ANNUAL ADDRESS. XVII. 



especially on stations, as a very slight alteration to existing 

 steam engines would allow of them being driven by air instead 

 of steam, the air can also be used for driving direct acting 

 pumps for irrigation or other purposes. 



The irrigation settlement at the Pera bore is, I am informed, 

 progressing satisfactorily, the proximity to a market is no doubt 

 a large factor in its success, and arrangements are now being 

 made to use the power from the bore now going to waste for 

 driving the machinery required by the settlement. 



Before leaving the question of artesian bores I would like to 

 call your attention to the following remarks in Colonel Home's 

 report on '• Irrigation," in which he refers to bores : "Asa rule, 

 sufficient attention had not been paid to the selection of a site, 

 the ground at the bore being frequently much lower than the 

 adjacent ground or than the general level of the country which 

 might be served by the water, and the difficulty and expense of 

 taking the water about was much enhanced in consequence."' 

 The above quotation, I think, shows, that had the advice of an 

 engineer been obtained by the proprietor of the bore before 

 it was sunk the saving would have paid many times over for the 

 fees he would have charged. 



This subject is a large one and will well repay investigation, 

 and now that so many bores have been sunk it certainly appears 

 advisable that accurate gaugings should be made of the now and 

 pressure ; in Queensland the Government have taken the matter 

 up, and I understand that the attention of the Minister of 

 Mines has been drawn to the necessity of similar investigations 

 being made in this colony ; if a commission were appointed to 

 inquire into the question it would probably be able to establish 

 with a close approximation to truth the hydraulic gradients of 

 different lines of country, and also probably elucidate many of 

 the questions which appear to be uncertain in connection with 

 Artesian Boring. 



In industrial developments New South Wales has not lagged 

 behind the other colonies, in fact it is, I believe, in the front ; 



