LXXVIII. T. W. KEELE. 
“Remarkable and unexampled falling off in the streams supply- 
ing the Yan Yean for such a long period has reduced the stored 
water to a dangerous point. The fears expressed he adds are not 
based on mere conjecture, but on absolute results of intake and 
output.” 
The President of the Board, Mr. W. J. Carre-Riddell, in 
his report says :-— 
“Although there is only a possibility of the Yan Yean being 
completely exhausted during next summer (which is unpleasant to 
contemplate) there is a great probability of that reservoir being 
then reduced to such a dangerously low level that the supply for 
the following years may prove insufficient for domestic and sanitary 
purposes. It is therefore of the utmost importance that immedi- 
ate steps be taken to prevent the exhaustion of the Yan Yean, 
and the only means available are the diversion of the Coranderrk 
Creek and the Acheron River. The former work will be put in 
hand at once, and the latter should be carried on simultaneously 
so that both streams may be contributing their waters to the 
supply of Melbourne early in the new year at the latest, when the 
supplies from the Watts’ River begin to fall off. The work of 
raising the sides of the Maroondah aqueduct is rapidly progressing 
and will be completed towards the end of this year, so that it will 
be in readiness to receive and deliver the waters of the Acheron 
into Melbourne on the completion of the work of diverting that 
stream. Upon the completion of the Coranderrk and Acheron 
diversions all will have been done that is possible to secure a supply 
of water to the metropolis during the interval which must elapse 
before the O’Shanassy scheme is completed. Even with the aid 
of the Coranderrk and Acheron it will require the greatest care 
and economy in the use of water to tide over the time required to 
carry out the O’Shanassy works. In reference to the Acheron 
diversion it is proposed to construct an earthern channel capable 
of delivering 7 million gallons per day, but there is no intention to 
take that amount of water all the year round. For the greater 
part of the year the Watts’ River and Coranderrk Creek will 
7” 
