234 H. G. McKINNEY. 



increased supply is intended only for stock and domestic purposes, 

 but it may be regarded as a first step towards a larger scheme 

 which will provide water for irrigation also. 



Difference between the Murray and other western rivers. — The 

 river Murray, so far as concerns its course in New South Wales 

 differs in one important characteristic from all the other western 

 rivers of this State. Its flow is sufficiently regular and its velocity 

 sufficiently great to keep in check the tendency to silt up, and the 

 consequent tendency to flood increasingly large areas. How far 

 the regime of the river will be affected by the extensive embank- 

 ments which have been constructed along the Victorian bank 

 remains to be seen; but it is natural to expect that the overflow 

 into New South Wales and the discharge of the Edward River 

 and other northern outflow channels will be increased. It cannot 

 however, be expected that material evidences of the effects of these 

 embankments will appear for a considerable time, as the embank- 

 ments will not influence the river except in times of flood. 



Wenlworth irrigation scheme. — It is necessary here to refer to 

 the only irrigation scheme carried out by the Government of this 

 State, which depends on the river Murray for its supply of water. 

 This is the small pumping scheme at Wentworth. The Municipal 

 Council of Wentworth was created an Irrigation Trust by Act of 

 Parliament, and was empowered to pump water from the river 

 Murray for the irrigation-of the Temporary Common : but owing 

 to difficulties which the Council experienced, the Government 

 decided to abolish the Trust and carry out a small tentative scheme. 

 This was done, and although, owing to various adverse circum- 

 stances, very little land was at first taken up, there now seems 

 every probability that the scheme will ultimately be a success. The 

 total area commanded by the works amounts to only about 1,300 

 acres. 



New South Wales projects as compared with Victorian. — Before 

 leaving the question of the utilisation of a portion of the Murray 

 waters in New South Wales, it may be mentioned that all the 



