THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY a 381 * M96m (jj. \ ^r\ o £ V'i e. vj «l \ \ \ v o -VVe Vw fc \ v\&qr \ w £ m — *S ■V % *V fc N [No. 29. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. MURRAY RIVER WATERS. R E F O R T WIYERSmr 0r ILLINOIS LIBRARY TO THE DEC 28 1922 HON. THE COMMISSIONER OE PUBLIC WORKS ON THE UTILISATION OF THE WATEIjS OF THE MURRAY RIVER FOR NAVIGATION AND IRRIGATION AND FOR THE Development of the Resources of the Ijiver Valley. By iSTTJ^VRT MURRAY, M\ Inst. O.B., Chevalier du Merite Agricole , 8t;c., fyc., 8$c. Ordered by the House of Assembly to be printed , June 1th , 1910. [Estimated cost of printing (650), £37 10s. Id.] BY AUTHORITY, R. E. E. ROGERS, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, NORTH TERRACE. A— No. 29. 1910. KcK’ sa&tfrxi RIVER WATERS 337 MURRAY PRECIS OF REPORT. 1. Proposals have been, from time to time, advanced for the construction of navigation works on the Murray River, and the consideration of these forms one of the leading subjects dealt with in the report. In opposition to the claims herein of this State, it has been alleged that the further extension of works of this class, especially in the United States of America, has practically ceased. But, that there is little warrant for the allegation appears from the fact that works, for the canalisation of the Ohio River, in Pennsylvania, have just been completed, rendering that river navigable for a length of 967 miles; whilst a system for the canalisation of the great Kanawha River, in West Virginia, is also in progiess. 2. By the report, a system of navigation works is proposed for the whole of the Murray River, from Lake Alexandrina to some miles above Wentworth, a total distance of 485 miles ; to be eventually extended as far up as hlchuca, on the main stream, and Hay on the Murrumbidgee. To initiate this project, it is recommended to carry out the Lake Victoria storage scheme, as put forward by the Royal Commission of 1902. It is shown that the effect of this would be to raise the level of the river, at the eastern boundary of the State, by two feet, for a period of nearly four months in each year. The cost of that portion of the works within South Australia is estimated at £483,000. The Lake Victoria works are estimated at £165,000 ; which latter sum is to be provided, in equal instalments by the three riverine States. 3. The construction of a barrage, as at one time recommended, for the exclusion of sea water from the lakes at the Murray mouth, is not concurred in by this report: the great loss of water, by evaporation, it would entail, is held to be a fatal objection. There is proposed, by way of substitute, a barrage across the arm at the head of Lake Alexandrina, about eight miles below Wellington ; with a condition that a sufficient supply of water be sent down the river, to maintain freshness within this reduced area. It is clearly shown that, unless this be done, and the system of locks be cairied down to this point, the lower Murray will, as the result of diversions higher up, become permanently salt. The cost of this work should be borne by the upper riverine States, which alone will benefit by the diversions. 4. A recommendation is made in favor of a sea level canal, from Goolwa to Victor Harbor, to carry the river traffic down to the ocean; the estimated cost being about £470,000. But this work is proposed to be held over pending the development of 'traffic, which will be provided for meanwhile by the Goolwa to ATctor railway. 5. The reclamation of Lakes Albert and Alexandrina is shown to be quite within the limits of feasibility. It is not however recommended that this be undertaken at present; but held over to meet a future demand for land for settlement. It would add nearly 200,000 acres of land, mostly arable, to the area of the State. 6. It is proposed to initiate a system of domestic and general water supply, for those rural districts where that now available is of inferior quality, or is liable to become deficient in quantity in seasons of drought. Suggestions also are made for the improvement of the quality of water supplied in provincial towns. 7. The land about Lake Bonney, where it had been proposed to establish an irrigation settlement, is deemed specially suitable for the purpose as to a part of the area only. It is however proposed that the lake site be reserved as a storage, in which to impound water for the irrigation of the lands included in the “Lake Bonney Scheme,” should these prove suitable under practical test conditions; otherwise for the service of suitable lands in the valley below. 8. The Parcoola proposed reservoir site is not considered specially adapted for purposes of water storage. It is not absolutely condemned as unsuitable ; the report is rather to the effect that the facts are not sufficiently known; but that so far as they are known they are unfavorable. It is possible that further exploratory survey may place the question in a more favorable light. The paucity of economical water storages in South Australia seems unquestionable ; there is deficiency of both available holding space, and facilities for economical construction. 9. If sufficient water storage cannot be secured at reasonable cost, in South Australia, it may be worth while to consider whether arrangements can be made with the upper States, for a partnership agreement, in respect of storages to be constructed there. 10. It is shown that South Australia has an unquestionable claim to a supply of water from the Murray, for the domestic, stock, and general needs of an extensive area of dry farming land ; for the irriga- tion, to a depth of 24in., of 625,000 acres of culturable land ; and for a sufficient volume to provide for the navigation of the locked river, and to maintain freshness in the channel as far down as the barrage below Wellington — a total of 88,530 millions of cubic feet per annum, for all purposes, when the scheme of canalisation is complete. 11. To meet the recognised difficulty of establishing irrigation, as an integral part of the system of rural economy of this State, it is proposed that a select number of Australian youths shall be sent, by the Government, to study the methods and appliances in use, in countries where it is practised, in preference to introducing immigrants from those countries, to practise irrigation here. Februan , 1910. 357,163 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/murrayriverwaterOOmurr MURRAY RIVER WATERS EXCERPT FROM LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. South Australia: Commissioner of Public Works’ Office, Adelaide, July 23rd, 1909. Stuart Murray, Esq., M. Inst. C.E. Dear Sir — I accept, for the Government of South Australia, your offer to place your pro- fessional services at the disposal of this Government for the preparation of a report on the River Murray waters question, in so far as it affects South Australia ; and I give hereunder some particulars of the special aspects of the question on which a report is desired. [Memorandum for the guidance of Stuart Murray, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., &c., in reporting to the Government of South Australia on the Murray River, having special regard to the utilisation of its waters for navigation and irrigation, inclusive of a scheme of locking by weirs and navigation locks, and with special regard also to the utilisation of the lands and development of the resources of the Murray Valley and lands adjacent thereto under irrigation.] 1. The examination and report to cover a consideration of the whole of the River Murray and Lakes, from the boundary to the sea mouth of the Murray ; also to include the consideration of the effect of what is known as the Lake Victoria scheme of storage ; and consideration of the general subject under the following headings incidental thereto. 2. An analysis of the statistics of the quantity of water, in cubic feet per minute, monthly aggregate in cubic feet, and depth respectively, which the River Murray has discharged into South Australia in the past, so far as the records go ; with the periods annually during which navigation was possible over the South Australian part of the river, by present steamers. 3. The periods of low river, with quantities and depth of water, and their effect on navigation, irrigation, and the lakes. 4. The quantities of water in cubic feet per minute, and depth, with the river in its present natural state, required to flow between (say) Mildura and the boundary, to allow of navigation with present steamers being continuous over this part of the river, and the periods annually in which navigation has been possible in the past. 5. The benefits which would accrue to South Australia from a storage scheme at Lake Victoria, as formulated by the Royal Commission on the River Murray AVaters. 6. Full consideration, in all its aspects, of a scheme of locking, by the construction of weirs and navigation locks, on the portion of the Murray from Lake A r ictoria to Lake Alexandrina ; the sites and nature of the engineering works best suited for such purposes, with general designs and the estimated cost thereof ; and, in this connection, the quantity of water in cubic feet per minute, and annual aggregate in cubic feet, which would be required to keep the weirs and locks fully and permanently efficient ; allowing for loss by evaporation and soakage ; and allowing also for the quantity of water required to pass down over the lowest weir and lock to serve (a) the river below such lowest lock, ( b ) the lakes. 7. The question of storages, other than ordinary navigation weirs and locks, over any part of the river in South Australia. 8. The effect on the low-lying lands in the river valley in South Australia of the backing up of the water by storages or weirs and navigation locks. 9. The utilisation of the River Murray waters for irrigation purposes, in South Australia (a) on the low-lying lands in the river valley, ( b ) on the high lands adjacent to the river valley. 10. The best method of getting the water to the lands, and distributing the water, with the quantities required per acre per annum, and the estimated cost ; with a description of the most desirable pumping plants for localities where pumping is necessary. 11. The effect of soakage of brackish water over certain parts of the river, at times of low water. 12. Particular attention to be devoted to the lower river between Blanchetown and the lakes, in view of the improvements which the South Australian Government has carried out, by the con- struction of embankments, &c., to reclaim the low-lying lands, and render the same available for irrigation. The ensuring of a sufficient and satisfactory supply of fresh water for the irrigation of such lands, and other similar lands on the lower river to Wellington, and for the town waterworks at Murray Bridge. q N p e 4 13. The report to cover full consideration of the question of the Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, and the problem of how the sea water can best be kept from affecting the River Murray ; and how far it is expedient and possible for the sea water to be kept from entering the lakes, and the best means and estimated cost of carrying out any scheme for such purposes ; or for the reclamation of any portion of the said lake beds, if such is considered practicable and desirable. 14. Careful consideration to be given to the question of a sea-level canal from Goolwa to the sea, and the estimated cost thereof. 15. And, generally, Mr. Stuart Murray’s report to deal with any other important aspects of the River Murray waters question which may arise out of the investigation, and particularly any other points the consideration of which is desired by the Government. The plans and general engineerin designs necessary to explain and illustrate the report to be included therewith, and to include typical design for a weir and lock. L. O’LOUGHLIN, Commissioner of Public Works. REPORT. S3 Cf903 6 6 7 1892 10 10 1904 12 12 12 *893 I 2 I 2 1905 7 7 8 1894 I 2 I 2 6 jqo6 7 7 8 1895 I 2 I 2 I 2 1907 8 8 I 2 1896 >897 I I 6 1 1 6 12 6 1908 6 6 8 For the greater part of the time stated the navigation was carried on by vessels of 7ft. draught ; for the remainder by boats of from 3ft. to 4ft. draught. The near agreement of the returns with one another constitutes some confirmation of their general accuracy. Their consistency 7 with the depth of water in the navigable channel of the Murray is the best confirmation possible. (See diagram, sheet No. 1, and the navigation lines thereon.) 3. Turning 6 3. Turning again briefly to the treatment of the subject of navigation, in the report of the Royal Com- mission of 1 902, the following may be quoted : — “ At the Renmark Irrigation Settlement the fruitgrowers suffer considerable annual loss owing to the river being closed at the time their perishable fruits are ripe. One of the principal settlers said that, if the river had been navigable in June, which it was not, about 500 cases of oranges per week would have been sent away. It was also stated that at the same time there were from 250 to 300 tons of fruit river-bound at Renmark.” The loss entailed on the Renmark settlers by the closure of the river navigation, at the period when their perishable fruits are in the most saleable condition, forms a strong argument in favor of rendering the navigation perennial by the construc- tion of works for the creation of permanent slack water in the channel. As matters now stand the liability to have the navigation closed at any time without notice is an ever-growing difficulty; and it is one to remove which those interested in the river trade cannot too soon devote their best attention and their most strenuous endeavors. The permanent navigability of the river would be immediately followed by the enlargement and extension of traffic thereon. 4. In the course of the discussion that has given rise to this inquiry, and of the contention between the States as to the priority to be accorded to the several competing interests involved, it has been maintained that the continuance of river navigation is a matter of no public concern ; inasmuch as it is in process of being superseded by the extension of railways. Against this view may be quoted the following from the article on “ Canals,” by David Stevenson, in the latest edition of the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica”: — “ Though all efforts to improve barge-canals can never bring them to compete with railways in the quick conveyance of passengers, it is surprising to find in how many places they still command an enormous traffic in goods and minerals.” In confirmation of the statement contained in the second sub-clause of this quotation, the following may be cited from an article on the same subject, by Professor Vernon Harcourt, in the 1902 edition of “Chambers’ Encyclopaedia”: — “The enlargement and extension of canals and the improvement of rivers have been vigorously pursued by the French Government simultaneously with the development of railways ; and a large proportion of the bulky goods (in the year 1882 amounting to 1,384 millions of ton miles) are con- veyed by water in France. There are about 3,000 miles of canals in France, and 2,000 miles of canalised rivers, in addition to nearly 2,000 miles of open river navigation;- and many of the waterways are free of toll, the costs of construction, improvement, and maintenance being paid by the State. To obtain uniformity in the principal canals, constructed at different times and under varying conditions, a law was passed in 1879 for securing eventually a depth of water of Gift., locks 126Jft. long and 1 7ft. wide, and a clear height of 12ft. under the bridges, along the main lines of traffic. As soon as the necessary works are completed boats of 300 tons burthen will be able to traverse all the principal waterways of France.” It may be added that there are to-day 3,000 miles of canals and 4,600 miles of canalised rivers, in addition to the length of open river navigation mentioned above, in existence in France. 5. In Great Britain the case is otherwise. Of the extensive system of inland waterways in use in that country at a date not yet distant, many canals are practically wiped out ; others are rapidly falling into such a condition of disrepair as to render them unpopular and almost unusable. The cause is not so much the preference of the public for other modes of goods transit as the action of wealthy railway corporations in buying up canal properties and neglecting or altogether closing the works ; cheap water conveyance having proved a formidable competitor with railway freight rates. Valuable information on this subject may be gleaned from a recent paper by Mr. Saner, in the “ Transactions of the Institution of Civil Engineers.” It is a fact, and it is due mainly to the closing of lines of cheap water carriage, that steaming coal may be purchased on the banks of the Nile at a cheaper rate than in the manufacturing towns of the English Midlands. It would be a calamity that a like state of affairs should arise here through the closure ot the natural trade highway of the .Murray basin by the diversion of the river waters. Time must be sought a modus ayendi whereby the small proportion of the river volume required to maintain permanent slack water in the channel may be provided without injurious interference with paramount public needs. The provision of a water supply, ample lor the preservation of health and comfort among the dwellers in the liver valleys, for the needs of cattle depasturing therein, and for the promotion of intense forms of agriculture by the irrigation of suitable soils, is not inconsistent with the preservation of the established river traffic. 