BCRKEIOUW BOOKOEALCRS SYDNEY RIVER MURRAY COMMISSION A SHORT HISTORY OF THE RIVER MURRAY WORKS BY J. H. O. EATON, I.S.O., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E.Aust. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RIVER MURRAY COMMISSION K, M. STEVENSON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, ADELAIDE. Table of Contents Page. The Watershed of the River Murray and its Tributaries — General Description 7 Navigation 8 Irrigation 9 Conflicting Interests between Irrigation and Navigation 9 Record of Conferences and Royal Commissions, Etc 10 The Agreement of 1914 and River Murray Waters Act, 1915 14 Amendments to the Agreement of 1914 and River Murray Waters Act, 1915 17 Gauging Stations 19 Diversions 20 Works Constructed under River Murray Waters Act — Hume Dam 21 Yarrawonga Diversion Weir 26 Weirs and Locks 26 Trainmg Spurs 33 Lake Victoria Storage 33 Barrages Near the Murray Mouth 36 Hydro Electric Generation from the Hume Dam 42 The Proposal to Increase the Capacity of the Hume Reservoir from 1,250,000 Acre Feet to 2,000,000 Acre Feet for Irrigation Purposes 43 Siltation and Algal Growth in the Hume Reservoir and Protection of Catchment Area 46 Evaporation 48 Cost of Works 49 Irrigation Development 50 Personnel of River Murray Commission and State Constructing Authorities 52 List of Maps and Illustrations 54 Acknowledgments 55 Appendices 56 Index 67 18;i303^ Fig. 1. CATCHMENT OF THE MUR AND TRIBUTARIES KEY PLAN SHOWING THE SURFACE AND I WATER RESOURCES AND THE AREAS ARE BEING UTILIZED LEGEND Boundary of Catchment Irrigation Districts Domestic and Stock supplies - Water Mains or Channels Bores Approx Boundary of Artesian Basins . U T A U S T Facing Page 6. CATCHMENT OF THE HURRAY RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES KEY PLAN SHOWING THE SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES AND THE AREAS IN WHICH THEY ARE BEING UTIL IZED SCALE IS 25 SC K OQ MILES i^^^s^^^^a^^^^ LEGEND Boundary of Catchment Shown Irrigation DistncLa - Domeetic and Slock supplies - Water Mains or ChaimelS- Bores ApproK Boundary of Artesian Besins — I The Watershed of the River Murray and Its Tributaries GENERAL DESCRIPTION THE River Murray was first seen by the explorers Hume and Hovel m 1824, when they crossed it at a point about 10 miles above Albury on their expedition from New South Wales to the southern portion of Australia through the country now known as the State of Victoria. The crossing was made quite close to the site of the largest storage work in Australia recently completed and known as the Hume Storage. Subsequent explorations linked up the river system of the south-eastern portion of the continent, the main stream being designated the Murray River. The principal tributaries are the Darling, Murrumbidgee, and Lachlan rivers in New South Wales and the Mitta, Kiewa, Ovens, Broken, Goulburn, Campaspe, and Loddon rivers in Victoria. The waters of the system originate in the Great Divide running through the heart of Victoria which turns north into New South Wales, and then follows the coastal range traversing the eastern coast to the southern boundary of Queensland, when it turns north-west to the Carnarvon Range a little beyond Roma in the latter State. The western boundary of the watershed runs somewhat indefinitely along the Mount Lofty and Barossa ranges in South Australia, across to the Barrier Range near Broken Hill in New South Wales, and thence in a northerly direction to the Warrego and Carnarvon ranges in Queensland. The total area of the watershed is 414,253 sq. miles, the areas m the respective States being : — State. Total. Contri- buting Areas. Non- contri- buting Areas. Q. Sq. Miles. Sq. Miles. ' Sq. Miles. sland 104,525 New South Wales Victoria South Australia . . 234,362 50,979 24,387 414,253 67,690 75,499 15,310 36,835 158,863 35,669 24,387 158,499 I 255,754 The mam contribution to the flow of these rivers is from the Great Divide, the centre and western portion of the basin being practically non-contributing, as indicated above. The highest points of the Great Divide in the |)ortion known as the Australian Alps, exceed 5,000ft., Mount Kosciusko being over 7,000ft., and are snow clad for portion of the year with rainfall up to and in places exceeding, 60in., the average rainfall of the mountainous country being from 23in. to 30in. This average gradually lessens towards the west, until in the Barrier district it is only lOin. The following interesting description of the geological history of the Murray basin is taken from the 1910 Victoria Royal Commission s report : — " Excluding that portion of the Darling watershed north of Menindie, the plains of the Murray basin have been the result of the silting up of a large arm of the sea which had its opening to the ocean in the neighbourhood of the present mouth of the Murray, and which extended into Australia as far north as Menindie, as far east as Tocumwal, and as far south as Echuca and Dimboola. The whole of this area is surrounded by old rocks, with the exception of the coastline about the lakes at the mouth of the river. Borings put down all over this area have disclosed that the materials filling up this huge basin consist of river and lake deposits to a depth of over 1 ,000ft. from the present surface The siltation of this basin, and the river valleys leading into it, extended over long periods of time, and is still going on. The initial cause of this action was probably the uprising of the floor of this inland sea in South Australia, along the coast and near the mouth of the river. This fact is evidenced by the occurrence of sea shells and limestone in the high cliffs through which the river has cut its way in its lower reaches in South Australia. The lake so formed was filled by the sands and silts carried into it by the rivers denuding the surrounding high- lands, which have now only a fraction of the elevation they previously attained. The last series of deposits laid down as deltaic formation in this original lake, and which now forms the surface of the plains, consists of the rich alluvial soils of the Mallee, Riverina, and south-west New South Wales. Deposition is still going on in the Murrumbidgee and Murray east of the junction of these rivers, but to the west of this point the rivers flow through a valley in places some 10 miles wide and 100ft. below the general surface level. This valley has been cut out by the meanderings of the Murray, and places such as the red and white cliffs, which frequently occur along the river, indicate where this really is still in process of formation. The upper strata forming the_ filling of the Murray Basin is seen at these cliffs. 7] There are vast areas of plains within the basin of generally rich land, available for development under irrigation, the area being far in excess of that for which there is water available. The average flow of the Murray River below its junction with the Darling River between 1891 and 1911, as given in the report of the Engineers' Conference, 1913, was 9,328,000 acre ft. per calendar year. The maximum discharge recorded since 1891 was 29,350,000 acre ft. in 1917 (Engineering and Water Supply Department, South Australian records). Owing to large variations in rainfall and run-off the minimum flow in drought years was onlv 2,329,000 acre ft. in 1902 (Engineers' Conference Report,' 1913) and 1 ,894.000 acre ft. in 1914 (Engineering and Water Supply Department, South Australian records). The length of the Murray from its source to the mouth IS about 1,600 miles (1,366 miles to Albury have been navigated by shallow draught river steamers) ; the Darling, 1,760 miles (1,180 miles navigated); the Murrumbidgee, 1 ,050 miles (666 miles navigated) ; and the Goulburn, 280 miles (100 miles navigated), in all a total length of 4,690 miles. " In its natural state navigation on the Murray and its tributaries was not permanent, but generally lasted for periods of about eight or nine months of the year, and for a total length of 3,312 miles. The slope of the water surface of the Murray after once leaving the foothills of the main ranges in which it originates, is flat with consequent low velocities. The same applies to its three main tributaries, the Murrum- bidgee, Goulburn, and Darling rivers. Longitudinal sections of the Murray show gradually flattening grades from about 9in. per mile in the upper reaches to lin. per mile in the last 100 miles of the lower reaches. The maximum velocity naturally varies with the surface slope of the water, but in the highest flood observations taken in the long stretch of 32in. fall to the mile the maximum velocity was 2.6 miles per hour and the average of the river section 1.9 miles per hour. The left or southern bank of the River Murray from its source to the South Australian boundary forms the southern boundary of New South Wales, the bed of the river being in the latter State. The 400 miles of the Murray River between the South Australian boundary and the mouth are in South Australia. Unfortunately, the state boundaries were fixed without regard to the interests of the respective States or possible complications arising from riparian rights in the waters of the system, and have proved a fruitful cause of many disputes and delays in the development of irrigation, and unnecessary expenditure in diverting trade from its natural to artificial channels to satisfy the demands of centralized interests. The total navigable lengths, as previously given, of the Murray (1,366 miles), and its main tributaries, the Darling (1,180 miles), Murrumbidgee (666 miles), and Goulburn (100 miles), is 3,312 miles. These figures are correct inasmuch as navigation by small vessels has been carried out to a more or less limited extent. On the Murray itself vessels of shallow draught have traded up as far as Albury, but a fairer statement of its navigable length would be to Echuca (1,071 miles). Between Echuca and Albury roughly 300 miles has not been improved to any extent to permit of safe navigation, although there is some timber traffic along certain sections. To make a comparison between the Murray and other river systems of the world is difficult, and owing to absence of data as to whether tributaries are included in the figures published regarding them, is apt to be misleading. It may be taken, however, that the Murray River (1,366 miles) would be amongst the 12 large rivers of the world. The combined length of the Murray and its tributaries navigable in times of good flow (3,312 miles) would place it amongst the first six largest of the world. NAVIGATION. The first interests to be established in the waters of the rivers were in the State of South Australia in the form of navigation, by which means the settlement of remote areas lacking other means of communication was made possible, and for a number of years, from 1853 onwards, that State benefited greatly from the trade to and from these areas. Essential supplies of all descrip- tions were taken up the Darling as far as Walgett, on the Murrumbidgee to Wagga, on the Murray to Echuca. The produce of the country, mainly wool, was carried on the return journey to Goolwa by boats and thence by horse tram line to Victor Harbour, to be loaded on ships for foreign markets. South Australia expended over £120,000 ' on a breakwater, piers, causeway, etc., at the latter place, but the delay and expense of transhipment was a handicap Commonwealth Year Book of Australia No. 2, 1909. ( I he length of the Darhng varies according to various authorities clei:tcndinR on where the Darhng ends and its tributary the Barwon commences. The 1902 Royal Commission gives its length as 1,350 miles to Mungundi and the longitudinal section of the river in the same report gives 1,503 miles to Boggahilla which would appear to [)e its limit and where it branches off into smaller streams.) ^ The lengths of rivers as given in &)mmonwealth Year Bnok No. 2. 1909. ' Figures obtained from the South Australian Harbors Board. 8] that would sooner or later rule out this more or less crude method of handlmg bulk trade, and although there were strong advocates for the construction of an adequate deep sea port at or near the mouth, the proposal met with much opposition from the gradually increasing vested interests in the City of Adelaide and Port Adelaide, and so the State missed the opportunity of serving not only its own interests by retaining the river trade, but also those of the producers of the Rivenna in securing cheap transport to the seaboard for their produce. While numerous interstate conferences were being held to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the river problem, railway lines were being pushed out to serve those areas in all three States, the natural trade outlet for which might have been by water to a deep sea port. IRRIGATION. Victoria has the distinction of being the first State to start irrigation schemes in Australia. The first of these in the Murray basin was started in the early 1870's, but is was not until the 1880 s that the problem of the division of the waters amongst the States on an equitable basis began to assume importance, and it was realized that an interstate agreement was essential. Schemes were being prepared in Victoria and were taking definite shape in the 1880's, for substantial diversions to provide for a great expansion of irrigation areas. Amongst them was the construction of the Goulburn Weir, and large diversion channels leading therefrom. Other works of magnitude were also con- templated which would call for the diversion of large volumes from the Murray and its tributaries. New South Wales was also considering the construction of the Burnnjuck Dam on the Murrumbidgee for the development of large areas adjacent thereto. These proposals, coming at a time when all efforts to reach a settlement appeared futile, were naturally looked upon with grave concern in South Australia as being prejudicial to, if not completely destructive of her rights in navigation, and [prejudicial to her irrigation schemes and water supplies. Her established interests in trade and the riparian rights of landholders along the river and adjacent to Lakes Alexandrina and Albert were at stake. CONFLICTING INTERESTS BETWEEN IRRIGATION AND NAVIGATION. The extreme views which prevailed in the early stages, and which generated mistrust between the two upper States of New South Wales and Victoria on the one hand, and South Australia on the other, may be summarized thus : — The upper States claimed the right to divert the whole of the water of their tributaries, and that the flow of the Murray be shared equally between the two of them to meet irrigation requirements, with some slight concession to South Australia in the way of compensation water. At a conference in 1885 of the Royal Commission on Water Conservation (New South Wales), and the Royal Commission on Water Supply (Victoria), resolutions were adojsted declaring that the whole of the waters of the Upper Murray and its tributaries and the whole of the water of the Lower Murray were the common property of New South Wales and Victoria, and, subject to such compensation waters as they might allow, could be diverted by them in equal shares. On the other hand South Australia at that time claimed her rights in navigation as paramount, and asked for guarantees of flow below the South Australian boundary that would maintain navigation as heretofore within that State. This claim was later modified to have the whole of the navigable length of the river locked. That she had some support from the upper States as to the value of navigable streams is shown by the resolution passed at an inter-colonial conference in Melbourne in 1863, where the representatives of the three States agreed — " That in the opinion of the Conference the commerce, population, and wealth of Australia can be largely increased by rendering navigable and otherwise utilizing the great rivers of the interior, such as the Murray, Edward, Murrumbidgee, and Darling." This view did not persist for any length of time and no concrete results came out of it. Another influence was gathering strength which was to have a greater influence on the elimination of navigation on the inland river system than any other, viz., the establishment of vested interests in the main sea ports of the States, or in one word " centralization ". This policy was clearly indicated some years later by the States of New South Wales and Victoria, when in 1922 an agreement was made to permit the State of Victoria to build four new bridges across the River Murray and extend her railways into New South Wales, thus diverting to Melbourne such trade as it was originally intended should be served by the locking system provided for in the 1915 River Murray Act and Agreement. It was pursuance of this policy that ultimately led to the amendments of the .Agreement which will be referred to later. 