WATER CONSERVATION, IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE IN N.S.W. 233 



is very satisfactory; but sometimes it is not. One case came to 

 the writer's notice, where a landowner erected an expensive pump- 

 ing plant and proceeded to irrigate land which was little better 

 than a clay pan. The result was that an abundant crop of rushes 

 sprang up, and the owner of that plant came to the sage conclusion 

 that irrigation in Australia is a failure. In regard to this ques- 

 tion, instead of advising "to go to the ant and be wise," we might 

 with reason advise an enquirer to "go to the Chinaman and be 

 wise." The Chinaman has never been at a loss to find suitable 

 places for his gardens near towns in the western plains, and 

 whether at Bourke, Brewarrina or Coonamble, at Deniliquin, Hay, 

 or Narandera, he has been able to grow vegetables, and in several 

 cases, fruit with astonishing success. It may with correctness be 

 stated that there are large areas of land in Riverina which are 

 not well suited for irrigation; but in view of the fact that all the 

 water available can irrigate only a small fraction of the area which 

 can be commanded, there is no excuse for including unsuitable 

 areas in this fraction. It should be clearly understood that the 

 main function of irrigation in New South Wales generally and in 

 Riverina in particular, is to provide a certain amount of insurance 

 against the effects of droughts. This it can do on an important 

 scale. 



Diversion of river Murray waters below Tocumwal. — While the 

 preliminary surveys and the marking out of a portion of the main 

 canal are the only steps yet taken towards the construction of a 

 canal from the river Murray at Bungowannah, something has 

 actually been done towards increasing the flow in the Edward and 

 Wakool Rivers. A cutting has been made from the river Murray 

 at Tocumwal to the Tuppal Creek, and this carries a supply to the 

 Edward River at a much lower level than formerly. The cutting 

 which has been made from the Edward to the Wakool River is 

 similar in its operation. The effect of these works, and of the 

 cutting which has been made from the Murray River to Eagle 

 Creek, has been to give an increased supply of water in the net- 

 work of creeks between the Murray and the Edward Rivers. This 