6. In the United States of America, where but recently there was great activity in the canalisation of rivers, the work is at present carried on less vigorously. The chief causes seem to be the lowering of railway freights through the excessive competition of companies, furthered to some extent by the writing down of capital : and the extensive appropriation of public streams by the promoters of irrigation and land companies. That it is not entirely suspended is, however, evident from the following extract from the proceedings for the year 1908, of the American Society of Civil Engineers : — “ The recent completion of a series of locks and dams- on the Ohio River creates, with existing improvements, a navigable depth of 9ft. between Pittsburg and Beaver, a distance of 30 miles. The Ohio River is formed at Pittsburg by the junction of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers ; its total navigable length is 967 miles, and in the first stretch of the river between Pitts- burg and Beaver the slope is loin, per mile. The maximum recorded discharge at Pittsburg is 439,000 cubic feet per second ” — fully seven times the greatest recorded discharge of the Murray at Morgan — “ but it varies very greatly, necessitating a system of dams with movable tops. There is a large traffic on the river with barges, which are about 26ft. wide and 175ft. long. These are made up into batches of about 50 or 60 boats, towed by stern-wheel steamers, which are exceedingly efficient for the work owing to their manoeuvring capabilities. After a short review of the various schemes which have been proposed for maintaining a navigable channel, the author describes the system of movable dams. The plan ultimately adopted was that of Major Morrill, which provided for 13 locks and dams between Pittsburg and Wheeling, for a minimum depth of 6ft., the dams to be of the movable type with navigable passes 400ft. wide, to be closed with Chanoine wickets and high and low weirs ; also for high and low weirs, to be closed with either Desfontaine wickets or Brunot gates. The lift of the dams planned has been limited to about 8ft. as a maximum, which was based on the experience of French engineers. The wickets used in the Chanoine dams are 3ft. 9in. wide and are spaced 4ft., thus allowing 3in. spaces between them. When the discharge of the river is very small, wooden needles are used to cover the spaces between the wickets.” 7. As 7 7. As basis from which to discuss the proposed reconciliation of the interests of trade and navigation, on the one hand, with those of agricultural production and settlement, on the other, the first requirement is a clear and explicit statement of the ascertained volume of the river, and of the dimensions, capacity, and condition of its channel. The discharges of the Murray, set out in tables I., II., III., and IV., accompanying this report, are at Mildura, at the eastern boundary of South Australia, and at Morgan — at Mildura, the lowest point on the river within the State of Victoria at which discharges have been gauged, special reference also being made to it in the instructions issued for guidance in this inquiry ; at the eastern boundary of South Australia, because the volume passing there must be a governing condition in any inter-State agree- ment to which South Australia can become a party ; and at Morgan, the lowest point on the river channel at which there are continuous gauging s. 8. The first three tables give the average volume of water flowing in the river channel for each month of each of the 23 years, 1886 to 1908 inclusive, at the points mentioned. Table I. gives the average in cubic feet per minute, for each month, of the actual measured volumes of the stream, and is exclusive of that pumped or otherwise withdrawn from the river for use at the settlement ; the total for the month in millions of cubic feet, the larger unit being here adopted chiefly to facilitate condensation of the figures ; and the mean depth on the navigable channel bed, or, more strictly, the depth on the channel bed due to the mean volume of flow. That the actual volume varies from day to day, and even from hour to hour, is unquestionably true ; but experience shows that, for the practical purpose of a statement for discussion, the mean for the month is more convenient and more readily apprehended than would be the daily or any less volume. The labor involved m the more elaborate statement would also be 30 times greater ; which consideration alone puts it out of the question. What is meant by the depth on the navigable channel bed will be explained further on. Table III. relates to Morgan. For reasons that will presently appear it is necessary to deal with it before Table II. It also gives theaverage in cubic feetper minute, for each month, of theactual measured volume of the stream; the total for the month in millions of cubic feet: and the depth on the navigable channel bed due to the mean volume of flow. Table II. relates to the volume flowing in the river channel at the point where it crosses the eastern boundary of South Australia. The figures in this case are the result, not of measurement, but of computation. There are no actual gaugings at this point nor any fixed gauge staff nearer than at Renmark, some 50 miles lower down the river; it is necessary therefore to explain how the computations were made. In his evidence before the Inter-State Commission, at page 141 of the published minutes. Mr. Ettore Checchi is reported as follows: — “ Q,. 3858. You had to ignore the Murrumbidgee, the Wakool, and the Darling? — Yes ; I computed the flow. As an instance 1 may say that the quantity recorded as passing the Murrum- bidgee at Hay, and the Murray at Echuca, is in some cases less than the quantity given as passing Mildura, which is impossible. 1 • • Q. 3859. IIow do you explain the discrepancy ? — blither the Mildura, Morgan, or Darling gaugings are incorrect. I took the Mildura gaugings personally, and consider them reliable. The gaugings at Morgan appear to be correct. Morgan is a good place to take gaugings at, whereas I do not think Wilcannia is. Again, in time of flood an officer cannot reach Wilcannia from Sydney within a week, and by that time the flood may have subsided.” Mr. Checchi gave a tabular statement of the discharges of the Darling, as computed by him, for the whole of each of the years 1887 to 1901 inclusive. These were accepted by the Commission, and have been here adopted. The Mildura discharges were reduced by a coefficient having a value equal to three-fourths of that derived from the experience of losses in the upper river, to make them representative of the volumes reaching the Darling junction. To these were added the Darling discharges, as above explained, and the sums equated to those at Morgan, to determine the coefficient expressing their relation. This was found to be practically identical with that denoting the proportion of losses to total volume in transit, as derived from the gaugings above. To complete the table, the volumes at the boundary for the years 1886 and 1902-1908 were then obtained by applying this coefficient to the recorded Morgan discharges for these years, with the proper correction for the actual length of channel from Morgan to the boundary. The method adopted for determining the discharge of the river at Mildura and Morgan, the points where the actual measurements have been made, is based upon that described in “ Hydraulics of Great Rivers,” by J. J. Revy, London, 1874; and employed by the author in the determina- tion of the volume of the LaPlata. It is given in some detail in the “ River Gaugings ” compilation, 1905, issued by the Victorian State Government. 9. The volumes expressed by the figures tabulated are also represented graphically in the drawing, sheet No. 1. To enable a clear idea to be readily formed of their signification, lines have been drawn on the diagram indicative of the level of water surface at each of the three points dealt with ; the levels represented being those due respectively to a depth of 6ft. 6in. and of 4ft. on the navigable channel bed. The greater depth is that required to permit of barges of oft. draught being towed with no greater effort than in open water; the less is just sufficient to enable barges drawing 3ft. 6in. to be towed, but with greater exertion of force than would be necessary if there were wider clearance beneath. 10. By the term “navigable channel bed” is intended a plane, everywhere parallel to the surface slope of the river when carrying a navigable depth of water. This assumed plane is 1ft. 9in. below the zero of the gauge at Morgan (as might be gathered from the figures in Table III.); and if 6ft. 6in. of depth, or 4ft. 9in. on the Morgan gauge, be taken as the full navigable depth — which it would be for barges drawing 5ft. — this depth is necessary to provide 1ft. 6in. clearance over the shallow at Hart’s Island. The island is about 44 miles above Morgan, and the shallow extends intermittently for a length of about 8,600yds. There are other shallows between Morgan and the eastern boundary ; but this one has the least depth of water, and is therefore the governing point. The volume due to this depth, 4ft. 9in. on the gauge, or 6ft. bin. on the navigable channel bed at Morgan, is 390,000 cub. ft. per minute, there. The equivalent at the eastern boundary is 428,950 cub. ft. per minute ; the navigable channel bed has therefore been taken as 6ft. 6in. below the surface level of water, when the volume flowing there is 428,950 cub. ft. per minute. At Mil- dura, the navigable channel bed is about 2ft. 9in. below zero of the gauge ; and the volume due to 3ft. 9in. on gauge, or Oft. Oin. depth of water, is 274,000 cub. ft. per minute. These depths have been verified as far as possible by soundings. It should be pointed out here that in an agreement tentatively arrived at between the Premiers of the Riverine States, but not ratified, 365,000 cub. ft. per minute is provided by clause 30 as the volume, under certain conditions, to be passed on to the South Australian boundary. This is the equivalent 6 equivalent of about 331,900 cub. ft. per minute at Morgan, and would provide a depth of 3ft. llin. on the gauge, or 5ft. 8in. on the navigable channel bed, at the latter point ; and a clearance of 8in. only for boats of oft. draught over the shallow at Hart’s Island. 11. 'l'he settled rule for the depth and cross-sectional area of canals, and therefore with certain limita- tions of the channels of canalised rivers, is thus stated in well-known engineering textbooks: — “The depth of water and sectional area of waterway should be such as not to cause any material increase of the resistance to the motion of the boat, beyond what it would encounter in open water, 'l’he following are the general rules which fulfil these conditions Least breadth at bottom equal to twice greatest breadth of a hoat. Least depth of water, 18in. more than the greatest, draught of a boat. Least area of waterway, six times the greatest mid-ship section of a boat.” — “ Rankine’s Civil Engineering,” part III., cap. iii. Again (this is from “ Law and Burnell’s Civil Engineering,” edition 1881, page 172) — “ '1 hat there should be no material augmentation of the resistance of a boat, beyond the normal resistance in open water, the breadth at the bottom should be at least twice the greatest breadth of the boat; the depth should be at least 18in. more than the draught ; and the sectional area of waterway should he at least six times the greatest mid- ship section of the boat.” The rule given by Professor Rankine is also quoted with approval in “ Canal and River Engineering,” David Stevenson, 1872. to be observed in the not more than 5ft. of assumed, and it seems 12. Reference to the relation between the draught of boats and the depth of water in the channel that is to carry them seems called for by the provisions of clause 33 of the Bill drafted in connection with the tentative agreement before referred to. In that clause the chief consideration canalisation of the river is that it shall provide for navigability by vessels drawing water. To discuss any scheme of canalisation some limit of navigability must be reasonable to take that adopted by common consent in past negotiations. On the principle laid down in the passages cited, the upper of the two navigation lines, shown in sheet No. 1 , gives the depth and volume required for free navigation by vessels drawing 5ft. ; the lower that for restricted navigation by barges of 3ft. 6in. draught. But these depths and volumes relate to an open, not to a canalised, river ; and the difference in conditions implied must not be lost sight of. In an open river there is a current of greater or less swiftness ; and generally, for the same river, varying with the volume of flow. In a canal, or in a canalised river, when the conditions are such that vessels travel in the slack water created by the weirs, there is practically no current. The resistance to the movement of vessels up stream is greater in the first case than in the second ; though of course less for vessels going down stream. Professor Rankine thus states the rule for computing the increase of resistance due to current — “ The effect of the current of the stream, on the load that may be drawn by a force of haulage equal to about three miles per hour, may be roughly estimated as follows : — Load drawn against current equal to load in still water multiplied by ^ J v being the velocity of the current in feet per second.” — “Civil Engineering,” Part III., sec. iii. Computed by this rule the load that may be drawn in Stillwater is to that against a current of one mile per hour as 1:0-504 ; that is to say, the still water load is almost double of that against a current of one mile per hour for the same force of draught. Against a current of three miles per hour the load, as compared with that in still water, is as 0 203:1 ; that is to say, the still water load is nearly five times what may be drawn against a three-mile current by the same force. 13. The Murray, in its present condition as an open river, like most streams of slight fall in country distant from the sea, is exceedingly tortuous. In general the deep channel followed by boats plying on the river avoids projecting points and the side on which the land is salient at bends, keeping well clear of them, even where to do so involves a considerable detour. Having passed a projection, the channel makes for the concave bank, at a point from one to two and a half times the width of the alveus of the ordinary river, below the cape. Thence it keeps near the hollow side ; or, if the reach in front be long and straight, follows almost the centre line of the stream until the current begins to be influenced by the neighborhood of another bend or projection. Personal observation is confirmed by inspection of the charts — hand-made— used by the river pilots. It agrees also with the following by David Stevenson : — “ Viewed as a purely abstract question, it may- be safely affirmed that a stream is most likely to follow a permanent course when directed bv a concave wall. Dr. \ oung observes that the centrifugal force has a tendency to draw the greater portion of the water to the concave side ; and thus the greatest scouring power, and consequently the greatest depth, of the stream will be found upon that side.” — “ Canal and River Engineering,” 1872 edition. 14. While the river remains open it would be desirable, in the interests of trade, that in years of low river, navigation should be protracted, and the periods of closure reduced, as much as reasonably possible. In the report of the Inter-State Commission, 1902, attention is drawn to the feasibility of compassing this object by the execution of the Lake Victoria regulation -storage scheme. This lake is in the State of New South Wales, within three miles of the river bank, and about 35 miles in a direct line below the junction of the Darling. “ It covers an area of about 30,000 acres, and is connected with the main stream by the Rufus River, through which it is fed when the Murray is high. The level of water permanently impounded by the bar Is R.L. 73-00 fi.e ., 73ft. above the water conservation datum adopted in New South Wales), whereas flood marks show that the lake has been filled to R.L. 90-00, the storage between the two levels being 17,000 millions of cubic feet. In order that full advantage might be taken of such floods, the lake could be filled by- raising the river level below Frenchman’s Creek and diverting through it to Lake Victoria. It is estimated that a weir on the river would cost £80,000, and the improvement of Frenchman’s Creek and the erection of embankments and regulators £4,800, or a total of £84,800. These works would make possible the storage of 22,399 millions of cubic feet, a volume which, while allowing for evaporation at the rate of 60in. per annum, would provide in times of low river 100,000 cub. ft. per minute for a period of nearly four months.” Clause 22 of the tentative agreement already referred to provides for the construction of this storage with two locks on the river. Although one lock only — the upper — would be essential if the river were to remain open, it will be better if the proposal to construct works for the provision of slack water during times of low river is adopted to take both in haud at once. The cost would in that case be £164,800 instead of £84,800. The full navigation depth with an open river, referred to in clause 10 of this report, will 9 will demand a flow of 428,950 cub. ft. per minute at the eastern boundary of the State ; the restricted depth for boats of 3ft. 6in. draught, with Gin. clearance only, 313,900 at the same point; while an addition of 100,000 cub. ft. per minute to the volume of the stream would raise the level of the surface by almost exactly 2ft., for all depths within the navigation limits. It would be superfluous to dwell upon the advantage that would accrue from the provision in a dry season of this volume from Lake Victoria. 