262 JOHN BARLING. 
On the 10th June ... nee ... 980 points fell. 
i 26th October ee . 181 es 
* 29th October ive w. 424 a 
In 1885, with a total of 3,991 points or 40 inches, 
On the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th June 1250 points fell 
In 1886, with a total of 3,943 points, or 393 inches, 
On the 28th January 350 ... 195 points fell 
nf 14th March sa ose) 195 x 
aS 26th March pe sont ees - 
28th May ... =i iene aliz a 
a 15th October sts ... 468 a 
These examples do not exhaust the list of similar storms. 
Compare these with 1887 with a fall of 6,016 points or 
60 inches. There were only two days in the year when 
good reservoir-filling rains fell, that ison the 29th and 31st. 
May, when the falls were 283 points and 218 points. On 
no other day was anything up to two inches recorded. 
From these details I think it will be seen that the present. 
catchment area is ample for all purposes. Taking in an 
additional watershed, with all due respect to Mr. Keele, 
Seems to be unnecessary. It is somewhat on a par witha 
farmer who inaslovenly manner cultivates 1,000 acres, in 
comparison with one who scientifically and therefore in a 
common sense method, works say 200 acres; better returns 
would be obtained in a majority of years from the smaller 
area. 
The longest period of dry weather that I can find recorded 
was the nine months, June 1875 to April 1876, during which 
time no reservoir-filling rain fell, but as there were good 
rains both before and after that time, there could be no 
shortage in the water supply. The driest seven years’ 
period in Sydney was from 1901 to 1907 both years inclusive 
—all years below the average—but the lists herewith will 
