CCVI. WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION. 
as itis completed. This is fully recognised in India, where 
a canal is classed aS remunerative, and carried out with 
borrowed money, if the forecast statements show that it 
will pay maintenance and interest charges within ten years 
after completion, and at the end of twenty years will pay 
the prescribed rate of interest on the sum at charge of 
project, which is the capital cost plus the balance, if any, 
of maintenance and interest charges over receipts from 
revenue. 
‘‘If the prospects of the Murrumbidgee canal should be 
considered sufficiently promising to warrant its being 
undertaken, it would appear desirable to allow the irriga- 
tion to develop itself before taking up the investigation of 
the Murray canal project. The experience gained on the 
older canal would be of the greatest value in preparing the 
project for the new canal, and in judging of its financial 
prospects, and it is quite possible that one canal will be 
found sufficient to meet the requirements of the colony for 
some years to come. Irrigation is a new industry here, 
and a little caution in expanding it can do no harm, and 
may save a good deal of money and trouble. 
‘*The only irrigation works 2t present in hand are those 
at Hay, on the Murrumbidgee River, and at Wentworth, 
on the Murray, where provision is being made for pumping 
water from the rivers toirrigate land in the neighbourhood 
of the townships. There appears to be a fair prospect of 
these works proving successful, and if this should be the 
case, it is hoped that works of asimilar kind may be carried 
out at the towns (such as Balranald, on the Murrumbidgee 
River) where there is a permanent supply of water and 
other conditions are favourable; such works should help to 
popularise irrigation and to introduce improved methods of 
cultivation, if only a market can be found for the produce.” 
