HE 709.5 A A 9 6 8 7 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY 3 "AGILITY iMm usTRaLia- /iDj. ^jmm ^■ M ^ I CAI'T. ( IIAltr.KS S'lTirr. WIKi DI'^coNKHKn AND KXi'LOKKi) rill-: mli{j;av. THE "NILE" OF AUSTRALIA NATURE'S GATEWAY TO THE INTERIOR. A PLEA FOR THE GREATER UTILIZATION OF THE MURRAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. BY DAVID J. GORDON, Author of The Central State : South Australia, its History, Progress, and Resources. ADELAIDE : w. K. Thomas & Co., Printers, Register, Observer, and Journal Offices, Grenfell Street. 1906. Unroll the great M^p of /Vustralia, and the eye i^ at once arrested by the dominant feature ot\ the geographical face of the Continent. It i^ the vast river system which spreads out irj a network of veins over the eastern half of Hu^tralia, and culminates ir| a great artery coursing dowq the centre to the 3outherri ^za. To render permanently navigable three great river^ for a distance of 3,000 mile^ inland; to provide a plen- tiful and regular supply of water to vast territories sometime^ smittcq by drought; to throw opeq fresh field^ for home seeker^ i^ a policy which should appeal to the imaginatiof) a^ well a^ to the patriotism of Jlustralians. HE 709.5 ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Execiitive Committee of the River Murray League desires to thank the Proprietors of TJie Register, The Observer, and The Evening Jmiriml for permission to re -print the series of articles which first appeared in those newspapers under the title of "The 'Nile' of Australia." This pamphlet is published by The River Murray League of South Australia in the hope th*at it wiil serve to arouse interest in a question of supreme importance to the whole of the people of Australia. 542790 UB SETS rlAt>STi=;f\LiM The River Murray League of South Australia ■'*''*^=ii-'+'-§t^^^^^*^ THE POLICY OF THE LEAGUE IS :— A complete system of Locks and Storage Basins, such as will provide permanent navigation of the MURRAY, DARLING, and MURRUMBIDGEE Rivers, and ensure an ample supply of Water to meet all the requirements of Irrigation. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Messrs. Simpson Newlaud (President), A. W. Piper, G. Fowler Stewart, David J. Gordon (Vice-Presidents) ; Hon. T. Price (Premier of S.A.), Hons. George Brookman, M.L.C., and P. McM. Glynn and E. L. Batchelor (Members of the House of Representatives, Federal Parliament), Capt. G. Ritchie, M.P., James Gartrell, E. H. Bakewell, G. J. R Murray, W. Culross, F. W. Young, and L. Bonython. SECRETARY: A. E. HJ EVANS, Victoria Buildings, Grenfell Street, Adelaide. H |5 iz; o g K H K O O Dig TABLE OF CONTENTS. Australia's Great River System. PAGE 1. Birth of the ■ Murray— Waterways Ready to Serve Producers and Traders — Bearers of Burdens and Fertilizing Agents — Water Is Wealth — Lessons from the Past — History Repeats Itself — The Ancients as Irrigationists and Inland Navigators — Mutual Rights of Irrigation and Navigation Recognised by the Pharaohs — Faith in the Future — National Policy the True Policy — The Greatest Question in Australia —A Birthright that Cannot be Sold— The Motto "Use" Not "Waste." The Murray and Its Tributaries. PAGE 4. "One of the Great Streams of the World"— 3,000 Miles of Inland Navigation — The Main Drainage Channel of the Continent — An Ex- tensive Watershed — Course of the Murray — A Sluggish Stream that can be Easily Locked — Feeders of the Main Stream — Oceans of Fresh Fer- tilizing Water Coursing Through the Continent — Riparian Rights — New Aspect Under Federation — A Land Without Limit — Idyllic River Sce- nery — A Bishop's Rebuke and Prayer — Australia Not a Dry and Arid Country — The Rivers a "Gracious Gift of Providence." How Captain Sturt Discovered and Explored the Murray. PAGE 8. A Gallant Band of Explorers— The Problem of an Inland Sea— Two Expeditions— Sturt the Real Founder of South Australia- Empire Builders on the March — A Bold Move — Afloat in a Whaleboat — Con- victs as Comrades — Pioneer Inland Navigators — From the Murrum- bidgee to the Murray — Junction of the Darling and MuiTay — Hoisting the Flag — Christening the Main Stream — The Voyage Down Stream — The Sea — Where River and Ocean Meet — Disappointment for the Explorers— The Retreat— lA Long Pull Against the Current— Trouble- some Natives — Memorable and Record Voyage — Last Days of Sturt — "On the Brow Unadorned by Man Death Gently Laid a Crown of a Great Life's Fulfilment." \/ VI. CONTENTS. Opening the Rivers to Navigation and Trade. PAGE 12. Founding of the Pi-ovii'.ce of South Austa'alia — Dispute Regarding the Site of the Capital — Claims of Encounter Bay — The Murray Re- garded as a Second "Mississippi" — Early Settlers in the River Valley —Attempts to Navigate the Murray Mouth — Governor Young's First River Voyage — His Encouragement of Inland Navigation — C-apts. Randell and Cadell — The "Mary Ann," "Lady Augusta," and "Eurelia" — First River Fleet — The Start from Goolwa — Voyage of the "Lady Augusta" — Incidents of the Inaugural Trip — Meeting of Cadell and Ran- dell — The First Cargo — Station Owners Present Addresses to Grovemor Young and Capt. Cadell — Official Despatch to the Duke of Newcastle —Return of the "Lady Augusta" to Goolwa — OflBcial Banquet and His- torical Speeches. Negotiations between River States. PAGE 19. An 'Alleged'' Problem — Artificial. Not Natural, Difficulties — Nego- tiations Between States 1858-1906 — Royal Commissions and Confe- rences — Compromises and Agreements — Views of Prominent Australian Ivegislators — Rights of South Australia Recognised — Royal Commission of Experts — River Murray League — Broad and Comprehensive Policy — The Sydney Compact— Will the Parliaments of the Three States Ratify It? Irrigation. PAGE 26. IiTigation an "Insurance Against Drought" — Striking Examples from ~ Renmark and Mildura — Arid Countries the Richest Countries When Watered — Object Lessons from India, Egypt and Western America- Sir William Willcocks on Iriigation and Navigation — A "Quick Step" Movement for the Commonwealth — How Irrigation Gave Prosperity to the "Arid West" — Views of the Engineering Experts — Where In-i- gation Pays in Australia — Wealth in the Marshes — Views of Professor Wallace — Compensation Works ar Insurance Against Failure — Mutual Cladms of Irrigation and Navigation. Navigation— The Rivers as Highways of Commerce. PAGE 32. A Policy Thiat Appeals to Patriotic Australians — Rivers Free to All Traders— fruit tree and the fodder plant. Water was the golden key which unlocked the lands of Western America. There is no reason why history should not be repeated in Australia. The whole population of South Australia might >>? profitably employed in the valley of the Murray. Dr. Moorhouse, whea Bishop of Melbourne, remarked: — The Murray is 10 times as long as the Thames, and is bound to play an important part in the development of this country. The people are missing the chance of maintain- ing an immense population, and of accumulat- ing untold wealth, by letting the waters of the Murray roll uselessly and wastefully into the sea. In times of drouglit I have been asked to pray to God for rain. I have replied that the only supplication I could make would be, "Oh, God, forgive us for our idle- ness, foil}', and unthankiulness, and give uB grace in the future to use better and more wisely Tby gracious gifts." Australia is not the dry, arid country it is sometimes caricatured to be by uninformed people. The continent is well supplied with rivers, great and small, which require only to be regu- lated and turned to account. "Amot;g the anomalies which may be said to distinguish the continent of Australia from other inhabited portions of the globe, not the least remarkable has been the almost unnoticed existence of one of the largest and most navi- gable rivers in the world." Half a centurj- has gone by since Mr. Arthnr Kinlocb, chronicler of the trip of the Lady Augusta, made that statement; and Australians have failed in the meantime to appreciate what Bishop Moorhouse characterized as a "gra- cious gift" of Providence. The time has aiTived for harnessing the Murray and its tributaries so that they may be made to serve the producer and the trader. How (giaptai n Sta rt Discovered and Explored the Murray. When we think of that gallant band of early explorers floating down stream they knew not whither, each bend of the channel suggestive of dan. ^er from hostile natives, every reach of the river with its broad, deep stretch of shimmering water a source of delight; or when we picture the noble fellows rowing back against the current, disappointed but not discour- aged, fighting heavy odds — ^we are grateful that to such giants fell this giants' task. Sturt did more than dis- cover and name the Murray. He in- dicated that it was navigable. In less than a quarter of a century the pro- vince which by his voyage he was in- strumental in establishing proved that the stream was a great natural and national highway of trade to the in- terior. Sturt set out in 1828 to solve the problem of a supposed inland sea. "The existence of such a feature seem, ed a necessary l^ey to the watershed of a country which, around its southern, eastern, and western coasts, showed no large estuary." Fliudei*s, Oxley, Hume, and other explorers half believ- ed in its existence, and the theory seemed to be supported by the ti-adi- tions of the natives. It was a sub- ject of controversy and dispute — "a question," says Sturt, "in which the best interests of the colony (New South Wales) were involved." The Boldier-explorer found no inland sea; but. "tracing tc their last drop the Macquarie, the Bogan, the Castlereagh, he discovered the Darling, a main channel of the colony's western water rtipd." In September, 1829, Sturt re- ceived authority to prepare for a se- cond expedition, and he decided to fol- low the line of the Murrumbidgee, "a river of considerable size, and impetu- ous current," in order to sti-ike the Darling from a different angle, Sturtt wrote — "It became my interest and my object to make the expedition as com- plete as possible, and, as far as in me lay to provide for every contingency.** — Empire Builders on the March. — Early in the morning of November 3, 1829, Capt. Sturt began his great journey. Just look at the gallant little baud — empire builders every one of them! The morning was perfectly serene, nor was I ever lighter at heart or more joyous in spirit. My mind forgot the storms of life, as Nature at that moment had forgotten the tempests that sometimes agitate her. The scene is vividly impressed upon my mind. My servant, Harris, who for 16 years had shared my wan- derings, led the advance with Hopkinson, Nearly abreast of them stalked the eccentric Fraser, wliolly lost in thought. Tlie two fomier had laid aside their military gear, substituting the broad-brimmed hat and bush- man's dress; but Eraser's full regimentals were little suited to protect him from heat or damp. He carried a gun, and his double shot-belt was brimful of shot, though there was not a chance that he would expend a grain during the day. At his heels follo%ved the dogs, as if they knew his interest in them. Fiirtl-.cr behind the drays and pack animala came on slowly in charge cf Robert Harris, and Clayton brought up the rear. ■* The explorers found the Murrumbidgee In its upper reaches "a stream with strong current, whose waters, foaming and eddying among rocks, gave pro- mise of a reckless course;" but the fair scenes which charmed the eyes of the searchers "were soon forgotten in the trouble of drays buried in marshes. Difficulties came tliick and fast, and Sturt's hopes that the Murrumbidgee 9 conld not fail appeared to be dashed to the ground. News was brought to him one day that the river had lost itself in a vast expanse of reeds. The leader admitted that for a moment or two he was stunned, but he quickly recov- ered himself, and electrified his party with the daring policy he unfolded next day. "I resolved on a bold and desperate measure — to build the whale, boat and to send home the drays!" Within four days the little craft which had been transported 440 miles in pieces was ready, and launched upon the waters. So great was Stiu-t's faith that the Murrumbidgee would ultimately make a junction with a larger stream to the south, that after several days of battling with the reeds he wrote — "I am obliged to abandon my cattle, and have taken to the boats. Where I shall wander to God only knows. I have little doubt, however, that I shall ultimately make the coast." — The First Inland Navigators. — In the grey of the morning of Janu- ary 7, 183i), Siurt and his companions, consisting of three soldiers and four convicts, bade farewell to their com- rades, and embarked on their memor- able voyage, the immediate results of which were the discovery and explora- tion of Australia's greatest river and the founding of the province of South Australia. They were the pioneer in- land navigators of Australia. A week of anxiety and accidents — one moment running into a high bank, the next narrowly escaping total wreck against a rock or floating timber, then plung- ing into darkness under closely arch- ing trees — when "on a sudden the river, while sweeping round in tortuous course to every point of the compass, took a general southern direction. We were carried at a fearful rate down its gloomy and contracted stream, . . . At 2 p.m. Hopkinson called out that we were approaching a junction, and within less than a minute we were hurried into a broad and noble river. It is impossible to describe the effect upon us of so instantaneous a change." — The ^Murray. — From the narrow fast-flowing chan- nel the whaleboat glided out on the bosom of a much nobler stream, and a cheer from the rowers, with an uplift- ing of Sturt's hat in acknowledgment, sufficed to show that every man rea- hzed the significance of the discovery. They had found the great south river, and part of their work was accomplish- ed. Sturt pointed westward, a sail waa hoisted, the men bent to their ours, and the little vessel went speeding down current on its way to the sea. At the junction, of the Darhng with the main stream Sturt hoisted the Union Jack, and christened the great river after Sir George Murray, then Colonial Secre- tary. The leader sat in the stern of the boat with compass in hand and a sheet of paper in fronc of him, carefully marking down the bends of the river, the most minute changes of the stream, its cliffs, its flats, the nature of the country, and the character of the blacks. His ob- ■servatione have since proved to have been most thorough and accurate. This chart proved of incalculable benefit on the return journey upstream and for many years afterwards was used by traders as a guide. When the river be- gan to show a decided bias for a southerly course the hopes of the voy- agers rose. Seagulls flying overhead were hailed as "messengers of glad tidings." — Where River and Ocean Meet. — On February 