91 Record of Conferences and Royal Commissions, Etc. As previously stated, the River Murray and its tributaries played a very important part in the opening up and settlement of large areas in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, vv'hich from 1853 and for many years after depended almost entirely on the transportation by river steamers for practically all the freight required for successful occupation of these areas. It was due to the support of the South Australian Government that navigation was initiated by private enterprise and navigability maintained by its unaided efforts. Approaches to the New South Wales and Victorian Governments for assistance in this direction were unsuccessful. At a conference of the three States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, held in Melbourne in 1863 already referred to, a resolution was passed : — " That 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 interior such as the Murray, Edward, Murrumbidgee, and Darling ; and that the obligation of carrying into effect the necessary works to accomplish these objects devolves primarily upon the respective Governments having jurisdiction over such rivers. ' No further action was taken. A further conference in 1865 held in Sydney failed to produce any results and in 1881 -82 further correspondence from the South Australian Government to secure the co-operation of New South Wales and Victoria in improv- ing the navigability of the River Murray only resulted In a formal acknowledgment. " In 1885 an attempt was made by the Premier of Victoria to arrange an interstate conference to deal with the questions of Improving navigation and utilizing the waters of the Murray for irrigation. South Australia's reply was not helpful, but after a request for particulars of matters to be discussed stated that she would probably join in the conference. The conference did not eventuate, but in its place a conference between the Royal Commis- sioners on Water Conservation (New South Wales) and the Royal Commissioners on Water Sui)ply (Victoria) passed inler alia the following resolution that " 1 he whole of the waters of the Upper Murray and its tributaries. and the whole of the waters of the Lower Murray were the common property of New South Wales and Victoria, and subject to such compensation water as these States might allow, might be diverted by them in equal shares. The resolution was to be embodied in a Bill to be submitted to the Parliaments of New South Wales and Victoria. A letter of protest from the Government of South Australia dated 14th June, 1886, followed, in which it was stated that, unless some method could be suggested by which the treaty could be reopened and South Australian rights sufficiently protected, an appeal would be made to the Home Government to disallow any Bill passed to give effect to the treaty, and to prevent by Imperial legislation any future action such as the agreement contemplated. The reply to South Australia from the Victorian Government dated 3rd July, 1886, allayed some of the apprehensions due to the resolutions of the Royal Commissions of New South Wales and Victoria, and gave an assurance of a desire to co-operate in coming to a settlement of the differences between the States so that the " mutual interests shall be dealt with in a spirit not only of justice but of friendship. ". Further correspondence between the State Premiers in the latter months of 1886 failed to reach any agreement, but early in 1887 in response to a suggestion by Victoria, and approved by New South Wales, the South Australian Government appointed a Royal Commission to report on the question of utilizing the waters of the River Murray for irrigation purposes, and the preservation of the navigation and water rights of this province in the river ; and for that purpose to confer and consult with any Commission appointed or to be appointed by the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria on the same subject. At one of its earliest meetings, this Commission requested that the Premier of South Australia should press for an early conference at which the three States should be represented. This was done and Victoria at once agreed, but no r(|)ly from the New South Wales ' S.A. Parliamentary Paper 64 57 atul 17 60. » S.A. ParliarrKnlaty Paper 59/82. 'These two divisions of the river include the \v\iu\,- i,{ \\„- river above the S.A. boundary, the Upper Murray being from its sonree to HowIonR, and the Lower from Howlong lo the S.A. boundary. i g.A. Parhainentary Paper 59, 59a, 59b, 1886. 10 1 Government was received until 6tli March, 1890, after a lapse of three years, when the following letter was received from the Premier of New South Wales : " Sir I have the honour to inform you that Mr. H. G. McKinney has been appomted Commis- sioner in charge of the River Murray for the protection of the rights and interests of this colony. As you are doubtless aware, by the fifth section of the Act 18 and 19, Victoria, c. 54, the whole watercourse of the Murray, from its nearest source to the eastern boundary of South Australia, as described in the fourth section of the earlier Act, 13 and 14, Victoria, c. 59, is declared to be within the territory of New South Wales ; and the waters of the river, from its source to the point specified, belong therefore to New South Wales, as part of her territory. " This being the law of the constitution, I have only to express the desire of this Government to act in all things in the manner most calculated to promote and strengthen friendly relations and to serve the common interests of all concerned in the navigation and legitimate use of the river. " We are, of course, fully aware that the River Murray, from the point where it enters your territory, belongs to South Australia. I desire, however, to intimate that it is held by this Government that South Australia cannot use the waters to such unreasonable extent as would interfere with the normal level of the river without committing a breach of intercolonial obligations. The South Australian Commission in December, 1890, reported the failure of their efforts to arrange a conference with the States of New South Wales and Victoria, and in their final report of 20th December, 1893, stated that having exhausted all means at their command to bring about a satisfactory agreement in respect of the River Murray waters, they requested to be relieved of any further responsibility. The Commission was accordingly relieved of its duties after six years (1887 to 1893) of unsuccessful endeavour to arrange a conference suggested by Victoria and agreed to by New South Wales. On 6th October, 1894, the Premier of South Australia wrote to the Premier of New South Wales that after repeated invitation New South Wales omitted to facilitate a conference with the Commissioners of the other two States, but added that " The question is one of Australian concern and the advantages to result from intercolonial agreement and the removal of possible sources of future differences are too obvious to require specification, and suggested that the matter be given further consider- ation and approached in a federal spirit. A copy of the letter was sent also to the Premier of Victoria but beyond an acknowledgment of the receipt of the letter, no further action was taken by cither New South Wales or Victoria. It was not until May, 1902, shortly after Federation, that success attended the efforts to have an mterstate conference appointed to inquire into matters concerning the conservation and distribution of the waters of the River Murray. This Commission was the first to be appointed at which the three States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, were represented and was directly the result of resolutions passed at a conference at Corowa, convened by the Murray River Main Canal League, and at which the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth and the Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia were present. Based on the data then available a very comprehensive and valuable report was submitted, together with certain proposals and conclusions which were included in the agreement of 1914. The conclusions and recommendations were not unanimous as shown in appendix 1., which sets out the majority report and recommendations, together with the dissent by the South Australian member. Briefly stated the recommendations included the construction of a storage on the Upper Murray (Cumberoona), the utilization of Lake Victoria as a storage basin, and ultimately the provision of a series of weirs and locks in the Murray from Blanchetown in South Australia to Echuca in Victoria in order to make provision for navigation over that section of the river. It emphasized the fact that the use of water for irrigation was of paramount importance and that the maintenance of a navigable depth of water in an open river, even to the extent enjoyed in the past would mean restricted development and could not be justified. A locked river would reduce the volume required for navigation to a minimum. Although 12 years passed before an agree- ment was arrived at, generally the aforesaid recommenda- tions as to storages and a locking system formed the basis of such agreement. The 1902 report also recognized the rights of land- holders adjacent to Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert to some consideration, in view of the reduced flow in the river which would result from the large volumes to be diverted for irrigation by the upper States. The allowance proposed for South Australia after the completion of the locking system was 1,380,000 acre ft., a little more than the volume finally agreed upon in 1915. 11 I The report as already stated was not unanimous and did not satisfy any of the States concerned. Even before the presentation of the report in Decembe'', 1902, articles in the public press intimated that Victoria had under consideration proposals for extensive diversions from the tributaries of the Murray, which caused further written protests from the South Australian Government, as it was claimed that such actions and reports were calculated to prejudice the negotiations for a friendly settlement then in progress. Victoria s reply was that " no proposal had been made to directly divert waters of the Murray itself, but if it be intended to question the right of Victoria to dram waters from a tributary of the Murray for the purposes of conservation or irrigation within Victoria, the position is one to which this Govern- ment cannot accede. In order to give an unbiased record of the official views of the Victorian and South Australian Governments, a copy of a letter from the Premier of South Australia, dated 23rd December, 1902, is given (appendix II.) and a copy of a letter in reply from the Premier of Victoria, dated 28th January, 1903 (appendix III.). These two letters set out clearly the divergent view points of the two authorities as to the legal position of each, but as the matter was incapable of settlement to the satisfaction of all parties on the basis laid down in the 1902 majority report, and as a settlement by agreement was of such vital importance to all concerned, a more friendly approach in a " spirit of conciliation and harmony " was essential. At a conference of Federal and State Premiers at Sydney in April, 1903, a further effort was made for a settlement by the State Premiers entering into an agree- ment, subject to ratification by the State Parliaments, in which additional volumes were conceded to South Australia, but the agreement was not presented for ratification by either the Commonwealth or States Governments. In 1904 further protests against proposed diversions in Victoria were made in the South Australian Parliament, and by a resolution that " action be taken to move for an injunction against the State of Victoria and its officers restraining them from appropriation of water from the Murray." A Premier's conference at Hobnrt in Fciiniary, 1905, gave further consideration to the problem and although no advance was made as to the basis for distribution of the waters, a decision was agreed upon aflirming the principle that a system of weirs and locks should be constructed over the then navigable sections of the river as the diversions by New South Wales and Victoria rendered such works necessary, and that the cost of such works and of the Lake Victoria storage be borne in equal shares by the three States. In 1905 South Australia passed a Bill authorizing the preliminary investigations and surveys to be made for the purpose of determining sites for locks and weirs in South Australia. It was passed through the Parliament with a view to commencing the construction of weirs and locks necessary to provide permanent navigation in that portion of the river within South Australia. The Act authorizing the construction of such works and giving the Commissioner of Public Works power to enter into an agreement with New South Wales and Victoria to use Lake Victoria as a storage was passed in 1910. An agreement was signed by the