ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 37 



cost of the work if necessary. The question of the storage of 

 water before it reaches the plains has not been lost sight of. 

 Up to the present time, four sites have been found which can be 

 recommended. The difficulty is to find sites at which the quantity 

 of water stored would be sufficient to justify the outlay. 



During the past two years the seasons have been remarkably 

 favourable, and it is doubtful whether some of the western rivers 

 ever remained high for such long periods. An old resident on 

 the River Lachlan, who keeps up a careful record, states that he 

 believes that at only one previous period since the European 

 settlement of the country had the Lachlan remained high for such 

 a long period. In the northern part of the colony the water con- 

 servation surveys had to be suspended for months on account of 

 the floods. This state of affairs cannot be expected to last and to 

 prepare for the next drought, the most important steps required 

 are — first, the passsing of a Water Conservation Bill ; and 

 secondly, the prosecution of work in the districts most affected 

 by want of water. 



Mineral and Medicinal Waters. — Under this head, Professor 

 Liversidge, in his Presidential Address last year, referred to the 

 desirability of a thorough investigation of the mineral waters of 

 the Colony and Australia generally. 



That we possess many mineral waters in these Colonies, which 

 may be of considerable medicinal value, there is no doubt, and if 

 the same were found in Europe they would long ago, not only 

 have been generally known but largely developed, and practically 

 made use of. Mr. Ludwig Bruck, of Sydney, published in 

 January last in the Australian Medical Gazette, a paper on the 

 Mineral Springs of Australia, since reprinted in pamphlet form. 

 Therein the mineral waters with their analyses and therapeutic 

 properties are given. The best known ones are all in Victoria, 

 while the only partly developed mineral spring in this Colony is 

 stated to be the Rock Flat natural soda spring in the Manaro 

 District, ten miles from Cooma. 



