Failure of the Van Yean Reservoir. 163 



mlttent supply, with its cumbrous machinery of dirty and 

 ill-conditioned cisterns. , 



The constant-service principle, therefore, is not at all 

 adapted for a limited supplv of water, and this important fact 

 has been clearly demonstrated by the experience _ of other 

 cities. Croydon, which is supplied on this principle, con- 

 sumes 500 gallons per house per day, which, making the usual 

 allowance of five individuals to each house, is equal to 100 gal- 

 lons per head instead of forty. Hitchin consumes 235 gallons 

 per house, or forty-seven gallons per head. Whitehaven 250 

 gallons, or fifty gallons per head; and New York, which is 

 nearly in the same latitude as Melbourne, and is therefore our 

 best guide in regard to the amount that may probably be 

 required, on some days consumes ninety gallons per head 



instead of forty. .^ ^^ v 



At Rugby, Sandgate, and Barnard Castle, the supplies 

 have been found inadequate from waste; and the Bristol 

 company have been forced to abandon the constant-service 

 principle altogether. 



With such important facts before us, can we look with any 

 confidence to a source which, under the most favourable 

 circumstances, is only fitted to supply the present population 

 of Melbourne, with its suburban towns and villages. And 

 what is there so very repulsive in the Yarra that we should 

 not at once resort to it for our water supply? , . ^ t 



After o-lving my best attention to the whole subject, i 

 would in "the strongest manner recommend that we should 

 abandon all hopes of supplying the City from any other source 

 than the Yarra, where, at all times, and under all circumstances, 

 we shall obtain an unlimited supply of the purest water. 



I am aware that there is a very strong feeling on the part 

 of the public that the works ought to be completed now, as 

 the money is nearly all expended. But more mature con- 

 sideration will show that if any confidence is to be placed in 

 the estimates of Mr. Hodgkinson, Dr. Davy, and myself the 

 available amount of water, after deducting th^. evaporation 

 will not suffice even for the present wants of the City, and 

 with so limited a supply, the water would be unfit for use, 

 were it possible to run it into the pipes, . 



Where is the object, then, in laying twenty miles of pipes, 

 even under existing contracts ? j 



If the pipes had been laid, it might have been argued that 

 it would be cheaper to carry them five miles further to the 

 ea lern arm, at an additional cost of 70,000?., than to remove 



