128 J. H. MAIDEN. 



and the work of fixing the beds of mountain torrents and 

 hill-sides in process of denudation must be carried out over 

 a large area. The most effective measures depend on the 

 management of the collecting areas of dangerous water- 

 courses, the main principle being to meet the danger at its 

 source. . . (the italics are mine, J. H. M.) 



" Serious and successful action however, is being taken 

 in France, Switzerland and the Tyrol, to counteract the 

 causes of floods. The chief rules to be followed are : — 

 (a) Revetment of torrents and their feeders. By this 

 means earth, gravel, and boulders are retained in the 

 mountains. Works of the following nature should be 

 designed in accordance with the nature of the locality, the 

 characters of the torrents, the area of the collecting ground, 

 and the funds available : — 



1. Barricades of trees with their entire crowns thrown 



across the torrents. 



2. Wattle fences across the bed of torrents. 



3. Dams made of fascines or masonry, to cause the depo- 



sition of coarse material, to be constructed across the 

 torrents at suitable distances. 



4. Paving the bed of the torrent. 



5. Wattle fencing on revetments along the banks of torrents 



to moderate the cutting action of the water." 



Appendix II. — Lessons to be learnt from some European 



Rivers. 

 I now give other European instances of conditions more 

 closely paralled to those of the Hunter River. The rivers 

 Volga, Garonne, and Loire afford special lessons to us, and 

 since the injudicious felling of trees is attended by evil 

 consequences the wide world over, we should lay the lessons 

 to heart in New South Wales. As I propose to deal with 

 the subject of deforestation more fully on another occasion, 



