

"60 NOTES ON ADMINISTRATION OF WATER SUPPLY. 



Yokohama. — Seismological Society of Japan. Transactions 



Vol. X., 1887. The Society. 



Miscellaneous. 

 (Names of Donors are in Italics.) 

 Bennett, George, M.D., F. L. S., F.Z.S.— Gatherings of a 



Naturalist in Australia, London, 8vo., 1860. The Author. 



Fraser, John, B.A., LL.D. — Les Aborigenes d' Australie leur 



anthropologic Hyde Clarice, V.P., Anthropological Institute. 



Trilbner's American, European and Oriental Literary Record, 

 No. 231, New Series, Vol. VIII., No. 1, Feb. 28, 

 1887. The Publishers. 



NOTES ON THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES 

 IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR WATER SUPPLY. 



By H. G. McKinney, M.E,M. Inst. C.E. 



[Read before the Royal Society of N.S.W., 6 July, 1887.'] 



Now whilst the importance of the question of water conservation 

 in New South Wales is beginning to be understood, and the 

 necessity for legislation regarding it is generally admitted, a 

 concise statement of the lessons in administration which may be 

 learned from the experience of other countries appears opportune. 

 It may be suggested by some that in dealing with such a question 

 I am trespassing on ground which properly belongs to gentlemen 

 of the legal profession ; but this is an opinion which I cannot 

 agree to. I maintain that no one is more entitled to be heard on 

 the general principles of administration of the water supply of a 

 country than an engineer, who has had practical experience both 

 of the value of good laws and the mischief caused by bad ones. 

 Legal technicalities and questions of legal detail do not, in fact, 

 come within the bounds of an inquiry into the general principles 

 with which I now propose to deal. 



The countries from which the most useful lessons in water 

 administration can be obtained are Spain, Italy, India, France, 

 and the colony of Victoria ; while America and England furnish 

 striking instances of mistakes which we should do our utmost to 

 avoid. There are other countries from which some useful hints 

 can be obtained and which will be incidentally referred to ; but 

 those enumerated will supply nearly all the information now 

 brought forward. 



The scanty rainfall and high temperature in Spain early led to 

 the introduction of iriigation in that country, while the smallness- 



