LXxx. H. G, McKINNEY. 
instructions, had to be dealt with fully in the field before a final 
settlement for the work was made. As already indicated, cases 
of this kind seldom occurred. 
Having stated briefly the circumstances which led to the 
initiation of the water conservation surveys, and given an outline 
of the objects in view and of the manner in which the surveys 
were carried out, it remains to give a summary of the work done 
and of the information obtained. Stated in the shortest possible 
terms, what we now possess is a sound knowledge of the levels of 
every river basin of any importance west of the Dividing Range. 
The levels form a complete connection between Mungindi and 
Wentworth, between Boggabilla and Albury, between Wagga 
Wagga and Wilcannia, and between Cowra and Barringun. In 
fact, the great central basin of the River Darling and all its 
tributary basins of any importance in this Colony are traversed 
by a continuous network of levels. The conditions which govern 
the supply of water in the lakes, and great natural depression on 
the River Darling, from Lake Narran on the north to Lake Popilta 
and the other lakes of the Great Ana Branch on the south, have 
been investigated. The remarkable facilities which exist for the 
distribution of the waters of the Murray and the Murrumbidgee 
for irrigation purposes have been clearly established, as has also 
_ the value of Lake Urana and Lake Coolacumpama as storage 
reservoirs for the surplus waters of the latter river. The prac 
ticability of making extensive use of the effluent channels of the 
Lachlan and the Macquarie has been made evident, and the value 
of these channels as distributaries of the surplus waters of the 
rivers has been proved. The conditions of the Namoi and the 
Gwydir have been investigated, and levels have been taken over 
possible sites for storage reservoirs on both of these rivers. The 
system of levels in the Gwydir District has shown conclusively 
the practicability of draining the great swamps in what is known 
as the ‘ Watercourse Country.” Lake Cowal, Lake Cudgellico, 
and the smaller lakes on the lower part of the River Lachlan 
have been connected with the levels and surveys, as have also 
