196 R. LOGAN JACK, LL.D., F.G.S., ON ARTESIAN WATER^ ETC. 



raostly wanted in Western Australia is in the neighbourhood of 

 the goldfields. It is not likely to be obtained, because just 

 there the older rocks, as a general rule, come to the surface. I 

 have no doubt there are many sub-artesian supplies of water to 

 be found in portions of Western Australia, and perhaps in some 

 cases not very far from the goldfields, where the water is most 

 wanted. It is known that there is artesian water in, or near, the 

 capital city of Perth ; but where it is chiefly wanted is in the 

 interior, where, unfortunately, so far as I understand (for I am 

 speaking without having been on the spot), water is not likely to 

 be obtained. Irrigation, as the Chairman has pointed out, has 

 been very extensively practised in ancient times and in distant 

 lands, and may yet be expected to be practised to a much greater 

 extent in Queensland, where there is such a magnificent supply of 

 water running, as it were, to waste. The stock of course benefits 

 by it; but a great deal more might be made of it, as Mr. Cox 

 has very forcibly pointed out. If, all along those rivulets, 

 natural or artificial, where the water now runs for the supply of 

 the cattle and then runs to waste, some use were made for 

 agricultural purposes of the artesian water, it would be a very 

 good thing indeed ; but my object in referring specially to the 

 subject of irrigation was to show the inutility of the hope that 

 the whole of these westei'n downs may be converted into rich 

 pastures or enduring pastures by the use of artesian water, for 

 which I contend that the supply, great as it is, is inadequate. 

 I hope Mr. Cox has not understood, from anything which I have 

 said, that I have not given full credit to the borers who have 

 practically demonstrated the value of these supplies. Of course 

 I depend very largely upon them for the information which I was 

 constantly, while in Queensland, accumulating on the subject, 

 and I watched the progress of each bore, so far as was possible. 



After some remarks by the Chairman, a coi'dial vote of thanks 

 to the author was unanimously carried, and the Meeting adjourned. 



