PROPERTY IN WATER. XXI. 
Lower Murray are navigable rivers. But still a certain 
amount of river traffic has been maintained in the past, 
and certain vested interests have arisen, that will have to 
be duly considered. The river Murray as far as Went- 
worth, is generally navigable for steamers of light 
draught for about nine to ten months in the year; the 
Upper Murray to Mildura is only available, on an average 
for six months, while in the higher reaches to Albury, the 
river is barely open for traffic for more than five months 
and often for a less period. The Murrumbidgee, is not, 
strictly speaking, navigable at all, as beyond Balranald it 
is often entirely closed to river traffic for a whole year. 
The Darling has been dry for twelve months at a time, 
but during some years it has carried regular traffic, which 
has been of great use to remote settlements along its 
banks. The question of its navigation, therefore, cannot 
be entirely neglected. These rivers are all subject to 
periodical floods, and it is only at certain times of the 
year that the withdrawal] of water from the Murray for 
irigation could affect its navigation. Victoria, by 
several works in operation, already draws a considerable 
quantity of water from this river. Some important 
undertakings in prospect would absorb much more. 
New South Wales has taken practically nothing from 
the river as yet, but it has a projected scheme for an 
irrigating canal that would divert a large protion of the 
stream, and at a time when the water in the river can 
least be spared. The interests of South Australia are 
mostly centred in the navigation of the Lower Murray, 
which might thus be seriously affected, and certainly that 
State is fully justified in opposing the withdrawal of so 
large a volume from the river as to cripple an established 
industry in which it is largely interested. 
Viewed on the basis of the principles of law and equity 
already stated, it is evident that the water flowing in an 
