LXXXII. DISCUSSION. 
that in connection with works for water conservation and dis- 
tribution, complete and reliable surveys are indispensable. 
Already the negative value of the surveys carried out in this 
Colony has been far greater than is generally supposed. They 
have furnished a ready means of disposing of many impracticable 
proposals, the mere enquiry into which would have entailed con- 
siderable expense. The positive value of the surveys has also 
already been much greater than is generally known; but their 
importance will only be realised as works proceed. Meanwhile 
they indicate what can be done in regard to the distribution of 
the available supply of water in the western rivers, and also, to 
an important extent, what can be done to supplement this supply. 
It remains to be decided what should be done. 
Discussion. 
Mr. G. H. Hatxican said that Mr. McKinney’s paper might 
be said to have been the first contribution in this country, to 
subject which had engaged a great deal of attention, and had 
provoked a large amount of discussion in other parts of the world. 
Although the literature of the subject of ‘spirit levelling” was 
large, it was so scattered amongst various reports and contribu- 
tions to scientific societies, that it was very difficult to obtain 
comprehensive information on the matter. On a subject which 
appears so simple, it was at first sight, surprising that so much 
had been said and so much ingenuity expended, when to a super 
ficial observer such results as Mr, McKinney enumerated could 
be obtained by ignoring the more delicate and intricate appliances 
generally thought necessary by levellers in other countries. For 
when the circumstances were taken into consideration, some of 
the closes recorded in the paper were certainly surprising, and 
however much might be due to compensating errors, still great 
¢redit was due to all the surveyors employed, for the thorough 
manner in which the work had been performed. By exhibiting 
the information contained in the paper in tabular form, the full 
force of this remark would perhaps be more & lear! y seen. 
