632 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION J. 



of the periodical droughts to which the colony is, from time to 

 time, subject." The Commission submitted three reports, the last 

 of which was completed on the 9th of May, 1887. Tlie reports 

 were devoted to a statement of their investigations on the follow- 

 ing subjects : — Physical features of the colony, rainfall evaporation, 

 subterranean water, storage of water, tanks and dams, wells, 

 irrigation, navigation, principal river basins aod otlier drainage 

 areas, riparian rights, and proposed legislation. The Commission 

 indicated various surveys and explorations which they considered 

 necessary in order that appropriate schemes might be devised for 

 conserving and distributing water in the different river basins of the 

 colony. Some complete investigations were undertaken by Mr. 

 M'Kinney, M. Inst. C.E., Engineer to the Commission, regarding 

 questions connected with the tract of country lying between the 

 Slurray and Murrumbidgee Rivers, dealing also with these rivers 

 as sources for irrigation canals. The coastal rivers were investi- 

 gated, and surveys were made of the Upper Darling with a view 

 to irrigating the Riverina district. They arrived at the following 

 conclusions : — 1. That on water conservation mainly depends the 

 prosperity and the development of the whole extent of the Central 

 and Western divisions of this colony, and that though less 

 required in the Eastern division it will add in many places there 

 also in an important degree to the productiveness, and therefore 

 to the value, of the land. 2. That, as the landowners, asagenerl 

 rule, are quite equal to the task of providing sufficient water for 

 the stock which the land can carry under present conditions. 

 Government works for supplying water to stock are required only 

 on a limited scale, and generally only on travelling stock routes. 

 3. That the great object of water conservation in this colony, 

 and particularly in the country west of the Dividing Range is for 

 irrigation. 4. That the purposes for which irrigation is chiefly 

 required are (a), to provide fodder and grain for horses, cattle 

 and stud sheep ; (b) to afford supplies to be kept in reserve for 

 saving stock of all kinds in bad seasons ; (c) to produce fruit, 

 vegetables, and miscellaneous crops ; and (d) to increase generally 

 the productive powers of the land. 5. That any well-considered 

 and properly-executed project for irrigation in the country west of 

 the Darling Range would afford a good direct return on the 

 capital invested, and would be a distinct benefit to the colony at 

 large. 6. That legislation on the subject of water rights is a 

 matter of pressing necessity, both to protect the rights of the 

 State, and to foster and encourage local and private enterprise. 



The Commission recommended : — 1. That the maintenance of 

 river-guage records as extended by them should be made still 

 more complete, and the records kept continuously, and in a careful 

 and systematic manner. 2. That the gauging of the rivers 

 initiated by them should be continued in a systematic manner, so 

 that the discharge of all rivers likely to be tapped for water 



