262 
PROCEEDINGS OF TUE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
and there is not, I think, any mistake. I n years like the present 
one there is undoubtedly a very large body of water running to 
waste, but during the previous two years there was very little — 
certainly for a whole 12 months no water to speak of passed 
over the dam at the Maraval Works. The Water Works 
Engineer takes but small consideration of the years’ maximum 
rainfall, he is concerned mostly with the yearn of minimum 
rainfall, because it is those in which the supply falls short. And 
it is on these that he bases his calculation as to the quantity of 
water available. It may be asked why the water which flows 
to waste during a normal wet season should not be stored in 
reservoirs for use in the ensuing dry season. I am aware that 
a proposal was made by my predecessor to do this. But for my 
part I do not think it would be a wise policy for several reasons, to 
attempt to do it. My principal reason is, although there are many 
others, that it is very doubtful whether the site for any storage 
reservoir in the northern range is composed of sufficiently imper- 
meable strata to retain water. A moment’s consideration will 
shew you that hills which are so porous as to absorb rain water 
and to give it off, in the slow manner they now do, must be of 
the last material to retain water under pressure. I feel almost 
certain that if a storage reservoir were built, say in Maraval, it 
would Dever fill owing to the leakage which would occur through 
the loose material of the hills at each side of the dam. Storage 
seems to me quite out of the question. The ainouut of water, 
therefore, which is available for the supply of Port-of-Spain is 
the amount discharged by the Maraval, Diego Martin and 
St. Ann rivers, altogether, as I said before, 3,000,000 of gallons 
that is not widely different to. the amount which is now running 
through the city distribution pipes. This quantity will, how- 
e\ei, give 50 gallons per head for 60,000 persons and is a quan- 
tity which with proper management will suffice for Port-of-Spain 
for the next quarter of a century. If more water he wanted, 
a river to the east must be drawn upon and none of those west 
or Arima would be available. There is, however, one river, the 
ropuche, the valley of which is as yet untouched, and this 
river should certainly be reserved for the supply of water, not 
merely to this City but possibly to all the villages along the 
Eastern Main Road. Some months ago I waded do \va the 
O ropuche for several miles and I am certain that it is the finest 
stream in Trinidad, and I am convinced that the whole of the 
upper part of the valley should be reserved by the Government 
Hith the view above stated. 
>lr. Chairman and gentlemen, I have detained vou for a 
ThTsubiec't E 6 ho four that I have been somewhattiresome. 
subject is, however, a very important one. I f oe ] that I 
