40 On the Supply of Water 



the great necessity of life, as free for domestic uses as the 

 air we breathe. 



With a practical eye, and feeling that I could not honestly 

 recommend one or other of the foregoing schemes for adop- 

 tion without a thorough searching investigation of the natural 

 facilities of the country, although in Nos. 2 and 3, namely, 

 " Mr. Darbyshire's propositions," there are many good points, 

 I was therefore, thrown on my own resources, commencing 

 the task with a right good will, a determination to succeed, 

 feeling that each member of the commission with which I 

 have the honor to be associated took an equal interest with 

 myself in its success, fully appreciating my early endeavours 

 to remedy two of the greatest social wants of our hemisphere, 

 namely pure water and an effective drainage, the former 

 now under consideration of the Board, the latter must natu- 

 rally follow, or rather should be a work of simultaneous 

 execution. 



Before going further into the matter, I may state that I 

 purpose dividing it under separate heads. 



First, the preliminary selection of a rainfall district, having 

 an ample acreage of catch-water basin, and affording natural 

 facilities for the formation of a reservoir on a gravitating sys- 

 tem. Second, a feature survey of the district thus selected. 

 Third, the all-important precursor, before adopting any scheme, 

 viz., an investigation into and careful chemical analysis of the 

 water recommended. Fourth, the preparation of an accurate 

 contoured map and carefully-considered levels, from actual 

 survey, of any locality so chosen. 



On the first, second, and third items, it will not be neces- 

 sary for me to go into any enlarged details, more than touch- 

 ing on the different heads as they occurred in the order of 

 time. 



First, the selection of site. 



For the greater satisfaction of the members I may here 

 state what has been my governing principle in the selection 

 of a site for a reservoir. 



From my earliest connection with the commission, I have 

 advocated the adoption of the gravitation principle, and in all 

 my subsequent and consecutive reports I have invariably 

 urged on their attention the advantages arising from, and the 

 necessity of, providing the supply from a reservoir placed at 

 such an altitude as would give a sufficient command above the 

 level of Geelong proper, and its suburban districts, as would 



