CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. XXIII. 
the drought and the increasing difficulty of maintaining the 
supply from Botany and Busby’s Bore—was directed to 
the absolute necessity of doing something immediately 
towards bringing ina supply by temporary works to augment 
that on which they were depending. When the Nepean 
scheme was projected, it was thought that the water from 
that source would be available about that time (1885); but 
contracts had to be transferred from one firm to another, 
and unforeseen difficulties had arisen which had necessitated 
grants of extension of time to different contractors. A 
consultation took place between the authorities of the 
Public Works Department and the City Council, with a 
view to determine whether some steps could not be taken 
to reduce the consumption from 25 gallons per head, which 
was then being delivered, to half that amount; by an effort 
to reduce waste, and otherwise to curtail the use of water 
wherever it could be done without inflicting hardship on 
the citizens. A scheme for temporarily bridging the creeks 
and railway with timber trestles to support sheet iron 
flumes, and laying about 12 miles of pipes, was also elabor- 
ated, and it was thought that if the Council could procure 
the latter, it might be possible to bring in the water in 
six months. 
Intermittent Supply to the City.—The result of this 
conference was that an intermittent supply to the city 
was commenced, some districts in the city being absolutely 
shut off, and a programme was prepared which provided 
for all districts being similarly treated in rotation, and 
water was accordingly turned off every night, except in 
the lower part of the city. Consumers were especially 
enjoined to abolish the use of plunge baths, until the existing 
state of drought was passed. This action had an immediate 
effect on the water pumped from Botany, which was reduced 
from 5 million gallons per day to 3% millions; but great 
inconvenience and dissatisfaction were exhibited with 
