\ 
XVI. GEORGE CHAMIER. 
developments, is yet very simple in its essence, and appears 
to be universally acted upon. The general principle is that 
all riparian proprietors are entitled to the ‘* reasonable ”’ 
use of the stream for domestic and industrial purposes, for 
stock, and all other ordinary requirements. The water 
may even be diverted for irrigation, provided a sufficiency 
is left in the stream to meet all other reasonable demands. 
A proprietor may also dam up a water course, within his 
own land, and utilize the water for mechanical purposes, 
as in the case of mills, but only so far as not to materially 
diminish the ordinary flow, or to occasion damage or incon- 
venience to other riparian owners. The principle is there- 
fore established that the water of a stream is the property 
of the riparian landowners, collectively. Under combined 
action they may exercise entire control, and divert or 
utilize the stream in any way they may deem fit. Wherever 
a State has taken over these collective riparian rights by 
Statute, it is evident that all such powers devolve upon 
the State. 
This is an important point to bear in mind when defining 
the right of a State to the tributaries of a main river within 
its own territory. The only exception to the rule is in the 
case of a large river which is open to regular navigation, 
and is held to be a main highway for public traffic. This 
may introduce complications, which will be dealt with 
later on. It does not appear that the extent of frontage 
to a river gives the landowner any additional claim to the 
water. <A proprietor possessing many miles of river bank 
has only the same right to the “reasonable ’’ use of the 
stream as the holder of a cottager’s allotment. The right 
is on the “‘one man one vote ’’ principle—all share alike in 
the privilege. Neither does the ownership of the bed of a 
‘* defined’? watercourse carry with it any special right to 
the stream. This rule is general in its application: it will 