15. At an inspection in October, 1909, the approximate discharge from the Murray into French- man’s Creek was 90,000 cub. ft. per minute. The site adopted as that of a weir to regulate diversion into the creek is about a mile lower dow r n than the principal natural offtake. For the control of diversions it is ■suitable; while from the constructional point of view, all that could be said in the high-level condition of the river is, that no serious difficulties are apparent. At the junction of the Rufus Creek — the outlet from Lake Victoria — w r ith the Murray, there was a discharge of about 90,000 cub. ft. per minute into the river ; the lake being full to the level of the natural bar. Mr. Armstrong, the manager of the Lake Victoria Station, says, however, that with a rising river the inflow to the lake generally begins through the Kufus. From the designs prepared by the New South Wales Public Works Department the following leading particulars are taken of this proposed storage : — Length of Frenchman’s Creek from offtake to discharge 39 miles Regulated surface level at offtake R.L. 97 - 00 Level of bed at discharging point into and from lake R.L. 74-00 Full supply level in lake storage R.L. 95 - 00 Fall from regulated surface level at offtake to bed at intake 23ft. Fall from regulated surface level at offtake to full supply at storage .... 2ft. Length of Rufus Creek from offtake to discharge 8 miles Regulated level of river below weir at intake from creek R.L. 69-00 Fall in creek 5 ft. 16. The permanent navigability of the Murray may be provided for by the construction of a series of works tfor the creation of slack water in the river channel, see diagrams, sheet No. 2. The w-ork shown — sheets Nos. 3 and 4 — consists of a movable weir and lock. The lock chamber would be 150ft. by 45ft. in clear, with 16ft. depth of water on the floor, and a further 5ft. to the cope; the lift of each lock being 10ft., except those connected with the Lake Victoria works, which would have a lift of 1 4ft. The lower 6ft. of depth, reduced to 5ft. 6in. over the entrance and exit sills, represents the navigable depth at the head of the pool below. The proposed lock chambers are large enough to accommodate the boats and barges at present trading on the river. Eventually, with a view to economy of water, they should be reduced to 130ft. by 26 It., sufficient for the passage of barges of at least 260 tons burthen ; which might be towed, either singly or in file, by stern-wheel or by screw-propeller tug-boats. The remaining width of the channel is shown as closed by a movable weir, framed of timber wickets; adjustable from a gangway, carried on iron trestles hinged to the bed by suitable gudgeons, so that they may be folded down flat during the periods of open river ; the one next the abutment being housed in a chamber contrived for the purpose. The abutments, lock chamber, and platform or bed of the weir would be of cement concrete ; reinforced where necessary with bars of mild steel. As a matter of fact however this design must be understood as subject to modification. The greater part of the river will, in general, be closed by a movable weir lower than that shown ; that is to say, with its bed or platform higher than, but its crest at the same level as, that shown in the diagram; the high weir being restricted to the pass, to be used when the volume of water is sufficient for open river navigation. The pass would occupy the space next to the lock, and should be about 160ft. in the clear; the low weir, separated from it by a pier of solid masonry, would be of similar design to that in the pass. The sectional area of the waterway, when these movable weirs are down, should be as near the natural section as possible : in no case must the natural section be reduced to cause sensible heading. The cost of a work, in accordance with the proposed modified design, will not materially differ from that shown. Any difference there may be will probably be in the direction of reduction. The drawings — sheets Nos. o and 4 — are to be understood as type drawings only. It is impossible to give actual drawings of any particular work, in the absence of a -detailed survey of its site and of pittiugs or borings of the ground in the river bed and banks. In the •selection of weir sites, it is hardly necessary to remark, the presence of rock at or near the surface will oe an advantage, but is not an indispensable condition. They are to be preferred in a reach of some length, where the channel is well defined and not too much curved, and the lock and pass should never be in the convex side nor near a projecting headland. That they should be in the concave side, where the reach is sensibly curved, will be readily understood from the concluding sentence of clause 13. 17. The movable weirs shown in these diagrams are of the type known as the Chanoine. They have been designed, chiefly, on the model of the improvement works of the great Kanawha River, in West Virginia; a copy of the working drawings for which has been rendered available by the courtesy of the officers of the Bureau of Public Works at Washington. The general design adopted for the improvements of the Ohio River, referred to in clause 6, is of similar type ; with proposals for others of the Desfontaine or of the Brunot pattern. The Chanoine type of river navigation works is that now most favored ; not only in France, where it was introduced, but also in America and elsewhere. Another type, at present in general use, and likely to prove suitable for the Murray River, is the needle weir. It has the advantage of being capable of easy manipulation, by one man unassisted ; but against this has to be considered the great expenditure of time involved in raising or lowering it, when the river has to be regulated. The Chanoine weir, on the other hand, is open to the objection that the wide openings between the wickets, necessary to secure convenient working, entails a loss of water that would prove serious during low river. But this difficulty may be got over by the use of suitable needles, formed with a tongue and cover to close the spaces. As there are almost no river navigation works in existence in the Commonwealth, and few officers here who have had practical experience in their design and construction, it will be advisable that the engineer to be entrusted with the preparation of the drawings for the Murray River works, should pay a visit of inspection to several of the canalised rivers of America and of the Continent of Europe, before entering on his duties. Besides the rivers mentioned above, excellent and informative examples are to be seen on the Seine, the Loire, and the Garonne; easily accessible at all times, and where a visitor may study at leisure both the design and the mode of manipulation. ' 18. In B 10 18. In tlic report of the Inter-State Commission the cost of a typical weir and lock is given as £100,000,. and of the necessary works from Blanchetown to the eastern boundary of the State as £600,000. The New Soulh Wales estimate for a weir at the offtake of Frenchman’s Creek, in connection with the Lake Victoria scheme, is £80.000 ; but that is for a work with a lift of 14ft. A weir in accordance with the type drawings accompanying this report, the lock having a lift of 10ft., should be constructed for about £73,738 ; and this estimate includes a fair allowance for risks and for probable loss by river floods. This should not materially differ from the cost of a work such as above described, with separate weirs, in the pass and waste channel. The cost of the system from Swan Reach to the border would then stand at £482,428. But no estimates can be taken as other than approximations, until after detailed surveys and other exploratory work on a scale of minuteness greater than any now available. The most that can meanwhile be predicated is that the cost will in all probability range between £482,428 and £600,000. See Appendix V. 10. The loss of water in the river channel due to the maintenance of navigation will be best appre- hended by considering it as a fraction of the volume at Morgan, the lowest point of gaugings. Table IV. is a summary of the totals for each of the 23 years dealt with in Tables I., II., and III., the Morgan volumes being given in the last column; and it should be noted that these are the actual volumes that came down the river, and are exclusive of all diversions and all losses, whether from natuial or artificial causes. In the minimum year (1902) the Morgan volume was 93,274 millions of cubic feet; that for 1901, the next lowest, being more than two and a half times as great. There is reason to believe that 1902 was an abnormal year throughout the Murray basin. The Victorian gaugings at Mildura extend back to 1865 ; those at Albury to 1877 ; and at Murchison, on the Goulbourn, one of the greater tributaries of the Murray, to 1882. In 1902 the total Mildura discharge was 57,517 millions of cubic feet; in 1868, the next lowest year, it was 196.445, and in 1884 it was 200,747 millions. At Albury in 1902 the total was 39,381 million cubic feet; and in 1884, the next lowest within the period of the records, 78,697 millions. At Murchison in 1902 the total was 27,753 million cubic feet; and in 1884, the next lowest recorded there, 50,963 millions. It is evident that the discharge of the Murray in the year 1902 was the lowest during the past 45 years, and less than half that of the next lowest year ; and therefore that it ought not to be considered in any analysis of the gaugings with a view to the utilisation of the river waters. Excluding this minimum year, the volumes at Morgan recorded in 'fable IV., are divisible into three groups, which may properly be characterised as low, mean, and high years. Of low years, those in which the total discharge at Morgan has been less than 400,000 millions of cubic feet, there have been ten; and the average total per year has been 299,102 millions; of mean years, from 400,000 to 600,000 millions, there have been five; and their average discharge at Morgan 468,335 millions; while of high years, wherein the Morgan total has been over 600,000 millions, there have been seven ; and their average discharge 818,844 millions of cubic feet. The length of the river channel from the mouth at Wellington to the State boundary is 356 miles, and the average width of the wetted surface when locked will be about 10 chains. Allowing for an annual loss by evaporation of 60ins., and by soakage at the rate of £in. per day over the wetted surface, the total from these causes would be 15.500 millions of cubic feet for a year. The average annual loss by lockage, allowing for ten lockings per day, would be under 250 millions of cubic feet, so that the total losses by evaporation, soakage, and lockage would be about 15.750 millions of cubic feet per annum. Of this, half of the evaporation and soakage would be inevitable in most years apart from locking, and a portion of the lockage might properly be con- sidered as compensation water. On the whole, the loss properly debitable to the adoption of slack-water navigation works will not exceed 8,000 millions of cubic feet per annum. The result may be put in tabular form thus — Average discharge at Morgan for — Low years, 299,102 million cubic ft. .. Nearest simple fraction expres- sive of losses - 3 V- Mean years. 468,335 million cubic ft. Nearest simple fraction expres- sive of losses J-». High years, 818,844 million cubic ft. Nearest simple fraction expres- sive of losses -,ij. But the minimum volume required throughout the year at the boundary, to provide for continuous navi- gation, will evidently be 15,750,000,000 -f- 525,600 = very nearly 30,000 cub. ft. per minute, about -i- --L-, and -V of the respective annual volumes, which will therefore be the irreducible minimum required to pass the boundary to provide for navigation. On the like basis, the losses debitable to navigation, for evapora- tion, soakage, and lockage on the Murray, from the S A. boundary to Echuca, and on the Murrumbidgee, from the junction with the Murray to Hay, would be about 14,000 millions of cubic feet per annum. But, inasmuch as these losses are from the upper rivers, and therefore from volumes that do not undergo the diminution due to following the lower river channel for an average distance of 615 miles, to Morgan, the actual loss debitable to these causes would be reduced by more than one-fourth; and 14,000 millions becomes 10.500 millions. The total annual loss of water debitable to the entire system of navigation works would thus range from -Ar in a low year to in a high year, of the volume at Morgan ; although the quantity actually used, measured at the points of offtake, will range between vb and A* of that volume. No account is here taken of losses from the Darling ; it being understood that there is no present intention to extend the navigation works to that river. 20. The river valley from the east boundary of the State down to Swan Reach, near which is the site of the lowest of the proposed navigation weirs and locks, is throughout much of its length bounded by cliffs of imperfectly consolidated, impure limestone, frequently close to the river channel, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other. From this point the cliffs are less frequent; the valley gradually opens out, showing wide flats, backed by hills of gentle slope, well grassed or under cultivation ; the limestone, however, continuing as the surface rock. A little below Swan Reach, it is stated, the depth to the limestone bed is augmented ; but there is no visible indication of the point at which this occurs. The depth, in the channel increases, so that there is ample water for such boats as could clear the locks. About 14 miles below Swan Reach a sounding was tried, but at 38ft. the lead did not touch bottom. Again, a sounding was tried in the bend above Teal Flat, about 17 miles above Mannum. with a like result. Thence through Lake Alexandrina and the channel to Goolwa deep water continues. Opposite Poltallock the depth as shown by several soundings is uniformly 13ft. Abreast of the mouth of the Finniss River it ranges from 17ft. to. 18ft., while at 11 at Goolwa wharf it is over 30lt. From Goohva the channel continues southward about 1| miles; thence it turns eastward about 6 miles to the sea mouth, where the waters of the Murray find exit. Throughout the latter distance the ocean is separated from the channel, which is in fact a continuation of the lakes and is here from one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile wide, by a line of sand dunes nowhere exceeding a half mile in width. At several points on this spit there are apparent evidences of recent breaches by the sea. The mouth or opening is at present about 600ft. or 800ft. wide, mostly with an apparent depth of no more than -3ft. The exception is a deeper channel of a width of 200ft. or 300ft. A sounding was obtained in the channel within the sandhills, near the mouth ; the depth of water there was 8ft. ; the tide being near springs and about half flood. From the eastern side of the entrance the sand dunes continue eastward. 21. So far there is no question about the easy and convenient transport of river-borne cargoes; hut we are now face to face with the problem of their transference to ocean-going vessels. Two solutions have been proposed — one by enlarging the opening, or by cutting a new opening through the sandhills, to enable ships from oversea to come inside and take loading from the barges ; the other to cut a sea-level canal from the inland water near Goolwa to the sea at Victor Harbor. The first of these proposals has been advocated by Mr. Thos. Walker Fowler, M. Inst. C.E., in a paper published in the transactions of the Victorian Institute of Engineers. Of the second a survey and estimate have been made under the direction of Mr. A. B. Moncrieff, M. Inst. C.E., Railways Commissioner, and formerly Engineer-in-Chief of this State ; and an estimate by Mr. Lindon Bates. 