18 9 0. VICTORIA. liY PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PAHLIAMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COM1IAND. RO:BT, S. :BRAI~, GOVER!i'l\IENT PRINTER, MELBOURME. No. 147.-[2s. 3d.}-7417. INDEX TO llEPORT. PAGE Preliminary 3 Legislation <luring past year 3 Legislation nrgently recptired 4 Riparian l{ights 4 Drainage requirements ••• 5 Gold-fields Reservoirs ... 5 'First Conference of Irrigationists .") Circulars to Trusts 5 Pnrity of Coli ban Water 6 Handbooks (i Appointments 6 National Works- Goulbnrn District 7 I.od(lon 8 Kow Swamp ... 8 Campnspe 9 Broken River 9 East Wimmera 9 West. lVimmera 9 \Verribee 9 Irrigation and Water Supply Trnsts 9 Increased value in land 12 Mildma Irrigation Colony 12 Irrigation in other Countries •.. 12 Proposcll Irrigation and lVater t:lnpply Trusts 13 Irrigation Competitions 15 Recommendation of the Judges ..• 16 \Vaterworks Trusts 16 Inspection of Trust 'Works 18 Local Governing Bodies Loan Acts 19 Victorian Water Supply Work;; 19 Colilmn Scheme 19 Geclong Scheme 20 Gold-fields Reservoir;; 20 Rainfall and River Gauging 21 Rainfall 21 Rh-er Gauging 21 Analyses of \Vater 21 Boring for Water 21 Conclusion 23 1\lAr OP VICTORIA, ~howing- 1Vatcrworks Tn1sts. Urban Di~tricts. Irrigation flllll 1Yater Supply Trns(.s, Towns supplied. National Works. APPI:OXUfAl'E COST OF REPORT. .t s. d. PrC'paro.tion-N'ot gh·en~ Printing {·l,OOO copi~s) .. 165 0 0 FOR THE YEAR EXDED 30TH JUNE, 1890. Victorian ·water Supply, Treasury Gardens, Melbourne, 1st September, 1890. Tile llonorable Alfred Deakin, J.liin'ister qf rVater Supply, '-}·c., <S·c. Sm, I have the honour to submit my Heport for the past twelve months, and have much pleasure in stating that the steady progress of important schemes of water ~upply :md irrigation alluded to by my predcce6sor in his last year\; Report is increasing in a ratio corresponding with the growth of educated. interest in, and appreciation of~ the science of water conservation, which is necessarily of paramount importance in Victoria. Though the preliminary stage can scarcely yet he said to have passed, the substantial progress made throughout the colony has been very pronounced. A better kuo,vlcdge of our ·water resources is being generally acquired, so that each year finds us more efficiently equipped for the eonsideration of schemes of supply. The unceasing research for umlerground water has, I regret to say, not been attended with any marked success, but the gauging of our rivers is being carefully pursued, with exceedingly encouraging results. The construction of important nntional works has heen energetically proceeded with, and the lnrgest is now upon the point of completion. A number of new lrrigation Trusts have hecn constituted, and others are in process of formation, whilst those already established are rapidly pushing forward their schemes to completion. Domestic Trusts f(n· urban districts are steadily multiplying in all parts of the colony, and extensions of the channels through rural territories, from existing works, are being systematically proceeded with. The Coliban and Geelong schemes remain in the hands of the Department, hut hoth exhibit improved returns, whilst the interest received from Trusts and local governing bodies exceeds that of last year. ~ Several ne\v appointments have been made in the Department, and. reforms have been pressed upon the Trusts, which it is hoped will lead to their income being materially added to, and their water supply more efficiently distributed. In explanation of the apparent delay in issuing this Report, I f~~el it necessary to mention that, though the financial year ends on the 30th June, in accordance with the law the accounts cannot he closed until the 31st August following, consequently the complete financial returns could. not be compiled until that date. The amounts received after the 30th June are entered eeparatcly, and require to be deducted from the sums set out in the Treasury returns as due on that date, otherwise many of the Trusts, though regularly discharging their liabilities to the State, would be made to appear in arrears. LEGISLATION. A further amendment of the Principal Irrigation Act was passed by Parliament during last session. This amending Act contains six Parts, comprising collectively 32 sections. Part I.-Deals with the creation of urban divisions within Irrigation Districts, and provides for their constitution and government. A2 4 Part IL-Authorizes the formation of special Irrigation and Water Supply Districts of areas limited to 10,000 acres, within which a wider franchise is established. Part IlL-With the approval of the Governor in Council, and for a period not to exceed five ( 5) years, so regulates the interest payable by a Trust on any loan as to make it bear the same proportion to the full amount chargeable as the quantity of water actually taken from National works bears to that authorized hv the Order in Council constituting such Trust; the unpaid balance of interest being capitalized. It also provides for a half-yearly statement being furnished by Trusts to which loans have been granted, showing the extent of their irrigation. Part IV.