9 — 33 days after the launching of the whaleboat on the watei's of the Murrumbidgee, 26 days of which had been spent on the Mur- ray — Sturt and his party entered Lake Alexandrina. They encountered a strong south-westerly wind and a heavy sea. Throughout that perilous 10 period the conduct of the crew haxi been "most exemplary." On February 11 Sturt and his gallant second in com- mand, jMacleay (afterwards Sir George Macleay) saw the sea, and the same day the exhausted crew refreshed themselves by bathing in the surf of the Southern Ocean. One part of the Journey had been accomplished. The Murray had been discovered aiid ex- plored, the junction of the Murrum- bidgee and the Darling with it deter- mined, and the termination of the waters of Australia's great rivers set- tled beyond dispute. Sturt never dis- guised his keen disappointment at the ignoble way in which the Murray ended its noble career. From the first the explorer was impressed with the impracticable character of the connect- ing channel between river and ocean. Sturt's subsequent examination of the Murray mouth on behalf of the South Australian Government confirmed his worst fears that its navigation would be attended with great risks. He thus expressed himself : — We had, at length, arrived at the termina- tion of the Murray. Immediately below me was a beautiful lake, which appeared to be a fitting reservoir for the noble stream that had led us to it. Even while gazing on tliis fine scene, I co -"v^j;^ :-^ o 15 at 5 o'clock (Saturday, September 17), four hoiurs after the Lady Augusta." Remarking on Australian sheep sta- tions, of which there were many in this vicinity, Klnloch gives a list r.f shep- herds in one district. "They compris- ed an apothecary, a lawyer's clerk, three sailors, a counting house clerk, a tailor, a Jew, a Portuguese sailor, a Cingalese, a barman, a gentleman's son, a broken-down merchant, a foirmer lieutenant in the East India Company's service, a gipsy, a black fiddler, and a dancing master. Of these the gentle- man's son, the Jew, and the barman made the best shepherds." — The Ifirst Cai-go. — On Friday, September 23, at 11 o'clock, Capt. Cadell having gone as far up the river as he dared, or the snags would let him, turned his stea- mer to the rightabout, and retrac- ed his course. The Maiy Ann proceed- ed a little higher than the Lady Augvis- ta and the Eureka could go, but the dis- tance was not great, and Randell soon passed Cadell in the down-stream race. On the way back Cadell began to pick up his cargoes. On September 27 he ap- proached Poon Boon, "and here, await- ing our arrival, we found the wool, con- isting of 220 bales, averaging 200 lb. the bale." A fine beginning. "This, the first fruit of the river, and the first cargo Oif the Lady Augusta, was receiv- ed with all due ceremony, the first bale being hoisted up with one of the crew to the laasthead of the Eureka, where three times three was given in its hon- (our. Some bottles of champagne ajid 'Success to the commerce of the Mur- ray' followed in the cabin, and in the evening a dance at the head station tei'- minated the day." How we can imagine Governor Young, always en- thusiastic about the Murray, by this time sunbrowned and river trained, watching the first bale dangling at the masthead, and the hiunan semaphore on top of it, rejoicing at the event! Here tJtie station owner first did the arithmetic of the freights that so many have done since. At the South Australian boundary a number of settlers presented ad- dresses to Governor Young and Capt, Cadell thanking them for the great benefit they had brought to them and all Australians in thus opening up the Murray to trade. At Chapman's! (now Paringa) "a flag fluttered in the breeze, opposite to the cottage, with the motto of 'Cead mUle failthe' (a hun- dred thousajid welcomes)." So the vic- torious Cadell passed on, he and his company glowing with each additional welcome and congi-atula- tion. The voyage down sti-eam partook of an excursion. Wellington was reached on October 13. Hera horses were awaiting Governor Y'oung to take him back to Adelaide quickly, bi:t His Excellency felt that it was his duty to remain with the steamer to the last. He would finish the voyage with the Lady Augusta, he said, at Goolwa. At Wellington Mr. Kiuloch left the vessel, and he dramatically takes leave of the Murray, "in the firm belief that whether it is to become in the future — as it has been, perhaps prophetically, designated — the 'Australian Nile,' or whether it is to be the connecting link and genernl highway of the Australian capitals, existing and to be, this river is of incalculable advantage to the whole of Australia." Sir Henry Young sent a long despatch to the Duke of Newcastle, dated "On board the Lady Augusta, steamer. River Murray, from the sea distant 1.300 miles, Swan Hill, September 17, 1853." — History making Speeches. — ■ On the occasion of the launching of the barge Eureka at Goolwa (August, 1853). a public dinner w.a.s tendered to Capt. Cadell, and hopes were expressed that the voyage to be begun next day would prove successful. Tlie Rev. R. W. Newland presided, and Mr. R. Da- venport, responding to tie toast of 16 tbe Legislative Council, delivered a fine address. The Ladj- Augusta ai'rived at Goolwa on October 14, just 50 days from the time she had left on her up-river journey. The viceregal pai-ty proceeded to Adelaide, and a notable official dinner was given to Capt. Cadell and his officers in the Legislative Council chamber on Ooto- l>er 26. Judging by the excellent re- ports printed in The Register next day splendid orations were delivered. All the speakers were impressed with the possibilities of the Murray, but many of the prophecies indulged in have yet to be realized. Cadell sat under the picture of Sturt. The Chairman "was the Speaker, Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Morphett, and he spoke to the toast of " The Governor" :— Gentlemen— The advantaf?es which may re- sult from tliis step (the just completed voyaRe) I shall not dilate upon, but they must of necessity be merely speculative; but there are one or two points of advantage that I would briefly advert to, inasmuch as I con- sider them facts. It is certain that by the navigation of the Kiver Murray we practi- cally annex to the Province of South Austra- lia a large tract of export-producing country. It is certain that by that step we afford to our agriculturists the means of conveying their products to the doors of the consumers, thus securins to them the best markets; and I con.sider it is certain that the navigation of the River Murray is the first step in that most important object, the imion of the Aus- tralian Colonies. . . . Governor Young followed with the toast of Cadell:— For occupancy of some sm;ill and insulated territory— for the most insignificant exten- sion of boundary— the mightic.<;t Empires of the world have been wont to pour forth all ^ their resources, and to pour on the arena both their treasure and their blood. In these bold, warlike, and generally unprofitable conquests, it has been our humbler and happier lot to take no part. No hostile or partial aimg have prompted; no violence or wronp has attended; perchance no brilliancy has adorned; but in- calculable and imperishable usefulness will crown the enterprise wliich we now celebrate. We have been enabled to penetrate the mar- pin of vast tracts of tlie interior of this great continent, and have peacefully opened up a tfreat liighway of upwards of 1,500 miles in length, and of perpetual durability and un- failing utility throughout the greater portion of every ordinary' year. Then rose Cadell to respond, embar- rassed by the storm of applause that gi'eeted him: — Jt is not my place to recount the many ob- Etaeles which have intervened from the com- mencement to the completion of my enter- prise; and any trifling- dangers and hardships which I may have been subjected to I pass over with the same indifference with which I regard lliem; but I am anxious to irform my kind entertainers that I did not undertake it from mere mercenary motives. Had 1 been ac- tuated by such, I had Victoria before me, with all her allurements, and' a Calif omian expeuence to boot. Those who know me best are well aware that my ambition pointed to the mak- ing up of a mighty, but hitherto torpid, stream; to make it fulfil its allotted duties as intended by the Creator of all things, and to render it subservient to the uses of man- kind. ... The Advocate-General (Mr., after- wards Sir R. D. Hanson), in proposing the toast of "The Sister Colonies ot New South Wales and Victoria," said — They were met to celebrate the successful opening up of a channel of communication which would necessarily tend to bring into a closer and more intimate union of interest and sentiment the three colonies of Australia. Previously to this event the prospects of Ausi- tralia were, in some important respects, diffe- rent. There were in this great land three communities sprimg from the same race, speaking the same language, professing the same faith, obejdng the same law, subiects of the same house, and yet, in spite of all these circumistances, which prepared and fitted them for union, there had been some danger lesit their first relations of neighbourhood might be connected ^^dth the disputes and jealousies of the settlers and shepherds upon their bor- ders. Happily, however, this hid been chang- ed. . The harmonizing influences of commerce had now been brought into play, and the various colonies would be connected by the lies of a common interest and of mutual dependence. Mr. Stephens, who toasted " The Speaker," spoke words which appeal to us with great force to-day : — Let us indulge the liope that Capt. Cadell, in his little steamer, vrill not only be the pioneer of civilization to many portions of the tributaries of that noble river — tliat he will not only extend and consolidate commercial rela- tions, and promote the mental and physical improvement of the people — ^but also be the OPEKING THE RIVERS TO NAVIGATIOK HAS MEANT THE OCCUPA- TION OF ARID REGIONS. A DESERT I'LAIN TRANSFORMED BY WATER. CAPT. W. R. RANDELL AM) TIIK HoiLKIt OF THE "MAIJV ANN,' (THE FIRST STEAMER ON THE RIVER ML'HRAV.) 17 bearer of the olive branch of peace to all the districts throug'h which he may pass; that these important and rising colonies, which may justly be called the briglitest gema in the diadem of our beloved Queen, may on the great Murray fraternize with each other, forget all past jealousies and diflferences, and lorm a happy, prosperous, and imited people. — Rewards to Pioneer Navigators. — • Haviiip accomplished a great work, South Australia proceeded to reward the men wlio had carried out the de- tails. The announcement of the arrival of the steamer at Goolwa, with her cargo of 441 bales of wool. 1,000 sheep- Ekins, and a quantity of tallow, was conveyed to the Legislative Council in a message from the Lieutenant- Governor: — "On board the Lady Augusta, steamer, Goolwa, October 14, 1853. Lieutenant-Governor Sir Henry Toung has the gratification to an- nounce to the Legislative Council the arrival at the Goolwa of the first river- borne wool, the produce of the vast basin of the Murray. In congratulating the Council on this auspicious com- mencement of the steam navigation and commerce of the great River Mur- ray, the Lieutenant-Governor is happy to state that Capt. Cadell's voyage reached to 50 miles beyond Swanhill, a distance of about 1,450 miles from the sea. and was also extended for 60 miles up t)ie Wakool, an important branch of the Murray. The first cargo comprises wool of the Murray, the Darling, the Murrumbidgee, and the Waliool Rivers." In reply to this an address was passed by the Council on October 21, 1853. It contained tLe following clause: — "The Council requests your Excellency to cause three medals to be engraved, with suitable device and in- scriptions, commemorating the auspi- cious opening up of the steam naviga- tion and commerce of the Murray and the first arrival at the Goolwa of river- borne wool; and the Couiicil requests that, as the Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia, whose personal exer- tions promoted this great enterprise, and in whose administration It origlnat- ed and has been successfully accom- plished, your Excellency would be pleased to receive one of the said medals; and the Council further re- quests that your Excellency will be pleased to cause one of the said medals to be conferred on Capt. Fran- cis Cadell, who completed the first commercial voyage as owner and com- mander of the Lady Augusta steamer and Eureka barge, with a cargo of Murray wool; and that the remaining medal may be deposited with the records of the Legislature of South Australia, under whose sanction the necessai-y pecuniary aid was voted in encouragement of the steam naviga- tion of the River Murray." The bonus of £4.000 offered by the Legislative Council was paid to Capt. Cadell, he having complied with the con- ditions of the offer. In recog- nition of the fact that Capt. Randell had navigated the Murray and tribu- taries for a greater distance than Cadell, and in a craft much less calcu- lated to withstand the buffetings of a journey in the practically uncharted river, Mr. Hare moved in the Legisla- tive Council on November 9, 1853— "That a committee be appointed to ascertain particulars of the navigation of the Murray by the Messrs. Randell, with a view to awarding those gentle- men some honorary or some pecuniai-y reward." This was unanimously carried; and a few weeks later the committee sent in its report, which recognised Capt. Randell's claims, and recommended that his reward for hav- ing launched the first steamer and navigated the river for a distance of 1,800 miles sliould be a bonus of £300. This was agreed upon, and the Govern- ment made a special grant of the amount. — Deeds that Make Empires. — So ended the first adventure which opened the Murray to navigation and trade. How vast a thing was then ac- 18 oomplished cannot even now be quite realized, for the possibilities of produc- tion in tbe Murray Valley are limitless. While the river is permitted to waste its wealth, irrigation is perhaps practi- cable, but it is difficult and costly, and navigation is more or less spas- modic. In such eases the primaiy pro- ducer receives no stimulus. He has gone up the river and settled there, for life in most cases; and trade has been opened, but at times the river is little better than a diy ditch. We are acting unfairly to our pioneers and colonizers- They risked. and. some of them lost, their lives in the endeavour to prove that Austra- lian rivers are navigable. In neglect- ing to take full advantage of these great highways to the interior the Com. monwealth is missing a golden opportu- nity of multiplying production and in- creasing the volume of its trade and commerce. The price of provincialism Is national stagnation. 