IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 119, 7 October 1912, Page 4

IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand is one of the best watered countries in the world, ,Imt we are apt to overlook this immense natural adVantage until reminded of it by what less favored lands are doing to conserve water for irrigation purposes. New South Wales is at present engaged in the construction of a great dam across the Murrumbidgee River. This river, which is fed by the melting snows and rains from the Australian Alps, has a course of about 600 mile's in the State of New South Wales, and joins the Murray river about 150 miles above Mildura. In the mountainous country of the upper part of its course it has cut its way through some lovely valleys and deep gorges, and opposite the Burrinjuck Mountain, there is being constructed an immense dam for the purpose of impounding the flood waters coming down the river' in the snow-melting season, from a catchment urea pf no les3 than 5000 square miles. When the dam is completed and the water has reached the [required level, the valley of the Goodradigbee, which is one of the most beautiful regions in New South Wales, will ! be inundated to the extent of about twenty square miles, making a lak« ibout forty-six miles long, with a maximum depth of 224 ft, and having an expected capacity of 33,630,000,000 cubic feet, or about twice the volume of water contained in Sydney Harbor. This comparison will convey to the reader some idea of the immensity of the storage .which is being provided as an assurance for all time to intending settlers that there will never he any shortage of water in connection with the Murrumbidgee irrigation scheme. A sufficient proportion of water is guaranteed to every settler as a permanent height at exceedingly low prices and terms, the rate being based on the bare amount of water needed to meet the extent of the cost of the construction and maintenance of the supply. The Government looks for no profit except from the advantages to the country of the presence of the settler and the development of the land. Dwellings are being erected by the Government for settlers at cost price, with arrangements for extended payment; and an irrigated experimental and demonstration farm, owned and conducted by the Government, las been in existence for some years' on the spot, and the experience gained is available for the incoming farmer, with expert advice free.