22. The Murray Mouth canal proposal will, perhaps, be best understood by reference to Mr. Fowler’s paper. He says — •'•Sir John Coode seems to have estimated the cost of opening the Murray Mouth for seagoing vessels at £2,000,000, and even at that figure does not seem to have been sanguine of success ; whilst Mr. Lindon Bates advocated the Goolwa to Victor Harbor canal, at an estimated cost of £571,000. Mr. A. B. Moncrieff, then Engineer-in-Chief of South Australia, on going over Mr. Bates’s estimate, apparently considers that the work could be carried out for £473,000.” And again — “ It is of course impossible, from the available data, to form any reliable opinion as to the probable cost of the works here advocated; but when it is remembered that the Gippsland Lakes were . successfully opened up for £126,000, it seems probable that similar works might be successfully carried out at the Murray Mouth for a sum less than that estimated as the cost of the Victor Harbor canal. In this connection an important point would be the amount of protec- tion necessary for shipping at the entrance. To make the entrance accessible in all weathers, probably a breakwater would be required in addition to the training walls ; but as Victor Harbor would always be ■available as a harbor of refuge, where vessels could obtain protection during rough weather, the construction of such a breakwater might be safely postponed until the trade had developed sufficiently to justify the necessary expenditure.” Mr. Fowler’s view is sanguine. The opening of the Gippsland Lakes entrance cannot be said to furnish a precedent of weight in the solution of this question. Neither the degree of pro- tection there, nor probably the width, would be held sufficient by owners of vessels of the class likely to be employed in the carriage of Australian produce to the markets of Europe. The width of the Gippsland Lakes entrance is 250ft.; that proposed by Mr. Fowler himself for the Murray Mouth is 1,000ft. More- over, it is a fact that in rough southerly weather masters of vessels in shelter inside the lakes, with cargo on board, have lain up for days rather than face the risks of getting out into open water. It has also happened that vessels from Melbourne or other Victorian ports have in like circumstances, after cruising for a length of time outside the entrance, put back to their port of departure. The wreck of vessels in attempting to pass in or out of the entrance in unfavorable weather is also not unknown. Mr. Fowler makes no reference to the necessity for a harbor where large vessels can lie inside the Murray Mouth entrance. Such a basin is obviously an indispensable part of any scheme on the lines of Mr. Fowler’s project. It would have to be large enough to permit of swinging vessels not less than 400ft. in length, with a depth of at least 25ft. of water. 23. The line of the proposed canal to Victor Harbor, as surveyed under the direction of Mr. Moncrieff for the purpose of an estimate, leaves the inland water about a mile south of Goolwa. As roughly designed the bed would be 7ft. below low-water level of spring tides; bed width, 50ft.; slopes in the lower 15ft. of depth, 2:1, above that such as the nature of the ground may warrant. From the mouth to the crossing of the road forming the north-west boundary of allotment 2360 the soil is a light loam, generally sandy on the surface, with a tendency to become clayey from the subsoil down to the level of the canal bed. It is clear of the sandhills, except for a short distance where it crosses the slope of a detached dune. From the road crossing it continues clear of the sandhills to about 2 miles 15 chains, where it enters a lagoon, the water in which is at present about 7ft. above sea level. This has apparently been formed by a watercourse, now almost obliterated, cut through many years ago, according to local tradition, by a mass of sand carried in by storm action from the sea. The canal follows the lagoon for a distance of about 50 chains, the lagoon bed being about ■ 3ft. above sea. The cutting would thus drain the greater part of the lagoon, reclaiming an area of probably about 70 acres. From where the line emerges from the lagoon, to about 3 miles 33 chains, it follows ground similar in character to that near the Goolwa Mouth; the maximum depth of cutting being about 17 or 18ft. At about 3 miles 37 chains it crosses a ridge, the surface level at apex being such as to entail 38ft. total depth of cutting. Thence it finds its way to near the sea beach at about 4 miles, and follows as close as possible to the foot of and inside the sandhills, which here are low, to about 6 miles. In the section between 4 and 6 miles, these low sandhills form the sole protection of the canal against possible inroads from the sea; so that it may become necessary to construct some defensive works on their seaward face to prevent them being breached in severe south-west gales. From 6 miles the line turns more directly to the west and cuts across the neck of the peninsula on which Port Elliot stands. The site of the town appears to be limestone, overlying granite ; but at what depth the contact occurs on the crossing of the canal line it is impossible, in the absence of borings, to form an opinion. The depth from surface to canal bed at the highest point of crossing t.he bluff is 84ft. — inadvertently referred to by Mr. Fowler as the height above sea level. Thence the line follows across cultivated fields to 7 miles 50 chains, where the total depth of cutting is only 17ft. 6in. Again it keeps along the coast, at times inside the railway line, at times taking up the ■existing site of the railway track, down to Hav borough. In this section the railway is, and the canal would oe, for a length of about 30 chains, close to rne sea beach and in possibly dangerous proximity to the waves in 12 in rough southerly weather. The deep cutting (61ft.) near Hayborough is entailed by the necessity to cut back into the sand cliff clear of the railway line. Mr. Fowler refers to the canal line, after passing the high ground at Port Elliot, as entering a valley draining to the Hindmarsh Creek. The valley referred to does not drain into the Hindmarsh. Its waters are discharged directly into the sea by a culvert in reinforced concrete under the railway line at about 7£ miles. It is separated from the Hindmarsh Valley by a saddle* to cross which would entail a cutting, probably not less than three quarters of a mile long, and reaching at the crown to a depth of over 50ft. A distance of 12 chains after leaving the Hayborough cutting carries the- canal into the channel of the Hindmarsh River, which it approximately follows a further distance of 16 chains to the sea. The total length of the canal line from the mouth near Goolwa to the termination in the oyien water of Victor Harbor is 9f miles. As to the line surveyed, it has evidently been located with care and skill. The low-water level of spring tides at the canal entrance is identical with that of gravity sur- face of water in the lakes ; a tide lock will therefore be required at the Victor Harbor mouth of the canal. The cost of such a work, there, should not exceed £15,000. 24. It will be understood that the design is for a sea-level canal, and the question at once arises — Why not a locked canal, seeing that the cost of the cutting would in that case be so much less? The answer lies on the surface. A canal following the rise and fall of the country would have to be filled by pumping* there being no side streams of any use on the high land adjacent. The whole supply would have to be pumped from the sea at or near Port Elliot, and the continuous cost of raising water and working the locks would be too heavy a handicap. Besides, if to the cost of cutting the canal there be added that of building the locks the saving in construction would not be great. The estimate of £515,000, given by the Public Works Department, has been examined in the light of facts learned by personal inspection, the amount seems high. The leading items are — Excavation in earth Excavations in rock Shifting railway Bridges, road approaches, and fencing Protective works at Victor Harbor outlet, &c. Protecting slopes, &c. Land, supervision, contingencies, and interest at 9d. to 1/- per cub. yd. “ 3/- 1 mile 7 furlongs, £16,000 £25,000 £15,000 £12,000 £115,063 For amended estimate, £455,730, see Appendix VI. But to this will have to be added an indefinite sum. for protective works at certain points on the seaward face of the dunes, lying between the canal and the ocean beach. 25. Victor Harbor consists of a partly natural, partly artificial bay, sheltered from seaward winds, and especially from the south-west, by the land on which the town stands and by the higher land behind it ; by the continuation of the coast southward to Wright Island and the promontory and high bluff of Rosetta Head; by Granite Island, with its eastward extension of 1,000ft. by a breakwater of granite blocks; and by Seal Island. The protection fully covers the mouth of the Hindmarsh River and the debouchement of the proposed canal. The harbor has at present one timber pile jetty 300ft. in length. The depth of water at the jetty is 18ft. at the landward and 25ft. at the seaward end at low-water springs. There are also moorings for vessels in the deep water. The sheltered area includes between 250 and 300 acres of not less than 25ft. minimum depth, and is capable of indefinite extension by the lengthen- ing of the breakwater and jetty. The bottom in the deep water is reported by the local acting harbormaster to be of limestone and mud. Granite Island is connected from its western end by a timber gangway of about 2,400ft. to the mainland at the town. 26. On a review of the foregoing, the extent to which the river would be drawn upon to provide water for the maintenance of permanent navigation appears the most important question concerning the other States. This is dealt with in clause 19. In a year of low river discharge, it would be one-thirty -seventh of the total volume for the year at Morgan ; in a mean year, one-fifty-eighth of that total ; and in a high year, one-one hundred and secDnd part thereof. In the year 1902, that of the lowest discharge of the Murray during the past 45 years, it would have been one-eleventh of the Morgan discharge. But the conditions of that year were so phenomenal that, were the like to recur, the use of the river water would for the time be restricted by common consent to domestic and sanitary purposes and the preservation of valuable stock and of profitable permanent plantations. The cost of the river navigation works in South Australia would be within £600,000, of those necessary to carry the traffic to the sea within £515,000, while some reduction of the first of these amounts might be hoped for. No close or reliable estimates of these projects is possible until some general scheme is adopted and the sites of the principal works are decided on, carefully surveyed* and the ground properly explored. A detailed survey of the river channel, from the eastern boundary of South Australia to Swan Reach, including all the ana-branches, billabongs and lagoons, within the space bounded by the cliffs, has been recently carried out by the Engineer-in-Chief’s branch of the State Public Works Department. The plotting of the work is approaching completion. It should prove of the greatest service in the selection of sites for locks and other navigation works. Time will be required to carry these out and to develop the river trade. Meanwhile the traffic from Goolwa to Victor Harbor may be accommodated* at a somewhat increased rate, by the existing railway. The first works to be put in hand are those of the Lake Victoria storage and regulation. This item of the general scheme, useful in connection with a locked river, would be even more so while it remains open. The tentative agreement, already referred to in this report* expressly provides that the Lake Victoria works shall be the first undertaken, that they shall be constructed by the State of South Australia, and that the cost of such construction, and the subsequent maintenance, shall be borne by the three riverine States in equal shares . — See clauses 22, 28. and 29 of the agreement in question. The engineer, to be entrusted with the preparation of the drawings for the Murray River works, should be afforded an opportunity of paying a visit of inspection to some of the canalised rivers of Europe and America, before entering on his duties. IRRIGATION ; 13 IRRIGATION; AND GENERAL WATER SUPPLY AS AN AID TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESOURCES OF THE RIVER VALLEY. 27. The subjects of irrigation, and general water supply to the settlers in the rural areas, specially referred to in paragraphs 9, 10, and 12 of the Minister’s letter of instructions, are so intimately associated that they will be best considered together. In the first place, the depth of water to be applied annually to Ends under irrigation, or the depth that will secure the best results from wet culture, is a prime con- sideration in any scheme for the utilisation of the river waters as an aid to agriculture. Victoria being the most advanced State in the establishment of irrigation under Government control, it will be advisable to consider her methods and the results. In the earlier irrigation projects the depth of water proposed to be applied to the land annually was from 12in. to 16in., wet cultivation being then looked to chiefly as an insurance against drought, to be made as widely applicable as possible. In fact, these early schemes might properly be regarded as the natural expansion of still older ones, whose aim was merely the conservation storage, and supply of water for stock, and for the ordinary purposes of the farm and the station. Such schemes for the supply of water to the agricultural and pastoral districts had been carried out in Victoria earlier even than 1880 — in some cases by the Government, in others by corporations under powers con- ferred by local government acts, and, for the most part, with funds advanced by the State. By the later development they became divided into two classes — those whose functions were restricted to the supply of water for domestic and general use and for stock, in what may be termed the dry-farming areas ; and those supplying water for irrigation. All the corporations borrowing from the Government undertook to pay interest on the sums advanced. Of those whose functions were restricted to ordinary water supply a few have met their financial obligations in full, or nearly so. The majority have made some substantial contribution towards the discharge of their liabilities. On the other hand, the irrigation trusts have, with little exception, failed to provide interest on their loans. Bodies invested with the combined functions of water supply and irrigation have generally met the claims for interest falling due in respect of their borrowings for water supply only. In respect of advances for the construction of irrigation works, the undertaking as to repayments has remained almost wholly a dead letter. 28. Under the provisions of the law now in force — the Water Act , 1905 — the whole of the irri- gation works, and several of the schemes for domestic and stock supply, have passed under the control of the Government, as represented by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. One of the chier purposes of the creation of this body is that it may employ the wide powers with which it is invested to obtain for the State a revenue commensurate with its outlay, as well on works carried out by its own officers as on loans advanced in years gone by to trusts to carry out their authorised schemes. The Act referred to passed both Houses of Parliament almost without opposition — certainly without any vigorous or con- certed opposition. Notwithstanding this, it has evoked considerable hostility in the districts where steps have been taken to put it in force. Under the old law landholders were free to irrigate their holdings or to leave them unirrigated, as they might think fit. Under the Act of 1905 it is incumbent on them to irrigate a certain proportion of so much of each farm as is not absolutely unfit for irrigation — or, more strictly, to pay for the water necessary therefor. Now Ministers have announced their intention to ask Parliament to invest the Government, and the Commission, with more comprehensive powers. It is proposed that in irrigation districts to be hereafter constituted the area of holdings of land Avill range from 20 to 200 acres, the average not exceeding 100 acres. The allotment of water to these properties is to be sufficient to irrigate the entire area of each to a depth of 24in. each year. It is claimed that by these means the best use of both land and water will be promoted, and improved opportunities given for men of limited resources to obtain homes. Where present owners of irrigable lands within such districts refuse to subdivide their properties, or to sell to the State that they may be used for closer settle- ment, powers will be taken for compulsory purchase. 