CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. XLII. 
would be little addition to the storage. It cannot be 
doubted, therefore, that the reservoirs, notwithstanding 
restrictions which the citizens would have had to submit 
to by the end of 1865 would have been severely taxed, and 
by the end of 1866, the reserve storage at Prospect would 
have probably been drawn upon. In 1867, the rainfall at 
Sydney was 59°68 inches, only a little above the average 
and although the rainfall on the catchment area may have 
been greater it would probably have been insufficient to 
fill the reservoirs, and the population having increased 
probably to 785,500 in 1868 and nearly 806,000 in 1869, 
with a rainfall below the mean, the situation can better be 
imagined than described. The correctness of this estimate 
depends upon the rate assumed for increase of population 
supplied with water, and of the daily consumption per 
head. No doubt my figures will be challenged, but I 
certainly think it prudent to adopt the rate of increase 
during the last four or five years in order to estimate the 
population for a similar period ahead, than to adopt the 
rate of increase over say ten years back. It will be 
remembered that all previous estimates have been exceeded. 
Hven the Royal Commission’s estimate, so recently as 1902, 
was much too low. ‘They adopted the rate of increase 
from 1888 to 1901 in order to estimate the population 
in 1912, which they put down at 594,300, whereas we 
know that these figures were reached early last year or in 
half the time. In view of these facts it will, I think, be 
admitted to be safer to adopt the figures I have chosen. 
If an error be made it is better to be on the high than on 
the low side in future. 
Reasons for Anticipating a Large Increase in the Con- 
sumption of Water.—With reference to the estimate of the 
daily consumption per head, I have already given some 
reasons why we should assume that in 1912-13 it will have 
risen to 60 gallons per head. Anabundant supply for street 