Premiers of the three States at a conference in Sydney, April 1 906, subject to ratification by the Parliaments, the principal clauses of which are set out in appendix IV. Although a spirit of conciliation was manifest and concession made to South Australia, the end of the road had not yet been reached. The agreement provided that until the initiation of the locking system the upper States would restrict their diversions to a greater extent than recommended by the 1902 Commission, and after locking, increase the total quota to South Australia in normal years to 1,721,763 acre ft., as compared with 1,380,000 acre ft. allowed after locking by the 1902 majority report — pro rata reductions were provided for in drought years. The agreement was not ratified by any of the State Parliaments. Between 1906 and 1911 negotiations were conducted between the States mainly by correspondence, but in May, 1909, Victoria ajDpointed a Royal Commission to report on — (1) The total flow of the stream and the respective contributions thereto made by each of the States ; (2) The considerations which should determine the allotted share of each State to the waters of the stream ; (3) The manner in which the respective shares in the stream of each State should be determined, and the tribunal or authority which should control the diversion of its flow and secure to each State its allotted volume ; (4) 1 he measures to be taken for regulating the now so as to secure the full use of the river for all purposes. As this Royal Commission represented only one State, it did not help much in arriving at an interstate agreement. It re|3orted That for reasons set out, locking for navigation j)urposes is not at |)resent and is not likely to be in till- future a projier objed for the expenditure of |iul)lic money. Storages were essential for the proper regulation of the Murray and its tributaries. It suggested that New South Wales should get four-fifths and South Australia one-fifth of the total natural flow of the river at the boundary. With regard to the riparian rights of lake side land owners near the mouth that if in time barrages are required. South Australia should construct them at her own expense. Appendix V. sets out the full recommendations. A conference of the Premiers held in Melbourne, 23rd January, 1911, made a distinct advance towards an agreement. New South Wales and Victoria agreed to give permission to South Australia to construct, use, and enjoy storage works at Lake Victoria as set out in a South Australian Murray Waters Act of 1910, with certain other minor provisions. On the question of the Murray River and its tributaries the conference agreed — 1 . That the engineers of the three States be instructed to inquire without delay, and present to the Premiers by the 1st December, 1911, a report and recommendations based upon data now available, and on such further data as they shall obtain by that date, which will, in their opinion, be essential or conducive to a settlement by agreement between the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, of the question of the River Murray and its tributaries. 2. That for the purpose of such inquiry and report the engineers may jointly engage such professional assistance as may be necessary. 3. That the cost of the inquiry and report be shared equally by the three States. It was not possible to complete the investigations and present the report until 24th July, 1913, but it then formed the basis of the River Murray Agreement of 9th September, 1914, which was ratified by the Common- wealth and three State Parliaments in 1915. New and more complete gaugings were available in 1911 than previously and some apparent discrepancies were recon- ciled and the figures from the various States brought into close agreement. The following is a brief summary of the report : — The contributions by the respective States to the flow of the River Murray and its tributaries were deduced from average flows and showed the following results : - New South Wales, 38.4 per cent ; Victoria, 45.8 per cent ; Queensland, 15.8 per cent. The area of irrigable land available is about 7,400,000 acres, and would require about 20,000,000 acre ft. per annum to irrigate it. The extent to which regulation was considered practi- cable at that time by the construction of storages on the Murray and its tributaries was estimated at 626,000 acre ft. per month for eight or nine months of each year, subject to some diminution in drought periods. After deducting 95,000 acre ft. per month for losses, domestic and stock supplies, etc., a balance of 531,000 acre ft. is left as the monthly volume available for nine months in each year for irrigation or an estimated total volume of 4,779,000 acre ft. per annum. Allowing for further losses in distribution this was assumed as sufficient to irrigate 1,400,000 acres 2ft. in depth. The two storages recommended for construction are the Upper Murray and Lake Victoria storages. It was found that the period of navigability in an unlocked river had been shortened by existing diversions and would be seriously shortened by further diversions, and practi- cally prevented, unless locking was resorted to ; also that locking could be carried out without affecting the volume of water available for irrigation. 13] The Agreement of 19 14 and River Murray Waters Act, I 9 I S The Agreement resulting from the 1913 Conference of Engmeers Report forms portion of the River Murray Waters Act of 1915, which was passed by the Common- wealth Parliament and the Parliaments of the three States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It was agreed that as the custodian of navigation the Com- monwealth should contribute the sum of £1,000,000 towards the cost of the works provided for, thus making four contracting Governments as parties to the Agreement. The Act provides for the — 1. Ratification of the Agreement by the Common- wealth and three State Parliaments. 2. Appointment of the River Murray Commission. 3. Powers and duties of the Commission. 4. Construction of works by State constructing authorities. 5. Acquisition of lands. 6. Prescription of tolls. 7. Provision of all moneys required for the purposes of the Act. 8. Submission of an annual report, and other machinery clauses. The Agreement, which is a schedule to the Act, provides for the construction of the following works : — 1 . A storage on the Upper Murray. 2. A storage at Lake Victoria. 3. The construction of 26 weirs and locks on the Murray from Blanchetown in South Australia to Echuca in Victoria. 4. The construction of nine weirs and locks on the Murrumbidgee from its junction with the Murray to Hay, or alternatively on the Darling, from its junction with the Murray. (New South Wales decided to place the weirs and locks on the Murrumbidgee.) The Agreement also provides for — A River Murray Commission to be appointed with the Commonwealth representative as president and one representative from each of ihc three States. A unanimous vote on all matters other than prescribed formal business with certain provisions for arbitration. (Matters in dispute so far have all been settled at conferences with Ministers representing all parties.) A constructing authority to be constituted in each of the three States to be responsible for the design and construction of the works under its control, subject to the general apjDroval and direction of the River Murray Commission. The cost of the works to be borne in equal shares by the three States, the Commonwealth contribution at first being limited to the £1,000,000. (This was, later, increased to one-quarter share of the total cost, making the contribution of each contracting Government equal.) The duties of the Commission as to deliveries of water are as follows : — Clause 18. — It shall be the duty of the Commission to carry on an effective and uniform system of gaugmgs of the flow of the main stream of the Murray and its tributaries and of all diversions, whether natural or artificial from the River Murray and its tributaries. Subject to this Agreement and any Acts ratifying the same the Commission under clause 19 — 1 . May declare from time to time so far as may be necessary for giving effect to this Agreement and the said Acts the quantities of and times for and means of verification of all deliveries of water provided for in this Agreement. 2. In declaring the quantities and times for deliveries of water shall have regard to the quantities and times most suitable and convenient for the purposes of this Agreement. In order to regulate the flow of the River Murray and to make the distribution of its waters as provided in the Agreement possible, and to provide for the permanent navigability of the Murray from its mouth to Echuca, and of the Murrumbidgee up to Hay or, alternatively to the latter, an equivalent expenditure in locking the River Darling, the following works were provided for under clause 33 with the estimated cost of same : — ■ " The estimated cost of the several works men- tioned in clause 20 of this Agreement and herein more particularly specified is as follows, viz : £ Nine weirs and locks from Blanche- town to Wentworlh 865,000 Seventeen weirs and locks frnm Wentworth to Echuca 1 ,700,000 14 Nine weirs and locks from the £ jiiiution of the Rivers Murray and Murriimhidgee to Hay or aherna- tively locks and weirs from the junction of the River Darling with the River Murray up stream in the River Darling and involving an equivalent amount of expenditure 5-tO,OU(} Upper Murray storage 1 ,353,001) Lake Victoria storage 205,000 The River Murray Commission is not a constructing authority, but the respective State authorities are responsible for the construction of works as follows : South Australia All works from Weir and Lock No. I to Weir and Lock No. 9, including Lake Victoria storage. New South Wales and Victoria jointly All works above the junction of the Murray and Darling, including Hume storage- as may be mutually agreed upon. New South Wales — Weirs and locks in Murrum- bidgee. The State Governments are respectively responsible for the preparation of a general scheme of works, for sub- mission to and approval by the River Murray Commission, and after completion of the works for the maintenance of the works constructed by them. Under clause 28 of the Agreement the Commission has full power to give direction to secure the uniformity, stability, and durability of works, and to order and direct- 1 . the order in point of time of the construction of particular works being part of the works to be constructed by any of the State Governments ; 2. the rate of progress of works whether of con- struction or maintenance ; 3. the method and extent of maintenance of works ; 4. if necessary what works shall be regarded as works of construction or of maintenance ; and 5. such acts and things as it considers necessary for ensuring the due observance of this Agreement. The Commission also has to prepare in the month of March each year and forward to each of the contracting Governments a detailed estimate of the amount of money required for the ensuing 12 months from 1st July following, and the contracting Governments shall provide their respective shares of same. In the event of the failure by any contracting Govern- ment to carry out any direction issued in accordance with the Agreement, provision is made for such work to be performed by any one or more of the contracting Governments as directed by the Commission. Distributiun of ihr waters arc set out in the Agreement, clauses 44 to 51, as follows : — The flow of the Murray at Albury to be shared equally by New South Wales and Victoria, and each of these two States to have full control of its tributaries below Albury, but in each case subject to certain specified volumes allotted to South Australia to be supplied from either or both of the above sources, the contribution from each of the two upper States being in proportion to the mean natural flow of the tributaries of each State below Albury, with half the actual mean flow at Albury added in each case. The minimum quantity to be allowed in each year to [3ass to South Australia is to be sufficient to fill Lake Victoria once and in addition to maintain with the aid of water returned from Lake Victoria a regulated supply at Lake Victoria outlet of : — acre ft. In each of the four months of January, February, November, and December 134,000 In each of the three months of March, September, and October II 4,000 In each of the three months of April, May, and August 94,000 In each of the two months of June and July 47.000 A total of 1,254,000 acre ft., which was estimated to be sufficient for irrigation of about 200,000 acres ; stock and domestic supplies ; lockages in South Australia, and losses by evaporation and absorption; but no pro- vision was made for overcoming salinity in Lakes Alexan- drina and Albert, which prior to the construction of the barrages were subject in low river to tidal influence. Under clause 51 the Commission may in the case of a period of unusual drought vary the provisions of the Agreement respecting the amount of water to be used by New South Wales and Victoria and the amount of water to be allowed to pass to South Australia. Under clauses 52 and 53 the States must furnish the Commission with complete lists of all permitted diversions within its territory and, before any new works are com- menced to effect new diversions or alter existing diversions, shall inform the Commission of such intention. It will be seen from this that the River Murray Com- mission has no power to approve or disapprove of new diversions within the limitations of the Agreement. This limitation is stated in clause 50 — " After the utilization for irrigation by South Australia of the volumes set forth in the next preced- ing clause or by New South Wales of 1,957,000 5] acre ft. per annum or by Victoria of 2,219,000 acre ft. per annum, a further volume or further volumes may be allotted from time to time by the Commission out of any surplus over the quantities specified in this and the next preceding clause." The Commission may prescribe the tolls to be collected for the use of vveirs and locks constructed under the Agreement. On the completion of Lock and Weir No. 1 there was a fair amount of cargo passing up stream mainly for construction purposes under the Agreement and a scale of tolls was prescribed, but as other weirs and locks were completed the question arose as to the wisdom of charging tolls in a diminishing trade, and the matter has been postponed pending consideration of the question at a conference of Ministers, when any alteration of the Agreement next comes up for consideration. The remaining clauses of the Agreement are mostly machinery measures. Ifil SYDNEY LIST OF IRRIGATION AREAS, ETC., REFERRED TO IN PLAN. VICTORIA. • 1. Boort. 17. Rochester. 33. Millewa Central. 2. Calivil. 18. Rodney. 34. Newstead, 3. Campaspe. 19, Shepparton. 35. Normanville. 4. Cohuna. 20. South Shepparton. 