19 Negotiations between River States. When Du Toil set himself the task of writing his famous e«say on "Snakes in Iceland" he accomplished it in one sentence: — "There are no snakes in Iceland." There is no problem in the rivers question. Any difficulties whicii may exist are artificial, not natural- created by man, not bequeathed by Nature. An immense watershed feeds a number of streams, which act as tributaries to a great waterway, hav- ing its source in snow-capped moun- tains, and its outlet in the Southern Ocean. The main channel takes a serpentine route across almost level country, with the result that the water flows with the utmost leisurehness to the sea. At every stage of its career the river invites settler and trader to turn it to account for purposes of pro- duction and cheap carriage. "Come and use us," the waters seem to say; "we will fertilize your lands, and c.TUse the desert to blossom as the rose. We will float yoiir produce-laden vessels to market." All sorts of excuses have been put forward for not accepting this Invitation. The great services which these waterways are capable of rendering to mankind have not been fully appreciated by either producer or trader; while railway men, fearing tlie rivers as competitors, have sought tO' destroy them by direct and indirect methods. — Resume of Negotiations. — After abandoning a claim put for- ward with great persistency and auda- city for many years, to the sole right of the ]\IuiTay, New South Wales agreed to "share" its waters with Victoria ! South Austi'alian rights, then so shamelessly ignored, were subsequently recognised, and the negotiations were henceforth of a triangular character. Considering what South Australia had done to open th© waterways to traffic, it was not to be expected that the State would be pre- pared to foi-ego geographical advan- tages or riparian rights. The following is a concise summary of the attempta made to effect an amicable settle- ment: — 1853.— The River Munay was first opened to r.avl' gration by the efforts of the South Australian Goveiianent. 1S57.— The Government of South Australia endea- voured to obtain the co-operation of New South A^ales and Victoria in the improvement of the navigation of the river. 1863.— At an Intercolonial Conference in Melbourne the following resolution was passed:— "Tliat in the opinion of this conference the commerce, population, and wealth of Australia can be largely increased by rendering navigable and otherwise utilizing- the great rivers of the in- terior, such as the Murray, Edward, Murrurn- bidgee, and Darling; and that the obligatioiis of carrying into effect the necessary works to accomplish these objects devolve primarily upon the respective Governments having jurisdiction over such rivers." Nothing was done to carry this into effect. lSSl-2.— .\ further effort was made by the Govern- ment of South Australia to secure the co- operation of the other colonies in improving the navigation. 1885.- The Government of Victoria S'oposed 9 joiiit royal commission to enquire into the sub- ject. The South Australian Government ex- pressed itself willing to join the commis- sion; but, without any fiu-ther notice to South Australia, roy^l commissions of New South Wales and Victoria then sitting held a conference, auA adopted a resolution declaring "that the whole of the waters of the Upper Murray and its tri- butaries, and the whole of the waters of the Lower Murray, were the common property of New South Waleg and Victoria." This leiu"po8e of irrigation, naviga- tion, and water supply,'' &c. This commis- sion presented its report, but it was not unanimous, the South Australian Commissioner differing from the finding of the other mtm- bers in matters of substance. The majority re- port decidi'd on an allotment of the waters of the river and its tributaries between the three States, the effect of which on the navigation of the Murray is sliown by the following figures: — In the years 1886-1901 inclusive, under natural conditions, the average arnual duration of navigation bad been 10 months: un- der the conditions of the commission's allot- ment it would have been 5i months. During the actual existence of this commission, Victo- ria, in the face of the strongest protests from New South Wales and South Australia, initiated further large diversion works. 1903 — Subsequent to the report of the commis- sion, correspondence passed between the Pre- miers of South Australia and Victoi'ia, bearing principally on the legal aspect of the question, and in 1903 the matter was fully discussed at the Conference of Premiers in Sydney, with the result that a tentative agreement was made modifying the apportionment proposed by the Interstate Royal Commission slightiy in favour of South Australia; but tlus agreement was again altered at the expense of South Australia. It was unfavourably received in all the States, and was not ratified. 1904 — The South Australian House of Assembly, on the proposal of Mr. Ritchie, made the following resolution: — "That in the opinion of this House it is advis- able that the Attorney-General should, in the name of the State, move for an injunction against the State of Victoria, and against all oflBcers of that State and persons acting under its authority, restraining them from the appro- priation of water from the River Murray under the Tooleybuc and other schemes." ICOS. — The question was again brought forward for discussion at the Conference of State MinisteiB held at Hobart in February, 1906, when, the principle of apportionment of the waters beinsr laid aside, a great advance towards an amicable settlement was made, and a decision was come to for the preparation of a statement by the Government of South Australia "on the basis of the resolutions attached, which, in general terms, affirm that the ultimate requirements of navigation and irrigation will necessitate the ctnstruction of a system of locks over all that portion of the river now customarily used for na\igation to be gradually installed as the diver- sions of New South Wales and Victoria render such locks necessary; the cost of all such works to be paid for in equal shares by the three States, Lake Victoria storage to be the first work constructed." 1905.— South Australian Parliament passed a Bill authorizing surveys to be made, with a view to select sites for locks, and begrin work in this State. 1906. — South Australian Government forwarded a report to New South Wales and Victoria in com- pliance with request of Hobart Conference. (Jo- vemment obtained legal opinions from Sir Josiah S3'mon, K.C. (S.A.), Mr. Isaacs, K.O. (Victoria), and Mr. Glynn (S.A.), and the unani- mous view was expressed that South Australia has riparian rights which cannot be infringed. An afjreement (subject to the ratification of the Parliaments of the three States), signed by the Premiers at the Sydney Conference in ApriL 21 — Compromises at Conferences. — At the Conference of Premiers held In Sydney in 1903, the represeutativea of South Australia proposed this motion : — That this conference is of opinion (1) that the Federal Government should be respectfully asked to undertake, as a Oommonwealtli scheme, the locking of the River Murray from Wentworth to Blanchetown, to secure the per- manent navig-ability of the river; (2) that after this work is completed the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia should respectively bear the cost of conserva- tion and irrigation schemes within their own borders; (3) that the water not required for maintaining navigation shall be allotted as follows: — A minimum of 70,000 cubic feet per minute to be allowed to flow into South Australia, and the balance to be divided be- tween New South Wales and Victoria as fol- lows: — Two-thirds to New South Wales and one-third to Victoria; (4) that an independent permanent commission be appointed by the Federal Executive with authority to maintain these conditions. To this proposal three votes were se- cured—those of Sir John See (N.S.W.). Mr. James (W.A.). and Mr. Jenkins (S.A.). The other three representatives —Mr. Irvine (Vic), Mr. Philp (Q.), and Mr. Nicholls (Tas.) — voted against it The following motions were submit- ted by the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, then Premier of South Australia, at the Hobart Conference in 1905: — 1. That the ultimate requirements of naviga- tion and irrigation will necessitate the con- stniction of a complete S3^em of locks over the whole of that portion of the river system now customarilj- used for navigation. 2. That as the diversion by New South Wales and Victoria increases in extent such system of locks be gradually installed, so as to at all times maintain the full requirements of naviga- tion. 3. That the cost of all works for the purpose of navigation be contributed by the three States in equal parts. 4. That when the above principles are approv- ed the services should be obtained of the best available engineer in the world competent to deal with both the navigation and irrigation 9}des of the question, to report fully on chc extent and character of the works necessary, snd prepare full estimates; the expense to be borne equally by the States interested. 5. That a goverxiing body be constituted to cor.trrl the use and division of the waters cf the river Fystem, consisting of three engineers. one to be appointed by each State. And before any works of diversion are commenced such body shall investigate the effect of sue); diver- sion on the flow of the river, and if in their opinion the interests of navigation would be ad- vereely affected they shall initiate such por- tion of the complete system as will conserve the frill nsvig.ation requirements. 6. That the first work to be commenced shall be that for the storage at Lake Victoria. The Hobart Conference was charac- terized by a much more con- ciliatory spirit than that which had prevailed at previous ga- therings. The formal decision arrived at by the Hobart Conference was that a definite settlement of the question should be deferred to permit of the South Australian Government preparing a full report on the basis of certain resolutions, and present- ing to the States Interested a detailed statement of the works considered necessary to give effect to siieh resolu- tions. The statement to includ^' the fol- lowing information: — "1. The extent and character of the lock system re- quired, with an estimate of the proba- ble length of period over which their construction may be spread, having in view the future gradual absorption of the surplus water for irrigation. 2. An approximate estimate of the capital cost and annual maintenance of such a system, and the revenue that may be expected to be derived from the im- position of a toUage on the river-borne trade and from other sources. 3. Full consideration to be given to the possi- bility of providing — at least in the ear- lier periods — for the mainten.ance of navigation, by means of storages, at a probably great reduction of cost." A report covering answers to these en- quiries was duly forwarded by the Go- vernment. —A Tentative Agreement.— The South Australian Parliament, during the session of 1905, autho- rized surveys and the preparation of plans in order to facilitate the con- struction of locks on the lower reaches of the Murray, and surveys are being 22 made with that end in view. Early in 1906 the Premier went on a diplomatic mission to Victoria. Du- ring his presence there tlie Pre- mier of Victoria expressed the opi- Jiion that "all the States ought to join together, and use their money together, so that Australia might rival Egypt." That is the Austi'alian (and the South Australiau) view of the question, and indicates the only practical solution of the problem. At a conference of Pre- miers held in Sydney early in April. I'.ioe, the representatives of South Aus- tralia and Victoria submitted separate resolutions as the basis of an agree- ment. Eventually a compact was en- tered into providing for a scheme of apportionment of water between the Slates and the appointment of a Board of Commissioners. This is subject to ratification by the three Parliaments. — Worth Fighting For. — It is imi>ossible to study the records of select committees, I'oyal commis^ sions, Preiuiers' Conferences, news- paper files, and pamphlets, without being impressed by the fact that strenuous efforts have been made at various times to arrive at some settle- ment. The object in view is worth all Ihe work done. The Corowa Confer- ence represented a distinct advance. That historic gatherin ra.v, and a weir at Bungowannah. as proposed br Mr. ilcKinney, and endorsed by Col. Home and Mr. McGregor, such headworks to be national. That, contingent upon the second resolution being: adopted by the Governments concerned, this conference recommends the public bodieg in- terested to approach their respective Governments, and request that the distributinff works for utili- zing the Upper Murray storage for Bungo.vannah Weir be commenced at such time as will enable them to be completed concurrently \^'ith the head- works named. Tl;at a royal commission be appointed consist- ing of one representative from each State of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, to report as to the just allotment of the waters of the Murray basin to the use of each of thJ said States, and, as to the best methods, joint or otherwise, for their conserva- tion and distribution, both for the pur- poses of irrigation and navigation, and in pai^ ticulur to report promptly upon the practicability and cost of the schemes mentioned in the resolu- tions at the conference. — Views of a Prime Minister. — At the gathering at Corowa the Prime Minister of the Commonwealtii (Sir Edmund Barton) said, inter alia: — "These questions of navigation and ir- rigation are very much bound up in one another. It is quite clear that no one State can undertake this work. There must, therefore, be an exhibition of wisdom, moderation, and good sense between the States of the Common- wealth. I do not agree with those who say that the conservation of water and irrigation are incompatible. In- stead of being hostile, they are the complement one to the other, and they can only be done by co-operation. If the Commonwealth and the States stand strictly on their rights under the Constitution, I am afraid the prospect of doing anything very practical will be remote; but I would point out that the Constitution was framed to be ■forked by reasonable men. None of them should try and put any political difficulty in the way. What the peo- ple must see to is that they do not let this subject drop as soon as they get 23 a good rainfall. We are agreed that Borne scheme of irrigation is necessary. Do not let us, then, wait until the next drought. It is the next drought that you have to get ready for. I am deeply interested in this question. The great internal question of Australia is water. It has been very little recognised in the past, but the question is