29. In a publication issued by authority of the Government, it is stated that the aim of the new policy is to provide farms small enough to be within the reach of men who have little beyond their own industry and thrift, as well as holdings large enough to attract men of organising ability who have capital to- invest. Examples are given of actual results realised on irrigated farms within the State ; which, if they may be accepted without qualification, go to show that the anticipations on which the new policy is based are within the compass of possible realisation. The first case cited is of a farm of 56 acres, yielding for the past year a gross money return over £5 per acre ; the second refers to a holding of 27 acres, with a gross return slightly under £4 per acre ; the third, of 35 acres, returning £5 6s. per acre ; and the fourth, of 17 acres, yielding for the year £18 per acre. The details of these statements seem reasonable and consistent enough with the following exceptions : — In example 1, the milk yield is valued at £8 per cow ; in example 2, at £12. The former of these is well within the compass of belief ; the latter unattainable, except in rare and favorable circumstances. In the fourth example the price of lucerne hay on the farm is put down at £3 per ton — a rate higher than has ruled, even in the city, except in seasons of drought. But it is admitted in the publication referred to that the demand for irrigation blocks in the areas already subdivided and offered for settlement has not realised expectations. The slackness is thus accounted for — “ The sole and sufficient reason for this limited demand is that very few well-to-do Victorian farmers want to become irrigators. They wish to continue the combination of grain-growing and lamb-raising, which has proven so satisfactory outside the irrigated areas, and which requires large holdings. The opportunities of pioneer farming on large holdings of cheap land in other States are more alluring than those of intensive culture on small holdings under irrigation. The first is a continuation of what they understand ; the second is a step into the unknown.’' It might with reason have been added that men who have after years of laborious effort found a haven of rest will be cautious in risking the fruits of the past in what the chairman of the Commission aptly describes as “ A step into the unknown.” There is also to be reckoned with, the unwillingness of the average citizen, presuming that he knows his business, to be coerced into substituting for his own methods those favored by authority. The change of feeling towards irrigation, especially towards irrigation under State control, ought not to excite surprise. It now presents itself under an aspect totally different from that under which it evoked much enthusiasm among the dwellers in the warmer districts of Victoria, some twenty-five years ago. Then it appeared as an insurance against the more terrible effects of seasons of drought. Now it comes as a benefit in which the older settlers will not share — as a means of planting a new race of cultivators on the soil, rather than of protectiug the interests of those already established. 30. A 14 30. A non-scntimental difficulty that seems likely to arise in time in a settlement of small holdings, where every acre is irrigated and devoted to intense culture, is that of arranging for a systematic rotation of crops. This feature of farming is one of the most characteristic, and probably best, of the British system ; and it has proved no less advantageous in the cultivation of fruit than in that of grain, flax, or roots. One of the best known and best informed writers on the wine business of France, Dr. Jules Guyot, insists strongly on its necessity in what has been from a very remote time the chief rural industry of that country. Good wine cannot be produced from immature plants, nor can heavy yields be obtained from exhausted soils. In any one of the great vineyards of this, the premier agricultural country of Europe, the area at any time actually under vines rarely exceeds about 300 acres. This is true of such properties as Chateau Lafitte, Chateau Margaux, Chateau La Rose, Chablis, Clos Vougeot, &c. At the same time the area under cultiva- tion, worked on a system of rotation wherein the vine is a prominent element, will generally embrace 1,200 or even 2,000 acres. The point as to which opinions chiefly differ is the duration or period of the rotation, expert vignerons favoring periods varying from about 25 to about 75 years. Suppose the area of the property to be 1,800 acres, and that of mature vines still in vigorous bearing (say, from seven to seventy- five years of age) 300 acres, each plant might, under the short rotation system, occupy the same site for 20 years, under the long-period system for 60. The portion of the property not actually under vines is devoted to ordinary farming, carrying crops of grain, hay, potatoes, beans, &c., or is laid down temporarily in pasture ; those crops being generally preferred that give rise to the greatest volume of farm-yard manure. It is true that the vine is not extensively irrigated in France, at least not where the production of wine is the ultimate object ; except in the department of the B ouches du Rhone, where irrigated vineyards have largely sup- planted irrigated madder fields, since madder cultivation has been extinguished by the introduction of aniline dyes. Few plants are so well adapted for intense culture as the vine ; whether as an agent for the improvement of the soil, and its reduction to a high culturable condition ; or for providing an assured income to the cultivator as the reward of his labor. A great step forward will be made if means can be devised of combining intense culture, especially under irrigation, with a proper system of rotation. The difficulty is a remote one, but for that reason none the less real. 31. The difficulties that have been experienced in getting Australian youths to take up the areas thrown open to selection, under the system of subdivision into small blocks, have induced the chairman of the Commission to recommend the introduction of immigrants from abroad, from the Western States of America or from the irrigating couni ries of Europe. A course more likely to prove acceptable to the Australian public, and not less likely to prove successful in acclimatising methods of intense culture, would be to send Australian youths abroad to learn, by seeing for themselves, the ways and practices of other countries. The cost of an experiment of this kind would be well-spent money. No high attainments or lengthy period of preliminary training would be necessary. The educational standard need aim no higher than the certificate of the State school ; with the addition, except in the case of lads going to America, of so much knowledge of French, Spanish, or Italian as any industrious and capable youth might acquire in six months. The candidate for an appointment should of course be of the farming class ; able to manage horses, to hold the plough, and to perform the ordinary operations of tillage. The money' provision made for him need include nothing more than a steerage passage to his port of destination (his living he will be expected to earn), a sum, in the event of sickness, to be paid only' on the warrant of the British consular agent in his land of residence, and after the lapse of about three years the cost of a return passage to his home. Less than £1,500 a year would be ample to cover the entire cost; and to ensure the introduction each year of six or eight lads, conversant by actual personal experience with the methods in use in countries where irrigation is the heritage of centuries. 32. Irrigation as hitherto practised in the Murray River Valley, in South Australia, is of two essentially distinct types ; namely, that on the low-ly r ing river flats, reclaimed from liability' to inundation, more or less frequent, by the construction of levees, and generally' irrigable by gravitation ; and high-lying lands in the country adjacent to the river flats, commandable only by pumping. Some of the protective levees intended to secure these low-lying areas against invasion by the river were inspected in company with Mr. Kellett, the local officer in charge of construction. On some of the reclaimed lands there was surface water, apparently not soaking through -the embankments, but from ordinary rainfall, excessive irrigation, or seepage rising in the fields where the cultivated area is below the water level in the river. There did not seem to be any' difficulty in dealing with it by' the collecting drains, sump wells, and pumps, provided for the purpose ; nor is any other provision called for. The material used in the protective embankments is of poor quality, shrinking and compressing excessively in drying. It is, however, the best obtainable at warrant- able cost. Mr. Kellett says he uses core material of- semi-decomposed limestone where special bond seems necessary. The inspector relies on his own judgment solely in the selection and mode of using materials. An embankment was noticed in course of construction near Burdett in dangerous proximity to live trees. Some of these, as seen from the river, appeared to be within 30ft. of the toe of the earthwork ; so near that they could not without difficulty be felled clear of the embankment, and yet that if allowed to remain their roots would be a source of imminent danger to it. Roots of growing trees are most destructive to earth- works; so much so that no live tree ought to be allowed nearer to a bank than 100ft. or 120ft. There was also inspected an area of about 1 ,500 acres of reclaimed land, the property of Mr. Morphett, near Wood’s Point. The embankments are similar in character to those carried out by the Government, except perhaps that they are a little stouter. They have been in existence 25 years, are well executed, and in excellent order. The reclaimed land, chiefly used for growing fodder, is said to carry two cows per acre. The fertility' of these river-flat lands in general is remarkable. 33. The progress made in irrigation, on the high lands adjacent to the river flats, will be best explained by transcribing the notes of personal inspections : — At Mildura, a fruit-growing settlement adjacent to the river, in the State of Victoria, founded about twenty-three years ago by the Messrs. Chaffey, the total area now under cultivation appears to be about 12,000 acres. Almost the whole is irrigated, although the depth ■of water used varies greatly with the season and with the kind of crop grown. During the current season the volume 1.5 volume of water used has been much below the average, in consequence of the frequent and abundant rains. The principal crops are — of vines ; White Muscat of Alexandria, Sultanas, Zante currants ; also lemoDs, oranges, apricots, olives — chiefly for oil — lucerne and other fodder plants, culinary vegetables. The present population is nearly 5,000 ; the annual money value of the produce grown, about £30 per acre, equal to about £70 per head of the whole resident population. Local business is good, and the place has an air of increasing permanence and prosperity. The pumping plants have recently been to a certain extent consolidated, and they have been strengthened, so that the efficiency has been improved and the cost of working reduced. The channels, with a few notable exceptions, are in good order ; so also arc the channel structures, generally. The same is true of the machinery. The town of Wentworth, at the mouth of the Darling, has suffered some falling off of prosperity in recent years — chiefly by the decline of river traffic, due mainly to the diversion of the carrying trade from the rivers to the New South Wales railways. The decline, however, seems to have been arrested, and the pros- perity of trade, in some measure, restored, by the increase of settlement at the irrigation colony, established some three or four miles above the town, on lands near the Murray. Time did not permit of visiting this settlement. A few facts were learned in regard to it from business people in Wentworth. Examined the pumping plants, channels, and plantations, at the Hesmark Settlement ; and obtained certain particulars from Mr. Edward Olorenshaw, the chairman of the Trust. At present (4th October) one plant only is running, viz., that supplying the GOft. channel. It consists of a compound Tangye engine of 200-h.p. nominal, driving two centrifugal pumps; a third pump is not connected. Itliftsfrom the billabong, or backwater, known as the “ Reservoir,” into the main channel of the GOft. system. This plant is in good order and condition. Other plants examined, not working, were in fair order. The channels were also in fair order. The plantations in general were weedy — in consequence, probably, of the moist season ; otherwise they were healthy. The area now under irrigated culture at Renmark is 5,200 acres. There are, in addition, 550 acres of cereal crop, chiefly for hay and green feed. The water supplied to the irrigators is, according to the chairman, about 20in. ner annum at the fields. The population numbers about 1,800. The principal crops grown are White Muscat, Sultanas, Zante currants, oranges, apricots, pears, olives (chiefly for oil), and culinary vegetables. The place is prosperous. The Lyrup village settlement was founded in 1894. There were originally 40 members of the associa- tion. settlers on horticultural blocks. Of these 24, or their representatives, remain in possession. The total present population is 103. The land under irrigated culture is now about 400 acres, viz., 230 under vines ; 35 other fruits — apricots, oranges, &cc. ; and about 135 in cereals, lucerne, and fodder crops. This comprises besides the settlers’ blocks, a considerable area cultivated by the association for the common benefit. There is also a part of the land conceded to the association let for ordinary farming — some at rates as low as less than 6d. per acre, some at higher rates. Some of the plantations visited were exceedingly clean and well kept — in fact, models of high culture. The plant comprises one 25-h.p. steam engine and one 15in. centri- fugal pump. The secretary, Mr. Brown, says that the depth of water applied to the plantations reaches in some years to as much as 3Gin. This is probably the volume pumped, including considerable loss by percolation from the unlined channels. The water charge to the settlers is 30s. per acre per annum. The proceeds of this charge, with the amount recievedas rents of land let for farming, is devoted to the cost of maintenance and management, interest on loan advances, and repayment of principal by instalments spread over 42 years. Examined about 1G,000 acres of land lying to the east, north-east, and south-east of the township of Loxton, chiefly in the hundreds of Gordon and Bookpurnong. About three-fourths of the area inspected is occupied by agricultural settlers, and a further part is in process of being prepared by intending settlers for occupation. The soil is everywhere of red sandy loam, varying in character from almost pure sand to rather stiff clayey soil. It is well-grassed throughout and timbered with open forest of box, pine, mallee, sandal- wood, and undergrowth of scrub plants. The holdings near the Murray frontage are supplied with water from the river — in many cases by pumping by means of windmills, in others by carting for domestic use, the stock being driven to water. A considerable extent of the land further from the river is supplied by water drawn from bores or wells sunk to depths reaching to as much as 200ft. The water from the bores and wells, although used by stock, and even for household purposes, is not of unexceptionable quality, being generally hatd, sometimes oven brackish. The country, so far as can be judged by the eye, is capable of being served from the river by pumping in conjunction with a proper system of distributing channels. Of the 12,000 acres, or thereabouts, of occupied lands at least G,0()0 acres is under crop. The cultivation is entirely of wheat — apparently chiefly' for grain, in part probably for hay T . Some of the fields show excellent growth, likely to yield 20bush. per acre. More than half would certainly exceed 12bush. ; none would, unless the weather prove very unfavorable, return less than Gbush. or 8bush. The stock, both dairy cattle and beeves, are in splendid condition. The same is true of the working horses, and there are numerous fine stallions also in good flesh. At Lake Bonney and the site of the projected Cobdogla. irrigation scheme the level of water in the river on 8th October was 17ft. Gin. on the gauge at Overland Corner, and the lake was full to about that level. Examined the character of country and soil of the lands proposed to be irrigated. It consists of undulating downs, lightly timbered with box, myall, and hop bush ; the ground herbage of inferior grass, with patches of spinifex. There are also small areas of sandridges timbered with pine. The soil in general is a rather stiff red loam. In some parts the subsoil is of nodular limestone. In the north-eastern and northern part of the area the country is of the character known as red mallee. This is more sandy than that, above referred to, and is better adapted for irrigation, but the area is limited. Reports on this project have been printed for public information — from the surveyors’ point of view, and with respect to the character and quality of soil, by Mr. W. Porter; from the point of view of the engineer, and with respect chiefly to the estimated cost of the works of storage and distribution, by Mr. A. B. Moncrieff, late Engineer-in-Chief. The estimated capital cost of the works is £83,000. The storage ought, in any case, to be made available- for supplementing the natural volume of the river, in much the same way r as it has been proposed to utilise Lake \ ictoria. The supplement would in this case, however, be of value for irrigation and general water supply rather than for navigation. It will be advisable to reserve the land, the site of the Cobdogla scheme, from occupation or sale until its value for irrigation has been practically tested. 