RAINFALL AND DISCHARGE OF THE MURRAY RIVER. LXY, 
of 0°9 inches, the volume flowing past the gauging station 
being 399,929 acre feet, or 6°4% of the maximum year 1894. 
It may be pointed out that the rainfall for the minimum 
year was 45% of that recorded during the maximum year, 
whereas the run-off for the minimum year was only 6°4% of 
the maximum year. As previously pointed out the winter 
of 1902 was a very mild one, and instances were given of 
the hot dry winds during midwinter when snow is usually 
expected on the ranges. Owing to the comparatively high 
temperature and wind movement, there was a maximum 
of evaporation which, combined with small rainfall for the 
year, would account for the low run-off, and great disparity 
compared with previous years. The mean precipitation for 
the whole fifteen years (see diagram, Appendix “‘ H,’’) was 
28°6 inches, and the mean run-off 6°58 inches, or 21°6% of 
the rainfall, while the mean discharge for the whole period 
measured 4,025 cusecs. 
Comparative effectiveness of Australian Rivers.—With 
the object of making a comparison of the effectiveness 
of a few of the Australian rivers, the author has pre- 
pared a run-off diagram (Appendix ‘“‘F’’’) of the Upper 
Murray River at Jingellic, the Murrumbidgee at Gundagai, 
the Goulburn at Murchison, and the Ovens at Wangaratta. 
Curves have been plotted, the abscissee of which represent 
the mean annual rainfall in inches over each catchment, 
and the ordinates, the respective run-off in inches. 
The Upper Murray at Jingellic.—The most effective 
catchment in the Murray Basin is that of the Upper 
Murray at Jingellic. It is rocky and precipitous, and of a 
highly impervious character, besides the ground is con- 
tinually saturated owing to the high rainfall, and its fairly 
even distribution. At times the melting of the snow on 
the ranges adjacent to Mount Kosciusko—the highest peak 
in Australia—considerably augments the river flow. By 
5—Sept. 19, 1906. 
