On Irrigation in Tasmania. 177 
so seriously taken up, not only by the colonies, and by 
those classes in England connected with them, but also 
by all others; and also that the subject is so much better 
understood than it was, and consequently that it is likely 
to be carried out with much greater efficiency than 
hitherto, the influx will probably rapidly increase; and 
though the other colonies will by degrees provide much 
food, yet in the first instance the emigrants for some 
time after their arrival must be supplied from Tas¬ 
mania ; and if it cannot provide sufficient for them, 
grain must be brought from distant parts of the world. 
The capabilities of the island, if diligently examined, will 
be found far to exceed what many suppose : the more I 
searched the colony, and the more information I collected, 
the greater was my estimate of the population it is capa¬ 
ble of providing for. Till I had passed through it in 
various directions, I had a very disproportionate idea of 
the vast extent of improvable country which it contains : 
but I now think it capable of bearing a population of at 
least three millions. It contains valuable mineral trea¬ 
sures, especially, as I learn from the best authority, one 
of the richest iron ores known, and coal in many places, the 
two most valuable of all the products of that class, which 
must ultimately be very important sources of wealth : but 
for many years to come it seems that the value of agri¬ 
cultural produce will be so great, as to demand the prin¬ 
cipal attention of the inhabitants, and to promote this I 
feel assured that irrigation is of first-rate importance; 
and it is most necessary to take up the subject decidedly 
without further delay, in order that before private rights 
and interests are more perfectly and extensively esta¬ 
blished, every means may be adopted for securing to the 
community the full benefits of the natural capabilities of 
the colony for the system. Care should at once be taken 
that every river and natural reservoir should be, as far as 
VOL. I. NO. III. N 