34. The 16 34. The depression known as Lake Bonney is also part of the site of another and more ambitious storage scheme, the Parcoola Reservoir. This is described in some detail in a published plan and report hv Mr. Moncrieif. The report is by no means sanguine as the following extracts will show : — “ There is only one cross section of the river available in the neighborhood of Overland Corner. This shows in some respects a suitable site for the work required, but the foundations of the weir would require to be of abnormal proportions, and the exact location cannot, therefore, be finally determined until a much more exhaustive examination of the neighborhood has been made. I estimate approximately that the works necessary at this place, as described above, would cost £210,000 ; but, in making this statement, I would ask the Hon. the Commissioner to note that the estimate is based upon outline sketches only, and that if a thorough examina- tion of the neighborhood is made, as recommended above, it is probable that not only can the site he changed with advantage, but that the cost of the work may be lowered.” From a careful examination of the locality without, however, any instrumental survey, the site selected appears, on the face of the matter, especially in respect of storage capacity, to be the most suitable. The cliff in the left bank shows beds of stratified impure limestone. The slope in the right bank is of the ordinary loam of the locality, probably overlying limestone, bedded, and in the form of rubble. The flat is of like character. The cliff in the left is precipitous — probably £ or £ to 1. There will be considerable cost involved in making water-tight bond here with the abutment of a structure; the like difficulty may be anticipated with the foundations. The underhing material is shown, by some borings that have been made, to consist of alternating beds of sand and sandy clay, resting on sandy limestone, with intercalated layers of soft clayey sandstone; an unpromising footing for such a structure. The barrage will, when the storage is full, have to carry a head of 40ft. of water, and be capable of safely discharging over its flood escapes a volume that must be reckoned as a possible six millions of cubic feet per minute. The local stone also is neither sound enough nor hard enough to be suitable for the aggregate of concrete. Stone for that purpose will have to be carried to the locality. Suitable sites for storage dams, in situations commanding the lands of the Murray Valley, in South Australia, are certainly not numerous within the State. They are, in fact, hard to find ; and such as they are, the difficulties and con- sequent cost of construction is likely to be excessive. Failing suitable and economical sites in South Australia, negotiations might be opened with the Upper Riverine States to secure an interest in storages within their territories. The stored water would, of course, be sent down the river channel, to be diverted or pumped to the points where it may be required. In clause 62 of the unratified agreement referred to in paragraph 10 of this report, there occurs the following : — “Any State shall have the right to make use of the channel of any river, or stream as a conduit for the conveyance of stored water to any point of diversion.” It may be presumed that a like provision will be embodied in any agreement that may be arrived at, in substitution for that referred to. 35. The Murray Bridge town supply is pumped from the river into an elevated tank, from which it is distributed through pipes by gravitation. It appears liable to become more or less affected by salt in protracted periods of drought, and consequent low river. In a provincial town, with a popu lation somewhat larger than at Murray Bridge, a like difficulty was experienced during several years, the town supply being pumped from a river, perfectly fresh during winter floods, but salter than the lower Murray, after a month or two of drought. As a tentative remedy, a tank, partly excavated and partly embanked, was constructed in what fortunately proved good holding ground, and of capacity sufficient to give a fair domestic supply, throughout the summer. The tank was filled with water, drawn from the river by means of a floating arm, from a level of less than 2ft. under the surface; stored there until the river water began to get brackish, in its lower levels ; and for the remainder of the season the public supply was lifted into an elevated tank, by the same pumping plant, and thence distributed as at Murray Bridge. The method was entirely successful, and the works are still in operation. Fresh water, being lighter than salt, floats on its surface ; and although there is a certain tendency to fusion, by the property of fluids known as osmosis , the separation remains sufficient for most practical purposes, for a greater or less length of time. A floating arm at the suction intake, raised or lowered, from time to time, according to the condition of the river water, is used in pumping the supply for the railway service at Murray Bridge. A like expedient should be adopted in the case of the town supply. 36. Pumping water from the river, whether for town supply, for irrigation, or to meet the domestic and ■ordinary needs of agricultural or pastoral settlers, and for the cattle grazing on their lands, should be discontinued when the stream becomes foul or stagnant. To secure the best and freshest water, it should be taken from a depth of not more than 18in. or 2ft. under the surface, and where exposed to sunlight. The volume pumped should bear a definite and uniform ratio to the population to be served, the land to be treated, or the area to be supplied. The service to an urban population, in our climate, should be not less than 40galls. per head per day in cool, moist weather ; and need not exceed lOOgalls. in the heat of summer; except where garden irrigation is practised, in which case water should lie paid for by measure. The daily demand will be somewhat larger in a manufacturing than in a purely residential town; and the maximum is usually between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. Generally, it may be anticipated that half the daily consumption will be during those four hours. For the irrigation of land the depth will vary with the character of the soil and the nature of the crops grown. In northern Victoria a net depth of 24in. per annum has been adopted by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission as that to be supplied to landholders in the irrigation districts ; a like rule seems to prevail in South Australia. The equivalent of a depth of 24in., during the irrigating season, to the lands commanded by the channel system, with, however, a liberal margin for contingencies, is generally the normal capacity of irrigation pumping plants in this State. Where a pumped supply of water is to be delivered through channels to the holdings of settlers in the dry-farming districts, it is as essential as in the case of supplies for irrigation that the volume delivered should bear a definite proportion to the area of land served. In the State of Victoria, where a large extent of dry-farming country is thus watered, and a thriving population maintained on land otherwise almost unproductive, necessity has compelled the adoption of a regulation fixing the minimum capacity and depth of settlers’ tanks relatively to the areas of their holdings — that is to say, to the number of cattle grazing thereon. The same regulation provides that water shall be supplied once only in each year This is to avoid the enormous waste entailed by sending water down channels in porous soil in hot dry weather. (Waste may be minimised by lining the channels with concrete of native lime, where this material 17 is available ; a method of which numerous excellent examples are to be seen in this State.) The minimum fixed by the by-law is equivalent to about Ingalls, per acre per day throughout the year— a not too liberal provision to cover use and waste. It is, however, the minimum ; the maximum may presumably be any reasonable quantity demanded, provided there is stock on the land to use it, and there are tanks in which to store it. It would not be too much to say that the value of land, such as that inspected near Loxton, would be greatly enhanced by tbe provision of an assured water supply on some such basis as this. Appendix I is a copy of the regulation referred to. Appendix II. is a copy of the Commission’s by-law. No. 105, defining the amount of the rate for the year 1909-10, in the Long Lake Waterworks District. Appendix III. is a brief description of several of the principal pumping plants recently erected, or now in course of erection, by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. Appendix IV. is a summary of the plant and works, with their duty and cost, of the Long Lake Waterworks District. 37. Conclusions in regard to the irrigation and general water supply aspects of the Murray waters question in South Australia may be thus summarised : — The depth of water to be provided for irrigation in settlements devoted thereto, may be fixed, tenta- tively, at 24in. per annum ; whether on the reclaimed land of the river flats, or on the high land adjacent. Regular and consistent rotation of crops should be encouraged under every form of cultivation, whether wet or dry, and under all conditions of occupancy. It will be better to send young Australian farmers abroad, to study irrigation where it is practised, than to bring immigrant irrigators to Australia to teach settlers here. There are extensive areas of dry land in South Australia, where profitable settlement might be pro- moted by the supply of water for domestic and ordinary purposes. The country about Loxton, described in paragraph 33 of the foregoing, may be taken as typical of a large area of country of this class. The value of such lands would be greatly enhanced by the provision of an assured moderate supply of water. Water for domestic use, pumped from rivers or other natural sources, should be drawn by a floating arm) from a depth of not more than 2ft. under the surface, and where exposed to sunlight. The purest and most wholesome water is generally to be found in this situation. The lands embraced in the Lake Bonney projected irrigation scheme should be reserved from sale and occupation. Tbe lake may eventually prove of value as a storage, whether the lands directly commanded should or should not prove suitable for irrigated culture. In the event of sites for reservoirs, on a scale of sufficient magnitude, not being found available in this State negotiations should be opened, with the upper riparian States, for the conclusion of a partnership agreement, whereby South Australia might share in the use of storages therein, and in the use of the water impounded. PROPOSALS FOR THE EXCLUSION OF THE SEA FROM THE LAKES AT THE MURRAY MOUTH, AND FOR THE RECLAMATION OF THE LAKE BEDS. 38. The purpose of the proposed barrage, for the exclusion of the waters of the sea from Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, and from the Coorong and others of the channels connected with these lakes, is to maintain the impounded water permanently fresh. Obviously, therefore, a necessary sequence of the con- struction of the barrage will be, a supply of fresh water to be sent down the Murray to make good the waste caused by evaporation. The water so sent down could not be abstracted for irrigation, or any other economic purpose ; it is a necessary condition of the case that it must not be interfered with. The surface area of thfe lakes and channels referred to is 192,000 acres ; and the evaporation from this sheet, at the rate of 60in. per annum — it is not likely to be less than this —will be 42,000 millions of cubic feet per annum. The loss, of water entailed by giving effect to such a proposal would be about one-seventh of the total discharge of the Murray at Morgan, in an average low year, of which there have been 10 during the 23 years covered by the recorded gaugings. Or, again, it would be nearly one-half of the total discharge at Morgan, for the minimum year, 1902. It is hopeless to expect that the upper States would consent to send down such a volume of fresh water, in low years, to be dissipated by evaporation from the lakes ; nor does it seem likely that by invoking the aid of any higher authority they could be constrained to do so. The construction of the barrage, as an engineering work, would involve no insurmountable difficulty ; but the proposal to maintain the freshness of the lakes, in low years, at the cost of such a terrible consumption of river water ought to be definitely abandoned. 39. It is however evident that, on the completion of the diversions, actual and proposed, by the upper Riparian States, the channel from the lowest lock, near Swan Reach to the debouclicment at Lake Alexandrina, a distance of 114 miles, and thence to the sea mouth, will be exposed, in seasons of low river, to become salt by the influx of water from the sea. In fact from Swan Reach downward the river channel will gradually become normally salt. The principal interests affected by this change would be : — 228 miles of river frontage, with the lands to a distance of, say, six miles from the river banks ; the South Australian railways, in respect of the water services at Murray Bridge and at Tailem Bend ; the towns of Mannum, Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend, and Wellington, and some minor hamlets, in respect of their domestic and general water supplies ; and about 7,000 acres of reclaimed river flats, protected by flood embankments and occupied by settlers ; with a further 29,000 acres of similar' lands that might be reclaimed and settled. The most obvious means of excluding the sea from this portion of the channel, and maintaining fresh water therein, would be the construction of a barrage at tbe debouchement, between the capes — locally known as Pomanda Point and Low Point — on either side the entrance to the arm of Lake Alexandrina into which the- river waters are discharged; with a by-pass, and lock, across the neck of the peninsula that forms the boundary of the arm on the west ; and the maintenance - of a constant stream of fresh water from above, 18 *LTt e i„ 8 r« d he ,e dicJ S°e“te' * ““m hTLe^f miles in length. Of water in lakes. The maximum volumTof nve! flt l t l r t Cre ? °‘ le f ° 0t above S™vity surface as 6,000,000 cub. ft. per minute Adontino- a rP ° od ’ to be dlscba Tged over the crest, must be assumed the depth of water on the crest of 1°" ^ 7 u 3ft P er secoad < 2*045 miles per hour, The pass would be an excavated channel of ‘soft, bed" width by 7f[ S carn ^V 0 ^ 8 ’ be 2 ' 10ft * m length; from the fresh water impounded in the arm to the • It and about 2,000ft. a lock at a suitable site to admit of the mssZe w, Vi Wa er m Lake Alexandrina ; with between them. The highest level of iZfo' flo! ’" P'ejentmg the flux or reflux of water- level of Lake Alexandrina, would thus be 3-10ft -"the nrd'' a ^ m f ]° n \ ° f tlie barra g e > ab °ve normal from the fresh water of the river to L water fri \hS hke 1ft 7 - 3 th ^ ^ tbroa * h ‘he lock, river floods, 3 10ft. It is impossible here to U D 7 !S ’ S' ; anC th ® maxlnaum drop during extreme in this proposal, or any reliable estimate of their* cost* ^Tl ^ n° & detaded defd g n of tbe works involved of time and money nof warramef by X In MricSs *“1“ T*™ “ «P»«ture approximation, a barrage of roimh stone with internal re inf b , tb ‘f re P° rt bas been prepared. As an procurable in the vicinity, the exposed faces of random o-ranirrhl^T’ f*® b °? y ° f the m0St suitable material width I0ft„ external slopes 1 to 1 mav he wT f ! blocks from the quarries near Mannum ; top dimensions ’given, with .^ o^Sconc^^n^^^il”' ?“ P- . of th? expected, should the ground prove favorable to «*■ eon non dlnre ? 1 o s ' 0Tls Wltb tbose m the nver, may be £160,000. Beside, theTost of', he barrage ^ o« M and „ck ^ T f 2 ?' 000 - *”«* «*• work/say, of the 7,000 acres of lands mentioned above is rl aimof k e,l° 1' C ™ Sl l ered the Protective levies reclaiming the 29,000 acres of reclaimable flats tLt , • , nd settled ; and the enhancement of cost of be not caused to become sal, • T he Xmn“ i "to the 0^7"' ’l “ d "•** » «* lower river to exclude sea water from the lower ^rlir Is bv n f “ « <* effective work canalised ; from some indefinite point above Morgan! if it be' °no' Snabsld ‘ f the ‘"T be pumped water— by channels or otherwise— to the railway statinn! ,7^ Z the ' conveyance ot the the towns and hamlets on the river banks - and to the i 'i oa s at Muiray Bridge and iailem Bend; to to be taken into account the fact that 7 000 acres of land reela^ 1 laver requiring a supply. There is also alld that 29 - 000 acrfis of valuable reclaimable land will be rendered irrecSble " t0 ^ abandoned 5 •diversion 'of ^he^upper^ w«^re™^thout^ue ^ro vidw > ^fo Ra ^ ness of tbe ^ver Murray, in the event of the the facts, however there seems no room for donhT com Pensation supply, may appear startling. Of lakes and lower river, puts hem be ond i ucsfion TakTnXs'dT ^ lewls the in the open sea, outside the entrance and adomL In, ^ leVe ° f ordinar .V low water springs, foilowing leveis, mrariabie, sere SSCUS ^ & “ Miiang ....