WATER CONSERVATION SURVEYS OF N.S.W. LXXXI. 
Lakes Tala, Yanga, Pitarpunga, Waldaira, and others on the 
Lower Murrumbidgee and Fletcher’s Lake, Gol Gol Lake, and 
Lake Benanee on the Lower Murray. 
Among isolated surveys may be mentioned that of Tantangra 
Basin on the Upper Murrumbidgee, while Lakes George, Bathurst, 
and Victoria have also been investigated as regards their levels 
and conditions. 
The levels which were taken from the River Lachlan along the 
course of the Willandra Billabong and thence to the River Darling, 
connecting with the series of lakes on the Lower Tallywalka, threw 
much light on the subject of the feasibility of storing flood waters 
in that dry district. 
To illustrate the value of the surveys which have been made, 
two points in the history of irrigation in the Western States of 
America may be referred to. The first is that when landowners 
and speculators discovered that extensive water rights could very 
easily be acquired, they proceeded to construct irrigation canals 
with such haste that sometimes the surveys were very imperfect, 
and sometimes no surveys were made. ‘The result of this was 
that not only were works carried out on wrong lines, but it 
Sometimes happened that several separate canals were constructed 
where one canal would have served the purpose in view, and 
would have avoided the waste which a number of separate canals 
entailed. On this subject any one who wishes to have further 
information, should refer to the report of Mr. Deakin, formerly 
Chief Secretary of Victoria, who was a friendly though candid 
critic of American works and methods. 
_ The second point to which I wish to refer in connection with 
American irrigation, is the fact that the Central Government of 
the United States decided to carry out an elaborate and very 
extensive system of water conservation surveys, and that these 
Surveys have been in progress during the past six years. This is 
4 complete departure from the policy almost invariably adopted 
in that country of leaving everything to private enterprise. A 
very dearly bought experience in the Western States had shown 
6—Aug 19, 1896, | 
