10 



I fear we do not fully appreciate this bountiful supply, 

 nor do we pay sufficient attention to economy in the use of 

 water ; waste is positively sinful with such a good gift. I 

 have often wondered, living as we do surrounded by the great 

 ocean, that the sea water is not made use of for many 

 purposes — notably for watering the streets. One would 

 suppose that the sea water could be brought up to London 

 at a very moderate cost, and be utilized economically in lieu 

 of fresh water, which is so much needed for other purposes ; 

 while in such a matter as watering the streets the salt water 

 would probably be beneficial. 



The convenience and blessing we enjoy of ample water 

 supply and absence generally of droughts, should lead us to 

 think of other portions of our Empire not so favourably circum- 

 stanced. The great Island, or shall we say Continent of 

 Australia, is a case in point. In Australia there are practically 

 no rivers ; in the whole of its vast area there is but one river 

 of importance — the Darling-Murray — and the great Continent 

 is very sparsely supplied with mountainous regions to collect 

 rain, while, the soil generally is of so absorptive a nature that 

 the very moderate rainfall quickly disappears, and the great 

 plains of Australia are from time to time the regions of 

 excessive drought, the herbage disappears, and the sheep and 

 cattle — without herbage and without water— die off, not by 

 thousands but by millions. During the last five to seven 

 years a large area in New South Wales and Queensland has 

 been subject to one of these severe droughts, and the loss in 

 New South Wales in seven years is estimated at no fewer 

 than fifty million sheep, and in Queensland, last year alone, 

 at upwards of one million cattle and nearly five million sheep. 

 Those who are interested in the products of Australia know 

 that that means ruin to the squatter, terrible loss to the 

 merchants who manipulate the great staple products of 

 Australia — Wool — and general misfortune to the community 

 at large. It is sincerely to be hoped that the long season of 

 drought is approaching its termination, and that with abun- 

 dant rains the welfare of Australia may be resuscitated, and 

 the years of drought and failure be followed by a long season 

 of plenty and prosperity. 



The great drawback during these past five years has 

 been the absolute want of water. The Engineers are confi- 

 dent that in the great basin of internal Australia there is a 