■■*■ ;;; “ Meningie, at head of Lake Albert ’ ' J.’J 2 level at Meningie mav, with Reason be Jv^d L Z ^ * each of these causes. The high to Lake Albert. But, at Morgan, 158 miles above the sim oTt!. 011 CaUSed , b { the narr O' va ess of the entrance and Low Point, the level of the surface of water in the river tfl 16 P \° P °, sed barra S e between Pomanda Point March and April, 1903, at the culmination nf the m th , nvei ’ throu h rbout April, May, and June, in 1902, and all intents and purposes, identical with that of the ^ C f r ° U " }’ Was 9 ' 8 1 above zero ; that is to say it was, to volume flowing^ the Murrav at M^an ^remaited steady ll 24 000 c t ^ ^ ^ m °* ths tbe 13,000 millions of cubic feet "per annum. The ^tate nf th T ’°? J b ' f P er mmute, the equivalent of to such an extent as to reduce the volume there r<> 24 nnrf n > U ff a * 01 o an ; should diversions be increased ordinary arm of the sea, s.igMy ^ »' » to r VerSi0n int ° h ‘ H,ob ! e another proposal that ha, of the barrage referred to in 38 It would diminish the In 7^° purp0se . as tbat airaed at b y the construction posed to the action of sun and wind ^ £ Tn Hme th 7 T P TT' by f ducin « the area of ^rface ex- might be sufficient to maintain freshCt^^^ surplus discharge of the river, even in low years, Before the reduction of water surface could be exnectefl 7 ,C ^ U ? ed ar f a ' II "’ould certainly be many years balance between the loss by evaporation and the ' l ti* ieacb sucb P ro P ortlons as to establish a constant that would be ultimately atta3 ^ aXwnrds ^ JZl * ^ ^ StiU ' that COndition is tbe P°mt the reclamation of theae lake" U by no mean whhont constantly move. Such a proposal as England, known as the fen country has Wn ,1 precedent. A large part of the County of Lincoln, in and culturable, by unremit^ and for centuries kept dry, habitable, Holland. There need S no q^esS as fo ^ T™ *** of ^Kingdom of the game is worth the candle Neither need there bp a - ° • 10 being done; the doubt is, whether land! for pastoral and agricultm-a se tlmn^t ?t 17d value of the reclaimed salt in the soil; but that condithmwoXlp^ a time, no doubt, prove infertile by excess of sump wells, and removed by the numns Th" • 1 7 \ sa PP ear s as tbe sa ^ 1 S ot washed into the drains and ■of Lake Albert. Some idea of ?he charaotr aT presen t under discussion, is the reclamation following notes of a peLnM inspection - soundings of this lake may be gathered from the ThI a r e J° the , kkC ’ ,rom the i«*r «. one side «„ ft, Jmeof the proposed reclamation embankmeni, a, showo S°"“ track. „p the lake, towards SagE ! hnhefsltog^av. an private hands, around Lake Albert as well as the *h, ,1k f l 4 m 6m ‘ f he bvdk of the land ’ whether freeboid or ie.seboid, is oe'e^d cultivation 19 cultivation is very small, even where the soil is (apparently) of good quality, and of character adapted for tillage. At present the water of the lake is fresh, or nearly so : but, especially in the upper part of the lake, it has a disagreeable flavor, like that from a swamp or stagnant pool. The settlers on the lands bordering the lake are supplied by surface water, collected in small dams, or water paddocks. W ater for culinary and other domestic purposes is collected from the roofs and stored in tanks. The township of Meningie, about 120 inhabitants, is thus supplied. 42. A special danger to which persons residing near the areas undergoing reclamation will be exposed is liability to malarial fever. This will be understood from the following extract from a report to the Foreign Office, by the British Consular Agent in the Netherlands, on the Draining of the Zuider Zee: — “With respect to the results of the reclamation from a hygienic point of view the following remarks may be made on the basis of the observations of the States Commission on the subject : — During the process of reclaiming, the drying marshy soil may bring about the development of malarial diseases. The same will be the case in the first few years after the reclamation, during the subdivision and preparation of the ground. The workmen employed in these occupations will be exposed to malarial influences. The manner in which the work will be carried on will, however, greatly influence the hygienic con- ditions under which the workmen are placed. By arranging the reclamation in successive and not too’ large areas, and shortening as much as possible the marshy stage ; furthermore, by making the water- level sink as quickly as possible, and so far as is practicable by keeping it at an equal height, we have- it in our power to shorten the malaria period. Besides we are now better equipped against malaria, both preventively and curatively, than formerly. The probability that malarial sickness would spiread to any considerable distance from the place of its origin is very slight. The possibility of being attacked by malaria will remain confined to the reclaimed polders themselves, or the near neighborhood, along the shore of the Zuider Zee. When once, however, the dangerous period is passed, the condition of the coast lands may be considered as most probably more favorable to health than it is now.” But, these reclamations once begun,, and a certain measure of success attained, the work is sure to progress. The value of the reclaimed lands will determine public opinion in its favor. And, as it progresses, many improvements in the mode of its execution, in the alignment and location of the drainage channels, and in the slope and dressing of the surface soil, will suggest themselves. Eventually, the channel of the Murray River will probably be carried down to the sea, following a course, from the present mouth, about six miles below Wellington, so as to leave Point McLeay on the left and Point Sturt on the right; thus converting the bed of Lake Alexandrina, excepting only the channel itself, into dry land. From Point McLeay, the levee forming the left bank of the channel would make direct for the eastern point of Long Island ; while Long Island would be con- nected to Mundoo Island, and thence to the Younghusband Peninsula, by continuing the levee across the channels. The river water would then find its sole exit by the existing sea mouth ; or by some other mouth opened in substitution therefor, through the sandhills. But the completion of such an undertaking belongs to a time so far in the future that the discussion of its details partakes rather of the nature of vague speculation than of tangible reality. Some idea of its probable cost may be gained from a brief statement of the pumping work alone to be performed, in the drying of Lake Albert. The removal of the volume of water lying on the lake bed, and of that contained in the soil underlying the bed, tc a depth of about 3ft. or 3Aft., and its discharge into the new channel near Point McLeay, would absorb the entire work of ai pumping plant of GOO effective horsepower, during 340 — 24-hour days; in round numbers, one year of the- plant running three shifts continuously. Assistance in the preparation of this report has been rendered by Mr. J. W. Jones, Secretary to the Commissioner for Public Works, and by Mr. Graham Stewart, Engineer-in-Chief; by the supply of state- ments of fact and documents for reference ; as well as by valuable suggestions and friendly criticism during the passage of the matter through the press. Besides the several reports and documents mentioned in the foregoing, tbe following have been con- sulted : — Proposed River Murray Canal, H. C. Mais(2) — 8-7-74 and 9-7-74. Port Victor Harbor Works, W. B. Hull — 6-7-75. Victor Harbor and Murray Mouth, Hickson and Goalen— 27-7-76. Navigability of Murray Mouth, R. Hickson— 12-9-76. Victor Harbor Breakwater, Marine Board — 13-10-82. Construction of Locks near Murray Mouth, A. B. Monerieff — 25-9-90. Adelaide, Feb., 1910. STUART MURRAY. The following is a summary of the principal figures, expressive of volumes of water, given in the body of the report : — Volume required to provide for navigation, the Murray being in its present condition as an open river — At Mildura — Cub. Ft. Per Min. For boats of 5ft. draught, with 18in. clearance 274,000 “ 3ft 6in. “ Gin. “ 125,499 At the eastern boundary of South Australia — For boats of 5ft. draught, with 18in. clearance 428,950 “ 3ft. 6in. “ 6in. “ 313,870 At Morgan, corresponding to the volumes at the boundary — For boats of 5ft, draught, with 18in. clearance “ 3ft. 6in. “ Gin. “ 390.000 227.000 Volume- 20 Volume required to provide for evaporation, soakage, and lockage, on the Murray as a canalised river Cub. Ft. Per Min. At the eastern boundary of South Australia 30,000 Actual loss of water entailed by navigation on the Murray as a canalised river — Cub. Ft. Per Annum. In the State of South Australia 8,000,000,000 Throughout the entire system, on the Murray and Murrumbidgee 18,500,000,000 Volume required for domestic, stock, and general supply, for land in dry farming areas, 1,500,000 acres, at 750 gals., equal to 120 cub. ft. per acre, per annum 180,000,000 At eastern boundary, for continuous navigation (the equivalent of 30,000 cub. ft. per minute) 15,750,000,000 For irrigation of one-fourth of the total area irrigable, as given in Mr. Jones’s evidence, 2 ’^’ — acres, irrigated to a depth of 2ft., with an allowance of £ of that actually used, for waste ; the area at present irrigated, or in process of being brought under irrigation, being 15,000 acres 72,600,000,000 Total, in cub. ft. per annum 88,530,000,000 Adelaide, February, 1910. - S. M. TABLK 21 TABLE I.— GAUGINGS OF THE MURRAY RIVER AT MILDURA, The navigable channel bed being taken as 2 ft. 9 in. below zero of gauge. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1886 January 304,700 1 3,602 February 226,500 9>»3 2 March 22 1,900 9,906 April 139,300 6.018 May 1 1 1,300 4,968 June 1 90,000 8,208 July 217,300 9,700 August 338,000 15,088 September 723,200 3U 2 4 2 October 986,000 44’° 1 5 November 1,003,500 43.351 December 935>5°o 41,761 Total for year 236,991 1887 January 702,400 3i,355 February 314,700 1 2,689 March 366,000 16,338 April 484.000 20,909 May 564,900 25,217 June 444,000 19,181 July 75F500 33,547 August 1,355,800 60,523 September 1,967,960 85,018 October 1 ,95 2 ’ 2 7° 87,151 November 1 ,9 2 4’53° 83,138 December 1,887,450 84, 2 54 Total for year 559,3 20 1888 January 1,679,120 74,955 February 780,510 32,594 March 335,500 14,977 April 243,870 10,536 May 217,970 9,732 June 294,240 12,709 J uly 570,410 25463 August 783,570 34,980 September 836,460 36,137 October 925,710 4D323 November 858,930 37,'04 December 532,090 23,753 Total for year 354,263 1889 January 399,57° 17,838 February 501,170 20,208 March 244,810 10,928 A pril 113,870 4,921 May 278,480 12,432 June 795,120 34,348 July 1,416,430 63,228 August 2,312,710 103,240 September 1,809,450 78,176 October 2,719,890 121,416 November 2,391,940 103,330 December 1,622,590 72,433 Total for year 642,498 1890 Ft. In. 6 1 January 800,560 35,739 5 10 February ...... 276,780 11,161 5 9 March 255,900 11,423 4 4 April 327,380 14,144 3 8 May 276,970 12,365 5 3 J une 449.970 1 9,440 5 8 July 1,025,310 45,769 7 4 August i,553,49o 69,358 12 1 1 September .... 1,766,1 10 76,296 15 0 October 1,770,920 79,053 15 1 1 November .... 1,634,230 70,597 15 3 December .... 1,593,150 71,116 i Total for year 516,461 1891 Ft. In. 12 8 January M37,95o 50,796 7 I February 850,040 34,272 7 9 March 641 ,240 28,558 • 9 9 April 436,850 18,870 10 1 1 May 474,590 21,196 9 1 J une 439,630 18,991 !3 3 July 717,350 32,020 19 2 August 1,897,640 84,709 24 I September .... 2,285,040 98,712 24 0 October 1,428.390 63,764 23 10 November .... 1,103,330 47,633 23 6 December .... 772,750 34493 Total for year 534,oi4 1892 Ft. In. 22 O January 491,860 21,958 13 7 February 273,590 11,425 7 4 March 164,770 7,357 6 I April 80,190 3465 5 9 May 190,200 8,491 6 9 J une 429,990 18,576 1 1 0 July 675,240 30,141 13 8 August 931,720 4i,59i 14 3 September .... 954,370 41,230 15 2 October 1,268,750 56,635 14 6 November .... 1,383,000 59,746 10 5 December .... 1,318,580 58,862 Total for year 359,477 1893 Ft. In. 8 4 January 840,650 37,524 10 O February 297,300 1 1,987 6 I March 2 14,800 9,589 3 9 April 203,770 8,804 6 7 May 247,870 1 1,066 13 9 June 48 1 ,830 20,8 14 19 9 July 1,006,2 10 44,917 25 1 1 August 1,449,390 64,701 23 O September .... 1,797,1 10 77,6.35 27 8 October 1,593,730 7 1 , 1 43 26 3 November .... 1,839,000 79,445 2 1 6 December .... 1,648,780 73,602 Total for II year 511,227 1 Ft. In. 1 3 10 6 6 6 7 6 9 2 16 i 20 I I 22 8 22 9 21 7 2 I 3 Ft. In. ■7 2 H + 11 ii 9 o 9 7 9 0 12 10 2 3 7 25 10 19 10 16 10 '3 6 Ft. In. 9 1 o 6 6 4 1 0 2 1 1 5 3 8 10 1 2 4 •5 3 15 5 1 8 4 19 5 18 10 Ft. In. H 3 6 1 o 5 8 5 6 6 2 9 9 15 11 20 o 22 11 21 3 23 2 2 1 9 MILDURA 22 MILDURA GAUGING S — continued. Mean Monthly Mean Mean Monthly Mean Month. Volume — Totals — Depth Month. Volume — Totals — Depth Cub. Ft. per Millions of on Nav. Cub. Ft. per Millions of on Mav. Min. Cub. Ft. Chi. Bed. Min. Cub. Ft. Chi. Bed. 1894 Ft. In. 1898 Ft. In. January 702,500 30360 1 2 8 January 104.350 4,656 3 6 February 5 H' 95 ° 20,761 IO 2 February 50,980 2,056 2 O March 342, 300 1 5,280 7 5 March 1 1 9,060 5,317 3 10 April + i 3 > 96 o 17.885 8 7 April 5 7 .+ 10 2,480 2 3 Mav 605,200 27,016 11 5 May 58,420 2,607 2 3 June 829,1 60 35,822 14 2 J une 144,060 6,225 4 5 July UI 7 U 750 52,305 17 6 July 517.4+0 23,097 10 3 August 1,771,190 79,066 22 9 August 554.320 24,744 1 0 9 September 2,772,910 I 19,789 27 10 September , . . . 824,460 35 , 6 i 8 14 1 October 2,887,700 1 28,907 28 3 October 905,600 40,426 14 11 November 2,724,35° 1 17,689 27 8 November .... 691,480 29,873 1 2 6 December 2,335,160 104,243 26 0 December .... 608,390 27,159 1 1 6 750 U 23 Total for year 204,258 1895 Ft. In. 1899 Ft. In. January 1,168,300 52,153 1 7 6 February 469,790 18,942 9 6 March 3+7,620 15,517 7 6 April 275,600 1 1,906 6 6 M ay 287,550 12,834 6 8 J une 379,010 i 6,373 8 0 July 620,560 27 , 7 0 + 11 8 August 789,430 35,239 13 8 September 863,960 37,325 14 6 October 1,213,280 54,162 17 10 November 1,124,980 48,600 17 1 December 354,590 15,829 7 7 Total for year 1896 3+6.58+ Ft. In. January 204,230 9 ,i 15 5 6 February 1 14,620 4,786 3 9 March 117.+50 5 , 2+1 3 10 April 1 2 1,900 5,266 3 11 May 323,620 14.446 7 2 J une 403,510 i 7 '+ 3 i 8 5 July 533 , 8 io 23,829 10 6 August 699,460 31,226 12 8 September 550,560 23,786 10 9 October 733 , 5 io 32,743 13 0 November 540,880 23,367 10 7 Decern l>er 3 1 8,5 10 14,218 7 1 Total for year 1897 205,45 + Ft. In. January 1 87,100 8,352 5 2 February 334,87° 13,503 7 4 March i 7 +, 52 o 7,190 5 0 April 123,030 5,3 ' + 3 11 May 78.440 3,500 2 1 1 June 82,100 3,547 3 0 J ulv 258,140 1 1,522 6 3 August +67,990 20,892 9 6 September 697,030 30,1+9 12 7 October 960,520 +2-877 15 6 November 817,590 35,320 14 0 December 325,230 14-517 7 2 Total for year O vj Ki OO 1*4 J anuary ...... 231,470 io ,334 5 11 February I I 2 '/IO 4 , 5+4 3 9 March 60,340 2,693 2 4 - April 100,01 0 4,320 3 5 May 200,190 8,937 5 5 J une 286,490 12,377 6 8 J uly 695,110 31,029 12 7 August 956,970 42,720 15 6 September .... 837,890 36,197 14 3 October 506,770 22,624 10 1 November .... 460,930 19,91 1 9 4 December .... 313,650 13,999 7 * Total for year 1900 209,685 Ft. In January 67,500 3,013 2 7 February 51,890 2,093 2 1 March 36,870 1,647 1 5 April 141,870 6,130 4 4 May 400,570 17,883 8 4 June 516.250 22,300 10 3 July 7+9,630 33,+62 13 3 August 1,275,130 56,920 18 5 September .... 1,269,340 54,834 18 5 October 1,532,670 68,420 20 9 November .... 1.405,210 60,705 19 7 December .... 602,470 26,896 11 5 Total for year 1901 35+,303 Ft. In. January 172,320 84,020 7,691 4 1 1 February 3,387 3 0 March 40,940 1,826 1 8 April 39,940 1,72+ 1 7 May 140,670 6,2811 4 4 June 175,600 7*586 5 0 July 438,290 19*566 9 0 August 405,7+0 18,1 10 8 5 September .... 553,670 23*920 IO <> October 856,100- 38,21b 14 5 November .... 999,230 43*i65 15 1* December .... 87 1,870 38,922 1+ 7 Total for year 210,394 MULDUEA 23 MILDURA GAUGINGS — continued. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cuh. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. January ]902 213,87° 9 , 5+8 Ft. In. 5 8 February 92,860 3 , 7+6 3 3 March 36,060 1,612 1 5 April 52,630 2,272 2 1 May + 3,530 G 9+2 1 9 J une 40,600 i, 75 + i 8 •i uly 193,470 8,638 5 A August 1 66,420 7, +28 4 10 September 94,630 4,087 3 3 October 154,000 6,875 + 7 November 140,500 6,070 + + December 50,890 2,272 2 O Total for vear 56,244 Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1906 Ft. In. January 368,350 16,441 7 9 February 104,970 +,23+ 3 6 March 74 , 8.30 3,339 2 10 April 233,90° 10,104 5 1 Mav 291,710 13,021 6 9 J une 593,200 25,626 1 1 5 July 875,100 38,261 ‘ + 5 August 1,466,710 65473 20 2 September .... 1,914,900 82,72+ 23 9 October 2,315,260 103,355 25 1 1 November .... 2,682,500 1 15,98+ 2 7 6 December .... 1,836,480 81,981 23 2 Total for year 560,543 1903 Ft. In. J anuary 87,160 3,893 3 I February 33, '20 1 ,335 I 3 March 1 7,880 799 0 3 April N O O 98 1 0 8 May 163,150 7,281 + I 0 J une 23 1,700 10,009 5 1 1 July 533,7 0 23,824 10 6 August 793,160 35 , +08 !3 9 September 690,800 29,8+3 12 6 October 860,740 38,422 1 + 6 November 907,100 39,187 15 0 December 538,130 24,02 I 10 7 Total for year 215,003 1904 Ft. In. January 350,840 15,660 7 7 February 373,070 15,581 7 10 March H 9 , 35 o 6,665 + 6 April 70,930 3,063 2 9 May 59,030 2,634 2 4 .1 une i 3 ',' 3 ° 5,664 4 I July 397 , 7 +o • 7,753 8 4 August 791,320 35 , 32 + •3 9 September 945 , 97 ° 40,867 •5 4 October 1,025,390 + 5 , 77 + 1 6 2 November 960,470 + ',+ 9 + •5 6 ■December 878,160 39,203 1+ 8 'Total for year 269,682 1905 Ft. In. •January 251,550 1 1,231 6 2 February 79 , 15 ° 3,189 2 1 1 March 42,090 1,879 I 9 April 36,210 1,56+ I 5 May 64,960 2,902 2 6 J une 130,870 5,655 4 I July 517,130 23,083 10 3 August 1,022,230 +5,631 1 6 I September 1, +55, 800 62,891 20 I October 1,053,100 + 7 , 01 ° 1 6 5 November 966,670 + 1,761 15 7 December 903,190 +0,319 14 1 1 Total for year 287,115 1907 Ft. In January 927,480 + I,+0+ 15 2 February 359,640 1+499 7 8 March 187,550 8 , 37 + 5 3 April 133,800 5 , 78 o + 2 May 1 82,230 8433 5 1 June 273,07° 1 1,798 6 6 July 350,000 15,624 7 6 August 5 n ,900 22,851 1 0 2 September .... 7+8, +00 32 , 33 i 13 3 October 637 , 7+0 28,467 1 1 10 November .... 508,870 21,98+ 1 0 1 December .... 390,520 17432 8 2 Total for vear 228,677 1908 Ft. In. Januaiy 266,350 11,888 6 5 February 104,590 +,368 3 6 March 71,710 3,201 2 9 April 50,0+0 2,1 60 2 0 May 58,620 2,616 2 + June 1 + 1 , 73 ° 6,12 1 + + July 389,193 17 , 37 + 8 2 J August 509,387 22,740 1 0 I September .... 