214 



T. W. KEELE. 



myself, and the Committee were much impressed with the 

 necessity of increased storage, and drew special attention 

 to the matter in their report. 



No action appears to have been taken, so far as the con- 

 struction of any works is concerned, from that time — 

 seven years ago nearly — until the decision in September 

 last to commence the building of the dam on the Cordeaux 

 Eiver. 



It is estimated that it will take four years to complete 

 this work, during which, if we have favourable seasons, no 

 inconvenience may be felt; but, on the other hand, if they 

 should be unfavourable, and droughty conditions prevail r 

 it is quite possible for the situation to be actually worse 

 than in last September. 



With a population of 917,990, increasing at the rate of 

 4 per cent, per annum, the reduction in the reserve storage, 

 after allowing for the daily consumption and loss by 

 evaporation, etc., would amount to eighty-four (84) days' 

 supply in four years, assuming that the reservoirs remained 

 full all the time ; but if the weather conditions were similar 

 to the four years preceding September last, then it is 

 evident that the reserve storage in 1920 would be very 

 much less than it was in 1916, unless some water was con- 

 served by the new dam during construction. Our experi- 

 ence, however, while building the Cataract Dam, showed 

 that too much dependence must not be placed upon this. 



Sufficient has been said in this matter to show that, in a 

 climate like ours, and especially where the supply is de- 

 rived from storage reservoirs, it is absolutely necessary 

 that such provision should be of the most ample character. 

 Leaks have occasionally occurred in the best constructed 

 works, necessitating the emptying of the reservoir to ef- 

 fect repairs. We have had our own experience with 