36. Sea Lake. 5. Deakin. 21. Swan Hill, 37. Tyntynder. 6. Dingee. 22. Third Lake. 38. Tyrrell. 7. Fish Point. 23. Tonga la -Stanhope 39. Tyrrell West. 8. Kotandra. 24. Tragowel Plains. 40. Wycheproof. 9. Kerang. 25. Tresco, 41. Yelta. 10. Koondrook. 26. Carworp, 42. Loddon United. 1 1 Merbein. 27. Carwarp Central, 43. Shepparton. 12 Murray Valley. 28. Coreeno. 44. Tungomah. 13. Mystic Park. 29. Horcourt. 45. Axe Creek. 14. North Shepparton. 30. Kerang N.W. Lak es. 46. Birchip. 15. Nyah. 31. Long Lake. 47. Karkarooc. 16. Red Cliffs. 32. Millewa. 48. Milduro. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1. Berriquin. 13. Goodnight- 24. Jamelong and Wyldes 2. Jernargo. 14. Coomealla. Plains, 3. Tuppal Creek. 15. Curlwao, 25. Condoblin West Weir. 4. Bullatale Creek. 16. Yonco, Coloinbo, and 26. Micabil Weir, 5. Bama. Billobong Cree ks. 27, Morrowie Creek, 6. Deniboota. 17 Algudgerie Creek Weir. 28, Torngonny, Muggaboh 7. Wakool. 18. Murrumbidgee. and Merrimajeel, 8. Bringan. 19. Benerembah, 29, Ulonga, 9. Glenview. 20. Tabbita, 30, Great Ana Branch of 10. Little Merran Creek. 21. Wah Wah, Darling River. 1 1. Bungunyah-Koraleigh, 22. Hay, 3 1 . Pomona. 12, Poon Boon. 23. Lowbidgee. 32, Minnie Bend. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 1 . Chaffey. 9. Waikerie 17. Swanport. 2. Renmark. 10, , Codell, 18. Long Flat. 3. Berri. 1 1 , Cowirro. 19. Monteith. 4. Cobdogla. 12 , Neeta, 20. Jervois. 5. Loxton. 13 , Pompooto, 21. Brinkley. o. Moorook. 14 . Baseby. 22. Murray Bridge. 7. Kingston. 15 . Wall. 8 . Moorook. 16 , Mypolonga, Fig. 2. RIVER MURRAY COMMISSION '^- --I'-i-*.v.'^'J-i:^ KEY PLAN OF THE RIVER MURRAY & TRIBUTARIES SHOWING THE WORKS CONSTRUCTED BY THE COMMISSION. TOGETHER WITH THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE RESPECTIVE STATES. SCALL LEGEND Works constructed by the CoiriTTiission ■--.- Shovm ^H Irrigation Areas " ' Water Supply Districts " I ;- partly served by River Murray or Tributaries - L_ :- not ' — ' ■ LIST or IRRIGATION AREAS, ETC, REFERRED TO IN PLAN, VICTORIA, 1 Soort. 17. Rocheiter 33 Millewo Cenlrol. 2. Colivir. 18. Rodney 34 New»teod 3. Compospe. 19. Sheppo'ton, 35. Normanville 4, Cohuno. 20. Souih Sh»ppo.tor., 36 Seo Ukc 5. Oeakin 21. S"on H.ll 37 Tyntyndcf 6. Oingee. 22- Third Lokc. 38 Tyrrell. 7. Fish Poir.1, 23 Tongolo -Stanhope 39 Tyrrell W«tl. 24 Trogowel Plomt. 40 Wycheprtttf. 9 Keiang 25 Tfe«o 41 Yelto- 10, Koondfook, 26 Co'worp 42 Loddon United. 1 1 Merbein 27. Corworp Cenlrol. 43, Shepporlon. 12 Mu.rov Volley 28 Coiccfio. 44 Tungomoh. 13 Mystic PQtk 29 45 Axe Creek H Nonh Shcpdorron 30, Kerong N.W Lokw. 46. Birch'p 15 Nvoh 31 Long Loke. 47. 16 Red Clitfi 32 Milfetvo. NEW SOUTH WALU. 48 Milduro. 1 Sernqum, 13 (kodnight 24 Jomelor>g and Wytdei 2 J e ma (go. Cwmeallo PtOini 3 Tuppot Creek IS- 25 Condobl.n Wcil Weir 4. eullaiale Creek IS Yonco. Colombo, ond 26. Mrwbil Weir. 5, Bomo Billob:>'j8hcr i^J'aBvni.Rammcd Steel 5hcel Piling f[| ~~ i I U^y ft«l Lewd SECTION THROUGH SLUICES Fig. 10. The lock gates are built up with ironhaik timbers aiul are hand operated by capstans on the lock walls. The navigable passes of the South Australian and New South Wales weirs consist of steel trestles, 20ft. centres, hinged at the base so that when the pass is open they are laid horizontally on the concrete weir and at a level just below that of the sill. The trestles carry a bridge section with light rails for the operating crane. Panel beams, 3ft. 6in. centres, to support the Boule panels, are placed in front of the bridge, the bottom fitting into a recess in the concrete and the top held between cast- iron brackets on the bridge. Boule panels of tallow wood with angle irons for guides are then slid into position between the beams and form the weir which can be built up to the desired height. The sluice section consists of concrete piers, 19ft. openings, with vertical recesses for stop logs which are placed in position to form the weir in this section, the stop logs being of I2in. square jarrah. In only one case —No. 3 Weir and Lock- were the foundations suitable for placing the whole of the structure on rock. In some cases it was possible to found the lock walls and chamber on rock, but generally the structures are on wooden pile foundations, driven into sand. In these cases a line of steel sheet piling was driven under the pass and sluice sections to either rock or clay bottom, and also under the three sides of the lock chamber and the abutment. Sheet piling about 40ft. in length was driven in sand foundations where no rock or clay was found within that limit, and in order to give a proper percolation factor an extra length of clay blanket up stream is provided, and special treatment of the down stream riprap and stone protection given. Pressure tubes placed in the piers indicate that the cut-off pro- vided has been effective. Weirs and Loclf^s on River Murray, Constructed by New South Wales — The weirs constructed on the Murray by New South Wales, Nos. 10 and 15, conform very closely in design with those in South Australia, so far as the superstructure is concerned. In one instance. No. 1 5, a concrete mattress on sand foundation was substituted for the timber piles, but with this exception the foregoing description of South Australian design is generally applicable. Weirs and Locks Constructed by I ictoria — In Victoria the constructing authorities decided to adopt a design prepared by the late J. S. Dethridge, and named after him. This type has been adopted at Nos. 1 I (Mlldura) and 26 (Torrumbarry), the latter being the first work done by that Slate. It is primarily a diversion wcir, but is provided with a lock chamber as required by the terms f)f the Agreement. A general description will apply to both these works. The lock chambers in weirs above No. 10 were reduced in size to 150ft. (170ft. between lock gate centres) x 56ft., but in selecting the sites for these two works it was thought to be an advantage to have the lock situated where there was a narrow neck just above a sharp bend in the river and construct it in the dry, the weir being across the main river below the inlet to the lock. While offering some advantages, the estimated saving in cost was not realized. The weir is placed on a concrete mattress with a line of steel sheet piling as a cut-off and with suitable percolation factor. There is an abutment at one end and a sloping runway at the other. Fabricated steel trestles of standard rolled sections, in units of 24ft. in length, divided into 6ft. panels by vertical frames to conform to the level and sloping section of the weir are carried on, cast steel wheels which run on flat mild steel strips set in the concrete, with horizontal wheels bearing against steel strips in the concrete of the weir, which take the downstream thrust. There is no tendency to overturn as the angle of the weir is such that the resultant pressure IS well within the base. A platform is supported on top of the trestles and the weir is closed by placing horizontal drop bars in position on the sloping upstream face. The drop bars are of 4in. x 4in. seasoned timber with a guide pin at one end, and are slid into position vertically and then allowed to assume a horizontal position on the sloping face of the trestle. The upstream face of the weirs is at an angle of 45 and on the lower 4ft. of vertical height planks of 12in. x 5in. red gum are fixed. Above this level the closure is made with the drop bars. When it IS desired to open up the river channel the drop bars are removed and the trestles drawn up the ramp by a power plant and stacked on a platform when any necessary maintenance or repairs can be effected and are at such times immune from corrosion by river water. The complete withdrawal of the trestles during floods is a distinct advantage and the operations of removal and replacement have proved quite satisfactory. Weirs Constructed by New South Wales on Murrumbidgee — The amended Agreement eliminated the nine weirs and locks in the Murrumbidgee but included two weirs to be located so that if so desired in the future they could be used as part of the original chain of nine locks and weirs. These two weirs are so designed that lock chambers can be added in the future. Their use for 31 1 T-fl I .i: i i «& Weir. — Downstream view. 137] U) < LiJ a. O 1 < m cr < 01 ■> < < CD z X CI < n _l X 1- o o z o o 1- t) hi (0 38 1 UJ < < CD UJ o _1 (/) I O D O (T X I- < ' T (J Op O o o ^ 139 1 The Mundoo and Boundary Creek Barrages are generally of the same type as at Goolwa, but as they are built in shallow water on a wide limestone reef the foundations naturally vary. Concrete walls about 6ft. deep act as cut-offs beneath a concrete floor and apron. The superstructure consists of piers with stop logs and trackway on the top. The Mundoo Barrage is 2,600ft. long, mostly earth bank 12ft. wide on top, four to one slopes paved; the concrete portion is 387ft. long with 26 openings of lift. 9in. Boundary Creek Barrage, including embank- ments, is 600ft. long with SIX openings lift. 9in. in length, there being high ground between these two works. Between Boundary Creek and Pelican Point, a distance of about five miles, are two wide and shallow channels known as Ewe Island and Tauwitchere channels, with low lying islands of similar names and which are mostly submerged during high floods. The limestone reef persists throughout the length and was selected for the line of barrage although slightly longer than the most direct line, on which silt and mud was found by borings. The embanked portion is similar to that previously described, but where pro- tection against scour in flood time is needed a shallow concrete core with stone protection to form a roadway is laid. There will not be much regulation of flow in these channels and they are more or less isolated. In order that the large number of gates can be operated easily by a small crew, Taintor gates have been provided with a power-driven gantry on rails. A concrete slab, varying from 32ft. to 42ft. in width, with cut off walls, IS built in the rock, and piers with 14ft. centres erected to carry the gate hinges and trackway. The gates are radial and when in position the bottom edge rests on a sill, the water seal on both bottom and sides being made with flexible rubber strips. When raised they are clear of both river flow and tide level, and any necessary repairs or maintenance can then be done. A small boat lock 40ft. x 1 2ft. is provided in the Tauwitchere channel for the use of fishing boats. The whole of the concrete structure had to be built within coffer dams. The data used in preparation of the designs of these barrages are as follows, the datum for levels being 100ft. below low tide level at Port Adelaide ' : — Normal low water level. Lake Alexan- drina R.L. 106.80 Maximum flood level at Goolwa .... R.L. 1 1 1 .50 High tide level at Murray mouth R.L. 1 13.00 Low tide level at Murray mouth .... R.L. 104.50 Maximum upstream water level (as- sumed for design) R.L. 1 1 3.00 Minimum upstream water level (as- sumed for design) R.L. 1 04.50 ' This datum has been used in connection with all River Murray works up to and including No. 9 Weir and Lock. Upstream from and including No. 10 Weir and Lock all levels are reduced to the N.S.W. Water Conservation datum to which 105.85 must he added to correspond with Port Adelaide datum. GATE IN RAISED POSITION -l-O- Concrete Pier , Rubber Se:l \2"%. \o" Jarrah Bean 10 n 8 Corbel LAKE SIDE » •- F ■ - - ' ► ■ ■ . :•,>',.' « *• . - ^ . T' . -J. - » . * * " *■ . Calcareous 12-6' • 7-5" 1-0 Sandstone 11-7 9-6 44-0 Fig. 20. —River Murray B.irragcs — Ewe Island nnd Tauwitchere Channels — Section through sluices. 40 I Rojd \2 (A spalled Limestone SCALE FEET 4 2 OCEAN SIDE Fig. 21. — River Murray Barrages. — Mundoo Channel. — Section of embankment. The following are the principal dimensions and quantities included in construction as given in the official souvenir Goolwa Channel Barrage. Mundoo Barrage. Boundary Creek Barrage. Ewe Island Barrage. Tauwitchere Barrage. Total length of bar- rage 2,075 ft. Timber piles 4,770 No. Steel piling 1 ,050 tons Concrete I 7,720 cub. yds. Steel reinforcement. I 770 tons Stone protection ... 24,450 cub. yds. Jarrah 216,581 sup. ft. Excavation 59,710 cub. yds. Earth embankments I Cost..... I £375,000 2,600 ft. 2,948 cub. yds. 106 tons 8,610 cub. yds. 20,508 sup. ft. 2,587 cub. yds. 17,450 cub. yds. £64,575 800 ft. 7,450 ft. 12,000 ft. 449 cub. yds. 4,216 cub. yds. 12,755 cub. yds. 23 tons 210 tons 567 tons 9,714 cub. yds. 1 9,7 II cub. yds. 30,145 cub. yds. 45,485 sup. ft. 95,484 sup. ft. 278,722 sup. ft. 559 cub. yds. 4,796 cub. yds. 17,486 cub. yds. 5,123 cub. yds. 47,750 cub. yds. 67,600 cub. yds. £10,625 , £87,480 , £209,350 Hydro-Electric Generation from the Hume Dam No provision was made in the Agreement for the generation of electrical power from the Hume Dam, but following representations from the Victorian Electri- city Commission, the whole question was referred in 1922 to the contracting Governments for instructions as to what action they wished to be taken, and the Govern- ments unanimously agreed to authorize a conference composed of the members of the River Murray Commis- sion to investigate and report. Investigations made under directions from the River Murray Commission included determination of the amount of power available from the discharge from storages of various capacities varying from 800,000 to 2,000,000 acre ft. Two conditions were imposed" the first by the River Murray Commission that the normal regulation of discharge from the storage, as required for purposes of the River Murray Act and Agreement, must be the basis on which estimates of power available are made and be subservient at all times to the provisions of the Agreement. Secondly, the Victorian Electricity Commission intimated that no portion of the capital cost of the storage could be borne by that Commission. The investigations made by the gauging officers of New South Wales and Victoria indicated that the following water horsepower would be available : — In flood years — 2,000,000 acre ft. capacity storage 44,000 W.H.P. to 59,000 W.H.P. for 1 1 months of the year. 1 ,100,000 acre ft. capacity storage -28,000 W.H.P. to 40,000 W.H.P. for 9 months of the year. In average years- 2.000.000 acre ft. capacity storage 43,000 W.H.P. to 59,000 W.H.P. for 9 months of the year. i ,100,000 acre ft. capacity storage— 24,000 W.H.P. to 40,000 W.H.P. for 9 months of the year. In drought years — 2,000,000 acre ft. capacity storage 25,700 W.H.P. to 32,000 W.H.P. for 5 months of the year. 1 ,100,000 acre ft. capacity storage - 22,700 W.H.P. to 32.400 W.H.P. for 5 months of the year. The estimated cost of the installation of outlet works suitable for the use of hydro-electric development was £40.000. The conference expressed the opinion that from the facts then available a regulated flow of 263,000 acre ft. per month for nine months in each year was the maximum that can be relied upon from the catchment with a reservoir of any capacity. Further, that it was very doubtful whether a reservoir of a capacity greater than 1 ,500,000 acre ft. would ever be warranted. At a conference of Ministers held in Melbourne on 1 9th January, 1 944, the following resolution was earned : — " That the question of the utilization of the Hume waters for purposes of generation of electricity be referred to a conference of representatives of the appropriate departments of the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, as a continuation of discussions entered into in 1930 to determine the manner of utilization of the waters so far as generation of electricity is concerned. The report of the above conference was presented at the conference of Ministers held on 21st and 22nd May, 1945, being based on the assumption that the capacity of the reservoir will be increased to 2,000,000 acre ft., and that the control of the discharge of water from the reservoir will remain a function of the River Murray Commission and that the discharge will be subject to such variations as the Commission may decide. Under these conditions it was estimated that the water discharged is capable of producing an average of 215,000,000 kilowatt hours per annum. Various phases of the plant required, capital cost, generating cost, transmission costs, which it is not proposed to give here, were set out in detail. The pros and cons as to whether the River Murray Commission should be authorized to make a charge for the use of the facilities available for the generation of power were set out, but the opinion of the conference on this question was divided. At the conference of Ministers in May, 1945, the following resolutions were carried : "(I) That this conference agrees to water from the Hume Reservoir being made available for the generation of electricity. " (2) 1 hat the water be made available to the State Electricity Authorities of New South Wales and Victoria for the generation of electricity at a charge to be agreed upon between the River Murray Commission and these authorities, and that an appropriate draft agreement be immediately prepared between the parties. 