WATER CONSERVATION, ETC. 



251 



north-west of tlio Colony 1ms put a new and imu-li-iinproved eoiu- 

 plexion on the position of the landliulders. A larfjfc number of 

 successful artesian bores have been put down by the i^asttu-aHsts. and 

 the water from these bores is conducted in some cases to a distance 

 of many miles for the convenience of the stock. The water thus 

 obtained and distributed has had a most important effect in increasing 

 the stock-carrying capacity of a number of large pastoral holdings. 



In some cases the pastoralists comljined to construct Avorks affectin"" 

 great lengths of creek frontage. Two works of this description, 

 which were carried out without any aid from the Government, have 

 had an important effect in the districts in which they are situated. 

 One of these works was the improvement of the Great Analirancli of 

 the River Darling by deepening the outflow from tlie river, and 

 constructing a series of dams along the course of the Anabranch. 

 The other work referred to was the construction of a dam at the head 

 of the Teryaweyuya Creek to prevent the return to the River Darling 

 of the flood waters which pass down the Lower Tally walka. In eacli 

 of these cases the effect of the work constructed was to create several 

 hundred miles of water frontage, and to store large ([uantitics of watt'r 

 in lakes and dejaressions. 



A heavy expenditure was incurred by pastoralists in imprijving 

 Yanko Creek, a natural effluent from the Murrumbidgee, and the 

 Willandra Billabong, a similar outlet for flood water iroxw the 

 Lachlan; but in both of these cases the results were disapjxiinting 

 till the works were taken in hand by the Government. Formerly, 

 when moderate to high floods were passing down the Murrumbidgee, 

 Yanko Creek carried off a portion of these waters to the Billaboug 

 Creek, the waters of which flow through the Edward River to the 

 Murray. With the improvements which have been made in the 

 channel of Yanko Creek, it has been pi'actically transformed into a 

 continuously running stream. As the united lengths of Yanko Creek 

 and its effluent, Colombo Creek, is about 250 miles, the result of the 

 improvement has been that about 500 miles of water frontage has 

 been created. 



The Willandra Billabong in its natural state flowed only during the 

 short and vmcertaiu periods when the Lachlan was in flood. Li this 

 case, also, the pastoralists expended a large amount in im])roving the 

 effluent channel; but the results were not commensurate witli the 

 expenditure. When the Government took up the matter, it was found 

 that in addition to further improvements of the creek channel it was 

 necessary to construct a weir, so as to raise the surface level of the 

 River Lachlan about 12 feet at the outflow. A cribwork weir was 

 accordingly constructed, and its effect has been that a ]K)rtion of the 

 waters of the Lachlan has flowed almost without intcrmissi.m in the 

 Wfllandra Billaboug since the weir was comph'ted nearly Ave vears 

 ago. This weir, which has successfully stood thrt»ugh an exceptii)nal 

 series of floods, and has thoroughly fulfilled its object, is shown in the 

 accompanying view. As the river rises, the difference in level above 

 and below the weir diminishes ; hence, as the view was taken when 

 there was a considerable depth of water in the river, a large ]i(M-tion of 

 the weir was covered. As the course of the AVillandra Bdlaboug 



