, in a 

 distance of say about eight miles, and I think it will not be less 

 than about one million gallons per day, or about one half the supply 

 of the Adelaide Waterworks. 



I conclude f i^om the data I have obtained so far that the line of 

 saturation or main underground water line of the valley of the 

 Torrens is in summer near the level of the river bed, and that it 

 rises a little above this in winter. This is independent of the 

 artesian springs at a higher level. If this conclusion is correct, 

 then it is evident that by going in with a level or drive under the 

 river in suitable localities, where there are good water-bearing 

 strata, a permanent supply of water could be obtained, and that 

 supply would probably be of an extra good quality by natural 

 filtration through the permeable rocks of the locality. 



The mode of carrying out the works for tapping these under- 

 ground waters would be to proceed alongside the river for a short 

 distance in an open cutting on one of the flats, and then drive the 

 rest of the distance under the level and follow the course of the 

 river as nearly as possible, and gather the water in the main drive 

 and also in cross country levels, sinking shafts at intervals for 

 facility of working. 



The following are the chief advantages in my opinion of a 

 scheme of this kind : — 



1. Extra purity of water and a lower temperature. There is 



every probability of this. 



2. Economy of cost as no storage reservoirs are required. 



3. Facility of extension at any time in a gradual way by con- 



tinuincf the drives and levels. 



