60 On the Supply of Water to the Town of Geelong. 



the which is worthy of our consideration in a climate such 

 as this, where the rain-fall has been known to be casual, ex- 

 ceedingly precai'ious, uncertain, and occasionally scanty in 

 amount ; sufficient to meet the views of the most Utopian 

 opinions on increasing population in any country, and more 

 particularly that of our adopted one. 



In the experience of the older colonists we have had two 

 and even three (some say four), consecutive years of drought ; 

 if such should unhappily again occur, it may be that the 

 population of Melbourne might be dependent on Geelong for 

 water. Such being the case, by the erection of an embank- 

 ment of the magnitude contemplated in my supplemental 

 paper, we would have enough and to spare, so that Melbourne 

 could be assisted without infringing on the rights of Geelong. 



Foreseeing the possibility of deriving a revenue more than 

 enough to warrant an extra expenditure of considerable capi- 

 tal by a well-digested system of reproductive works, using 

 the surplus waters capable of being impounded — 



1st. For use of Man. 

 2nd. Use of Animals. 

 3rd. Sheep "Washing. 

 4th. Irrigation. 

 5th. Irrigation as Manure. 

 6th. Motive Power, by the use of hydro- 

 pneumatic engines, or others. 



I believe I am warranted in stating that the value of water 

 for irrigation purposes is by no means as yet sufficiently known 

 in the colony, but it is to be hoped that the day is not far dis- 

 tant that its merits will be appreciated as it deserves. And in 

 connection with this, I will but draw your attention to a few 

 facts connected with such a use in a climate not unlike ours, 

 namely, the innumerable tanks and reservoirs of our con- 

 quered provinces of India, which had been constructed under 

 the native princes for the use of their people. Scarce a vil- 

 lage is without one, and where the population was dense, 

 requiring greater, such as the present Madras Presidency, 

 they had a reservoir thirty miles in circumference, having an 

 embankment of some twelve miles long, and approaching a 

 depth of fifty feet. 



In reference to this subject I doubt not but when the time 

 arrives for our Government to take the matter up in detail, 



