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OUR LAKES AND THEIR USES, 149 
source rather of mischief than benefit to mankind, because of its 
fluctuations, what can be done with it? Some years ago, I main- 
tained that there was a latent giant power in its water, that it 
contained elements of incalculable value to a vast multitude, if only 
an avenue was provided for its circulation, but the proposal has 
been adversely criticised and pronounced impracticable on account 
of the impurity of the water and its inconstant su ply. As for 
the impurity of the water it could quickly be remedied by tapping 
the lake, and drawing off a large volume of water daily, whilst the 
the available supply of the lake in irrigating the valleys beyond, 
than to allow its waters to waste away by evaporation and drainage. 
of the cultivation of a large portion of the present bed of the lake 
in security, and it would afford a large supply of water, for the 
profitable cultivation of an immense area beyond the lake. My 
proposal for the treatment of the impounded water of Lake George 
includes the following works :— 
irst, an outlet tunnel under Geary’s Gap ; second, a contour 
and third, a supply canal from the Molonglo River to Lake George. 
The head of the tunnel would be located in the gravel drift, fully 
gold shed on each side of the divide, would probably prove re- 
munerative. The contour canal from the outlet of the tunnel 
would traverse a broken country, which however, presents no 
Serious obstacles to its excavation. It would almost immediately 
command a large area of auriferous drift, and the rich agricultural 
lands of the Yass Valley. Its length and capacity would largely 
depend on circumstances, which only a careful instrumental survey 
of the country can distinctly define, but by the attached sketch 
map it will be seen that, if sufficiently extended, it would command 
the towns of Gundaroo, Yass, Bowni i 
Xoung, Cootamundra, and Temora. It would offer facilities for 
10 million gallons a day to the following towns, Yass, Mur- 
rumburrah, and Cootamundra, owing to its great elevation above 
