108 J. H. MAIDEN. 



an Upper Hunter flood. , The 1893 flood was of a different 

 character. It arose from rain in the Lower Hunter, which 

 was mainly confined to the eastern and southern slopes of 

 the Main Range parallel to the coast, and thence sea-ward. 

 The rain-clouds came, I understand, mainly from the south- 

 east and contact with the range induced the downfall. 

 Such a flood being local, no engineering or other skill 

 applied to the Upper Hunter could affect matters. Recently 

 I examined the Upper Hunter and its tributaries, with the 

 view to see if, from the point of view of the forester, I can 

 make any suggestions reasonably calculated to mitigate, 

 to any degree, the disastrous effects of floods in the Hunter. 



Although I have paid scores of visits to various parts of 

 the river, I do not wish to assume that my knowledge of 

 the stream is as perfect as I would like it to be. I have 

 however, carefully used my opportunities of studying the 

 Hunter River question, and can only express the hope that 

 my suggestions may be considered, especially as I have no 

 sensational panacea to offer. I travelled the district dur- 

 ing the heavy rains of August 1899, when the creeks, such 

 as Stewart's Brook and Moonan Brook, were raging tor- 

 rents, making an instructive contrast to their present 

 state; now (May 1902) they are creeks nearly without 

 water. In that year I saw the banks abundantly fall In 

 and my trip was therefore in a measure more instructive 

 than in 1893, when one's opportunities for observation 

 were very limited. At the same time I inspected the 

 devastation of the 1893 flood as soon as travelling was 

 possible, and am cognizant, in some slight degree, with its 

 effects. 



II. Geographical Notes. 

 Mr. Napier Bell in his report 1 says, " The Hunter Valley 

 from the sea to very near the top of its watershed, is the 



l " Flood Prevention in the Hunter River," Legislative Assembly, 

 ,p.3. 



