1834.] A new system of supplying tanks with water, 112 



naturally contracted in its operations and it depends on the ingenui- 

 ty of man to retain those vast floods of water, which now flow by 

 unused and unheeded. It is evident that Providence has ordained 

 thrit these rivers should answer other purposes than merely being 

 drainers of the land. 



Every person travelling through this country must have observed 

 large tracts of fertile and valuable soil yielding no returns but allow- 

 ed to run waste. The question naturally occurs from whence does 

 this arise, to which the answer invariably received is, a v/aot of 

 water; and it in consequence, becomes an object of the first im- 

 portance, alike to the government, and to the people, to ascertain 

 what meaLS the requisite supply of this essential element can be 

 obtained. 



The following detail though in itself imperfect, may it is hoped, be 

 the means of attracting attention to this interesting subject. 



The few opportunities that have been afforded me of acquiring 

 information on the subject, prevents me from placing the ideas that 

 have suggested themselves to me in so advantageous a light as a 

 more competent person would be capable of doing. I have gene- 

 rally observed that near most rivers and in many cases connected 

 with them, are deep, and extensive ravines. It appears to me that 

 at a small expense, small in comparison with the enormous sums 

 lavished in keeping in repair the numerous tanks throughout the 

 country, these ravines might be formed into basins, capable of con- 

 taining an immense body of water, the said basins having a canal 

 (the neck as it were attaching the head to the body,) between them 

 and the river, with floodgates to be shut or opened at pleasure, 

 should the nature of the ground be adapted for the purpose, and in 

 most situations such will be found to be the case, the sides of the 

 basin may be elevated considerably above the level of the river. 

 To fill the basin, under such circumstances, a steam engine would be 

 requisite for raising the water from the river and conducting it into 

 its allotted channel. If a forcing pump can raise a volume of fluid 

 to the I eight of 32 feet by mere manual labour, it will only require 

 an engine of limited powers to throw up water to the extent of 20 

 feet, allowing 20 feet below the surface the full depth will give a fair 

 average of the quantity required, of course the extent of ground to 

 be brought into cultivation will depend on t';;e supply of water that 

 the reservoir is capable of containing, allowing for evaporation, the 



