CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. XXXIII. 
The average during this period was only 44°19 inches, 
being 9°19 inches below the mean, amounting to an 
accumulated loss of 45°58 inches below the mean. This 
had the effect of drawing Prospect reservoir down rapidly, 
and early in March, 1902, the water was within 9 feet of the 
gravitation level, and in view of the prospect of a 
continuance of the drought, arrangements were made to 
establish a pumping plant, in order to raise the water into 
the canal when it reached the gravitation limit. Tem- 
porary weirs were also constructed across the Nepean 
River at Penrith and Menangle, and machinery and pipes 
procured for pumping the impounded water from Menangle 
into the upper canal, and from Penrith into the Prospect 
reservoir. 
Royal Commission of 1902.—The situation being con- 
sidered very serious, the Government appointed a Royal 
Commission on March 12th, 1902, to inquire into the Sydney 
water supply. The most important question engaging their 
attention was that of the storage, and the capacity of the 
catchment area to supply the wants of a rapidly increasing 
population. They found that the population supplied in 
1888 was 296,246, and the consumption of water averaged 
8,144,000 gallons per day, equal to 27°5 gallons per head. 
In 1901 the population supplied was 491,000, and the aver- 
age consumption was 21,538,000 gallons per day, equal to 
44 gallons per head. This average was the quantity 
reported to have been actually passed for use down the 
lower canal, and did not include loss by evaporation from 
the surface of the reservoir itself. If this amount be 
added, the total average quantity abstracted from Prospect 
reservoir, under the conditions then existing of population 
and consumption, in round numbers was 25,000,000 gallons 
per day, or 9,125 million gallons perannum. The increased 
consumption per head from 27°5 gallons in 1888, to 44 
gallons in 1901, might be attributed toa variety of causes, 
3—May 20, 1908. 