-Extends the powers ofirrigation and \Vater Supply Trusts to expend money upon the drainage of laud within their district, subject to certain restrictions. Part V.-Authorizes the Board of Land and Vv orlcs to enter and effect necessary repairs upon Trust ·works allowed to fall into disrepair, the cost to he either debited to the defaulting Trust or to he a charge on the property and rates of such Trust at a higher rate of interest. This Part also allows an extension of time for forming a sinking fund. Part VI.-Gives the Board of Land and \Vorks authority to institute and maintain proceedings for illegal diversion of water, and determines the maximum amount of the penalty. It also makes any municipal officer refusing or neglecting to supply a copy of the municipal roll when required for the purpose of the Act liable to a penalty. A short amendment of The Water Conservation Act 1887, consisting of three sections only, was also passed in Kovember, 1889. Section I.-Short title and construction. Section IL-So amending section 24 of the Principal Act as to make it lawful at any time for the councillors for any riding or ridings of any municipality to apply for permission to constitute a vVaterworks district. Section IlL-Giving power to the Governor in Council to postpone the formation of a sinking fund for any period not exceeding five years. LEGISLATION URGENTLY REQUIRED. RIPARIAN RIGHTS. The absolute necessity of the State being invested with full power over all natural sources of water supply becomes increasingly apparent each year. The strong recommendation contained in last year's Report is therefore again urged, and with increased emphasis. Nothing short of a comprehensive enactment dealing conclusively with the whole riparian law of the colony will meet the necessities of the case, enable the Water Act to be satisfactorily administered, and a complete system of National works entered upon. As illustrating the vital importance of all riparian rights being vested in the Crown, a glance at the different conditions of irrigation in California and Colorado, as described in your First Progress Report to the Royal Commission on \Vater Supply, will be instructive. In the former State, to quote a message from its Governor to the Legislature-" Rights to use water under the civic code are undefined and unproven claims, the extent and dates of which are known onlv to their holders or claimants." This \~as held to imply that unless drastic remedial n{easures were adopted, irrigation would be impossible in many parts of that State; for no farmer could be expected to expend money on expensive works where such doubt and uncertainty as to the legal rights existed. Before the serious defects in the Califomian law were discovered, or presumably even suspected, the value of property in irrigation land and works was £40,000,000. The injurious results of uncertainty as to the position of appropriators discovered themselves on every hand, paralyzing enterprise in the direction of extended irrigation. Colorado, warned hy the example of California, presents a decided contrast. By the constitution of this State all streams within its boundaries became public property, thus extinguishing for ever the possibility of contention as to riparian rights, giving permanence to existing works, and encouragement to construct new ones. It is not surprising, therefore, that in mileage of canals and acreage irrigated Colorado more than doubles any other State, or tlutt its works are the greatest, most permanent, and most rapidly extending. 5 The Queensland Government, foreseeing the future complications that must inevitabl,y arise should water rights remain in the hands of private individuals, proposed some years ago to intJ·odnce stringent legislation, constituting every stream flowing into the sen or a navigable river, or indeed any stream of importance at a reasonable di;.;tance from its source, a main watercourse (i.e., one deemed to be vested in the Crown), and so conserve the water flowing therein from unlimited use hy the public. A still more stringent Bill was introduced into the New South Wales Legis­ lature by Mr. Abigail in December, 1888, but it was discharged from the notice paper in consequence of the session terminating. This Bill contemplated the acquisition by the Crown of all waters other than those fhlling and conserved on private property, or required for stock and domestic purposes. DRAIXAGE HEQUIRE:\fENTS. The inadequacy of the ameil(ling Act to meet the drainage requirements of certain districts is admitted, and it is in contemplation to introduce a further amending Bill, giving po~wer to form Trusts for the specific purpose of drainage only.