THE STATE OF THE MELBOURNE WATER SUPPLY. LXXVII. 
That the conditions which have existed since the year 
1875 are having the effect I anticipated may be judged from 
the following extract from a report by Mr. H. G. Ritchie, 
the Melbourne Engineer for Water Supply, published on 
July 1st, 1908. The report is as follows:— 
‘Lest too much reliance be placed upon the results from the 
rainfall of the past few days, and the warning of the drought be 
soon forgotten,” Mr. Ritchie points out, “From 19th to 24th 
inst., we have had the splendid rainfall of 516 points at Wallaby 
Creek, making 736 points for the month up to 24th. This is a 
record of total rainfall for June which during the past 18 years 
has been exceeded only upon five occasions. Nevertheless, the 
total intake to Yan Yean reservoir has not exceeded a rate of 30 
million gallons per day. Under normal conditions of saturation 
I should have expected nearly three times the rate of intake from 
such a rainfall as that of the past few days showing how great 
have been the demands from the absorbent soil. I might mention 
that the carrying capacity of the intake channel is 120 million 
gallons perday. The net gain in depth of the Yan Yean reservoir 
from this rainfall has only been about 8 inches to date. There is 
no doubt of course that the daily volume of the streams will be 
fortified for some time, but the fact remains that the larger por- 
tion of this splendid rainfall has gone to make good the losses 
incurred by the failure of the last autumn rains. The results 
may be further improved by phenomenal rainfalls, but I do not 
think we are at all justified in expecting such. The possible 
exhaustion of the reservoir which I have predicted may be to 
some extent averted by further drastic economies, which will 
amount—possibly to restriction—at least to greatly reduced pres- 
sure. Even if the latter course only be resorted to, it must mean 
deprivation to the residents of the Metropolis, less water for 
gardens and a great loss in revenue to the board which can ill be 
faced. Further it will mean increased peril by fire.” 
The Engineer-in-Chief Mr. Oliver, in his covering minute 
refers to the 
