260 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIA. 



Macquarie, Castlereagh, Namoi, Gwyder, Macintyre, Weir, Moonie, 

 Condamine, Mungallala, Maranoa, Warrego, and Paroo sources. The 

 Warrego unites with the Darling about 65 miles below, and the others, 

 except the last, about 10 miles above Bourke. Although included 

 within the drainage area of the Darling, the Paroo terminates in 

 swamps some two score miles northwest of Wilcannia, consequently its 

 waters never reach the main stream, and it is only during exception- 

 ally heavy floods that the latter receives any of the Warrego Eiver 

 waters. Including its longest tributary, the Culgoa or Condamine, 

 whose source is in the western flank of Wilsons Peak (4,032 feet), in 

 the neighborhood of Killarney, the total length of the Darling Eiver 

 is about 1,953 miles to its junction with the Murray at Wentworth, 

 thence to the sea through Lake Alexandrina for 587 miles. In his 

 paper upon "The rivers of the interior of New South Wales," Mr. F. B. 

 Gipps estimates the length of the Darling Eiver at 1,953 miles, and 

 Mr. H. C. Eussell states that it is 3,282. The discrepancy is certainly 

 remarkable, and in the interests of correct geographical information it 

 is here pointed out. 



I have already drawn attention to the importance of the water sup- 

 ply of the Murray Eiver system for irrigation purposes, and to the 

 enormous extent of country within its basin that could be rendered 

 highly productive by irrigation. This matter, I am happy to say, is 

 now engaging the attention, of the Government of New South Wales, 

 where a water conservation department has recently been established, 

 and in a few years, we may expect to see the beneficial results of this 

 wise and enlightened policy everywhere apparent in the country west 

 of the Dividing Eange. 



Along the southern and eastern continental seaboard are numerous 

 rivers, few of which are, however, of any great commercial importance 

 as compared with those of other parts of the world. 1 In Victoria the 

 Glenelg drains the western waters of the Grampians and those of the 

 Victoria Eange. From its source in the northeastern spurs of the latter 

 it flows westerly and southerly through a most devious channel for 

 205 miles, discharging its waters in Discovery Bay, near the western 

 boundary of the colony. It drains an area of about 4,500 square miles. 

 At the southeastern corner of the continent the Mitchell and Snowy 

 rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean. The former rises in the southern 

 face of the Great Dividing Eange, emptying itself into Lake King, and 

 the sources of the latter are within the colony of New South Wales in 

 the lofty Kiandra ranges. The length of its channel is about 400 miles, 

 and its drainage area some 5,000 square miles. Next in point of geo- 

 graphical position and importance are the Hunter and Clarence rivers, 

 north of Port Jackson. The former from its source in the Liverpool 

 Eange flows south and east for 200 miles to the port of Newcastle. It 



'As most of these streams are too insignificant to merit separate treatment here, 

 reference will only be made to such as are of special importance. 



