102 J. W. BOULTBEE. 



Flow from bores from June 1894 to 



June 1895 3,057,000 gals, per day. 



„ June 1895 to June 1896 ... 9,967,000 



„ June 1896 to June 1897 ... 4,597,000 



„ June 1897 to date 4,069,000 „ 



Total output from Government Bores 30,674,500 



Many improvements have been introduced in the tools and 

 plants in use, the most notable being the Calyx Drill, which has 

 a rotary motion, and with steel cutters chips an annular groove 

 round a core, which is detached and removed after the manner of 

 the diamond drill plant. The system which is being tested, would 

 if successful, prove a far more acceptable and economical one than 

 the percussive action of the existing tool, the Canadian pole rig. 

 Rates for both boring and casing have been reduced fully twenty- 

 five per cent, since the earlier bores were undertaken, and as the 

 formations become known and more competition is introduced, 

 the rates will no doubt fall further. 



The introduction of the Artesian Wells Act 1897, by Mr. 

 Sydney Smith, Secretary for Mines and Agriculture, will it is 

 thought, open a new era for the pastoral tenants. Under the 

 provisions of this Act an individual or a group of land holders 

 can approach the Department, and upon dedicating a site for 

 the bore, and together with other formalities undertaking to pay 

 the charges levied under the Act, the Minister may construct a 

 well and the necessary distributing channels. Upon completion, 

 the charges which represent the direct benefit to be derived by 

 each person, but which shall not exceed six per centum per annum 

 on the cost of the works, are assessed by the Local Land Board, 

 and such charges are a first charge upon the land. Twenty-two 

 applications have already been received, representing groups of 

 selectors owning up to 75,000 acres in the group. This will prove 

 a great benefit, as the want of water on small holdings at critical 



