230 H. G. McKINNEY. 



deep cutting, extending through a length of ten or twelve miles. 

 This is the most costly part of the scheme; and, as already stated, 

 it cannot be avoided. After the canal emerges from the deep 

 cutting, the rate of fall in the country as far as the neighbourhood 

 of Berrigan is much greater than would be safe for the channel. 

 On this account it will be necessary to construct a series of drops, 

 which will necessarily involve considerable outlay; but these may 

 prove most useful in supplying power. There will be at least 

 six of these drops, and if it be assumed that only 500 cusecs will 

 be used for power at each drop, and that the effective fall in each 

 case will be six feet, which will be very nearly the actual amount, 

 the power available will be equal to more than two thousand horse 

 power, or to about three hundred and forty horse power at each 

 drop. The land in the neighbourhood of these drops is to a large 

 extent excellent for wheat growing — in fact the district around is 

 one of the best in New South Wales for this purpose. The place 

 where drops will chiefly be required is in the length of thirty 

 miles ending at Berrigan. 



Particulars regarding the proposed Murray River canal. — It 

 may here be mentioned that the rate of fall proposed for the 

 main canal was nine inches per mile, and this was approved by 

 Colonel Home. To carry the proposed supply with this rate of 

 fall and with side slopes of 1^ to 1, and a depth of full supply of 

 7 feet, a bed width of about 68 feet will be required. The mean 

 velocity will be nearly 2*4 feet per second. These conditions can 

 be very little departed from, but it is possible that when the full 

 details have been obtained it may be permissible to increase the 

 depth of full supply to 7 J feet or even 8 feet. That would have 

 the advantage of allowing a decrease of the cross section of the 

 canal. 



Irregularity of country from Mulwala to Berrigan. — Before 

 leaving the subject of the main canal there is a point which 

 deserves special mention. When the river Murray and the plains 

 extending to the Billabong Greek, were first inspected in 1885 

 with reference to the question of constructing canals, it was 



