PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 39 
the State by the widest distribution of the available water 
for stock purposes. 
The works constructed on the Lachlan consist of diver- 
sions down the Middle Billabong and Marowie Creeks, the 
Willandra Billabong, the Booberoi Creek, with weirs in 
the river at each of these places and storage works at 
Lake Cudgellico; it is proposed to improve the works at 
the Willandra Creek by raising the weir and widening the 
cuttings at each place. It is also proposed to improve the 
inflow into the Lake Cudgellico storage and the construc- 
tion of a weir in the river, and to construct a series of 
weirs in the Lachlan Channel from between the Willandra 
Weir and Oxley. 
Darling River.—The lower portion of the Darling River 
between Bourke and Wentworth traverses an area similar 
in aridity to that already dealt with to the west of Hay 
in the Murray-Murrumbidgee Basin. Facilities exist over 
the lower portion of this area for the diversion of supplies 
down the great ana-branch and Tallyawalka Creeks. 
Large areas of lakes are connected with each of these 
Systems, a few of the most remarkable of which it will 
be advisable to fill for storage purposes and the remainder 
utilised for irrigation. The works required to secure a 
constant supply will be of an expensive nature, and pro- 
bably would not be justified for the supply of stock only, 
but, combined with a moderate amount of irrigation, I 
feel confident that it will be found that the works will 
return interest on the expenditure. Surveys in connection 
with these proposals have been retarded on account of the 
bad seasons, but it is hoped the proposal in connection 
with the great anabranch will be completed very shortly. 
In pursuance of the policy laid down, the first should be 
put in hand on the lower and more arid end of the 
river, and in dry years that area should have the first 
claim to the available flow in the river. 
