to the Town of Geelong, 45 



this evening,) centred themselves by an arterial-like system 

 in the valley of the Wormbete, near Hopkins's pre-emptive 

 purchase, I at once determined on that as the best and most 

 advisable site for the reservoir, provided a more careful 

 inspection, and mature study warranted it. This having 

 brought me to my — 



Third step — namely, a chemical examination of the water 

 which I recommended, together with an analysis of fourteen 

 other available waters, more by way of comparison, — to 

 which I need not more than allude, your having a report on 

 these waters by one of the first analytical chemists of the 

 colony, John Macadam, Esq., M.D., who, after patient, 

 long, and laborious manipulation, with myself, in the labora- 

 tory of the Commission, has verified, in almost every par- 

 ticular, my original assertions that the sources which I had 

 recommended — namely, the Wormbete and Retreat Creeks, — 

 yielded as pure, if not the purest water in the colony of Vic- 

 toria, and quite equal to the majority of the purest known 

 waters of the mother country. Vide his report, which I have 

 the honour of laying on the table of the Institute. 



The completion and success of this analysis brought me 

 to the 



Fourth step — the final selection of the site of the reser- 

 voir. You will quite agree with me regarding the necessity 

 that exists of bringing considerable practical knowledge, 

 combined with due caution, to bear on the selection of such. 

 The responsibility is not to be under-valued, seeing that the final 

 success of any commission most materially hinges on the site 

 being judiciously chosen, and with such skill as will ensure 

 success. 



Subsequent and more mature consideration has but affirmed 

 me in my first resolve, seeing that all that is required in this 

 naturally formed valley of the "Wormbete, is the construction 

 of such works as may enable me to arrest and impound the 

 whole of the flood waters of the hilly country, on their on- 

 ward passage to the sea, by the channel of the Barwon. 



Besides, having discovered the possibility of otherwise in- 

 creasing the quantity very considerably by intercepting the 

 Retreat Creek taking its rise south of the great dividing 

 range of the Wormbete Forest, and running westerly — 

 having its embouchure into the Barwon some miles distant, 

 higher up the stream,) by drifting a short tunnel through the 

 dividing range at a suitable level, into an already formed na- 

 tural channel, I shall be enabled to convey this additional 



