the irrigation of only about 18 acres for every mile of river on an 

 average. Regarding the quantity of water required to produce 

 the result described, it is safe to assume that for each cutting of 

 the crop the maximum quantity of water would not exceed 6 in. 

 in depth— that is, two floodings of Sin. each. This is equal to 

 21,780 cubic feet of water for every ton of hay produced, so that 

 for 71 tons the quantity of water would be 1,546,380 cubic feet. 

 This is less than is contained in a mile in length of the river where 

 the width is 100 ft. and the depth 3 ft. The conclusion to be 

 derived from this is that, with a system of weirs in the Darling, 

 the quantity of water stored in the river would be far more than 

 would be required for the extent of irrigation here described. 

 Hence, even in a dry season, when the flow of the river had 

 ■entirely ceased, a large margin would be left after providing for 

 the irrigation estimated. 



With regard to the cost and results of feeding the sheep on hay 

 on the river frontages, it may be safely stated that the cost of 

 producing the hay and feeding the sheep should not exceed 4s. 

 per sheep for the four months. These sheep would naturally be 

 the most valuable, and it would probably be a difficult matter to 

 replace them at the end of the drought at less than 14s. per head. 

 Hence, the saving of two millions of sheep in this manner in a 

 severe drought would be equivalent to averting a direct loss of a 

 million sterling, and would mean a gain of much more than that 

 amount to the country at large. 



The quantity of hay here referred to is only a fraction of what 

 the Darling can be made to produce, and represents the result of 

 only one of the methods in which that river should be utilised. 

 The most important functions which the river Darling should be 

 made to fulfil are— (1) The provision of reserves of fodder for the 

 Western district, as already described ; (2) the flooding of large 

 areas of pasture ; and (3) the provision of a permanent highway 

 for navigation. To effect the last of these objects, a series of 

 Weirs and locks is indispensable, and there is no difficulty in 

 arranging and designing these works so as to insure the watering 

 oHarge areas by gravitation during every rise of the river. The 

 j^aising of the water level by means of weirs will also materially 

 lessen the cost of pumping for the irrigation of crops. Hence, if 

 the Darling were utilised as it can be and should be, it would 

 first of all provide the means of tiding over bad seasons ; secondly, 

 It would greatly increase the stock-carrying capabilities of the 

 country by flooding large areas of grass land ; and thirdly, it 

 Would afltord at all times cheap carriage for goods and produce. 



The circumstances of the Darling are extremely favourable, in 

 «ome important points, to the construction of works for the 

 purposes referred to. The fall in that river throughout a great 



