Opening Address. " 



present supplied, and that its quantity might be increased by the 

 construction of suitable reservoirs ; but that a time would come 

 when its capabilities could be stretched no farther, and when it 

 would be necessary to try some other source. Opinions differed 

 much as to when this limit would be reached. Those who 

 believed that the time was distant advocated the expenditure of 

 large sums in order to develope the Botany scheme to the 

 utmost; but most who took part in the discussion were of 

 opinion that the Botany supply would in a few years be found 

 insufficient, and that therefore it would be inexpedient to spend 

 more money upon it. It was argued by some that it would be 

 better to give up the Botany stream entirely to manufactures, 

 and to make use of the sandy and barren area drained by it as a 

 means of disposing profitably of the city sewage ; while others 

 were disposed to maintain the Botany supply permanently, and 

 only to supplement it from some other source. In regard to 

 new sources, only three of those described iu the water report 

 were brought under discussion, the Upper Nepean and Cataract 

 Eivers, recommended by the Commissioners ; Greorge's Eiver, 

 and the G-rose. The chief objection urged against the Com- 

 missioners' scheme was that it would be much more costly than 

 estimated, but this was not proved. On the other hand, the 

 construction of a dam across George's Eiver, and the purification 

 of the water were hotly debated, and no certain conclusions 

 could be arrived at ; and as to the Grose, no champion has yet 

 undertaken to blazon its merits, or to demonstrate a cheaper 

 method of bringing its pure waters to Sydney than that indicated 

 by the Commissioners. 



It is, perhaps, unfortunate for Sydney that ever since the pub- 

 lication of the Report of the Commission, rain has fallen so 

 abundantly that the authorities have not felt the question of 

 water supply to be urgent. And yet it is just the time for calm 

 and careful deliberation, for when the pressure of a great drought 

 comes, as it certainly will come, and probably soon, the first 

 thought will be not to find out and adopt the best plan, but to 

 seize on the readiest. In view of the difficulties that surround 

 the question, and the magnitude of the interests involved, I think 

 the Government would act prudently if they were to obtain the 