42 The Proposal to Increase the Capacity of the Hume Reservoir from 1 ,2S0,000 acre feet to 2,000,000 acre feet for Irrigation Purposes In 1922, following suggestions from the chairman of the Victorian Electricity Commission to utilize power from the storage for the development of electrical generation, it was decided by the contracting Govern- ments that the matter be investigated and reported upon by a conference composed of members of the River Murray Commission. The conference was also asked to make an investigation as to whether the present capacity of the reservoir could with advantage be enlarged, not only as having a direct bearing on hydro-electric develop- ment, but also for irrigation purposes, a very keen desire by the State authorities of both New South Wales and Victoria to have the additional storage for irrigation uses having existed prior to the proposals re hydro- electric power. A reference has already been made on the conclusions of the conference as to the power available, and the following is a summary of the report by the conference on the extra benefits that might be derived from additional storage, from the irrigation standpoint. As the proposal to increase the storage originated with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria, that authority was asked to state how such additional storage was proposed to be used, and the following is an extract from the memorandum submitted to the conference by that authority : " The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, in proposing that provision should now be made which would allow of the capacity of the Hume Reservoir being later increased, had in view primarily the safe-guarding of all interests contemplated in the River Murray Waters Agreement. This would, of course, cover to a very great extent the providing of additional water to all the States interested during abnormally dry periods. If the storage were eventually enlarged, as suggested by the Commission, consideration could be given at a future date to a reallocation of water should the then circumstances warrant such a course, but this allocation should at all times be on the understanding that it met with the approval of all contracting Governments. I have also been directed to add that the Commission considers the provision which should now be made should be of such a nature as would allow the total capacity to be later carried to at least 2.000.000 acre ft." The conference reported tlial, iiftcr reviewing all data available, it held the opinion that a regulated flow of 263,000 acre ft. at Albury for 9 months of each year is the maximum that can be relied upon from the catchment with a reservoir of any capacity. The conference also stated that in a 19-year period, such as from 1st May, 1896. to 30th April. 1915, with a storage of 1.100,000 acre ft. the above regulated flow could not have been provided in a total of 1 5 months of the watering season ; that with a storage of 1 ,300,000 acre ft. the months of failure would have been reduced to eight, and with a storage of 2,000,000 acre ft. the months of failure would have been reduced to four. The conference recommended that, as it would probably be many years before full demand on the output of the storage was reached, the Hume Dam be carried to a height as originally designed, but that the work be constructed so as to permit the dam being raised later to provide for a capacity of 2.000,000 acre ft. The question of the benefits to be derived by each State from any increased storage and other matters to be discussed by a conference of Ministers at an early date. The report was presented in June, 1924, and on the 9th August following, a conference of Commonwealth and State Ministers agreed to the following resolutions : 1. That this Conference is of opinion that provision should be made for outlet works at the Hume Reservoir suitable for the purpose of hydro- electric generation, in addition to the purposes set out in the River Murray Agreement, provided that the use of the reservoir for such generation of power will not in any way interfere with the output there- from of the volumes of water required for the purposes set out in the River Murray Agreement. " 2. That the cost of such additional works, estimated at £40.000. should be borne in equal shares by the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria, which Governments should have the sole use of any power generated at the reservoir. " 3. That the Commonwealth Government be requested to give a formal assurance that no claim will be made, under clause 10 of the first schedule of the Seat of Government Surrender .Act of 1909, to any electricity that may be developed at the Hume Reservoir in connection with the proposed works or any other works which may be established there. .43] " 4. That the work of construction of the Hume Dam, of sufficient dimensions to provide for a reservoir of 2,000,000 acre ft., proceed for a period not exceeding three years, and that the question of the ultimate capacity and completion of the reservoir be then the subject of a further conference of Ministers representing the four contracting Govern- ments ; provided that if the reservoir be increased above the capacity of 1,100,000 acre ft., it be under- stood that the additional water shall be used for meeting the present allocation obligations under the River Murray Agreement, and as a reserve for dry years ; such reserve to be used at the discretion of the River Murray Commission." On 12th August, 1926, a conference consisting of the members of the River Murray Commission and the chief engineers for the constructing authorities met to consider clause 4 of the above resolutions and recom- mended the dam be completed at once to provide for the full capacity of 2,000,000 acre ft., but this recom- mendation was not adopted and the dam was completed in accordance with resolution 4 of August 1 924 conference. The matter remained more or less in abeyance for some years when the question of a revised estimate of the cost, including the removal of portion or the whole of the township of Tallangatta was raised and the matter was investigated in much detail — the revised estimate was £1,000,000. The world war deferred further consideration of the work, but at a conference of Ministers held at the request of Victoria in January, 1944, the following resolutions were passed : — (a) The Hume Reservoir be increased in capacity from 1,250,000 acre ft. to 2,000,000 acre ft. as a post-war work, subject to the proviso set out in resolution 4 adopted at the conference of Ministers on 9th August, 1924, viz ; — " That the additional water shall be used for meeting the jjresent allocation obliga- tions under the River Murray Agreement, and as a reserve for dry years, such reserve to be used at the discretion of the River Murray Commission." (/)) The capacity of the Lake Victoria inlet channel be increased to approximately double its present designed capacity. (c) The question of the utilization of the Hume waters for the purpose of generation of electricity be referred to a conference of representatives of appropriate departments of the Common- wealth, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, as a continuation of discussions entered into in 1930 to determine the manner of utilization of the waters as far as generation of electricity is concerned. (J) The Commonwealth contribute 25 per cent of the capital cost of the proposed works, the balance to be provided by any or all of the contracting States. (e) The proposals be referred to the National Works Council for the allotment of a priority. The above resolutions were referred by the Federal Cabinet to the Co-ordinator General of Works for a report and recommendations. The Co-ordinator General of Works, in paragraph 28 of his report, recommended : — (a) That the Hume Dam be increased in capacity from 1,250,000 acre ft. to 2,000,000 acre ft., as a post-war work. (/)) That the capacity of Lake Victoria inlet channel be increased to approximately double its present designed capacity. (f) That the Commonwealth contribute 25 per cent of the capital cost of the proposed works on the understanding that the balance will be provided by any or all of the contracting States — it being a condition of the Common- wealth contribution that provision is made either in a reconstituted River Murray Commission or in a separate Commission to ensure that the controls referred to in paragraph 22 {a)-{d) will be exercised. These controls suggested by the Federal Government for acceptance by the States before any further contri- bution was agreed to by that Government were : — (a) That the parties concerned should agree that a policy of restricting the purposes for which water may be used is vital for proper irrigation development the kind of use to which the irrigated land is to be put being based upon prior investigation of the characteristics of the soils and the jarospective economic considera- tions affecting the intended crops or other forms of primary production. (/)) That private pumping jslants should be under the same control in respect to the purposes for which the water is used as are apjjlied to irrigation areas or districts. (f) That the States in which the water catchments from which the dam will be lilled agree to the formulation of a plan for the control of the use of the land on these catchments, so that the dam will not suffer from siltation and that a better regulation of stream flow will be developed. ((/) 1 hal part of the |iolicy of the water supply authorities should be to educate irrigation farmers in the adojilion of agricultural practices which can meet a period of restriction with the minimum of harm to the areas under cultivation. 44 I it will he noted that the 25 f)er cent contribution hy the Federal Government is conditional on all of these controls being agreed to, such controls being exercised either by a reconstituted River Murray Commission or a separate commission. The States would not agree to the proposed control over the use of water, and at a conference of Ministers held in Melbourne on the 21st and 22nd May, 1945, it was agreed : — (1) That the recommendations of the 1944 Confer- ence of Ministers be re-afhrmed. In order to meet the desires of the Federal Government, as expressed in paragraph 28 of report by the Co-ordinator General of Works, resolutions 2, 3, and 4 were passed : — (2) That the River Murray Commission, with the aid of the appropriate authorities in New South Wales and Victoria, arrange for an immediate examination of the catchment of the Hume reservoir and report on the matter to the four Governments. If necessary, these Governments will then confer. The River Murray Commission will report annually (in ihc condilidiis in the catcliincnt area of the Hume reservoir. (3) That the Australian Agnciilturnl Council be requested to instruct its Standing Committee to arrange for such investigation into the use of the Murray lands and for such consultation on the use of these irrigated lands as may be necessary in the light of economic prospects. The Council could, if thought desirable, be assisted in this by the Irrigation Production Advisory Committee. The annual report of the River Murray Commission shall include statistics covering the use of land under irrigation. (4) That the State authorities continue to give special attention to educational work among farmers designed to promote the most efficient farming under irrigation. No finality regarding the proposal has been reached up to the present (December 1945), and negotiations between the Commonwealth and the three State Govern- ments are still in progress. I 45 I Siltation and Algal Growth in the Hume Reservoir and Protection of Catchment Area SILTATION. Although the official opening of the Hume Reservoir took place on 21st November, 1936, observations to ascertain as nearly as possible the amount of silt deposited on the bed were commenced in 1932. The first observations were made from samples of water taken from the inflow from the Murray and Mitta areas and from the outflow below the dam. Based on this method of computation a total of 358 acre ft. of silt had been deposited over the nine years ending 30th June, 1941, or about 40 acre ft. per annum, but this method does not show any bed movement of gravel or sand. Prior to the first flooding of the river flats, six large concrete platforms were constructed in different locations on the floor of the reservoir for the purpose of measuring the depth of silt deposited. In December, 1938, a system of reference cross sections of both the Murray and Mitta valleys was started, the sections being marked with concrete posts 100ft. apart with the top I8in. above the natural surface. Re-surveys of the sections from time to time will give reliable data as to the extent of siltation after the elapse