XVIII. H. G. McKINNEY. 



works to an extent unknown in any other community of 

 British origin. 



With regard to the important question of water conser- 

 vation and irrigation, this is a branch in connection with 

 which Victoria is the only State which has constructed 

 extensive works. For the distribution of water from the 

 rivers for stock and domestic purposes, a number of very 

 useful works have been constructed by the Government of 

 New South Wales, and much good has been done by this 

 State and by Queensland in sinking artesian bores and 

 exploring the country for artesian water ; but as regards 

 irrigation, Victoria alone has taken action on an extensive 

 scale. It is necessary to mention that the number of 

 artesian bores put down by enterprising landholders far 

 exceeds the number put down by the Governments of 

 Queensland and New South Wales, and that in the latter 

 State alone, dams and other works for conserving water 

 were constructed by the landholders at an estimated aggre- 

 gate cost of over two millions sterling. Considering that 

 many of these works were on land for which only a moderate 

 tenure had been granted and that the works were con- 

 structed and maintained on sufferance only, it must be 

 admitted that they bear excellent testimony to the enter- 

 prise of the pioneers who carried them out. In the United 

 States and Canada the settlers own the land, so that the 

 fruits of their enterprise in conserving surface water or 

 putting down bores or wells are secured to them. 



When an energetic and comprehensive irrigation policy 

 was decided on in Victoria, the system which was adopted 

 of having all but the largest works constructed and all the 

 works managed by Irrigation Trusts was excellent in theory. 

 It was expected that the money supplied by the Govern- 

 ment on loan would be judiciously and economically used 

 by the Trusts, as they were to be responsible for the pay- 