602,266 26,019 ' 1 5 October 778,290 34 , 7+3 13 7 November .... 703,366 30,387 12 8 December .... 3 73 , + i 9 16,669 7 I' Total for year 178,286 TARLE >o o 24 TABLE II.— COMPUTED VOLUMES OF THE MURRAY RIVER AT THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Navigable Channel Bed being taken as 2 ft. 1 in. below the water surface corresponding to zero on the Renmarli Gauge. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1886 1890 Ft. In. Ft. In. 416,000 18,539 6 + January 1 ,925,000 85 , 9+1 n 8 328,000 I 3,200 + + February 726,000 29,258 9 9 298,000 13,281 3 8 March 676,000 30,167 9 3 241,000 10,417 2 + April 726,000 3 D 3+7 9 9 161,000 7,168 0 10 May 890,000 39,733 I I I 1 36.000 5,903 0 + J une 1,069,000 46,1 69 I 2 5 241 ,000 10,758 2 + July 2,740,000 122,329 22 2 539,000 24,063 7 9 August 3,617,000 161,474 27 I 955 , 00 ° + 1 , 25 + 1 1 7 September .... 4,056,000 175,207 29 6 1,342,000 59 , 95 + 1 + 5 October 4,056,000 181,047 29 6 1,562,000 67,530 15 8 November .... 3,234,000 139,692 2 + I 1 1 ,7 1 6,000 76,696 l6 6 December .... 2,850,000 I 27,222 22 IO year 3 + 8,763 Total for year 1 ,169,586 1887 1891 Ft. In. Ft. In.. 1,481,000 66,349 15 2 January 2,616,000 1 16,776 2 1 6 1,071,000 + 3 A 78 I 2 6 February 2,1 22,000 85 , 5+3 18 9 95 1 ,000 + 2,437 I I 7 March 1,708,000 76,236 16 5 910,000 39 - 3+7 I I 3 April 1,478,000 6 . 3,833 15 2 1,095,000 48,892 I 2 8 May 1,233,000 55,o6o 13 8. 1, 1 17,000 48,223 1 2 10 J une 1,198,000 5 U 758 13 5 I ,1 39,000 50,827 13 0 July 1,233,000 55,062 13 8 1 ,296,000 57,804 '+ 2 August 1.478,000 65,961 15 2. 1,935,000 83,576 *7 9 September .... 2,740,000 1 18,384 22 2 2,476,000 110,529 20 9 October 2,740,000 122,330 22 2 2,445,000 105,612 20 7 November .... 2,1 24,000 9 i, 77 1 18 9 2,306,000 105,612 20 I December .... 1,478,000 65,961 15 2 year 802,386 Total for year 968,675 .Month. January . . February March . . April .... May June July August . . September October . . . N ovember , December January . . . February . March . . . April May June . . . . July August . . September October . . November December 1888 January 2,615,000 February 2,302,000 March 9+5,000 April 724,000 May 673,000 .1 une 446,000 July 53 1 -000 August 831,000 September 1,006.000 October 1,067,000 November 9+5,000 December 53i,ooo Total for year 1889 January . . February March . . April .... May June . . . . July August . . September October . . November December 371.000 492.000 336.000 209.000 236.000 628.000 1.161.000 2.092.000 2.963.000 2.743.000 3.237.000 2.963.000 Total for year 1892 Ft. In. Ft. In.. 116,731 2 I 6 January 1,437,000 62,732 1 + 1 1 96,162 19 9 F ebruary 1,005,000 + 1,986 I I 1 2 +2,187 I I 6 March 626,000 27,929 8 8. 31,251 9 9 April 370,000 16,000 5 3 30,069 9 2 May 299,000 13 , 35 + 3 8- [9,263 6 8 J une 533 ,ooo 23,00+ 7 8 23,679 7 8 J uly 725,000 32,381 9 9^ 37,095 I 0 7 1 August 1,234,000 55 ,o+i 13 9 43 ,+ 5 2 I 2 0 September .... 1,406,000 60,708 14 9 47,62 1 I 2 5 October 1,477,000 65,936 15 2 40,822 I I 6 November .... 1,786,000 77**57 16 I I 23,679 7 8 December .... 1,925,000 85,910 !7 8- 552,01 1 Total for year ...... 562.138 1893 Ft. In. Ft. In. 16,557 5 + January, 1,925,000 85,925 17 8 19,800 7 2 February ...... 1,363,000 54,982 1 + 6 ' 4,965 + 6 March 626,000 27-93+ 8 8 8,983 I 9 April 675,000 29,187 9 3 io ,533 2 3 May 726,000 32,387 9 9 27,069 8 8 June 947,000 40,906 1 1 6 1 2 2 July 1,334.000 59,539 1 + 4. 93,356 18 7 August 1 ,787,000 79 , 7+3 1 6 1 1 1 27,998 23 5 September .... 2,304,000 99,517 19 9 1 22,467 22 2 October 2,740,000 122,305 22 2 139,850 2+ I I November .... 2,397,000 103.565 20 3 132,265 23 5 December .... 2.492,000 I I 1,201 20 10 765,659 Total for year 8+7,191 COMPUTED 25 COMPUTED VOLUMES AT EAST BOUNDARY — continued. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1894 1898 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 2,305,000 102,890 '9 9 January 343 , 00 ° ' 5,335 4 & February 1,284,000 5 '- 77 6 '4 I February 322,000 I 2,967 4 2 March 780,000 34.803 10 3 March 420,000 18,749 6 4 April 625,000 27,048 8 8 April 403,000 21,317 7 3 - May 947,000 42,292 I I 6 May 295,000 ' 3, '95 3 7 June 1,334, ooo 57’649 '4 4 June 229,000 9,863 2 1 July 1,629,000 7 Z .738 16 0 July 499,000 22,262 7 3 - August 1,925,000 85,972 '7 8 August 61 1,000 27,292 8 6 September 2,741,000 1 18,425 22 2 Sejitember .... 862,000 37,242 10 10 October 3,427,000 152,965 26 0 October 1,032,000 46,094 12 z November 3,619,000 156,321 27 I November .... 1,032,000 44,597 12 2 December 3,235,000 ' 44,399 24 I 1 December .... 879,000 39,248 1 1 0 Total for year 1,047,278 Total for year 308,161 1895 1899 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 2,952,000 1 32,060 23 4 January 596,000 26,602 8 4 - February 1,477,000 59 , 55 ' '5 2 February 222,000 8,934 2 0 March 675,000 30,154 9 3 March .... 171,000 7’643 I 0 April 626,000 27,027 8 8 April 31 1,000 13,424 3 " May 448,000 20,005 6 9 May 3 14,000 14,034 4 0 June 370,000 15,999 5 4 I June 332,000 14,379 4 5 July 605,000 27,027 8 5 July 618,000 27,608 8 7 August 833. 000 37 , ' 7 2 10 8 August 995,000 44,428 11 11 September 1,068,000 46,150 I 2 5 September .... 1,102,000 47,625 12 8 October 1,068,000 47,688 I 2 5 October 1,062,090 47,38i 12 5 November 1,198,000 51,736 '3 5 November .... 737,000 3', 857 9 " December 1,068,000 47,688 I 2 5 December .... 595,000 26,545 8 4 Total for year 542,257 Total for year 310,460 1896 1900 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 5 10,000 22,750 7 5 January 278,000 12,430 3 2 February 387,000 16,146 5 8 February 95,000 3.820 March 408,000 18,187 6 I March 3 1,000 1,392 — April 495,000 21,394 7 3 April 95,000 4,1 16 — May 545,000 24.599 7 9 May 41 6,000 18,568 6 4 June 577,000 24,958 8 2 June 564,000 24,938 8 0 July 593,000 26.458 8 4 1 July 796,000 35,552 10 4 August 76q,000 2 A . 2 22 August . . . 1,2 t 8,onn September 913,000 jtOj * 39463 1 1 3 September .... 1,781,000 1 0 76,988 1 5 7 16 10 October 839,000 37,417 10 8 October 1,930,000 86,141 17 8 November 896,000 38,703 I I I November .... 1,982,000 85,600 1 8 0 December 575*000 25,672 8 I December .... 1,567,000 69,014 '5 8 Total for year 330,079 Total for year 472,977 1897 1901 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 407,000 1 8.1 68 6 I January 523,000 23,412 7 6 F ebruary 457,000 1 8,400 6 10 February 240,000 9,657 2 4. March 419,000 18,691 6 4 March 56,000 2,498 April 287,000 ' 2.373 3 5 April 27,000 1 , 1 6 1 — May 233.000 10.422 2 2 May 31,000 ',399 — June 172,000 7439 I 0 June 237,00° 10,250 2 3 July 247,000 10.990 2 6 July 417,000 1 8,649 6 4 August 5 3 7.000 2 2 0/1 T September 872,000 37,682 / 10 II September .... 667,000 28,82 1 7 1 9 1 October 1,169,000 52.164 '3 3 October 985,000 43,873 11 10 November 1,279,000 55,214 '4 I November .... 1,270,000 55,005 14 0 December 979,000 43 , 73 ° 1 1 9 December .... 1,233,000 55,077 '3 8 Total for year 308,314 Total for year 27 1,22 1 COMPUTET} D 26 COMPUTED VOLUMES AT EAST BOUNDARY— continued . Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1902 1906 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 728,000 32,503 9 10 January 1,154,000 S', 5'8 *3 1 February 288,000 12,062 3 5 February 298,000 12,024 3 8 March I 10,000 4 > 9°5 — March 249,000 1 1,094 2 6 April 26,000 1,141 — April 504,000 21,740 7 4 May 26,000 1,178 — May 605,000 26,992 8 5 June 26,000 1,156 — June 7,4,000 30,859 9 8 July 89,000 3 , 98 i — J uly 945,000 42,185 1 1 6 August 257,000 1 1,498 2 9 August 1 ,264,000 56 , 43 0 '3 I' September 240,000 10,368 2 4 September .... 1,846,000 79,727 '7 3 October 167,000 7,468 0 1 1 October 2 , 29 I,OOC 102,258 19 8 November 235,000 10,150 2 3 November .... 2,734,000 1 18,1 17 22 2 December 139,000 6,178 0 5 December .... 2,985,000 133,265 23 7 Total for year 102,588 Total for year 686,209 1903 1907 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 103,000 4,626 — January 2,102,000 93,850 18 8 February 1 15,000 4 , 6+9 — February 1,049,000 42,291 12 4 March 26,000 1,156 — March 705,000 3 U 476 9 7 April 26,000 1,141 — April 42 1,000 18,200 6 5 May 1 32,000 5,892 0 3 May 421,000 18,813 6 5 J une 376,000 16,246 5 5 J une 415,000 17,907 6 3 J ulv 592,000 26,410 8 4 July 450,000 20,064 6 9 August 915,000 40,851 " 3 August 537, 000 23 , 95 + 7 8 September 1,197,000 51,698 '3 5 September .... 822,000 35,479 10 7 October 1,326,000 59,247 1+ 4 October 907,000 40,494 I I 2 Xovember 1,472,090 63,556 '5 2 November .... 748,000 32,313 10 0 December 1,508,000 67,320 '5 4 December .... 575,000 25,669 8 1 Total for year 342,792 Total for year 400,510 1904 1908 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 1,023,000 45,647 12 1 January 382,000 16,482 5 6 F ebruary 927,000 38,710 II 4 February 302,000 12,654 3 9 March S 27 . 0 O 0 7 7 March I 10,000 4,910 April 392,000 j 6 , 93 6 5 9 April 308,000 13,327 3 10 May 357 > 00 ° 15,982 5 0 ! May 428,000 19,107 6 6 J une 427,000 1 8,42 1 6 6 June 467,000 20,205 6 1 1 J uly 5 1 6,000 23,050 7 6 July 462,000 20,625 6 10 August 872,000 38,939 10 II August 588,000 26,273 8 3 September 1,175,000 50,747 13 3 September .... 739,000 3', 935 9 " October 1 , 37 5,000 I A 1 October 959,000 42,8 1 6 1 1 7 November 1,3 10,000 U 1 •>$ / / 56,622 *T / H 3 November .... 1,062,000 45,893 12 5 December 1,271,000 56,800 14 0 December .... 715,000 3 U 937 9 8 Total for year 4 + 6,754 Total for year 286,164 1906 Ft. In. January 661,900 29,530 9 1 February 256,000 20,343 2 8 March 1 14,000 5,104 — April 66,000 2,879 — May 239,000 10,644 2 4 June 448,000 ' 9,353 6 9 July 609,000 27,180 8 6 August 98 1,000 43,799 11 9 September 1,434,000 6 i ,959 14 II October 1,740,000 77,6,86 16 8 November 1, 343, ooo 58,031 '4 5 December 1,199,000 53 , 5+2 '3 5 Total for year 400,050 TABLE 27 TABLE III.— GAUGINGS OF THE MURRAY RIVER AT MORGAN. The Naviyable Channel Bed being taken as \ft. 9in. below zero of gauge. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. 1886 January 378,000 February 298,000 March 27 1,000 April 2 ig,000 May 146,000 June I 24,000 July 2 1 9,000 August 490,000 September 868,100 October 1 ,220,000 November 1,420,000 December 1,560,000 Total for year 1887 January . . February March . . . . April . . . . May . . . . June . . . . J uly August . . September October . . November December 1.350.000 976.000 867.000 830.000 998.000 1.01 8.000 1.038.000 1.181.000 1.764.000 2.257.000 2.229.000 2.157.000 Total for year 1888 January . . February March . . . . April . . . . May June . . . . July . . . . August . . September October . . November December 2.384.000 2.099.000 862.000 660.000 614.000 407.000 484.000 758.000 917.000 973.000 862.000 484.000 Total for year 1889 January 338,000 February 447, ooo March 306,000 April 190,000 May 2 1 5,000 J une 572,000 July 1,058,000 August 1,906,000 September 2,700.000 October 2,500,000 November 2, 9^0,000 December 2,700,000 Total for year Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. 1890 Ft. In. 1 16,856 6 4 January 1,756,000 78.404 I 2,001 5 2 February 662,000 26,692 12,075 4 9 March 61 7,000 27,521 9,471 3 I I April 662,000 28,598 6,517 2 7 May 812,000 36,248 5,367 2 2 June 975,000 42,120 9,781 3 I ) July 2,500,000 1 1 1,600 21,878 7 10 August 3,300,000 147,312 37 ’ 5°8 I I 9 September .... 3,700,000 159,840 54 , 5 io 14 9 October 3,700,000 165,168 61,398 16 3 November .... 2,950,000 127,440 69,732 17 3 December .... 2,600,000 1 16,064 317,094 Total for year 1,067,007 1891 Ft. In. 60,484 15 9 January 2,387,000 106,533 39 , 36 i 12 9 February 1,936,000 78,040 38,686 I I 9 March 1,558,000 69,549 35,869 I I 5 April 1,34(5,000 58,234 44 , 57 ° 12 1 1 , May 1,125,000 50,231 43 , 96 o 13 I June 1,093,000 47,218 46,334 13 3 July 1,125,000 50,232 52,694 14 6 August 1,348,000 60,175 76,188 18 8 September .... 2,500.000 108,000 100,758 2 I 8 October 2,500,000 1 1 1,600 96,276 21 6 November .... 1,938,000 83, 7 22 96.276 2 I 1 December .... 1,348,000 60,175 73 G 456 Total for year 883,709 1892 Ft. In. 106,428 22 4 January 1,282,000 57 > 2 5 1 87,674 20 9 February 917,000 38,318 38,463 I I 9 March 571,000 25,489 28,493 9 9 April 338,000 14,602 27,415 9 3 May 273,000 12,187 17,563 6 9 June 486,000 20,994 21,589 7 9 July 662.000 29,552 33,821 10 9 August 1, 1 20,000 50,232 39 , 6 i 7 1 2 3 September .... 1,283,000 55404 43.418 12 9 October 1,348,000 60,175 37 , 2'9 1 1 9 November .... 1,630,000 70,416 21,589 7 9 December .... 1.757, 000 78,404 503,289 Total for year 5 ' 3,° z 4 1893 Ft. In. 15,088 5 9 January 1, 757, ooo 78,404 18.043 7 3 February 1,244,000 50,169 13-637 5 3 March 571, ooo 25,489 8,1 86 3 4 April 616,000 26,632 9,598 3 10 May 662,000 29,552 24,667 8 9 June 864,000 37,325 47,218 13 5 July 1,2 17,000 54,327 85,072 19 6 August 1,631,000 72,763 1 1 6,640 23 9 September .... 2,102,000 90,806 1 1 1,600 22 9 October 2,500,000 1 1 1,600 127,440 24 9 November .... 2,187,000 94 , 5 oo 120,528 23 9 December .... 2,274,000 101,467 697,717 Total for year 773 , 9(34 Mean Depth on av. Chi. Bed. Ft. In. 18 7 9 9 9 3 9 9 ” 3 1 2 9 22 9 25 9 26 9 26 9 24 9 23 3 Ft. In. 22 4 19 9 17 3 15 9 14 o 13 9 14 o 15 9 22 9 22 9 19 9 15 9 Ft. In. 15 3 12 3 8 9 5 9 4 9 7 9 9 9 14 o 1 5 3 15 9 17 9 18 1 Ft. In. 18 7 15 O 8 9 9 3 9 9 11 9 14 9 17 9 20 9 22 9 21 3 2 1 9 MORGAN MORGAN GAUGINGS — continued. Mean Monthly Mean Mean Monthly Mean Month. Volume — Totals — Depth Month. Volume — Totals — Depth Cub. Ft. per Millions of on Nav. Cub. Ft. per Millions of on Nav. Min. Cub. Ft. Chi. Bed. Min. Cub. Ft. Chi. Bed. 1894 1898 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 2,102,000 93, 8 33 20 9 January 3 14,000 14,022 5 5 February 1,171,000 47 ’ 2 1 8 5 February 2 94,000 H , 8 57 5 I March 7 1 1,000 3 1 ’7 3 9 10 3 March 384,000 17.144 6 5 April 570,000 24,667 8 9 April 451,000 19,493 7 4 May 864,000 38.569 I I 9 Mav 270,000 I 2,066 4 8 1.2 1 7.000 1.486.000 5 2 .574 66,335 14 9 June 209.000 456.000 9,019 20,357 3 8 July ib 9 July 7 4 August 1,756,000 78,404 18 7 August 559 ,ooo 24,956 8 7 September 2,500,000 108,000 22 9 September .... 788,000 34,055 1 1 0 October 3,125,000 139,500 25 3 October 944,000 42,149 12 6 November 3,300,000 142,560 25 9 November .... 944,000 40,780 12 6 December 2,950,00° 131,688 24 9 December .... 804,000 35,889 1 1 2 Total for year 955 ,o 8 7 Total for year 281,787 1895 1899 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 2,694,000 120,528 23 9 January 527,000 23 , 53 i 8 3 February 1,348,000 54 , 35 i 15 9 February .... 1 96,000 7,903 3 0 March 616,000 27,521 9 3 March I 5 1,000 6,761 2 8 April 571, ooo 24,667 8 9 April 275,000 1 1,874 4 9 May 409,000 1 8,258 6 9 May 278,000 12,414 4 10 338.000 552. 000 760.000 14,602 24,667 33,926 5 9 June 294.000 547.000 880.000 12,719 24,42 1 39,299 5 I J u ly 8 6 July 8 6 August 10 9 August I I I I September 975 ' 00 ° 42, 1 20 12 9 September .... 975,000 42,127 12 9 975 ’°°° 1,093,000 43,524 47,218 12 9 October 939.000 652.000 41,911 28,179 12 5 November 13 9 November .... 9 8 December 975, 000 43,524 12 9 December .... 526,000 23,480 8 3 494,906 Total for year 274,619 1896 1900 Ft. In. Ft. In. January 460,000 20,535 7 5 January 249,000 11,150 4 4 February 349.000 H ,574 5 I I February 85,000 3,427 I 5 March 368,000 16,416 6 2 March 28,000 1,249 0 3 April 447, ooo 19,311 7 3 April 85,000 3,692 I 5 Mav 492,000 22,204 7 10 May 37 i», 000 16,656 6 3 52 1,000 53s? 000 22,528 23,882 8 2 J une 506.000 7 14.000 22,370 31,891 8 0 July 8 4 July 10 3 August 694,000 30,989 10 I August 1,093,000 48,8 14 13 9 September 824,000 35,620 1 1 4 September .... 1,598,000 69,060 17 6 October 757, 000 33,774 10 9 October 1,731,000 77,270 18 5 November 809,000 34,934 1 1 3 November .... 1,778,000 76,785 18 9 December 5 19,000 23,172 8 2 December .... 1,406,000 61,907 16 2 Total for 297,939 Total for year 424,271 1 1897 Ft. In. January 366,000 i 6,355 6 2 February 41 1,000 16,564 6 9 March 377,000 16,826 6 4 April 258,000 11,138 4 6 May 2 10,000 9,382 3 9 J une 155,000 6,697 2 9 July 222,000 9,893 3 I I August 465,000 20,742 7 6 September 785,000 33,922 1 1 0 October 1,052,000 46,959 13 5 November 1,15 1,000 49,704 14 3 December 881,000 39 , 3 6 6 1 1 1 1 Total for year 277,548 1901 Ft. In. January 467,000 20,917 7 6 February 2 14,000 8,628 3 9 March 50,000 2,232 0 9 April 24,000 1,037 0 0 May 28,000 1,250 0 3 June 212,000 9,158 3 9 July 373,000 26,662 6 3 August 428,000 I 9 A 37 7 0 September .... 596,000 25,750 9 0 October 880,000 39 A 98 I I I I November .... 1,135,000 49 A 44 14 I December .... I , I C2,000 49,208 13 10 Total for year 242,321 MORGAN 29 MORGAN GAUGINGS — continued . Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. Month. Mean Volume — Cub. Ft. per Min. Monthly Totals — Millions of Cub. Ft. Mean Depth on Nav. Chi. Bed. 1902 1906 January 662,000 29, 55 2 February 262,000 10,967 March 100,000 4,460 April 24,000 1,037 May 24,000 1,071 J une 24,000 1,051 J ulv 81,000 3,620 August 234, 000 in — Miles- P R N? 29 (2 ) T,af *- T — I ^ I, .VICTORIA V .1 v C T 0 R Sheet N^2 .# > £ }' Jr / $ 2 / / * $ f[ 4 - ‘ 1 f // / / *r« .Jr W^ TI2 ’' MILOUHA^ >— n 205 JO& 3ZO 532 55«> 3fl* J® 3 Section of Murray River From Mildura to Swan Reach Showing approximate Sites of Navigation Weirs and Locks s “-{v^': 3 r^ TO0Nt — / / 437 471 504 Sheet N? 3 Murray River Waters Slack Water Navigation Works Type Design of Movable Weir and Lock Scale - 20 Feet to an Inch CdNCftCTE AfKON General Pl an Lo CK P.P N?Z9 (s) Elevation Sheet IN|9 4 Murray River Waters Slack Water Navigation Works Details : /‘f /O. •Scale- o /hcH - / Foor. P.P. N° 29(a) SUKVrrOR OCNUUU o Longitudinal Section C-D of Lock End Elevation of Land Wall Scale - 20 FT to an Inch. V ~ $ r 3 0112 105328030