Reclamation of Batman's Swamp. 13 



In order to prevent this occurring, it would be necessary 

 to have fly valves upon the main outlet ; such valves would 

 allow the egress of the water whenever the surface level of 

 the river subsided below a certain point, and would effec- 

 tually prevent its ingress when rising. 



The water, then, with which we have to deal in draining 

 the swamp, is simply that of the rain fall over its own surface, 

 together with that from the higher levels which drain into the 

 swamp and Moonee Ponds. 



This could be ascertained by taking the dividing point, 

 commencing at Batman's Hill, and passing along the ridge 

 of the high ground by the Exhibition Building, Parkside, 

 and crossing the Castlemaine road near the University, pass- 

 ing along by the new Cemetery towards Phillipstown, and 

 heading Moonee Ponds creek, returning by Essendon and 

 Flemington. The extent of this watershed I am unable to 

 estimate, even approximately, not knowing the whole locality 

 alluded to ; but from observation, I have found that during 

 heavy rain storms, the whole of the water brought down 

 from the Moonee Ponds district has been discharged from 

 the swamp into the Yarra and Salt Water Rivers within the 

 course of a few days, and here it must be borne in mind that 

 this discharge is effected over a wide surface of uneven 

 ground, partly covered with scrub, grass, and other obstruc- 

 tives, and without any regular channel to allow its free dis- 

 charge. 



That the swamp might be successfully cultivated, it woidd 

 be necessary to guard, as far as possible, against any and 

 every contingency that might arise. With this view, I propose, 

 at the main outlet from the swamp to the river, to have two 

 windmills erected, to work scoop wheels when the level of 

 the river is above the level of the water in the swamp. This 

 would very seldom occur, and the difference of the level 

 caused by the rise and fall of the tide, would allow a great 

 portion of the retained water to flow away by its own gravity 

 at low water. 



The constancy of the wind here, as a motive power, is 

 generally admitted, and there are few days in the year with- 

 out sufficient breeze to work the wheels alluded to. 



But here again I would adopt another precautionary mea- 

 sure, viz., to erect a steam engine of sufficient power to lift 

 the maximum amount of water ever known to have fallen 

 upon a given drainage area in this district, in a certain time. 



As there are few days in the year when this engine would 