of a number of years and will include " bed load " of sand and gravel. In 1939-40 a number of steel pans 3ft. in diameter, and 12in. in depth, with three steel legs, were placed on the concrete platforms, and suitably marked by buoys and shore beacons. At each rasing of the pan the depth shows the deposition for the period of observation and the depth marked on the legs shows the accumulated deposit since the station was submerged. The average annual deposit of silt so recorded to date is 0.17in. In the River Murray Commission annual report for 1944-45, the results, extending over 13 years, are summarized thus : " The main deduction from a detailed investigation of all information available to date is that the rate at which silt has accumulated since the dam was constructed has been remarkably low. The results indicate that the total siltation since 1932, when the reservoir was being filled for the first time, is in the order of 6,400 acre ft. or about one two- hundredth of the present capacit> of the reservoir. This amount of silt represents an average of less than 25in. over the whole of the 33,000 acres covered bv the reservoir. During this period, no less than 34,000,000 acre ft. of water have passed through the storage. " There is some indication that the rate of siltation in the Hume Reservoir during years succeeding droughts IS greater than the average rate of siltation. This IS, no doubt, due in part to denudation of the catchment area during drought periods by fires, over-grazing, and rabbits, and indicates the vital importance of preserving the catchment area from any further denudation. Although the average rate of siltation is very low, it is apparent that all practical means should be employed to prevent any further denudation of the catchment area." ALGAL GROWTH. As IS not unusual in similar circumstances a growth of algae followed the first filling of the Hume Reservoir and developed to a serious extent. In January, 1930, the State constructing authorities applied the usual treatment by copper sulphate following some experi- mental treatment of a section of the reservoir, and incurred certain expenditure which was met by the River Murray Commission. In the summer of 1930-31 the trouble reappeared over an extended area and did not finally disappear for several seasons but became progressively less. The question arose as to the liability of the River Murray Commission under the River Murray Agreement for the payment out of Commission funds of these costs, but after discussion by the Crown L.aw officers and a conference of Ministers, a compromise was arrived at, which provided that the cost of any further treatment would have to be met by the States carrying out such work. PROTECTION OF HUME CATCHMENT AREA. The total area of the catchment above the Hume Dam is about 6,000 sq. miles— 4,000 sq. miles in Victoria, and 2,000 sq. miles in New South Wales, all more or less mountainous country. In order to appreciate the diliicultics to be overcome by the State authorities in giving complete protection against erosion, it is necessary to acquire a closer know- ledge of the many difficulties inherent m the problem. There are two main contributing causes of soil erosion in the Hume catchment which are accentuating the normal and natural forces of denudation. They are bush fires and rabbits. This opinion was expressed in a resolution of a Regional Advisory Committee for the Hume catchment, sitting in Victoria. It is not proposed to discuss here the question of how the problem should be dealt with but to submit briefly an account of the actions taken by the two State Governments to give effect to remedial measures. So far as the River Murray Commission is concerned it has no authority or control over this question, but recognizing the great importance of the matter wrote a letter dated 29th January, 1925, to the two State Governments concerned asking that " such action be taken as will effectually prevent the destruction of forests so far as Crown lands and leaseholds are concerned ". In July, 1926, a further letter to the Premiers of New South Wales and Victoria stated that the precautions taken to date were not adequate, and in many other subsequent letters the Commission pressed for more rigid controls and supervision and generally co-operated with the State Forestry and other departments to keep the question alive. In 1938 the New South Wales Govern- ment passed the Soil Conservation Act and in 1944 passed the Kosciusko State Park Act. The 1938 Act provided for a Director to administer a Soil Conservation Service and, in co-operation with other Government departments, make investigations and sub- mit reports on any suggested works for the purpose of conserving the soil resources of the States and carry into effect any such works as may be approved. Advances of money could also be made to private owners in certain conditions for the same purpose. The Act provides for catchment area protection boards under the presi- dency of the Minister and the Director as deputy chairman, also advisory committees to consider and report upon any matters connected with the purposes of the Act which may be referred to it. The 1944 Act constitutes a Kosciusko State Park Trust to have the care, control, and management of the lands constituting the Park which forms portion of the upper catchment of the Hume Reservoir, and the prevention of fires, and control of all mining leases, grazing, and cutting of timber, etc. The provisions of the Soil Conservation Act, 1938, in respect of land to apply within the Park. In Victoria a number of invaluable reports have been made in connection with the protection of the Hume catchment area. Among the most important are : (1) Report by Byles on the mountainous catchment of the Murray River in New South Wales — 1932. (2) Reconnaissance of Hume Reservoir Watershed by W. J. Lakeland of the State Forests Com- mission — 1932. (3) Report on inspection of the Hume Reservoir Catchment by Strom and Thompson of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission 1936. (4) Evidence for submission to the Commonwealth Rural Reconstruction Commission by C. T. Clark, Deputy Chairman, Soil Conservation Board, Victoria. In addition an ecological survey of the Hume catchment IS being made under the direction of the Soil Conservation Board for Victoria, and the first report dealing with the upper parts of the catchment is expected later this year (1945). In 1940 the Soil Conservation Act was presented to the Victorian Parliament providing for a board of seven members, one of whom shall be appointed as chairman, who will devote his full time to this office. The objects for which the board is appointed are : — (a) The prevention and mitigation of soil erosion. (/)) The promotion of soil conservation. (c) The utilization of lands in such a manner as will tend towards the attainment of the objects aforesaid. At a conference of Ministers held in Melbourne on 21st and 22nd May, 1945, and referred to on page 44, it was decided to refer the matter to the River Murray Commission to arrange for an examination of the Hume catchment in co-operation with appropriate State authori- ties in New South Wales and Victoria and report annually on the conditions in the catchment area of the Hume reservoir ; on the presentation of the report of inspection of the catchment area, the four Governments to then confer and decide what further steps, if any, may be desirable. ■47] Evaporation Evaporation stations have been established by the River Murray Commission at various places within the Murray basin in order to ascertain the loss of water in storages or other open waters connected with the system. Where State authorities have recording stations these are made use of, so that together with information obtainable from the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau, fairly reliable figures are available. At the Hume Reservoir,' the records extend from January, 1 928, to December, 1 944, and indicate an average net loss of 38.7in. with a maximum of 7in. in January and minimum of O.BOin. in June. At the Burrinjuck Dam on the Murrumbidgee," over a period of 31 years, 1913 to 1943 inclusive, the average net loss was 36.29in. with a maximum of 6.06in. in January and O.BOm. in July. At Lake Victoria, ' evaporation records have been taken over a period of 23 years, the average net loss being about 53.88in., varying from a maximum of 12in. in January, to — 1.50in. in June, the latter being due to heavy rain. At Lake Alexandrina, ' three evaporation stations were established, viz., Milang, Nalpa, and Point McLeay. The records extend over a few years and may be modified by further records. The average net loss of the three stations IS 50.3in.- Milang being lowest with 43.7in. and Nalpa the highest with 55.9in. It IS generally accepted that the evaporation from extensive areas of water is less than that recorded by adjacent land stations, and it is believed that this applies in all the above cases, and that 80 per cent of the land records would be a close approximation. When the behaviour of the Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, for the 12 months ending 30th June, 1945, is analysed, it is expected that some useful data will be available in connection with evaporation losses and that they may not be as high as expected. ' From figures supplied by the Chief Engineer, River Murray Works, Sydney. N.S.W. ' From figures supplied by the Water Oinscrvalion and Irrigation &>mmission, Sydney, N.S.W. ' From figures supplied by the Engineering and Water Supply Department, Adelaide, S.A. |4K| Cost of Works The figures given in the 1915 agreement, £4,663,000, as the estimated cost of the works, were not based on either surveys or data of any one of the proposed works, but were inserted as the best available figures of probable cost based on assumptions. Naturally, as the works proceeded, the attention of the Government was called to the excess of cost over the figures given. A committee of inquiry, by independent engineers, was appointed in 1929 to investigate more particularly the costs of the Hume Dam. The conclusions reached by the Committee, as to the main reasons for excess in unit costs were as follows : — The unit costs of concrete and earthwork as carried out by the constructing authorities in view of the methods and plant used, are reasonable. The quantities of excavation and concrete in foundations were increased due to faulty country not indicated by boring. The adoption of the Stoney sluice gates at a higher cost in place of gates previously contemplated was justified. An increase of 4,000 acres of land acquired for submergence following experience of a record flood in the Murrumbidgee in 1925. The decision of the Ministerial conference to construct the base of the dam to dimensions required for the increased capacity of the storage to 2,000,000 acre ft. resulted in a large increase in cost which will not be needed to complete the increased storage to 2,000,000 acre ft. Other causes which contributed to the increase in cost were increased rail freights and wages, improved living conditions for workmen and the more or less uneconomical use of plant in widely separated areas. The above reasons apply also to a greater or less extent to all the work carried out by the three States. In 1934 an amended agreement provided for the elimination of certain works included in the 1915 Agree- ment and the inclusion of others in their place, thus very largely altering the works to be constructed. The estimated cost of the works under this amended agree- ment was not to exceed £12,000,000. Owing to war conditions the completion of the work has been delayed and plant removed for military use, but notwithstanding this it is expected that the above estimate will not be exceeded. The administrative expenses of the River Murray Commission from its inception (31st January, 1917) to 30th June, 1944, as given in annual report 1943-44, amounted to £17,005. 49 1 Irrigation Development The following details are extracted from the annual report of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Com- mission of New South Wales for year ending 30th June, 1944. Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas — In these areas the estimated total value of the primary production as given in the annual report of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission for the year ending 30th June, 1944, was as follows : — £ Farm products (including rice, £802,000) 1 ,372,000 Horticultural (including citrus, dried fruits, etc.) 1,419,700 Vegetables 495,300 Miscellaneous 49,500 Total £3,336.500 The total area under production was 337,000 acres or an average gross value of production of nearly £10 per acre. It is also estimated that the New South Wales Government Railways derived a revenue of £520,000 and about £125,400 was paid in excise duty to the Federal Government. Other Irrigation Areas — Coomealla Irrigation Area Curlwaa Irrigation Area . . Hay Irrigation Area Area Value of Irrigated. Produce. Acres. £ 3,421 253,412 2,144 151,166 1,029 not stated Domestic and Sloch Water Siit)l>l!i and Irrigation Districts. The total area served within the districts is 2,458,780 acres, but the water rights for land suitable for irrigation are for only 143,832 acres. Water Trusts — Trusts for domestic and stock supply Trusts for irrigation Trusts for town supplies, etc Area. Acres. 3,106,210 16,014 2,278 Total, 23 in number 3,124,502 Bore water trusts, 80 in number . . . . Artesian well districts, 12 in number 4.596,910 314,123 Licensed Worlds — Three thousand three hundred and sixty-seven licences in force for pumps, etc., on streams and lakes of which 2,374 were issued for the purpose of irrigating some 137,635 acres. The total deliveries of water to irrigation areas and districts was 608,445 acre ft. for the year, but in addition certain diversions were made by water trusts, licensed diversions and impoundings m storages, the total being 762,157 acre ft. (See diversion returns in annual report of River Murray Commission.) IRRIGATION IN VICTORIA FROM RIVER MURRAY AND TRIBUTARIES. Victoria has a much larger area of land under irrigation than any other State. Of those irrigated from the Murray and its tributaries, the Goulburn system is the largest, the irrigated area being 357,228 acres of which 25,200 acres is under vines, orchards, etc.. and the balance under cereals, lucerne, sorghum, and pastures. On the Loddon and other northern systems an area of 1 3,723 acres is irrigated with about 6,500 acres of orchards, etc., the balance being mainly pastures. The River Murray system, including Mildura Trust and private diversions, irrigates 259,681 acres of which about 45,600 acres are under vines, orchards, etc., and the balance of about 214,000 acres are cereals, pastures, etc. The total of the above areas irrigated from the Murray and its tributaries in Victoria is therefore 630,632 acres, but the tnl.il area oi the migalioii districts is 1,826,000 ' Taken from tlit- ;mrii];il report of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victona for llie year l'Mi-44. [50] acres. Tne quantity of water diverted from the Murray and its trihiitarics for the year as given in the diversion return in the River Murray Commission's annual report is 1,928.037 acre ft. The value of Victorian production from irrigation areas within the River Murray basin for the year 1943-44, as supplied by the Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission is as follows : — £ Vegetables (including tomatoes) 566,100 Dairy products — milk and butter fat ... 