INTERCOLONIAL WATER RIGHTS AS AFFECTED BY FEDERATION. 245 



only a fourth or a fifth of the number licensed on the Murrum- 

 bidgee. In view of the fact that the flow in the Darling has on 

 several occasions ceased from the neighbourhood of Bourke down- 

 wards, it seems not improbable that the Federal Government will 

 claim the right to have a voice in the granting of such licenses 

 in future. 



The Government of New South Wales has expended large sums 

 on snagging the River Darling, a work which has undoubtedly- 

 been beneficial to the settlers along its banks and in its neigh- 

 bourhood, but has also been of much benefit to Victoria and South 

 Australia. Whether such outlay should in future be incurred by 

 New South Wales alone, seems doubtful. On this point it is 

 significant that on two different occasions the Public Works Com- 

 mittee of New South Wales in reporting on the question of locking 

 the River Darling, has given the opinion that the improvement 

 of the navigation of the River Darling is a work which should be 

 dealt with' by the Federal Government. 



Having sketched briefly in outline the nature of the principal 

 difficulties which are likely to present themselves to the Inter- 

 State Commission in connection with the rivers of New South 

 Wales, it is necessary to state the present condition of affairs in 

 regard to water rights in this State. 



The question of the division of the waters of the river Murray 

 was the subject of much discussion about fourteen years ago. 

 Conferences between the Royal Commission on the Conservation 

 of Water in New South Wales and the similar Royal Commission 

 appointed by the Victorian Government were held in Melbourne 

 and Sydney, and certain recommendations were made, but the 

 Government of South Australia protested against a settlement in 

 which it had no part, and the whole matter was allowed to drop. 

 No further attempt was made to arrive at an agreement on this 

 subject, so that the Inter-State Commission will have a free hand 

 in dealing with it. 



During the past fifteen years it has frequently been stated by 

 some of the public men of New South Wales, that this State is 



