AKTESIAN WATER IN THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. 193 



entirely turned their attention and theif money in that direction, 

 they have neglected to irrigate even small poJ"tions from each 

 bore, so as to grow fodder to feed their stock during the sevei-e 

 droughts. The amount of water in Queensland alone in the water- 

 bearing rocks is inconceivable. There is the fact that there is aii 

 enormous outflow of water, even now, at what I might call the 

 initial stages of the movement — an outflow of 351,000,000 gallons 

 every twenty -four hours. Two-thirds of that would supply 

 London itself, and one single bore discharging through a six-inch 

 pipe would supply with water the city of Brisbane, the capital 

 city of Queensland. I think the geology of the subject is 

 •extremely interesting, and of course, hydraulic engineers have to 

 study the geological structure of the country, although it is 

 simple as compared with gold-mining geology. I submit that the 

 science of the thing is very clear. There is the fact of the water 

 being there to the extent that has been stated ; there is the fact, 

 also, of the land of Queensland, taking that state alone, being 

 ■of such high quality for pastoral purposes. I think this is one 

 of the questions which is now arising connected with the welfare 

 of the British Empire. (Hear, hear.) 



Mr. James Stirling (Government Geologist for Victoria). — I 

 am afraid I cannot add much of interest to the discussion. In 

 the first place I know very little of the actual artesian water 

 system of Queensland or of its geology ; but in those matters I 

 am quite content to rest upon the conclusions which my friend 

 Dr. Jack has drawn, with his more intimate geological knowledge. 

 I might say with regard to Victoria, as Dr. Jack has been good 

 enough to refer to that part of Australasia, that the Victorian 

 Government are very anxious if possible to ascertain whether 

 those immense subterranean supplies of water extend from 

 ■Queensland through Central Australia to Victoria, especially the 

 western part of Victoria, a district where there is a very small 

 rainfall and which would benefit very much by artesian supply. 

 I have been very pleased to hear that in the early years geologists 

 in Victoria were among the first to trace out the rocks in Queens- 

 land, bat it seems that they had to wait until our friend Dr. 

 Jack took control of the survey to get his advice in respect of 

 artesian boring in Victoria. At any rate, the Government is so 

 impressed with the magnificent work which Dr. Jack has done in 

 Queensland, that they invited him to find out if such borings 



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