cil. DISCUSSION. 
enables the authorities responsible for maintaining the 
supply to provide the ratepayers with all reasonable require- 
ments in proportion to the quantity conserved. As it will 
naturally take time to fill the reservoir, and in this respect 
Sydney is not different to other large cities, the value of 
the reservoir cannot well be tested until it arrives at its 
fullest extent. 
Ido not agree with the statement that it is not advisable 
to draw down Prospect below 6 feet, although at one time 
I was of the opinion, for considerations of stability, that 
it would be inadvisable to do so, but later experience has 
amply demonstrated that the bank would be quite safe 
if drawn much lower; consequently, if necessity demanded 
it, the water could be used to the fullest extent, supposing 
that Cataract dam was empty. I quite agree with the 
Chairman that it would be unwise of the authorities to lull 
its constituents into a false state of security; Iam quite 
certain that it will not be the question of expenditure which 
will deter the authorities from making the necessary pro- 
vision to provide for the future. There is no doubt that 
the consumption per head of the population supplied is low 
as compared with other Australian cities, taking the supply 
per head when no restrictions were placed upon consumers; 
the maximum was 43°95 gallons per head in 1901, compared 
with Melbourne and Adelaide with from 60 to 64 gallons 
per head respectively. In the case of each of these cities 
they have had to face shortage. The question of consump- 
tion per capita depends in a measure on the method of 
measurement and prevention of waste. During the year 
ending June 1907, the consumption per capita was 37°92 
gallons per head; the figures for 1908 have not yet been 
worked out, but I do not anticipate any material increase in 
the quantity, although restriction has been placed on the 
reasonable use of water from the Board’s mains for sanitary 
purposes. ; 
