186 TANKS AND WELLS OF N.S.W., WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION, 
had not suggested such a possibility. For example, the river 
Tiber, in Italy, loses suddenly a much larger proportion of the 
rainf. wati 
flowing in the river ; and Lombardine, than whom perhaps there 
can be no higher authority, satisfied himself that the quantity of 
S basin. And we have reason to think it will be so here. 
To go no further than the Sydney water supply, what do we find ? 
That rivers flowing through compact sandstone have yet running 
of such vital importance to the c m unity ought to be taken up 
by a Royal Commission, or by some one wit and means at 
his disposal to carry out a com lete investigation of the whole 
subject. Sted nt 