2,096,500 Beef cattle 55,000 Pigs 221,000 Poultry 357,800 Sheep — wool, fat sheep and lambs 1,715,000 Grapes — dried, wine and dessert 2,700,000 Soft fruits — for processing and dessert . 880,000 Citrus — manufacture and dessert 700,000 Cereals, hay, grass seeds 491 ,800 Total £9,783.200 The above values are at the principal markets and do not include the value added in manufacture in the case of canned fruits or processed vegetables. IRRIGATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The annual report of the Department of Lands, South Australia, for year ending 30th June. 1944. gives the following details : — Total area of land in irrigation areas, 229,541 acres. Comprising — Acres. High irrigable lands. . 26,183 (vines and fruit trees mostly) Reclaimed swamps. . . 9,065 (dairying mostly) Non-irngable land . . 164,372 (pasturage) Commonage 29,921 (pasturage) Total 229.541 The high irrigable lands include all those areas capable of being irrigated from existing works, but as some of these areas for various reasons are not being worked at present, the actual areas irrigated in June, 1945, are given by the Lands Department as : — Acres. High irrigable lands 18,500 Reclaimed swamps 9,350 Total under Government control 27,850 The Department of Lands has also given an estimated area of land irrigated by the Renmark Frust and private owners as 13,000 acres, making a total of 40,850 acres. An area of 342,000 acres is also served for stock and domestic and town supplies for which 3,236 acre ft. of water was used. The only new diversion since June, 1944, IS for the pipe line to Whyalla, but investigations have been completed for the development of new irrigation areas which will be commenced as soon as the war is over and circumstances will permit. The Secretary of the Irrigation Branch of the Department of Lands has prepared a statement of the value of production for the year 1943-44 from areas watered from the River Murray in South Australia including proclaimed irrigation areas, trust areas and privately owned properties. These values are based on figures obtained from settlers and from information obtained from the Government Statist, and departmental estimates in respect to private properties, and are as follows : — £ Dried and fresh fruit 2,31 1,000 Vegetables 82,000 Dairy produce 200,000 Sheep 20,000 Total £2.613,000 Erratum — Paras^raph 3 above, first line, read — " An area of 1 ,342,000 acres " 151 I River Murray Commission 28 3 18 21 12 21 22 12 21 9/2/23 10 2 23 5 8 24 26/9/24 29 11 28 30 11 28 21 10/29 22 10,29 2/3/31 3/3/31 5/1/32 PRESIDENTS : From To — Senator the Hon. Patrick Joseph Lynch 6 months 1217 10 8 17 The Hon. William Alexander Watt, M.H.R 7 months 118 17 27 318 The Hon. Sir Littleton Groom, K.C.M.G., K.C.. M.H.R. (title received later) • 3 years 9 months . . , The Hon. Richard Witty Foster, M.H.R 1 year 3 months The Hon. Percy Gerald Stewart, M.H.R 1 year 6 months .... The Hon. William Caldwell Hill, M.H.R 4 years 2 months . . Senator the Hon. William Gerrand Gibson, , 11 months Senator the Hon. John Barnes 1 year 3 months . . . Senator the Hon. John Braidwood Dooley 1 year 10 months . . The Hon. Sir Charles William Clanan Marr, K.C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C., V.D., M.H.R. (title received later) 3 months 6 132 12/4/32 The Hon. Sir Robert Archdale Parkhill, K.C.M.G., M.H.R. (title received later) 6 months 1 3 4 32 12 1 0/32 The Hon. John Arthur Perkins, M.H.R 2 years 13 10,32 12 10 34 The Hon. Eric John Harrison, M.H.R 1 month 12 10 34 9 11/34 The Hon. Thomas Paterson, M.H.R 3 years and 1 month . 9 1 1 34 29/1 1/37 The Hon. John McEwen, M.H.R 1 year 29 1137 24 11/38 The Hon. Harold Victor Campbell Thorby, M.H.R 5 months 24 1 1 38 26/4/39 Senator the Hon. Hattil Spencer Foil 2 years 6 months .... 26/4/39 7 10 41 Senator the Hon. Joseph Silver Collings 3 years 9 months .... 7 10 41 12,7/45 The Hon. Hubert Peter Laz/arini, M.H.R 13 9 45 — 52 River Murray Commission MEMBERS ; Commonwealth Deputy President — T. Hill, O.B.E., M.I.E. Aust., 1/2/1918 to 12 5/1944. C A. Hoy, F.R.A.I.A., 12/5/1944 to date. New South Wales — H. H. Dare, M.Inst.C.E., 31/1/1917 to 31/12/1934. F. H. Brewster, 1/1/1935 to date. (H. M. Larkins acted as Deputy Commissioner for nine months during the absence abroad of F. H. Brewster.) Victoria — J. S. Dethridge, M.Inst.C.E., 31/1/1917 to 15/5/1926. E. Shaw, M.Inst.C.E. (Deputy Commissioner) 15/5/1926 to 1/1 1/1926. R. H. Horsfieid, M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust., Ill 1926 to 8/10/1936. L. R. East, M.C.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust., 1/11/1936 to date. South Australia — G. Stewart, M.Inst.C.E., 31/1 1917 to 14 5/1918. j. H. O. Eaton, I.S.O., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust., acting from 19/4/1918 ; permanent appointment 24 5 1918 to date. SECRETARIES. P. A. Gougard, 14, 2, 1917 to 4/5/1927. D. P. Israel, A.I.C.A., A.A.I.S.. 4/5/1927 to 19/10 1943. C. J. Tetaz, Dip. Com. (Melb.) A.F.I.A., 19/10/1943 to date. State Constructing Authorities The State Constructing Authorities are — New South Wales — The Hon. J. J. Cahill, M.L.A., Minister of Works and Local Government. The design and construction being under Mr. S. W. Jones, B.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust., Principal Engineer, Water Supply and Sewerage, Department of Public Works, New South Wales, and Chief Engineer, River Murray Works, New South Wales. Victoria — The Hon. J. G. B. McDonald, M.L.A., Minister for Water Supply and Electrical Undertakings. The design and construction being under the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Mr. L. R. East, M.C.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust., Chairman. South Australia — The Hon. M. Mcintosh, M.P., Minister of Works. The design and construction being under the Engineer-in-Chief, Mr. H. T. M. .Antiwin, C.M.G., B.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E. Aust. [53 1 Maps and Illustrations Page. Fig. 1 . Key plan of the Catchment of the River Murray showing the surface and underground water resources and the areas in which they are being utihzed Facing 6 Fig. 2. Key plan of the River Murray and Tributaries showing the works constructed by the River Murray Commission, together with the areas that have been developed by the respective States Facing 16 Fig. 3. Hume Reservoir — Upstream of Dam from New South Wales 21 Fig. 4. Hume Reservoir — Downstream of Dam from New South Wales 22 Fig. 5. Hume Reservoir — Plan and Sections 23 Fig. 6. Hume Reservoir — Bethanga Bridge 24 Fig. 7. Hume Reservoir Plan of Basin 25 Fig. 8. Yarrawonga Diversion Weir — Plan and Sections 27 Fig. 9. Yarrawonga Diversion Weir — Downstream View of Concrete Sluices 28 Fig. 10. River Murray Locks and Weirs, Nos. 1 to 10 — Typical Plan and Sections 30 Fig. 1 1 . Lock and Weir No. 1 1 , Mildura Typical Sections of Weir 32 Fig. 12. Weir No. 5 (Redbanks), Murrumbidgee River — Upstream View 33 Fig. 13. Lake Victoria Storage — General Plan and Sections of Embankments 34 Fig. 14. Lake Victoria Storage — Controlling Regulator — Downstream View 35 Fig. 1 5. Lake Victoria Storage— Outlet Regulator — Upstream View 35 Fig. 1 6. Torrumbarry Lock and Weir — Downstream View 36 Fig. 1 7. River Murray Barrages — Goolwa Barrage — Section through Navigable Pass 38 Fig. 18. River Murray Barrages Location Plan Facing 38 Fig. 19. River Murray Barrages - Goolwa Barrage — Section through Sluices 39 Fig. 20. River Murray Barrages- Ewe Island and Tauwitchere Channels Section through Sluices 40 Fig. 21 . River Murray Barrages — Mundoo Channel — Section of Embankment 41 Fig. 22. River Murray Barrages General View of Goolwa Barrage 41 I Ml Acknowledgments My thankful acknowledgments are tendered to — The Minister of Works, South Australia, Hon. M. Mcintosh, M.P., for his consent to my use of the facilities available in the offices of the Engineering and Water Supply Department, and for access to reports, files, and documents in that department. The members of the River Murray Commission, Messrs. Hoy, Brewster, and East, and the Secretary, Mr. Tetaz. I am much indebted for their assistance, but 1 desire in particular to thank Mr. East and his staff for the advice and the preparation and loan of drawmgs, blocks, and photos. Mr. S. W. Jones, Principal Engineer, Public Works Department, New South Wales, for information, photographs, etc., supplied. Mr. H. T. M. Angwin, Engineer-in-Chief, C.M.G., and Mr. R. G. Wilton, Deputy Engineer-in-Chief, Engineering and Water Supply Department, South Australia, for the helpful manner in which they made facilities available and assisted in many other ways ; also the following departmental officers: The Chief Draftsman, Mr. W. M. Anderson, and staff, for invaluable help in preparation of diagrams and selection of illustrations, etc. The Engineer for Irrigation and Drainage, Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Tolley, and the Secretary for Irrigation, Lands Department, Mr. C. M. Fowles, for information supplied. The Secretary, Mr. H. A. Solly, and his clerical staff, of which I would especially mention Messrs. K. A. Beckwith and L. H. Schapel, and Miss U. Hemsley and her staff. Adelaide, 1945. J. H. 0. EATON 55 List of Appendices I. Interstate Royal Commission on the River Murray, 1902. Resolutions, Recommendations, and Dissent. II. Letter from the Premier of South Australia, supporting Dissent of Mr. Burchell. III. Letter from the Premier of Victoria in reply to South Australian Premier's letter. IV. Resolutions regarding the distribution of the waters of the River Murray and its tributaries to the use of the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, agreed to by the Premiers of the said States at a Conference held in Sydney on the 16th day of April, 1906. V. Report of Royal Commission on Murray Waters, Victoria, 1909. VI. Mileages of Main Towns, Locks, and Weirs, Etc. [56] Appendices APPENDIX I. Interstate Royal Commission on the River lllRRAY 1902. RESOLUTION I. (a) The navigation of the lower part of the main nver, and of certain portions of the larger tributaries, will eventually be provided for by the construction of locks and weirs. Until the initiation of such a system of works, the upper riparian States shall restrict their total diversions to about 440,000 cub. ft. per minute for seven months from July to January, inclusive, and during the months of February to June, inclusive, shall restrict their total diversions to about 370,000 cub. ft. per minute. (b) As, however, the Campaspe and Loddon rivers, and the Broken River, with its effluent the Broken Creek, and the Avoca and Wimmera rivers, in Victoria, and Wakool, Lachlan, Boga, Macquarie, Castlereagh, Namoi, and Gwydir rivers in New South Wales, make no effective contributions to the Murray River except during floods, rights of diversion from these rivers shall be accorded to the respective States in addition to those stipulated above. (r) The requirements of South Australia, in respect of water to be sent down the river channel by the upper riparian States for supply, and to make good losses by percolation and evaporation in the nver, and in the lakes at its mouth, shall be for the seven months, July to January, inclusive, 170,000 cub. ft. per minute, and for the five months, February to June, inclusive, 70,000 cub. ft. per minute. (d) Whenever the volumes of water available are insufficient to provide the foregoing 440,000 or 370,000, and 170,000 or 70,000 cub. ft. per minute respectively, a proportionate reduction shall be made in each, so as to bring their sum within the total available. All of these concessions will be subject to the provision of storage as shall be hereafter decided. (Agreed to unanimously.) RESOLUTION II. (a) During the seven months, July to January, inclusive, the diversions on the part of New South Wales and Victoria shall be respectively 292,000 cub. ft. per minute, and 146,000 cub. ft. per minute, unless the volume of the river at Morgan exceeds 337,000 cub. ft. per minute, in which case the diversions may be proportionately greater. (i) During the five months, February to June, inclusive, the diversions on the part of New South Wales and Victoria shall be respectively 240,000 cub. ft. per minute, and 127,000 cub. ft. per minute, unless the volume of the Murray at the South Australian border exceeds 70,000 cub. ft. per minute, in which case the diversions shall be proportionately greater. (c) The foregoing f|uaiitili(s to be ioni|juted as follows : — New South Wales. Cubic Feet per Minute. For For Points of Source. Seven Months, Five Months, Diversion. July to January, February to June, Inclusive. Inclusive. Upper Murray catch- 60,000 60,000 merit (to below junction of Kiewa) Murmmbidgee and 232.000 180,000 Darling catchments From any point or points on the Murray River From any point or pomts on the Murrumbidgee or Darlmg Rivers Vicloria. Cubic Feet per Minute. For For Points of Seven Months, Five Months. Diversion. July to January. February to June. Inclusive. Inclusive. Upper Murray catch- 60.000 ment (to below junction of Kievva) From Goulburn 86,000 catchment 60.000 67.000 From any point or pomts on the Murray River From any point or pomts on the Goulburn River or an equivalent thereof. from any point or points on the Ovens River C arriec Burchell disagreeing. RESOLUTION III. That the rights of diversion accorded by resolutions Nos. I. and II. are intended to secure the navigability of the rivers, equivalent to that of their natural condition in typical years of low discharge, in so far as relates to the passage of boats of the class heretofore trading thereon, and shall be so accepted in the further discussion. Carried Mr. Burchell disagreeing. RESOLUTION IV. That as the proposed Cumberoona reservoir, on the Upper Murray, if constructed of a capacity of 25,367,000,000 cub. ft., will be capable in conjunction with the natural discharge of the tributaries between the site of the dam and the gauging station at Albury, of so regulating the nver as to ensure a practically uniform discharge of 180,000 cub. ft. per minute below the affluence of the Kiewa ; the volumes so regulated shall 57 belong in equal shares to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, conditionally upon these States bearing equal shares of the cost of the reservoir. Carried Mr. Burchell disagreeing. RESOLUTION V. That, when the navigability of the lower part of the main river, and of certain portions of the larger tributaries, is permanently secured by the construction of locks and weirs, the restriction of diversions by the upper riparian States shall be amended, so that, in addition to the 60,000 cub. ft. per minute (South .'