A Vast Undertaking.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 141, 22 May 1883, Page 3

A Vast Undertaking.

, A. proposal is bow made to flood the interior of Australia. Writing on the subject theM«lboarne .correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Hera] d sa., s: — ''Captain Sturt, the renowned Australian ; explorer, always entertained the '^eliel that the interior of the Australian continent was an immense basin, and that a large inland sea . would be discovered when the unknown land came to be traversed. Recent explorations haTe.proTed that this idea was practically correct, and that the territory extending 'nbrtKyardsfrbin Spencer iSulf m South Australia isfroni 15 to 40 feet below level, and this depression is believed ip extend to the bprdera of Northern Queensland, . ,tb has, therefore, been riwkvd whether, instead, of constructing aLtrans-conurientai railway;' it would not be more adVanlageoris, by a succesIfeibn of short eanalp, to fill this great basin with water from the sea, and thus render communication with various 4»ai:tß of the continent easy and expedi r Ifioiie. It is suggested that p nature has "aOTompiished a considerable; . portion of: the work, Spencer Gulf running well; up iptqthe.' land ; and a channel-fron^ Port Augusta connecting Late Torrens and another. carrviug the water. to Lake ?Byre,.arid so onward , wouli make the 'ticlertakiQg.lw 8 expf nsive.thari the ii Sue2s'panar. . ;sofar> it is enly a. suggest •^tibn^Jj^a? '!* is anti^'P?* cii :* bftt ? n^ 5 an expapse of water would have a beneficial efect on the climate of AuPtrMia, it is' prpbabVe that . the ' proposition will be soribtsly con sdered."