INTERCOLONIAL WATER RIGHTS AS AFFECTED BY FEDERATION. 249 



not warrant considerable outlay 1 In connection with these 

 questions, it is a significant fact that the witnesses directly con- 

 cerned were practically unanimous in their support of the proposed 

 Murrumbidgee Southern Canal Scheme. 



The second important item of information elicited was a state- 

 ment by an extensive landowner, 1 who is also a first class practical 

 authority on the value of water in the back country. This state- 

 ment was furnished in writing, and the main points in it relating 

 to the value of the proposed Murrumbidgee Southern Canal and 

 Storage Reservoir were as follows : — 



"The estimated storage capacity of the proposed reservoir at 

 Yass is eighteen thousand millions of cubic feet. This quantity 

 of water would irrigate 275,482 acres to a depth of 18 inches, 

 which would be sufficient to grow two crops of sorghum or four 

 of lucerne. The former would carry fifty sheep to the acre for 

 four months, and the latter fifteen sheep to the acre for six months, 

 or a total of 13,774,100 sheep if fed on sorghum and of 4,132,230 

 sheep if grazed on lucerne. 



"To show the value that this would be at all times, and especially 

 in seasons of drought, I estimate it costs the owners of stock six 

 pence per head per month for renting grass, including other 

 expenses, to save their sheep. This would be equal to two shillings 

 per head on sheep fed on sorghum for four months, or £1,377,410, 

 which is more than double the estimated cost of the proposed 

 Murrumbidgee Canal and Yass Storage Reservoir, and if the same 

 acreage (275,482 acres) were in lucerne, estimated to carry fifteen 

 sheep to the acre for six months at three shillings per head, it 

 would amount to the sum of £619,834 — about the estimated cost 

 of the proposed Murrumbidgee Weir, Canal, and Yass Reservoir. 

 These figures do not represent one half the benefit annually that 

 would be derived from saving the stock in such disastrous droughts 

 as those experienced of late years ; as under present conditions it 

 will take several years to breed up to the full carrying capability 



1 The Honorable Samuel McCaughey, m.l.c. 