one that must be first in our thoughts if we are to be a nation able to get experience from the past, and prepared to taiie means to save ourselves from so much loss and pain in the future." — Interstate Opinions. — Later, when replying to a vote of thanks at the Corowa Conference, the then Prime Minister said that the re- solution (agreeing to the appointment of the three Commissioners) was '"one 01 the first fruits of federation, and. al- though navigation was a federal mat- ter, the Federal Government had not the slightest objection to the work of the commission including the considera- tion of river navigation, because the Interests of navigation and irrigation In this case could not be separated." Sir William Lyne expressed the hope that State jealousies would be sup- pressed, and he asked: — "What would it cost to lock the Murray? Thirty locks and weirs could be constructenfer- ence at Sydney, AprU, 1906, will be submitted at an early date to the va- rious legislatures for ratification. It Is as follows :— Clauses 1 and 2 provide that until the initiation of a system of works for the improvement of the navigation of the Murray River and its principal tri- butaries, the total diversions by tha upper States shall be limited as fol- low:— July to January— New South Wales, 220,000 cubic feet per minute; Victoria, 130,000 cubic feet. February to June— New South Wales, 158,000 cubic feet per minute; Victoria, 92,000 cubic feet. A provision is made which enables the diversions to be in- creased pro rata should the volume of water In the river channel at the easi- eru boundary of South Australia ex- ceed a certain quantity. Clause 3 provides that diversions from certain rivers which make no ef- fective contribution to the volume of the main stream except during flood shall be permissible at all times with- out in any way violating the agree- meat. The rivers are:— In New South "Wales— The Lachlan, Bogan, Macqua- rie, Casflereagh, Namoi, and Gwydir. In Victoria — Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca. and Wimmera, and the Broken, •v\-ith its effluent Broken Creek. As to the Wakool the diversion is limited to the water derivable from its proper catchment, but not in respect of part of its volume derived from the over- flow of the Murray River. Clause 4 authorizes the construc- tion of the works at Lake Victoria, including two locks, as proposed by the Interstate Royal Commission. The cost of consti-uction and main- tenance of these works is to be borne in equal shares by the three States. When the Murray River Com- mission, which is appointed 'to carry out the agreement, arrives at the opinion that the extent of the diver- sions is such as to sensibly impede river navigation, it shall call upon the three States to carry out a general system of canalization by locks aJQd other works of improvement. Clause 5 reads: — That the cost of carrying out the scheme of canalization, locks, and other works of in-provcment of the Munay Rivei- and its tributaries, from a point near Blanchetown to Echuca on the Murray, and to Hay on the Murrumbidgee, including the works at and near Lake Victoria, and of maintaining the satne, be apportioned one-third to South Australia, and two-tliirds to the upper States; such sum of two-thirds (exclusive of the cost of construction and maintenance works at and near Lake Victoria authorized by vesolution 4) to be contributed by the h^Utea of New South Wales and Victoria in ) proportion to their reBpective contribui iona to the volume of the main stream of the Munay River (exclusive of contiibulions from the Darling River); and these Slates sliall be accorded rights of diversion in re- spect of the water rendered available for irrigation by such locks and other works of 25 improvement in proportion to their re- spective contributions (exclusive of those from the Darling River); and the Commis- Bion shall give directions accordingly. That it shall be the duty of the Commission to initiate and carry on an effective and uniform system of making and recording con- tinuoxia gaugings of the main stream of the Murray River and of its tributaries with- in the States of New South Wales, Vic- toria, and South Australia (other than those reserved in whole or in part by resolution 3 to tlie separate use of certain of the States), at such points as may be necessary, to determine the volume of intake from the several portions of the drainage area, the volume of flow at various points in the channels, and the losses therefrom, v-ith their position and modes of occurrence; to initiate and carry on an effective system of making and recording continuous gaugings of all diversions, whether natural or arti- ficial, or partly natural and partly artificial, from the main stream of the Murray River ar.d from its tributaries other than those wholly reserved to the separate use of cer- tain of the States, by resolution 3; to amend from time to time, and as often aa may appear necessary, the restrictions as to diversion imposed upon the States of New South Wales and Victoria, so that re- spective rights to divert, except as already provided by this resolution, shall be in the same proportion as the contributions to the river and its tributaries (other than those reserved by resolution 3) from their respec- tive territories; but so that the volume in the river channel at the eastern boundary of South Australia shall be as herein pro- vided; and that it shall be permissible for the State of New South Wales to contribute part of her quota of such volume from the Diir- ling River. Clause 6 provides that when tho canalization of the river by locks and other works is complete the volume of water to be allowed to South Austra- lia shall be 75,000,000,000 cubic ft. per annum at her eastern boundai"y, sub- ject to pro rata reduction when it appears that the total volume at all points of off-take and at the eastern boundary of South Australia will be less than 321,000,000,000 cubic ft. for the year. Clause 7 is as follows: — Nothing in this agreement shall be con- strued to prohibit any State from construct- ing reservoirs for the storage of waters ap- propriated or diverted by it under the autho- rity hereof; and such waters so impounded or stored shall be and remain the absolute property of such State, to be devoted to such uses as it shall determine; and such State shall not be under any obligation to :elease such waters or any part thereof for or towards the maintenance of the volume of the river or of any of its tributaries. No water that has been impounded or scored shall be deemed part of the natural volume of any river or stream; but 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. Clause 8 provides for the appoint- ment of the Murray River Commis- sion, consisting of one Commissioner from each State, within three montha of the passing by the Parliaments of the contracting States of an Act rati- fying the agreement; and clause 9 for the appointment of a committee of three — one representative from each State— to draft a Bill to give effect to the resolutions adopted by the Confer- ence (the Bill to include the levying of tolls, dues, and charges), and to report as to a suitable basis for the imposi- tion of the tolls. 26 The eiaim of Irrigation. More than half the world's crops are raised by the aid of irrigation, so that it seems rather late in the day to de- monstratp the benefits of this system of cultivation. Yet there are people in Australia who question whether it will pay to supplement a deficient i-aln- fall witli river water, and comparisons made with other countries are in one ro!oints in South Australia along the valley of the Mur- ray there are large areas of low-lying land which could be made exceeding- ly fertile if inundated at regular in- tervals. With locks and storage l>a- slns as proposed, the lowlands could b(- flooded by gravitaition at a mini- mum cost. The valley of the Murray woiild by this means become a very important factor in the agricultural productions of this State, and coul 1 easily be made to carry a large popu- lation. An area of little more than 3,000 acres is maintaining over 1,000 people at Renmark, and has just produced a crop worth ap- proximately £.".0,000! Without irri- gation the same land would . not bave carried 500 sheep. At Mil- dura 8,000 acres is supporting 5.000 people, and the yield of produce last season was valued at £120,000. The same country would not afford pasture for 1,000 sheep! A delegate to the Irrigation Conference at Syd- ney said that settlers would be quite prepared to pay a reasonable amount for water, "because they had to regard irrigation as an insurance against drought." Whilst settlers in New South Wales were without feed for their stock, their neighbours across the river in Victoria were, by means of irrigation, selling fodder at £5 and £6 a ton! During the drought, said the delegate, when his stock were dying, and he had not a blade of grass, he saw in the Goulburn Valley hundreds of acres of irrigated land similar to his own. which was fattening a bul- lock to the acre. "That was calculatr ed to make me a sti'ong irrigation- ist." The maxim of Professor Hil- gard. that "arid countries are always rich countries when irrigated," is be- coming understood in Soutb Australia; and, when settlers begin to realize that the Murray is not likely to be turn- ed into a dry channel, as they at one time feared it might be, owing to up- stream diversions, Irrigation will be more generally practised than it has been. —Lessons From Abroad.— Admitting that conditions are not the same in every particular, it serves as an inspiration to study what has been done in older countries by a ju- dicious application of water to soil. One of the greatest living authorities on Indian irrigation has given a strik- ing illustration of what the system means in India:— "It may be broadly 27 calculated that the value of the crops which would have perished if un- watered, or would not have been sown at all if the canals had not existed, equals in each ordinary year at least half the capital expended on these worksl" The art of irrigation was practised in Egypt long before Joseph was called upon to interpret in so un- pleasant a way the dreams of Pharaoh; but to modern engineers has been left the task of harnessing the mighty Nile so as to control its fertilizing powers. Six hundred miles above Cairo, at Assouan, a dam was built, anil locks were constructed to facilitate naviga- tion. The reservoir holds 1,000,000 000 tons of water— a quantity more than sufficient to provide one year's full do- mestic supply for eveiy city, town, and village in the United Kingdom, with its population exceeding 42.000,000. The total length of this dam is about one and a quarter miles, the maximum height is about 120 ft., the difference of level of water above and below, 67 ft., and the total weight of masoniy exceeds 1,000,000 tons! Navigation fs provided for by a ladder of four locks, each 260 ft. long by 32 ft. wide. Sir William Willcocks has stated that the water retained at Assouan is sufficient to give perennial irrigation to 500,000 acres, thus adding £15,000,000 to the wealth of Egypt. Water conservation schemes under the supervision of Sir William Willcocks in Egypt have had the effect of in- creasing land values from £120.000,000 in 1884 to £275,000,000 in 1903. In his work on the Nile Reservoir Dam at Assouan, the eminent engineer says: — "The cost of changing the basin canals of Upper Egypt into perennial canals, completing the drainage system of the counti-y, providing for flood escapes and the storage of water in the Nile Valley, has been estimated it £10,000,000. Once an unlimited supply of summer water is available, the sum- mer crops of Egypt will be worth about £40,000,000 per annum, and wealth such as th,at can well afford to pay to be insured against drought." Though greatly interested in the con- servation of water for pur])oses of pro- duction. Sir William Willcocks does not lose sight of the importance of na vigation. In a recent interview he stated that he was "more than satis- fied with the outlook for irrigation in the valley of the Euphrates," and he went on to say — "I am amazed at the scope there exists for irrigtation on tlie Euphr'ates and Tigris, and at the ease with which the necessary works can be constructed. One thing is clear Jiere — that irrigation and navigation must go hand-in-hand, and the Tigris nnd Euphrates carry enough water for irrigation and navigation combined for half a century." If navigation and irrigation "must" go hand in hand on the Tigris and Euphrates in the opinion of so eminent an authority, why not on the Murray, Darling, and Murrumbidgee? — Advance Australia! — When ancient Egypt is rai>idly de- veloping 3 forward movement it is time that youthful Australia stopped marking time and stepped out. The Commonwealth should develop a "quick-step" movement and make pro- gress. The land of the Pharaohs is once more pulsating with life, and this is due to the applica- tion of water to the sandy de- serts through which the historic Nile sluggishly winds its way. Natural conditions are more favourable in some respects in Australia than in the older country; but, though in Egypt great waterways are being turned to account, in the Commonwealth water is permitted to run to waste into the ocean, while the joint owners haggle over trifles on the banks of the stream! For scores of years India has provided a striking example of how artificial watering can be made to re- 28 duce the effects of rainless seasonS; but it has remained for Egypt and tha western States of America to give the most practical object lessc»ns to Aus- tralia. — What America is Doing. — It is estimated that 7.500,000 acres is under water treatment in the wes- tern States of America, where a few years ago tlie country was des- cribed as irreclaimable. Cities are now dotted over the plain, which has been made one of the most productive centres of the United States. The amount ex- pended in irrigation schemes In the United States is calculated at £50.000,000. In the Salt River Valley, in Arizona, in what was not long ago spoken of as impracticable desert, 25.000 people are (according :o a well-known writerUhriving on 25,000 acres. The irrigation works cost £600,000; the wealth created is valued at £0.000.000; and a wired fence is the dividing line between the primeval solitude and a pictiiresque expanse of happy settlement. President Roosevelt Id a message to Congress said:— '"The reclamation and settlement of arid lands will enrich eveiy portion of our countrj-. just as the settlement of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys brought prosperity to the Atlantic States." The pioneer irri^rator, with scraper and spade, has invaded the Avildest and most remote sections of the intermoui- tain country, of what was once the "w.ilerless Avest." He hns turned the precious waters of a thousand streams uijon 122,000 fai-ms. More than 100,'X)0 ditches stretch out for 50,000 miles to cover 9,000,000 acres of pro- ductive laud wrested from aridity. These ditches, monumentsof the indom- itable industry and courage of Ui-i. builders, represent an initial outlay ol' £l!s.OOO,00(». The fertile fields and blos- Boniiiif,' orchards which to-day atte^st the ANisdom of the irrigators yield an- nually more than £20,000,000 in croi)8, while the increment to the taxable wealth of the nation created by irriga- tion works is in excess of £74.800.000 In land values alone. California leads the way in cost of water schemes, and Utah comes next. The Mormons settled hi an arid tract which they have made productive by bringing water down from the mountains. In irrigated area Colorado ranks first, but the Californian laud is more valuable and is more extensively worked. More than 90 per cent, of America's artificial- ly watered farms are In the semi- arid region between the Rockies and the Mississippi, using the head waters of the latter stream. This take? in part of the "Great American Desert" of old geographies. In the report sup- plied to the Government of New South Wales by one of its officers who visited the United States, this official said:— "A visit to the San Joaquin Valley and the canal of the Cache le Poudre. the union colony of Greeley, Colorado, and a journey as far east as San An- tonio by the southern route, would, I think, go far to impress them (Austra- lian pastoral! sts), and do much to modify the existing methods of the pastoral industry, and remove the pre- vailing notion that it will not pay to irrigate fodder crops for stock feed- ing." —The Lesson of Experience.