Sydney, it fell at the rate of 1 inch per hour for more than twenty hours. The report of the New South Wales roval commission recommends the establishment of large reservoirs at the heads of the principal rivers in order to store the surplus waters for irrigation.

The colonial Government in leasing or Up to 1888 there were in New South selling public or crown lands reserved of Wales 248 artesian-well borings. Of these late years land deemed essential for the 134 flowed fresh water, 77 had saline flow, purposes of water supply present and fut- 11 were brackish, 2 were mineral, in 19 ure. This has brought up the whole ques- cases coal was struck, and of 7 no record tion of "riparian" rights. The Surveyor- is given. A later return (1889) gives for General required his assistants to select this colony, in public works, 110 tanks, 27 and recommend for reservation and pub-artesian wells, 9 dams and 7 other works lic use "permanent water holes, springs -153 in all. In process of construction and parts of rivers desirable for water sup- were 52 bored wells, 21 tanks, 3 dams and ply." 1 weir; 77 under way, or 230 works in all. These instructions have been reason-The expenditures made by the Colonial ably well followed, but the commission Government direct for pastoral waters up consider that more intelligence and dis- to 1888 have amounted to about $17,500,000. cretion would have resulted beneficially The colony of Queensland has but just in securing a larger reservation of water- commenced the work of water couserbearing and storage areas. In order vancy, and the lines of its policy shape to avoid the conferring of riparian themselves for both pastoral and agrirights more or less definite in char-cultural supply. In New South Wales acter the official also requires his subordinates to omit meanders and contours in the matter of swamps, lakes, ponds or lagoons found within lands to be alienated from the Crown. The survey is to be run on right lines, thus avoiding all boundary issues. "The doctrine of riparian rights, which obtains under the common law of England, is not applicable to the conditions of Australia," the commission reports, and "it is calculated to be a very serious obstacle" to Australian progress. The colony of Victoria, having by enactment reserved from sale all river or stream frontages, is relieved from the dread which riparian claims always produce in an arid country. In New South Wales, however, these difficulties have arisen.

In the matter of legislation the New South Wales Commission made recommendations in the form of a drafted act, which has since become law. This act lefines "water rights, National administration, district administration, water trusts, drainage works, navigation matters," and "offenses and penalties." In the preamble it is declared that the measure is designed to "define the public right"

the public exertions and aid have been in the direction of town and pastoral supplies. ! In Victoria, besides large town works, the trend is directly in aid of agricultural irrigation.

In 1888, there were 50 water trusts in Victoria, 30 urban water districts, and 11 others proposed and forming. Of the town trusts, 20 were of a local character; 10 others were constructed by the colonial Government. There were 6 other works formed of swamp districts. These covered in all about one-fifth of the area of Victoria, or some 17,000 square miles. Up to the close of 1885 the accounts of the colonial department of water supply stood as follows:

Amount of authorized loans..
Amount paid to corporations.
Cost of maintenance.
Interest due.

Principal of loans repaid.

Revenue received to date.

.$3,988,840 3,980,846 447,971 323,648 1,397,083 301,90

The season of irrigation for 1891 will probably see a great improvement. Several trusts will be able to deliver water. In 1892 about one-half of the twenty-five will V do so. The total advances that will be made if they carry out their improvement will be only £1,158,000. The security will be 1,440,000 acres of land, worth without that sum. The national works will cost about £1,000,000. The total expenditure, therefore, will be about £2,000,000 sterling, The colony has a revenue of £8,000,000. It has expended £30,000,000 on railways. The expenditure of £5,000,000 will reclaim land worth £11,000,000, covering about 3,000,000 acres.

in rivers and streams and their natural courses in still waters, similarly conserved, and to create a system for the "conserva-irrigation £4,000,000, with irrigation double tion and distribution" of the waters flowing or contained, whether above or beneath the surface of the ground.

Much progress has been made in all the Australian colonies in the matter of irri gation. The laws are largely founded upon those of Spain, France and Italy and have been found to work admirably.

The full cost of Australian colonial

Alpine.... Amador.. Batte... Calaveras..

93,526 Colusa