IRRIGATION IN ITS RELATION TO THE PASTORAL 



INDUSTRY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



By H. G. M'KiNxXEY, M.E., Roy. Univ. Irel., M. Inst. C.E. 



[With Maps.] 



Importance of the Pastoral Industry. 

 The great benefits which agriculture and horticulture may, under 

 favourable circumstances, derive from irrigation are now generally 

 admitted. But while in this colony agriculture and horticulture 

 are of great and increasing importance, the pastoral industry is. 

 likely to maintain the leading position for many years to come. 

 The present paramount importance of the pastoral industry is very 

 clearly indicated by recent statistics. The total area of land in 

 New South Wales is estimated at 196,000,000 acres, and reference 

 to the stock returns for last year indicates that of that area 

 168,000,000 acres is devoted to pastoral purposes, while the extent 

 under cultivation amounts to only 1,042,000 acres. These figures 

 show that it is a question of great moment whether irrigation 

 cannot be made to assist in the development of the pastoral 

 resources of the colony. 



It may be at once stated that the question has already been 

 answered by one of the best authorities in Australia, namely, Mr. 

 J. S. Horsfall, President of the Australian Sheep-breeders' Associ- 

 ation and late Chairman of Directors in the great firm of Messrs. 

 Goldsbrough, Mort, k Co. In his speech at the presentation of 

 the last annual report of that firm in Melbourne, Mr. Horsfall 

 stated that irrigation must play an important part in the develop- 

 ment of the pastoral industry and in giving steadiness to it. It 

 IS the object of this paper to furnish information in support of the 

 opmion quoted, and to give some idea of the magnitude of the 

 question and its importance to this colony. In order to place the 

 subject to be dealt with in a clear light, I deemed it necessary to 

 obtaui from one who had practical experience of station manage- 

 ment a concise statement of the risks which Western pastoralists 

 have to encounter under existing circumstances. In response to 

 my wish in the matter, the following memorandum was very kindly 

 supplied to me by jNIr. J. W. Boultbee, who, besides having valu- 

 able experience as manager of a pastoral estate, has been gazetted 

 as a qualified inspector of stock. 



Present Risks of Pastoralists. 



"In explanation of the necessity for irrigation in the purely 

 pastoral districts, it may be observed that so far as stock-carrying 



