LXXX. T. W. KEELE. 
discharged on the southern slope of the dividing range would 
thus find its way into one of the tributaries of the Watts’ 
River and ultimately into the Maroondah aqueduct. 
The O’Shanassy scheme referred to in the reports pro- 
poses to intercept the water draining from an area of about 
59 square miles of mountainous country lying to the east of 
the Watts’ River about 6 miles, and to lead the water by a 
channel to carry 25 million gallons per day at present, toa 
pipe head near Woori Yallock, from which point pipes 42 
inches and 50 inches diameter would be laid to a storage 
reservoir near Mitcham. The estimated cost of the scheme 
is £675,000. 
It will be seen from the extracts from the official reports 
which have been published, that the situation in Melbourne 
with reference to water supply is very disquieting. It will 
take at least three years to bring in the water from the 
O’Shanassy River, and in the mean time it is absolutely 
necessary to augment the present supply from the Yan 
Yean and Maroondah systems in the manner described. No 
objection seems to be raised to the diversion of the Cor- 
anderrk Creek into the existing aqueduct, but there is very 
strong opposition by the residents on the Acheron and 
Goulburn Rivers to the head waters of the former stream 
being tapped for the supply of Melbourne. 
The Minister for Water Supply Mr. Swinburne, says:— 
‘‘[ am very strong in my attitude, and I will never give way 
on this point, that the waters of the Acheron belong to the 
northern areas. The northern people must not have taken from 
them water they require in order to save the Melbourne people 
expense. What the Board wants is equal to +; of the total sum- 
mer flow of the Goulburn, and the Acheron waters are among the 
most assured sources of supply.” 
The Cabinet has arrived at the following conclusions as 
published in the press of 11 July :— 
