VIII. T. W. KEELE. 
reservoir of masonry near the east end of the tunnel, 25 feet 
higher than the lake, and capable of holding 10 million gallons ; 
this reservoir to be filled by pumping from the lake. A com- 
mencement of the proposed dam was made, but it was soon 
abandoned, and the remaining part of the recommendation was 
neglected. 
“The next movement was the appointmemt, in January 1850, 
of a special committee of the City Council, to inquire into and 
report on the best means of procuring a permanent supply of water 
to the city of Sydney. This committee did not close their labours 
until February 1852, when they sent in a large and carefully 
compiled report, the result evidently of a laborious investigation 
of the whole question. 
This report gives the population of Sydney at nearly 50,000, 
(the census of 1851 gave about 45,000, and there was a large 
accession about that time in consequence of the discovery of gold), 
the number of houses 8,482, of which only 2,300 were supplied 
with water; the assessed annual value of city property £232,678, 
and the gross water revenue £3,493. In discussing the mode of 
improving the water supply temporarily, the report condemns the 
embankment proposed by Mr. F. Clarke, and recommends instead, 
that a trench should be dug at the lower part of Lachlan Swamp, 
and the water pumped from thence to a reservoir at Paddington, 
207 feet above sea level. 
“With regard to a permanent supply, the relative merits of 
George's River, Cook’s River, the Nepean, and Lord’s Dam, at 
the mouth of the stream draining the Lachlan and other swamps, 
are discussed, and the preference is given to the last named source. 
“Tt is recommended, however, that this supply be supplemented 
by the drainage eastward as far as Bunnerong, and westwards to 
Shea’s Creek, and Cook’s River. 
‘Before any action could be taken on this report—before, 
indeed, it was handed in—the Governor, Sir Charles Fitz Roy, 
appeinted in 1852, a board of five gentlemen to examine the 
