Failure of the Yan Yean Reservoir. 159 
supply ; and, even were it otherwise, I could never sanction 
the principle of robbing a thickly-settled district of the 
fountain-head on which they chiefly depend for their supply 
of water, which at best is very small in ordinary seasons. 
So much importance has always been attached to the sup- 
posed facilities that existed for indefinitely extending the 
reservoir, when occasion should require, that I have thought 
it necessary to consider the subject under its different heads ; 
and I think I have said enough to show that the Yan Yean 
scheme has nothing to hope for from the principle of indefinite 
extension; that, indeed, it cannot be extended at all. 
I forget, however, that there is one direction in which it 
can be extended, and I owe it to Mr. Hodgkinson for 
pointing it out. He has given his attention to all the different 
methods proposed for extending the reservoir scheme, and 
he has come to the conclusion that by far the cheapest plan 
of doing so is by pumping from the Yarra; and I readily 
admit that there is no limit to the amount that may be 
obtained in this direction. 
I have thus shown that the sources of supply for the Yan 
Yean Reservoir are insufficient to make up for the immense 
loss sustained from evaporation. I have also shown that 
there is no hope whatever of extending the resources of the 
reservoir in any direction, unless by pumping from the Yarra. 
T have also shown that if the two feet five inches that are 
now lost in the swamps could be saved, this would only 
supply 71,500, whereas we require a supply at present for at 
least 100,000. 
I have also shown that the medical profession here are 
strongly opposed to the principle of storing water in a large 
swamp in this climate; and they entertain the worst fears 
that the pure waters of the Plenty will be rendered perfectly 
unfit for use by being transferred into the reservoir. And T 
may add, that while it is found necessary in England to clean 
out such reservoirs once in five years, on account of the 
immense quantities of decaying organic matters that accumu- 
late in them, and render the water offensive and unwholesome, 
it will be utterly impossible to clean out the Yan Yean 
Reservoir. At 5s.per square yard, it would cost 1,750,0002; 
and how would the city be supplied during the twelve months 
that would be required for cleaning and refilling the reser- 
voir? It remains to be considered what steps are now to be 
adopted. It is quite clear that the reservoir must be aban- 
-doned altogether. 
