178 On Irrigation in Tasmania . 
possible, kept from falling into the hands of individuals, in 
such a manner as to place the districts connected with 
them in a situation of dependence upon them for this in¬ 
valuable treasure. Plans for extensive projects of irri¬ 
gation could now be undertaken, and by degrees com¬ 
pleted, which a few years hence w r ould be rendered almost 
impracticable by the innumerable additional conflicting 
rights and interests that will be established. The most 
trifling private right will often greatly obstruct the pro¬ 
secution of a public improvement of a thousand fold 
greater importance ; and this will be in a great measure 
avoided by taking advantage of the circumstances of a 
new country. The use of the margin of a lake as a 
summer run for a few thousand sheep may, perhaps, 
prevent its being used as a reservoir for the irrigation of 
a whole district: such would, probably, have been the case 
with Toombs’ Lagoon, had the plan for making use of that 
noble reservoir been deferred a few years. In this way a 
private right of the value of £100 may obstruct a public 
improvement of the value of £10,000; and though this 
difficulty is in a great measure got over in England by 
Acts of Parliament, yet it is not entirely obviated ; and, 
at all events, the simplest way of securing these public 
benefits is to keep them in view, and not allow the esta¬ 
blishment of such new private rights as will interfere with 
them. 
In discussing this subject with many land-owners who 
were anxious to irrigate part of their estates, the want of 
persons practically acquainted with such works was 
frequently mentioned. I believe, however, this difficulty 
will be found of less consequence than might be sup¬ 
posed : almost any man who likes to employ himself 
about such things would find, upon giving his attention 
to it, that he was quite capable of planning for himself. 
The principal requisite would be the data as to the 