— The three experts who constituted the royal commission of 1902 devoted a good deal of time to the inspection of irrigation works in the various States, particularly in Victoria, where they found much to interest them, and something to criticise. They pointed out that even with the most skilful location, grading, and construction of works, "nothing is more certain than that every individual cultivator who uses the water has to learn the art (of irrigation), either through intelli- gent study of the experience of others and careful observations and expert- 29 roents of his own, or by the more pain- ful, and in some cases ruinous, teach- ing of failure arising from his want of slull." A common ei'i-or among irri- gationists is the mistaken idea that because water is a good tiling they can never use too much of iit. One of the causes to which Victorian failures are attributed is the indiscriminate flooding of laud duinng a period when the soil is subject to a heavy rainfall. This also seems to have been the ex- perience in New South Wnles. One witness examined at Hay said: — "I consider the soil is adapted for irrigation, and I have confidence in the scheme if only we had practical men on the area- men who understood fruit culture, and the growing of crops by applying water to the land. We have found that land and water in themselves are not sufiicient, that there is a proper meithod of putting water on, and that method has to be learned by experi- ence." —Where Irrigation Pays. — Sir Samuel McCaughey is one of the most enterprising and successful irri- gationists in New South Wales. He has spent large sums in private conserva- tion works and in experiments in the growing of fodder crops, and he has proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that irrigation will handsomely pay the Australian stockowner if carried out on practical lines. He regards sor- ghum as tlie best summer fodder, ow- ing to the quick results obtained, though lucerne is the best to grow on a large scale, as it does not require the annual expense of cultivation. "Two- sevenths of the waste flow of the MuiTumbidgee," says Sir Samuel Mc- Caughey, "would irrigate 2,203,856 acres of wheat, oats, or barley, to a depth of 4* In., which would, judging from my experience, give a return of 40 bushels of wheat or 60 bushels of oats to the acre, or, say, a gross return of £8,81.5,424 in either instance. Tlie estimate of 50 sheep to the acre, fed on sorghum for the four summer months, is only half the stock carried per acre on a small paddock on North Yanko last year. The average cost of growmg sorghum would be about £1 per acre per annum, and of lucerne considerably less." Mr. N. A, Gaten- by, of Forbes, New South Wales^ watered 200 acres, and netted £1,400. A neighbour of his mvested £270 in flooding 40 acres, and took from it hay to the value of £480, when other crops in the district were a failure. Other pastoralists in New South Wales told the royal commission that stock losses would be greatly reduced in dry seasons by the extension of Ir- rigation. Mr. H. W. Morphett. of Wood's Point, South Australia, stated in evidence that he had obtained 150 tons of onions in one year, the net pro- fit from the crop being no less than £600. That was in 1902, and since then Mr. Morphett has extended his opera- tions, and has over 200 acres under lucerne. The results obtained are such as to open the eyes of sceptics regard- ing the fertility of reclaimed swamp lands along the Murray. As much as £10 to £20 per acre per annum has been taken off land in the valleys of our rivers subjected to inun- dation. The necessity for isuath Australia being guaranteed a regu- lar flow of water in the Murray was further recognised by the experts in the following statement:— "The aridity of the soil and the low rainfall being such as to render the artificial application of water a matter of prime importance in South Australia, it is a little remarkable that irrigation has not been more generally practised. The one great illustration in South Austra- lia of its advantages Is to be seen ^t Reumark, where, in the midst of ii typically dry Australian countiy, prac- tically rainless in its natural condition, there exists a thriving settlement car- 30 ry\ng a population of about 1.000." That was written in 1902, and during tbo iiiten-al a considerable expansion of the irriirated area in South Atis- tralia has taken place. Some of the abandoned Aillage settlements have been occupied by private people, while individual settlers are beginninar to re- cognise the advantages to be derived from applying to their land some of the waters of a river which they have previously allowed to tlow unheetled past their frontages. There is a strong forward movement noticeable among riverside landownei's, chiefly in the direction of growing fodder for stock and dairying. A Word of Caution. — The royal commission estimated the irrigable area in the Murray Basin m three States at 50,000,000 acres, but under the best conditions some of this land could not be utilized. "Irri- gation is not all plain sailing and profit," Professor Robert Wal- lace has pointed out, "unless managed with judgment. In a hot climate, where evaporatian is active, water must be applied with skill and in moderate quantities, else serious consequences result." In an article contributed to The Field in 1S08 Professor Wallace, author of "The Agricultural and Rural Economy of Austi-alia and New Zealand," dealt with irrigation in Victoria, in which State he said large sums of mon(^v h.nd been spent "for the benefit of .a community who did not possess either the necessary amoimt of experience in the practice of Irrigation to enable it to take full advantage of the oppor- tunities offererl, or the amount of faith In its success to induce individuals to give their efforts to make the ven- ture successful." After describing what had been attempted at Mildura and elsewhere this keen observer and eminent agricultural authority sum- med up as follows: — A number of people who have sliown them- sehes to be wise, at least in their own esti- mation and after the event, have taken to- rei.rjnianding: the Victorian Government of the last decade for the extravagant expendi- ture of public money upon irrigation, and it is not an uncommon practice in tlie other Australian colonies to poinit to the lavishness of Victoria in irrigation expenditure as a waming to progressives to keep down ex- penses: and it must be admitted, in view of the whole circumstances which are now ap- parent, that the rate of development was too rapid. The people upon whom the great burden of additional work and responsibility ought to have fallen were ignorant of even the first principles of irrigation, and, in not a few instances, preiudiced against it: and, moreover, Victoria has bad to pass through a financial crisis, which shook her resources to the foundation — a circumstance which no one could foresee. The results of early blun- dering and financial and other misfortunes will pass away in time, and the necessity for irrigation and the suitability of local con- ditione will ultimately assert themselves in the pioneer irrigation colony of Australia. —Compensation Works Required.— What this State at present desires is that the Australian river sys- tem shall be fully utilized. We are heartily in accord with the aspirations of our neighbours to make their arid country more productive. There is no antagonism on the part of this State towards irrigation. Tens of millions of gallons of priceless water are daily flowing past some of the driest p;irt9- of Australia to waste in the ocean. The land calls for use, and only the- fertillzing agency ig required, in con- junction with the available sunshine, to bring production to a high degree of perfection. South Australia believes in irrigation. The foolish misrepresen. tation is sometimes made by our neigh- bours that otu" claims are solely for navigation. Those critics conveniently —or ignorantly, let us hope — overlook the facts that the Murray flows through South Australia for a distance of r)00 miles; that on both its banks at numerous points irrigation works are in progress: and that, in addition to this, large interests are involved in the irrigation colony at Renmark and 31 In the reclaimed mai-shes which fringe the stream. The claim ia that the ingenuity of the engineer shall aid Nature in the extra de- mands liljely to be made upon her. In times of flood seas of water pass unutilized. South Austra- lia's contention is that the thi-oe States should be asso- ciated in arresting a proportion of this volume in the reservoirs with which Nature has dotted the banks ot the main stream. As auxiliaries to these, and as compensating works for the increasing demands of irrigation, locks should be constructed. Wijere Is the selfishness in this policj ? There^ is no denial of the rights of our neigh- bours. South Australians make no un- reasonable demands for themselves. The benefits of irrigation are freely ad- mitted, but the claims for cheap tran- sit of goods cannot be overlooked. In a country of great distances inland navi- gation is indispensable to profitable settlement, and the fact must be rea- lized sooner or later. 32 The Rivers as Highways of Commerce. The conservation of existing interests, especially of such as have grown out of the natural condi- tions of the country of their birth, and have re- mtined for a lengthened time unchallenged, is a fundamental principle of law, no less than of the public Bonse of justice and right, among all civi- lized communities. In the navigation and trade of Wie Murray and its larger tributaries a consider- able capital has been already embarked; suitable vessels have been built and equipped, wharfs consfructed, and warehouse accommodation provid- ed — facts that cannot be ignored in any attempt- ed settlement of rights. Provision will therefore be proposed for the continuance of a suprily of water in those portions of the channel heretofore commonly navigated, su.liciont to carry vessels of the like class and of the same draught as those hitherto employed in the river trade; such supply to be continued during the same period of each year as navigation has, in the past, been usually carried on. The volume required for this purpose would be greatly reduced by the construction of weira and locks in the channels, and a much l-Tger volume thus released for employment in f ther ways. It will be recommended that these works be taken in hand as early as possible, Iheir con- Btruction being a condition precedent to the propix utilization of the resources available from the rivers. — Report of Interstate Royal Oommission of Kxiierts, 1902. Cach riparian State is under a conventional obl'cration to remove all obstacles to navigation which may arise in the bed of the river within its territory, and to maintain the towing and other accessories to navigation in such a condi- tion aa will best facilitate the merchant vessels of all nations. — Twiss, Law of Nations. — Claims of Navigation. — To render permanently navigable three great rivers, and thus give cheap and regular transport to pro- ducers for 3,000 miles inland; to provide a plentiful supply oC water to vast territories fre- quently s'Ticljen by drought; to throw oj>en fresh fields for the enter- prising trader, and new areas for the laiidseelicr, is surely a policy which must appeal to the patriotism of the people of Australia and commend Itself to then- best judgment. The claim for permanently navigable streams is made on behalf, not of one State, but of Aus- tralia. The Commonvs^ealth as a whole will be the gainer, because the pro- ducers along the rivers will benefit, and no one State will have a mono- poly of the shipping business; neither will it be able to control the whole of the trade. Rivers as highways of commerce are, like the ocean, free to all. Even more important than the question of a prosperous river shipping trade is the necessity for providing cheap transport facilities for producers. France has revolutionized her rural in- dustries by means of canals and rivers, whUe the industrial prosperity of Grer- many is largely owing to the cheap wa- ter carriage enjoyed by her manufactur- ers. A writer in The Contemporary Re- view for December, 1904, in an article on "The Lesson of the German Water- ways," sliowed moist conclusively the wonderful advantages enjoyed by a country where water carriage is made available. He pointed out that if the inland transportation system of Great Britain "were properly arranged and managed Germany would be utterly unable to compete industrially with that country." Great Britain possesses the closest net of watercourses in Eu- rope, and is highly favoured by Nature for inland transport by water; but, un- fortunately, the railway companies of England control many of the canals, and, as in .