\ustralia's allotment from the Upper Murray) an average of 53,000 cub. ft., equal to 28,908,000,000 cub. ft. per annum, shall pass down the main stream at the South Australian boundary. The total quantity, 115,000 cub. ft. per minute, equal to 60,444,000,000 'cub. ft. per annurn, shall be held to make good the loss by evaporation in the lakes at the river mouth, the loss occurring in the river between the South Australian boundary and those lakes, and to satisfy the irrigation rights of that State. The increased loss from the Darling and the Murrumbidgee, due to the weirs thereon, and the volume necessary for working the locks on these rivers, being supplied from their own catchments, it is agreed by New South Wales and Victoria that a volume sufficient to make good the losses in the river between Albury and the South Australian border, with 55,000 cub. ft. per minute as provided above, shall be supplied in the mam river as follows : — At the affluence of the Kiewa, being the ex- cess available after providing the regulation volume 1 .2 per cent of the total required At the affluence of the Ovens 8.8 per cent of the total required At the affluence of the Goiil- burn 16.5 per cent of the total required At the affluence of the Mur- rumbidgee .. 28.7 per cent of the total required At the affluence of the Darling 44.8 per cent of the total required 100.0 per cent It is, however, stipulated that the obligations of either State shall be held to be fulfilled by the required volume being supf)lied from one or other or more of the tributaries named within its own boundaries. It is further stipu- lated that, should it at any time appear that the volume passing th(' South Australian boundary, together with those diverted by the States of New South Wales and Victoria, are such that the total sti|nilated would not be available ff)r the year then current that is to sav, that they would be less for the year than 321,000,000,000 cub. ft. then, and in such case, there shall be a pro rata reduction of the supplies to each of the three States, so as to maintain the same [)roportions as those agreed upon. Carrierl unanimously. RECOMMENDATIONS. To give effect to the conclusions arrived at in the course of our inquiry, we desired to make the following recommendations : — 1 . That the division of the waters of the Murray basin among the three States shall be, before and after the construction of locks and weirs on the river, as set forth in the resolutions in chapter I I. 2. That the storage reservoirs at Cumberoona and Lake Victoria and the weirs at the Murray mouth, shall be constructed at the cost of the three States in equal shares, and that the weir and head works at Bungowannah shall be at the cost of New South Wales and Victoria in equal shares. 3. That a permanent Commission be appointed to control and modify diversions of natural waters within the Murray basin, and charged with the administration of all matters appertaining thereto, including the questions dealt with in chapter 12 of this report. 4. That, inasmuch as the conditions in Australia are such that the common law doctrine of riparian right is unsuitable, steps be taken to legislate on the lines of the Water Rights Act of New South Wales, and to vest the ownership and control of all natural waters in the Crown. 5. That, concurrently with the construction of the proposed Cumberoona reservoir on the Upper Murray, we advise that the scheme for diverting water from Bungowannah be carried out by the Government of New South Wales, the estimated cost being £550,000 ; such scheme to provide for the conveyance and distri- bution of 50,000 cub. ft. per minute from the Murray into New South Wales. 6. While admitting the benefit of a permanently navigable river, we are of opinion that the present traffic IS not sufficient to warrant a complete system of locking. We think, however, that a beginning might be made with the Murray from Blanchetown to the junction of the Darling at Wentworth at an early date. For this, eight locks would be required, viz., six between the South Australian border and Blanchetown and two between the South Australian border and Wentworth. The estimate, according to the evidence of Mr. Moncrieff of South Australia and of Mr. Wade of New South Wales, is £760,000. We recommend that the Federal Govern- ment be invited to consider the desirability of carrying out this first instalment of locking the river. Dissent. — By Mr. F. N. Burchell of South Australia. I most respectfully dissent from the foregoing report on the following grounds : 1. Its terms are, in my opinion, calculated to confuse the real question at issue, i.e., particularly in regard to resolutions 11. and III., or any reference thereto. 2. 1 he first aiifl paramount duty of the Commission is, in my opinion, to determine the minimum flow necessary to be maintained for the [)iirpose of navigation. The question of the ]ust allotment of llie waters between the States for conservation and irrigation being subsidiary to the main necessity of keeping the riv(-rs navigable. 5H| 3. The evidence shows that the minimum depth of water necessary for navigation of the River Murray is 4ft. above zero on the Overland Corner gauge (see exhibit 43), therefore, no diversion by or in any State should be permitted while this requirement is unsatisfied, except as mentioned in the next paragraph. 4. I admit that to impose the absolute condition that no water should be taken from the river while the flow is less than 4ft. above zero at Overland Corner, would injuriously affect the irrigation pumping schemes now in operation, and which, being already established, require special consideration. I think therefore, th.it this condition should, as a matter of interstate concession, be qualified to the extent of allowing a sufficient quantity of water to continue to be pumped at all times, for the supply of existing pumping schemes. But that this concession should extend only to the absolute necessities of the said schemes, and that, in all such cases, the abstraction of water should be controlled by the Interstate Commission. 5. Subject to the mamtenance of the River Murray as a navigable waterway, as stated in paragraph 3 of this dissent, the question of the just allotment of the waters to the use of the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia for irrigation is one concerning which i am prepared to recommend the utmost liberality to the States of New South Wales and Victoria. In my opinion, the surplus waters of the River Murray and its tributaries should be distributed as follows : — New South Wales and Victoria in such proportions as they may agree ujjon between themselves, seven-eighths; and South Australia one-eighth. 6. I have dealt, so far, with the question upon the assumption that the rivers remain in their present natural condition, but should a system of weirs and locks be established, which in my ojDinion is desirable, then, contingent upon the exclusion of the sea water from Lakes Alexandrina and Albert by the erection of a barrage at near the mouth of the River Murray, a sufficient quantity of water should be allowed to flow into South Australia to : — (a) Provide for navigation. (/)) Maintain the lakes at a proper level at all seasons of the year. (c) Give sufficient water for a reasonable develop- ment of irrigation works in South Australia. (', probably at Cumberoona, should be constructed by New South Wales and Victoria upon such terms and conditions as to cost and otherwise as they may decide. 10. That the Murrumbidgee and Goulburn Rivers should, as far as is not inconsistent with our recommenda- tions, be entirely subject to the control and management of the States of New South Wales and Victoria respec- tively, and that no irrigation works or the use thereof on either stream should be subject to objection by any State. 1 1. That it should be agreed between the States that for the time being the allocation of the Murray waters between the States should be as follows :— New South Wales and Victoria should receive in proportion to their contributions, but that the Darling flow should not be regarded as a contribution except in so far as it is used by New South Wales to make up that State s contribution towards the South Australian proportion, and South Australia should receive one-fifth of the total annual natural flow at the boundary, such proportion to be provided in such quantities per minute and at such times as the stock and domestic requirements for settlement within a reasonable distance of the river and as the irrigation of an area not exceeding 200,000 acres may, in the Board's opinion, demand. 12. That, in order to maintain transportation facilities for localities which now have them only by river and which do not hereafter obtain them by railway con- struction, the board be empowered to regulate the flow of the rivers so that the period of navigation hitherto customary be preserved for vessels of a reasonable draught and so long as this is not inconsistent with irrigation development. 13. That, when the board is of opinion that the natural flow of the river reinforced by available water from storages is insufficient to supply irrigation require- ments and at the same time maintain navigation, as hereinbefore mentioned, it shall so report to the States concerned, and the members shall submit to their respective States a scheme whereby suitable transportation facilities and means of communication, whether by land or water, could be secured for localities on the Murray and Murrumbidgee which are being deprived of such facilities and means of communication, and thereupon the States shall carry out such scheme upon such terms as to cost and otherwise as such States shall agree upon. In settling such terms, the principle of payment in accordance with benefit received shall be observed. (See page Ixii.) 14. The volume of diversion of any one State may be increased beyond that provided in the agreement at any time, and for the time being, by the board, provided that this increase does not interfere with the actual requirements of any other State. Further, it shall be competent for the board to so regulate the diversions as to provide for the preservation of fruit and other perman- ent crops in all three States, in exceptionally low periods of flow, such as occurred in 1902-03. APPENDIX VI. MILEAGES OF MAIN TOWNS, LOCKS, AND WEIRS, ETC. Miles. 5 1\ 48 55i 70^ 94 153 I70i 199 206 225.i 238 264i im 21\l 281 304.1 321 327 35U 3521 354 { 388 Murray Mouth Goolwa Barrage Goolwa Wellington Tailem Bend Murray Bridge Mannum Swan Reach Weir and Lock No. I, Blanchetown Morgan Cadell Weir and Lock No. 2 Waikeric Overland Corner Weir and Lock No. 3 Kingston Mf)orook Loxton Weir and Lock No. 4 Herri Weir and Lock No. 5 Paringa Bridge Renmark Weir and Lock No. 6 3983 Victorian and South Australian Border 405| New South Wales and South Australian Border 422 CalLal 437 Weir and Lock No. 7, Rufus River junction, outlet from Lake Victoria 455 Weir and Lock No. 8 468 Ned's Corner 479 Weir and Lock No. 9 4841 Frenchman's Creek, inlet to Lake Victoria 515 Weir and Lock No. 10, Wentworth, junction with Darling River 548 Weir and Lock No. I I , Mildiira 692 Weir and Lock No. 15, Euston 770 Murnimbidgec lunction 800 Wakool junction 840 Nyah 875 Swan Hill, Loddon River junction *M5 Koondrook 1,020 Weir and Lock No. 26, Torrumbarry Weir 1,(166 Echuca, Goulburn River junction 1,180 Tocumwal 1,240 Yarrawonga Weir 1,368 Albury 1 ,385 Hume Reservoir, juiKtinn with Mitta Mitta River (.>(> I Index Subject. Page. Acknowledgments 55 Administrative Expenses 49 Acts — Proposed Amendments to Act of 1 91 5 17 River Murray Waters Act, 1915 14 Works constructed under River Murray Waters Act, 1915 21 Agreement of 1914 14 Amendments of Agreement of 1914 17 Algal Growth in Hume Reservoir 46 Appendices 57 Barrages Near River Murray Mouth 36 Catchment Area Hume, Protection of 46 Conferences and Royal Commissions — 1863 Conference between the three States 10 1 865 Conference between the three States 10 1 885 Conference between the three States 10 1 903 Conference between Federal Government and the three States 12 1 905 Premiers' Conference at Hobart 12 1 906 Conference between the three States 12 1911 Premiers' Conference at Melbourne 13 1913 Conference of Engmeers Report 13 1 944 Conference of Mmisters 42 1 945 Conference of Ministers 42 1 887 Royal Commission, South Australian 10 1902 Royal Commission, Interstate II 1909 Royal Commission, Victorian 12 Conflicting Interests between Irrigation and Navigation 9 Constructing Authorities 53 Cost of Works 49 Datum of River Murray Levels 40 Dethridge Weir 31 Deviations of Traffic Routes, Hume Reservoir 25 Diversions 20 [67 1 Index — n„ihn,ni. -—-. Subject. Page. Ev.APORATION 48 Gauging St.ations 19 Hume Dam 21 Algal Growth in Reservoir 46 Catchment Area — Protection 46 Deviation of Traffic Routes 25 Hydro-Electric Generation from 42 Increasing Capacity — Proposals for 43 Lands Acquired 23 Siltation in Reservoir 46 Slip in Dam — Repairs 23 Hydro-Electric Gener.\tion fro.m Hume Dam 42 Interests — Conflicting 9 Irrigation — General -' New South Wales From River Murray and Tributaries 50 Victoria From River Murray and Tributaries 50 South Australia — From River Murray 51 Lake Victoria Storage 33 Land Acquisition for Hume Reservoir 25 Locks and Weirs 26 New South Wales 3! Victoria 31 South Australia 28 Weirs Constructed by New South Wales on River Murrumbidgee 31 Yarrawonga Diversion Weir 26 Maps and Illustrations List of 54 Members of Rivfr Mikray Commission Past and Present 53 Navigation 8 Negotiations and Conference's 10 Photographs and Maps Llst ok 54 Presidents of River Murray Commission 52 Protection of Catchments 46 168) Index— "■"'"'""/. Sul)jtHt. Page River Murray Commission— Past and Present Members 53 Presidents 52 River Murray Waters Act, 1915 14 Amendments 17 Works Constructed Under 21 Roads, Deviations— Hume Dam 25 Royal Commissions— See Conferences. Secretaries, Past and Present 53 SiLTATioN in Hume Reservoir 46 Spurs- Training 33 Traffic Routes, Deviation for Hume Dam 25 Training Spurs 33 Watershed of Murray and Tributaries 7 Weirs and Locks 26 New South Wales 31 Victoria 31 South Australia 28 Weirs Constructed by New South Wales on River Murrumbidgee 31 Yarrawonga Diversion Weir 26 Works— Barrages near River Murray Mouth 36 Constructed under River Murray Waters Act, 1915 21 Costs 49 Hume Dam 21 Lake Victoria Storage 33 Training Spurs 33 Weirs and Locks in New South Wales 31 Weirs and Locks in Victoria 31 Weirs and Locks in South Australia 28 Weirs constructed by New South Wales on River Murrumbidgee 31 Yarrawonga Weir 26 Yarrawonga Diversion Weir 26 [69] D 000 Oil 792 9