254 iV^IF SOUTH WALES. 



on tile construction of tlie proposed canals on the soutli side of tlie 

 Murrumbidgee tliere will be a fair return on tlie outlay if tlie water be 

 let on lease at tbe rate of £30 per annum for a right to 540,000 gallons 

 per day. As the lessee of such a right would have to take the risk of 

 the available supply in the river falling short of requirements, it was 

 necessary to calculate what the holder of such a right would have 

 received during the last ten years, and what rate the water would have 

 cost. It was found that during that period the actual cost of water to 

 such a leaseholder would have been at the rate of 22,800 gallons for 

 one penny. 



A scheme has also been prepared for irrigation on a large scale on 

 the north side of the Murrumbidgee, and the extent to which such 

 schemes are practicable in connection with the other rivers west of the 

 Dividing Eange has been determined. Hitherto the great obstacle in 

 the way, not only of large schemes, but of irrigation even on a moderate 

 scale, has been the want of suitable legislation dealing with water rights. 

 This drawback is likely to be remedied in the near future, as the 

 Government has the matter in hand. 



The great question of locking the river Darling, which, in point of 

 length, ranks among the more important navigable rivers of the world, 

 has been entered on. This will have the double effect of providing 

 cheap and permanent water carriage, and of affording greatly improved 

 and extended facilities for irrigation by pumping. 



It will be seen fi'om the foregoing that the progress of water conser- 

 vation and irrigation in the country west of the Dividing Eange has 

 been steady and natural. Bearing in mind that in the absence of 

 legislation dealing with riparian rights, the works in use exist only 

 on sufferance, the progress made must be regarded as creditable. 

 Operations have been conducted on safe lines ; and if less has been done 

 than in some other countries and colonies, it is so far satisfactory that 

 serious mistakes have been avoided. When the question of water rights 

 is placed on a sound footing, there is every reason to anticipate that 

 opportunities for water conservation and irrigation will rapidly be availed 

 of to meet the requirements of the country. 