\ustralia, the profits of existing railways are considered b«?. foi-o the interests of present and future producers and the indus- trial expansion of the country. The writer referred to declared that "it is economically wasteful not to extend and develop the natural and artificial waterways which a country K c C5 n P3 cr >> f=: < > cs K 5 D s X 33 possesses, and it is absolutely suicidal and criminal to let them fall into ne- glect and decay." That condenses in a sentence the South Australian attitude towards the Murray and its tributaries. This State has a right to protest against the criminal neglect of Australia in per- mitting the Murray to pour its contents into the sea during one portion of the year, with the result that in the other period trade is suspended and the pros- perity of producers threatened because there is not a regular flow of water and permanent communication with markets, — Railways Versus Rivers.^ It is only about 76 years ago since Capt. Sturt discovered the Murray, and half a century has passed by since Capt. Cadell in the Lady Augusta and Capt. W. R. Randell in the Mary Ann proved that the river was navigable for many hundreds of miles from its mouth. The Mvuray and its main tri- butary—the Darling — are intermittent- ly navigable foi- no less a distance than 2.. 500 miles; but, with the exception of the removal of a few snags, nothing has been done to extend the period when these streams are capable of being uti- lized as channels of trade to the interior. Indeed, it may be said that more legisla- tive effort has been put forth during the last half -century to destroy the trade influence of these streams than to increase theii- usefulness. The rail- way policy of more than one State has been shaped with the express object of diverting traffic from its natural course, and official regi'et has more than once been expressed that there should be in existence navigable streams which pro^- vide cheap inland transport to compete against land carriage. Throughout the controversy on the river problem dur- ing recent years it has been urged that navigation is of no concern — that, as there are several railways tapping the Murray, and more are to come, there is no need to consider the trading or shipping interests. That view found official expression at the Irrigation Con- ference at Sydney and the Premiers' Conference at Hobart. It is a short- sighted policy that puts the tempo- rary profit of a railway line before the interests of large sections of producers and the profitable settlement of the country. The cost of transport by German canals is from one- seventh to one-twenty-fourth of a pen- ny per ton per mile. The German "in- dustrial army" has to light far away froim its base, often hundreds of miles inland; but, thanlis to water carriage, its victory is assured. "Water car- riage in Germany has expanded about three and a half times more quiclily than has railway carriage." "During the last 20 years Germany has spent about £30,000,000 on her waterways" — surely a proof of the importance with which the authorities in the fatherland regard their sti*eams as providing cheap and efficient means of freightage. It is recorded that an Australian mer- chant, travelling in Germany and ob- serving the advantages of cheap water carriage to and from the interioa*, ex- pressed regret that Australia had "no navigable rivers!" There are U^w Aus- tralians who appreciate the fact that the Murray, Darling, and Mun'um bid- gee alone give 3,000 miles; and that for the expenditure of £3,000,000 per- manent highways of trade could be supplied equal in length to the distance from Adelaide to Port Dai-«in across the continent and halfway back again! This 3,000 miles of flowing water would be a guarantee of safety to irri- gationists, and could not fail (so some astronomers contend) to have an appre- ciable effect upon the climate. —Cheap Transport Essential to Successful Trading. — Mr. Andrew Caraegie, in his book" "The Empire of Business," predicts: — "One of the features of the new cen- tury is to be a return of water tran- sit for heavy materials. Lake ships of 7,000 tons burden already exist. Many 34 new waterways will be opened, upon which the raw materials for steel and the finished article itself will be carried for manufacturers at rates already reached upon the lakes — one-third, and often one-fourth, those charged by rail." In view of this deliberate opin- ion held by one of the greatest "cap- tains of industry" produced by the nine- teeuth centuiy, it is interesting to read in files received by a recent English mail that a "most extensive and im- portjint work is about to be undertak- en in Prussia — namely, the canalization of the whole country," and the im- provement of the existing waterways. The Rhine is to be united with the Weser at a cost of over £12,500,000. Out of this huge sum will also be de- frayed the expenditure to make the Lippe navigable. Another canal will be run from Berlin to Stettin, and this will absorb £2,150,000. The great water- way between the Oder and the Vistula will be improved to the extent of fl.05S,7o0, Avhile nearly a million will be allocated to the canalization of the Oder at certain points. A policy of such magnitude in a country so compact and self-contained does not suggest that in- land navigation is a thing of the past, and that railways can monopolize the carrying trade. "All the great rivers are to be joined," and when the scheme has been completed, "the heart of Prus- sia will be pierced by a gigantic water- way . . . and all the most important parts- of the Gorman Empire will be provided with waterways leading to the sea." Col. Arthur Cotton, in his work on the navigation of the Goda- very (India), said:- The qiKStion of the hour with all nations is inland navigation. ... All nations in all parts of the g-lobo have in all ages shown their appreciation of inland navigation, and thTe is not h navigable river in any coun- try tliiit iias long been civilized that is not studded with towns; and where rivers have not b(en found, canals have frequently been du;^, 1/, therefore, experience has shown that to make watrr communication where none previously existed has always bcon aiii|)ly re- mnnrrative, there can be no reasonable doubt as to the wisdom of putting the flr.ishing strrke to a work which Nature has already commenced. Mr. W. M. Acworth, M.A.. author of "The Railway and the Traders: a Sketch of the Railway Rates Question in Theory and Practice," points out: — Water carriagre is cheaper than railway car- riasre all over the world under natiu-al condi- tions. In a word, the railway charges rise steadily in amount as the character of the ttaf- fic gradually changes from least valuable and for the longest distance to most valuable and for the shortest distance. That such is in practice the method of fixing rates all fver the world, whether the railways be State o\'Ticd or private commercial undertakings, I iiavo already said. At an irrigation conference held in Sydney early in 1905 an official from the Railways Department of New South Wales boasted that the railways had been "fighting hard to divert trade, and had been successful in crippling the river shipping industry in New South Wales." Thereupon a leading delegate urged settlers along the river not to part with the means of getting their produce to market by water, while a resident disputed the state- ment that the railways were control- ling all the river trade. A motion was carried expressing the desirableness of safeguarding the Interests of down- stream settlers in carrying out any schemes of conservation and irriga- tion, One of the delegates hoped river settlers would never part with their shipping, as it represented the cheap- est means of transit; and in this he was well advised, for in no circum- stances can any of the railways serve riverside producers so well as can car- riers by water. The railway touches one point; a steamer calls at eve^ bend. At the Hobart Conference of 1905 Mr. Swinburne said: — In connection with the questions of navigation and locking, and of river improvement, it must not be forgotten that the upper States have carried out extensive railway works to provide for the needs of traffic, and to promote the development of the country traversed by the Mnrrny and its tributaries, and that these rail- ways have been undertaken in consequence of the insufflciencj- and uncerfciinty of the rivers 35 as navigable liicrhways. NaWgation, therefore, must not bo encouragrod in such a manner as to destroy the traffic on these lines, or to trans- fer it. or the lai^er part of, to the rivers; in short, the river trade must be subjected to reasonable taxation to provide for the main- tenance and management of the river works. That WRS a provincial view — a plea for the pampering of State railways at the expense of Australian expansion, and the prosperity of producers.! It is at least remarkable that, in a country which can boast of owning extensive Inland waterways, there should be oflicial jubilation because river-ship- ping interests had been destroyed by railways, and State-owned railways at that! As everybody knows, the rail- ways of New South Wales and Vic- toria have paid very dearly for the satisfaction they have enjoyed of hav- ing diverted trade from the rivers; and so, too, have the producers of those two States. River-bome goods have been carried at an enormous re- duction in freight compared with the charges levied on the produce and goods of customers in other parts of the country; and it is an extremely doubtful benefit to a community when a State succeeds in building up a rail- way business at the cost of natural in- land waterways and at the cost of general customs and taxpayers. It looks very much as if the mercantile interests of Melbourne and Sj'dney were being placed before the industrial expansion of Australia! — Benefits of Inland Navigation. — Early in 1905 a Parliamentary party steamed up the Murray as far as Lake Victoria, and the opportunity was tak- en of interviewing a number of settlers on the New South Wales bank of the river. ''Although we are in New South Wales," the settlers told the legislators, "we are in full sympathy with the claims put forward by South Australia in respect of the rivers, and there aro thousands more like us in New South Wales and Victoria. Withiout naviga- tion we cannot exist, as the river is the only outlet for our produce." One witness expressed the opinion before the royal commission of experts that, if there were no navigation on the River Darling "settlement would die out;" and the commission of experts admit- ted that to many the river "is practi- cally the sole highway of trade, the cost of land carriage being prohibitive." The canal service of France carries to the furthest destination more than half the goods imported by sea, and brings back in return to the ships more than three-quarters of the cargoes destined for export. An English writer (Mr. H. Gordon Thompson), in his work on tlie canal system of England, asks: — "rlow is it. on the other hand, that six million tons of goods are annually carried into Paris by water, this traffic being 41 per cent, of the total entering the city by railway and water, one million tons be- ing carried from Rouen in direct com- petition with a railway? How is it tliat Berlin is supplied to the extent of one-half of its imports by canal? How is it that over 27 per cent, of the traf- fic of the United States is water-borne, in spite of the cheap railway rates of that country? How is it that in France water-borne traffic forms 30 per cent, and in Germany 23 per cent, while iu the United Kingdom it is less than 11 per cent .of the total traffic? It is be- cause inland navigation has been im- proved and kept up ta date in these countries, whereas in our own case our waterways have stagnated in most, and retrograded in many, instances." Australia has great natural canals inter- secting a large portion of the continent, and the claim is that nothing should be done to destroy their usefulness, but that there should be some expenditure in order to extend their services. The proposal is a sound business proposi- tion. South Australia has no wish to render iiseless by the force of law any works already in operation, or to, pre- vent the completion of schemes calcula- ted to benefit up-stream settlers. All that is asked is that concurrency with 36 the carrying out of sucli undei-takings there shall be adopted on a national ba- sis compensation works in the shape of locks and storage basins. Mr. G. H. McKinuey, M.I.C.E., when head of the water conservation branch of the Public Works Department of New South Wales, admitted that "recent experience of other countries shows that the latter object (navigation) grows in importance with increase of population; and that inland navigation, though it may be in a large measure temporarily superseded by the construction of railways, ulti- mately more than regains its position as a trade-cai-rying agency." That, in a nutshell, is the argument in favour of locking — an argument which is all in tlie interests of the producer in those remote parts of New South Wales whose natural outlet is by the Darling and the Murray. The ex-Chief Engineer of Water Conservation in New Soiuth Wales and his collaborator (Mr. F. W. Ward), in a report on the utilization oif the Darling, stated further: — Obviously one of the first uses to which the Darling River could be put was that of navigation. No doubt this use plaj'ed an important part in encouraging the original oc- cupation. From thpn till now land carriage has heavily handicapped production. In dry seasona teams have to carry their own fodder, and in wet seasons the iinmetalled roads in a soft country cut up quickly, causing frequent and costly delays. Only one railway has 60 far touched the Darling. The average car- riage rate to shipping ports lor westom pro- duce is still so high as to be one of the severest taxes on industrial enterprise in tliat part of tlie colony. Additional railways are certain to be constructed in the coiu^e of time: but the experience of the world proves cor.clusively that they will not supersede water traffic. Economic results are often obtained by working the two systems together; but the iron road cannot destroy canal or river service where there is a level competition. The above was written a good many years ago, but no second railway has since "touched the Darling," so that producers are still dependent upon navigation! — Preferential Rates to Divert Trade. — The States of Victoria and New South Wales, as was pointed out at the Irri- gation Conference at Sydney, have spared no effort to destroy the river trade. The former State has tapped the Murray at nine diffe- rent points between Albury and Mildura, and all sorts of devices have been resorted to in order to divert ti-ade to Melbourne. River-borue goods have been carried over the railways for less than half the rates in some instances that were charged to Victorian producers, who were subsequently taxed to make up the losses on their own railways! In their desperation to secure traflclc the Victorian Government, according to evidence given to the royal commis- sion, adopted the doubtful practice of bribing the masters of river steamers to the extent of 6d. a bale on all wool they brought to Victorian ports. New South Wales has also attempted to defy distance and ignore geographical