WATER CONSERVATION FOR IRRIGATION AND OTHER PURPOSES. V. 
from the example of Western America is too obvious to ke 
missed. A good opportunity of providing the necessary 
instruction will occur if the proposal to establish a Chair 
of Agriculture at the University of Sydney is realised. 
The courses offered by such adepartment of the University, 
together with those already available in Civil Engineering 
and Surveying would probably serve the need admirably. 
WATER CONSERVATION anp THE EQUITABLE DIS- 
TRIBUTION or WATER For IRRIGATION 
AND OTHER PURPOSHS. 
By H. G. McKINNEY, M.E., M. Inst. C.E. 
[Read before the Engineering Section of the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, 
July 20, 1903.) 
AS this paper is the first of a series on the subject of water 
conservation and irrigation, it appeared the most suitable 
course to give it an introductory character, and to furnish 
a brief outline of the natural conditions bearing on the 
subject. | 
Referring to a map of New South Wales showing the 
main watersheds, and outlining approximately the extent 
of the effective and the non-effective portions of the catch- 
ment areas, the great difference in character between the 
country west of the Dividing Range and that on the east 
is easily understood. The fact that the main watershed 
along the Dividing Range is only about 70 miles, on an 
average, from the coast, is sufficient to indicate that the 
coastal rivers are comparatively short, and their rate of 
declivity great. Examination of the rainfall records show 
that throughout the whole of the coastal district there is 