limi- tations, as well as override the proivi- sions of the Federal Constitution. The spectacle has been witnessed of goods being carried from Sydney to Bourke — 500 miles apart — at a less rate than that for which similar products are conveyed a quarter of the distance over any other liue in the same State! Settlers living halfway be- tween Sydney and Bourke had their goods consigned to Boiurke, and then sent back to them from the river town. They saved money by the manipula- tion! Ail illustration of how a navig- able river can compete success- fully against railways is given in the fact that last year certain classes of goods for Broken Hill were being carried by rail to Morgan, thence per river steamer to Wilcanuia, and from there 80 miles on camels to Broken Hill, at less cost then they could be sent by railway direct from Port Adelaide! Admitting that the com- petition of the rivers is bad for the railways, some of which sliould never have been built, inland producers reap the benefit of cheap transit to the sea- 37 board. A saving of from 25 to 50 per cent, is made by producers along the Darling when that stream is navigable! — Navigable Distances. — Few persons realize the glorious in- heritance which Nature has provided In the Murray. No other river in the world lends itself more readily to lock- ing. With locks and suitable storage basins the cost of irrigation would be reduced to a payable basis, and the valley of the Murray made highly pro- ductive. The success of irrigation large- ly depends on the regularity of naviga- tion. Mr. McKinney has stated: — "The intermittent character of many of the tributary rivers, the low rate of discharge to which even the most valuable among them are liable to fall, and the small rainfall through- out by far the greater part of the en- tire catchment, are factors which in- crease both the impoi-tance and the difficulty of the question of intercolo- nial water rights." This opinion serves to emphasize the necessity for the rivers being locked at the same time as the starting of irrigation schemes up- stream. The uncertain character of the sources of supply would greatly jeopardize the lower reaches if water weie diverted, as is proposed by Vic- toria and New South Wales. The same authority regards the Murinambidgee as "a river in the early stages of decrepi- tude," and he says that "it is not dif- ficult to imagine circumstances in which injudicious interference witl\ the waters of the Namoi or of the Mc- Intyre would have a perceptible effect on the River Darling, hundreds of miles distant." Mi-. McKinney adds:^ While South AiJBtralia contributes practically nothiutf to the supply of water in, the River Murray, it occupies an important position in rejjard to navigation. Far a distance of about 470 miles the remnant of the waters of the Murray and Darling Rivers and their tribu- taries flows throiugh South Australian territory to the ocean near Goolwa. The magnitude of the question of navigation may to some extent be realized from the following statement of approximate lengths of river which are navig- able in good seasons: — Miles. Goolwa to Wentworth 617 Weutworth to Mungundie 1,35« Wentworth to the junction of the Murray and Murrumbidgee . . . . 255 Murray-Murrumbidgee junction to Narrandera 500 Murray-Mumimbidgee junction to Ckwowa 485 Total 3,218 Although this navigation is liable to long in- termptions on the River Darling, and is inter- mittent even on the Murray, atill, in view of the cheapness of water cajrriage, it seems safe to conclude that the question of inland navi- gation on the River Murray and its tributa- ries will remain a subject of great importance, and one in which the interests of South Aus- tralia must receive consideration. That surely is a significant and im- portant as it is an honest admission. INIr. Lindon Bates has pointed cut that the Murray, with its tributaries, "is one of the largest rivers in the world," and it suggests singular apathy regarding this great inheritance when Australians so consistently ignore the value of the river systems as highways of trade to the interior. It has been estimated that the River Murray pours into the sea annually a volume of water vary- ing from 124,000,000,000 cubic feet in a veiT dry year, to 1,305,000,000,000 cu- bic feet in a high flood like that of 1890. An ocean of fresh water running to waste: —A Boon to Ail Australia. — It is not creditable to the Australian people that one of the largest streams in the world should have been permit- ted to empty its priceless contents into the deep year after year without any united effort having been made to uti- lize the Avaters as a means of prod lo- tion and carriage. A Melbourne daily paper, which has frequently criticised South Australia's attitude on the rivers question, said in the course of a lead- ing article: — "Undoubted-y tin always navigable river system wou d be a boon to Australia's land produc- ers. Locking the rivers is the only conservation practicable on 38 the plains, and tlius tlie two proposed uses of the river can be serv- ed by the one policy." That statement and that admission admirably summa- rize South Australia's position, which is the Austi-aiian view — consideration for tlie inland producer as well as for the New South AVales, Victorian, or South Australian owner of river steam- ers. Over 70 witnesses informed the commission of experts that navigation is "absolutely essential." At Bourke the engineers were told — "Water car- riage means a saving of 25 to 50 per cent." to producers. At Hay a state- ment was made tliat the surrounding country would be greatly benefited by a navigable river. Witness after wit- ness declared that unless the stream was kept navigable it would mean "a very material loss" to every settler on both sides of the Mur- rumbidgee and round Deniliquiu. Mr. Alfred Jamieson (President of the Murray River Main Canai League) said: — "I should be adverse to carrying out a scheme of irrigation which would be prejudicial to naviga- tion, on the grounds that there are vest- ed interests in existence, and navigation Is a very cheap means of carrying freight to and from the settlements on the navigable rivers." Mr. Humphry Davy told the Irrigation Conference at Sydney:— "One of the great factors con- tributing to the colossal wealth of Ame- rica has been river navigation; yet we In Australia to-day are aiming at the sacrifice of the substance for the sha dow." Mr. R. Scobie, M.L.A., legisla- tor, addressing the Sydney Irrigation Conference, said he agreed that the River Darling should be locked as far as Menindie Creek:— The Darling Kiver had alwaya bren navi- Kat'le as far up as, Menindie, even after it had ceased to be navigable to Wilcannia. Mr. Wade (principal Engineer for Rivers In New South Wales), in his able report, had pointed out how the water in the lakes at Menindie could be used to keep up the navigation of the DarlinfT just aa had been done in Egypt. Some meniberB of the conference would hardly be- lieve that, because of the cheapness of the river freight, settlers could get a bag of flour or a chest of tea on the Darling River at a nominal price compared with what it could be bought for in Adelaide. On the Darl'rig River the price was 18/, but at Broker. Hill it was 50/. He asked the con- ference not to be led away by the glowing eloquence of certain delegates, but to think of the hundreds of their fellow-citizens out in the west, men of all classes — the man who was carrying his 'bluer,' the homestead lessee, and the great pastoralist. . . . The railways were practically useless to the people of the Darling River. Mr. W. E. Abbott, the well-known pastoralist of Wingen, supported. It was an immense advantage to keep up navigation on the ' rivers, if only to keep down the railway rates. ... He had re- cognised all along that, if steamers were driven off, the people would be cutting their ov%n throats. He had realized that much more strongly since Mr McLachlan (secre- tary to the Railway Commissioners of New South Wales) and Mr. Harper (Chief Traffic Manager of New South Wales Railways) had urged at the conference that all navigation should be stopped. For less money than the State »f Western Australia laid out on a local water scheme the three States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Aus- tralia can construct works which will ensure the maximum supply needed for both navigation and irrigation. Sir John See, then Premier of New South Wales, said at the conclusion of the Premiers' Conference in 1903: — "It is not to me a question of what either of the three States has to gain, but what is the best to be done to avoid litigation and tie consequent delay In carrying out necessary conservation works during the next few years. It seems to me it would be a display of selfishness if any particular State in- sisted upon the right to impound all the waters of the tributaries flowing through its territories into the Mur- ray. It also appears to be an unwise thiuej to do .anything that will desti'oy navigation along 2,400 miles of our ter- ritory, especially when it is consider- ed that navigation ig the corollary of irrigation." 39 —Recognition of Navigation Claims. — The following exti-acts from the re- port of the royal commission of 1902 seive to show that South Australia's demand for the maintenance of a navi- gable stream is reasonable, and was so recognised by experts representing the other States: — The navigation of the Murray is, and always has been, largely in the liands of South Aus- tralia. ... Its (navigation) discontinuance is doubtless a great inconvenience and often serious loss to the settlers along the river, -who are dependent on water carriage for tlieir sup- plies and for transit of their products. To many the river is practically the sale highway of trade, the cost of land carriage being pro- hibitive. It has already been shown that no apportion- ment of water can be made between the States for irrigation and water conservation witliout rejrard to the requirements of navigation. SuflBcient water must be allowed to pass down the rivers to maintain navigability as hereto- fore, and, as time must elapse before the con- stnjction of locks and weirs, it is important to decide what are the conditions that will se- cure this meanwhile. The conclusion is unavoidable that, although existing vested interests demand certain SJb- Btantial concessions in favour of maintaining the navigable condition of the rivers, the ex- tension of navigation, except by the construc- tion of locks. Is not to be looked for. For more than 50 years the naviga- bility of certain rivers has been recog- nised, and it is impossible even to Imagine that any power can take away Buch accrued rights. Besides, why should they be taken away? Naviga- tion does not belong to one State more than to another. If the rivers are navigable they are open to traders and boats belonging to any State, and if the waterways represent cheap car- riage it will be the producers along the banks that will receive the major bene- fits. — Navigation and the Federal Compact — Manifestly it is the duty of Austra- lians to make the most of Nature's gifts rather than to impose artificial limitations. The price of provincialism was exceedingly heavy in pre-Federai days, when fanciful border lines were allowed to count for more than geo- graphical advantages. By reason of this nearly all of the States have been guilty of building expensive railways, and otherwise attempting to upset na- tural laws and interfere with the flow of trade and commerce. Producers in remote parts have been severely han- dicapped, and in many instances ruin- ed, by having been forcibly prevented from doing business through the trade channels of a neighbouring State; while other taxpayers, in no way dii'ectly in- terested, have been called upon to make good losses incurred in efforts to at- tract business over railways by means of "sporting rates." In no other part of Australia have these facts been more emphasized than in the dis- tricts contiguous to the Murray and the Darling. It was hoped that after the advent of federation, with its constitutional provisions to establish freedom of trade and com- plete reciprocity between the States, border barbarities would quickly be- come memories of a dead past. Un- fortunately for the nation as a whole such has not been the experience up to the present time. Consequently we see repeated every day, in connectioa with the great natural highways of commerce to the interior of this con- tinent, the same jealousies as of old, as well as the same desperate attempts to disturb the balance of nature and create artificial conditions. This pro- ceeding by the adjoining States is as unnatural as it is undoubtedly un- constitutional. Not only in the absence of compensation works is the "unrea- sonable" use of the river waters con- templated by our neighbours illegal, but some of the tactics employed by railway managers are in oppo- sition to the letter as well as contrary to the spirit of the Commonwealth Constitution. Navigation cannot be destroyed witii- out the breaking of the Federal com- pact; but, if settlement is to expand 40 aiid tlie prosperity of producei-s made locks and storage basins are built can certain, then the navigation period of irrisatiou and navigation go hand In the rivers must be extended. Not until btind. C 02 E o ^ o 41 Locks, Weirs, Tand Storage Basins. Most of the leading experts of the three States have recommended the construction of locks and weirs, and the utilization of the natural storage basins to be found at various points on most of the rivers. In 1886 ]Mr. J. W. Jones, when Conservator of Water in South Australia, favoured locks, and he has continued to advocate their con- struction. Mr. Dai'ley, when Engineer- In-Chief in New South Wales, and Mr. McKinney, of the same State, warmly supported locking the river, in order to save a portion of the flood waters. The Royal Commission of Experts reported in 1902:— .... An important factor affecting the dura- tion of navigation has been the natural storage in fertain lakes — a great part of which flowed out as the river sank, so maintaining its vo- lume, sometimes for one or two months beyond that at which it would otherwise have ceased. Sopje of these natural storages are capable oi im- provement and retTilation, their beneficial effect upon the navigability of the river being thercb\- extended. Lake Victoria, between Renmarkand Wentwortli, covers an area of 30,000 acres. The outflow from the lake has been known to keep the river na- vigable to South Australia for four weeks. At a cost of about £84,000, some 22,399 millions of cubic feet could be stored — "a volume which, while allowing for evaporation, would provide, in times of low river, 100,000 cubic feet per mi- nute for a period of nearly four months." The engineers also said: — "The Murray is navigable to Albui*y, or beyond; the Darling to Walgett; the MuiTumbidgee to "Wagga Wagga — over 3,000 miles of navigable waterway. The Murray could be locked from Blanchetown to Echuca for £1,330,000; the Darling to Walgett for £920,000; and the Murrum- bidgee to Hay, for £321.000; or a total of £2,575,000." "Thirty locks and ■weirs," a member of the present Fede- ral Government has observed, "could be constructed for about £3,000,000; but what was that for a great national work?" That is precisely the South Australian contention, and the true Australian view of the question. "If these rivers were all locked, from be- ginning to end. there would be immense quantities of water available for u-ri- gation, and yet enough left for naviga- tion," is an opinion expressed by Capr. W. R. Randell, the pioneer navigator of the Murray. It has already been shown that large sums are yearly being laid out in Germany, France, and other countries, and the following resolution recently passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom shows that the artificial im- provement of the inland waterways of England is receiving attention: — • In view of the improvement of internal water- way communication made during uecenr years by foreign nations, the keen competition with Bri- tish trade everywhere existing, and the necessity for cheap transport, this association urges the Government to provide facilities for the passage of a Bill tn extend the powers already conferred on the Board of Trade in respect of derelict canals to all existing canals, and to authorize the formation of canal trusts. It further resolves that the President of the Board of Trade be asked to receive a deputation on the subject. —The "Vital Importance" of Storage. — Mr. Tj. a. B. Wade (principal engl- ner for water supply in New South Wales) visited the United States iii 1904. and in a report to his Government he makes the following statement: — "Tne problem of storage is of vital im- portance in the United States, as it Is in Australia. The limit of diversion without storage has been reached In most of tlie arid west, and further ex- tension of irrigation is therefore con- tingent on storage. . . . Irrigation is 42 regarded as an insurance against drought, but it is worse than useless for this purpose without an af^sured supply of water for the channels." If irrigation is to be a success in Austra- ha. and the rights of navigation pro- served, the storage of water during tho flood periods is imperative. Nature has fortunately been exti-emely generous in this respect, for immense lakes and bil- la bongs exist all along the rivers. There are lakes on tlie Darling which, when tilled, are more like inland seas than anything else. They are capable of extending the navigation period con- siderably if properly controlled. Take Lalie Victoria for an example. It is situated 50 miles beyond the Soutii Australian border and is in New South Wales. The physical feature of the country assumes the form of a basin. During flood time the water pours into this, and covers an area of 30,000 acres to a depth that gives 17,000,000,000 cubic feet of water. The quantity of water that could be stored by the build- ing of certain embankments is 22,339,000,000 cubic feet— equal to 3 ft. of water in depth over the whole sur- face of Lakes Alexandriua and Albert! Lake Victoria is fringed by well-grown gumtrees, whilst the country surround- ing it is typical of inland Autralia. The Royal Commission of Experts made tho following observations: — Lake Victoria is near the Murray, below the town of Wentworth, and about 50 miles above the South Australian border. It covers an area of about PO.OOO acres, and is connected with the main stream bj' the Rufus River, througli which it is fed when the Murray is high. The level of water permanently impounded by the bar is R.L. 73.00, whereas flood marks show that the lake has been filled to R.L. 90.00, the storage between the two level.! beinff 17,000,000,000 of cubic feet. Mr. Shannaii, the manager of Lake Victoria Station, states that he Las seen the outflow from the lake keep the river navigable to South Australia for four weeks after it had been closed above the Rufus. In order that full advantage might be taken of such floods the lake could be filhd by raising the river level below Frenchman's Creek and diverting thrmigh it to Lake Victoria. It is esti- mated tint a weir on tlie river would tost £fiO,OCO, and the improvement of Frenchman's Creek and the erection of embankments and regu- lators £4,800, or a total of £84,800. These works would make possible the storage of 22,299,000,000 cubic feet — a volume which, while allowing for evaporation at the rate of 60 in. per annum, would provide in times of low river 100,030 cubic feet per minute for a period of nearly four months. The cost of the Lake Victoria storage, it Is also proposed, should be borne in equal shares by the three riparian States. Tlie employment of Lake Victoria as a storage basin would constitute an im- portant guarantee of a more regular water suply for irrigationists in South Australia. For the expenditure of a comparatively small sum a large quan- tity of water could be caught in Lake Victoria during floodtime, and held in reserve until it was required. Other natural storage basins could be similar- ly used at various points along the Murray, Darling, and Murrumbidgee. —Enough Water for All if Conserved. — With the exception of removing snags and cutting away a few sand- bars, nothing has been donel to im- prove the natural condition of the Mur- ray from that in which Sturt found it in 1830. The chief trouble of navigators and irrigationists has been and still is the intermittent character of the rivers. At cer- tain periods the streams are swollen l>y flood waters to such an extent that they take the shape of inland seas. Steamers have been known to dis- charge cai-goes at points 20 miles and more each side of the Darling! It is either a feast or a famine — a flooded stream or a semi-dry channel. It is claimed by experts that a sufflcient quantity of flood water could be im- pounded in storage basins formed by Nature adjacent to the rivers, and that it ''.'ould be released as required, so as to maintain the channel at a certain level. This is a work which appeals to the imagination of progressive men, and it should commend itself to the earnest and early attention of poli- ticians. By providing locks and storage basins along the Murray and its tribu- GOVERNMENT SURVEY BOAT ENGAGED IN FIXING ?ITES FOR LOOKS AND WKIRS BETWEEN BEANCIIETOWN AND lUF. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BORDER. SCENE (i\ Tin: MLlUR.MHIDaKE, NEAR K'fOKA STATION, NEW SOUTH WALES. 43 taries not only would 3,000 miles of navigable streams be created all the year round, but a permanent supply of water would be provided for irrigation; and this is a matter of supreme impor- tance to Australia. Nature gives more than sufficient water to meet all requirements, only in flood time the pre- cious fluid is allowed to flow away to the ocean, and then when dry months come there is a shortage. Could a greater national crime be imagined than the continual neglect of the Aus- tralian river system? It is a short- siglited policy, and the wonder is that Australians have permitted such wicked waste to go on so long. The engineers of New South Wales have admitted that "the constructions of locks and weirs would at once solve the whole difficulty," but they seem to hesitate to recommend an outlay of less than three millions to provide permanent waterviays stretching 3,000 miles in- land from the sea! Mr. Carruthers (Premier of New South Wales) took a broader view when he declared that "with works of conservation there is a sufficiency of water falling in the watersheds to keep up the flow of the rivers throughout the years of drought. We will have to construct artificial barriers to keep back the water." This ia precisely the South Australian view; and the claim that the results to be ob- tained are well worth the money will not be doubted by any one who wil'. think for a moment what a permanent supply of water in the Mun-ay, Darling, and Murrumbidgee and other channels must mean to the Commonwealth. It would provide the means for increasinjr production and materially adding to the general prosperity of the country. In the laudable desire to maintain and improve the Murray and the Darling and their ti-ibutaries as commercial highways South Austraha has no wish to prevent the reasonable use of upper waters. There is enough for all and to spare, if properly conserved. Our sympathies are entirely with our neighbours, who wish to build head- works and carry out conservation schemes. What should be impressed upon the authorities, however, is that, in order to preserve riparian rights lower down the stream, a sj^stem of locking should be undertaken simultaneously with the building of weirs. Only by doing this can a grave injustice to South Austraha be avoided, and the value of the lower reaches of tlie river for purposes of navigation and irriga- tion be preserved. Speaking at a pub- lic gathering in Melbourne in January last, Mr. Bent (Premier of Victoria) said, "We are prepared to give a third towards the locking of the Murray now." If New South Wales is equally ready the problem is solved. "In the report of the interstate commission of 1902," Avrote the seci-etary of that board of enquiry, "the first and most impoi'tant resolution, which was agreed to unanimously, pointed out that the navigation of the lower part of the main I'iver and of certain por- tions of the larger tributaries would eventually be provded for by the con- struction of locks and weirs, and until the initiation of such a system of works the upper riparian States should re- strict their total diversions." —The Cost of Locking. — The approximate lengths of the navigable rivers has been stated thus: — lilies. Goolwa to Wentworth 617 Wentworth to Mungundie 1,356 Wentworth to the junction of the Mm-ray and Murrumbidgee 265 ^Murrny-Murrumbidgee .iunction to Narran- dera 600 >ruviay-JIurrumbidgee junction to Corowa. . 48.1 Total mileage 3,213 For providing a complete system of locks and weirs for the navigation of the Murray, Darling, and Murrumbid gee the commission of experts, after a 44 very careful investig:ation. made the following estimate: — Est. Locks. cost. Blanchetown to boundarj- of S.A. 6 £(>(», 000 S.A. bcundaiy to Echuca 20 730,000 — Darling. — Wentworth to Walgett 21 920,000 — Murnimbidgee. — Junction of Murray to Hay .... 9 321,750 Total 59 £2,571,750 This estimate has since been increasefi to a little over three millions sterling. Referring to theii- proposals for a sys- tem of locks, and the estimates of cost, the Royal Gommission of Experts re- ported as follows: — Estimates have been placed befooe the ccmniis- rion of the cost of locks and weirs in tlic Mur- ray, Muirumbidgee, and Darling. As to the South Australian portion of the Murray Mr. Moa- crieff (Engineer-in-Chief for that State) submilted plana for a typical lock and weir, wiiicli he estimated can be constructed for about £100,000; and he thinks that the coat of locking the river between Blanchetown and the New South Wales border will be approximatelty £600,000. The rais- ing of the water level by these weirs would have the effect of submerging an area of over 85,000 acres of zivei flats. From the South Austral inn boundary to Echuca, a distance of 666 miles, Mr. Wade estimates that 20 locks would be required at an estimated total cost of £730,000. The locks would be 200 ft. long by 37 ft. wi'ie, and :he lifts from 5 to 15 ft; the average length of each reach would be 31 miles. The surface area of water in the length of river cliannel referred to would be 26,222 acres, and the water impound- ed 10,278,000,000 cubic feet. Assuming tliat there would be 400 lockings per annum, tlie quantity- required for this purpose would be 38,610,000 cubic feet. For locking the Muiirumbidgee from its junction with tlie Murray to Haj', a distance of 240 miles, Mr. Wade estimated that nine locks would be required; the average distance between locks being 26J miles, and the average lift 3 in. The volume impounded in the river would lie 8,443,000,000 cubic feet. On the assumption of 400 lor:kings per annum, the quantity lost in this way would be 07,620,000 cubic feet. The estimated cost of the scheme ia £321,750. For the Darling a Brhejne was prepared in 1890 by Mr. O. W. Darley, then Engineer-in-Chief for Public Worl would have been dried out during the last drought. The weir threw the water back 15 or 20 miles. He advocated locks and weirs froim Brewarrina to Wilcannia. "That would not only make the river navigable, but would do good to the people on each bank." — A Menace to Irrigationists. — In the absence of locks and storage basixis irrigationists are running a great risk in extending their area of cultiva- tion. There is no guarantee that sup- plies will be available when most ur- gently wanted. Mr. Humphry Davy, a delegate from Balranald (N.S.W.) told the Sydney Irrigation Gonfe reiice: — Nature, by Ler work of ages, provided at our hand, thousands of niiles of storag^e excavation, and all man needs do to accomplish twio great natioral ends is to erect locks and weirs where reqiiiied. These great purposes are "conserva- tion and distribution" of water, and rendering rivers permanently navigable. These two fac- tors must endlessly increase production by bring'- ing vast areas within i-each of permanent wa- ter, and affording the increased products an ever- increasing and economic means of watei' transit; then, after locking, in order to secure to agri- cultuial areas near or off the middle or upper rivers watei; for stock and irrigation, channels, to be made at right angles, and concurrently with this storage reservoirs, in the river's catch- ment areas. The experts, who made a personal in- spection in 1902, recognised the su- preme importance of utilizing the lakes as storage basins. They reported: — On the Darling, L-achlan. Murray, and Murrumbid- gee there are numeous lakes or natural reservoirs that receive large vohmics of water in floods. When the river falls the impounded water is re- leased and flows back into the stream, contri- buting largely to its volume. On the Darling alone there are 70 lakes, the largest being Lake Cawndilla. which has a storage capacity of 7,190,000,000 cubic ft. I/ake Menindie, it is csti- niated. will impoimd 10,700,000,000 cubic ft. The outflow from liako Menindie alone, after having been filled by flood waters, has been observed to maintain navigation in the Lower Darling for many month? after it had ceased higher up. — Evolution, Not Revolution. — Some upstream critics have contend- ed that South Australia has been un- reasonable in seeking to plunge the three States into an enormous expen- ditore. It has never been suggested, however, that the outlay involved in constructing works should be faced all at once. The policy required is one of evolution, not revolution. An under- t,akin