G.—No. 20,

and this spot is fully 200 feet lower than where the water is actually required. At Mongarlowe or Little River the payable ground is also situated at such an elevation above the river that no reasonable prospect exists as to a supply by gravitation from that source. There are however other creeks from which by means of reservoirs to hold the night's water, it is highly probable a fair quantity of water could be obtained. With reference to a supply from the Little River, Mr. Alfred F. Thompson says : —" You want to raise the water 200 feet above the level of the river; if it were raised to that height, there are many thousand acres that would pay for working, that cannot be worked now." He also says—" that many parties have investigated the river with a view to racecutting, but no works of any extent have been carried out. The inducement might be by large special grants to Water Companies, with secure tenure and freedom from charge." 121. Probably the largest Field for sluicing operations is in the Tumut and Upper Adelong Districts. The sluicing interest is here most important, and works of an extensive character are already in operation at Reedy Flat. From the evidence we are led to infer, that were an adequate and permanent supply of water obtained, an immense tract of country would be found payable. It is also stated that this supply could be obtained from the Tumut River. Mr. Travers Jones (whose experience is varied and extensive, and whose opinion is entitled to the greatest consideration) says : —" There are many places where, owing to the want of water supply, the ground cannot be efficiently worked. Reedy Flat and Upper Adelong are such places. 1 have made a general inspection of these localities with a view to this particular question. lam of opinion that the best course the Government could pursue would be to give grants of money or large claims to any individual or Company who would undertake such works. "The Tumut River could be brought on to this Field (Melong), Reedy Flat, and Upper Adelong. The point of divergence from the Tumut would be the Talbingo Mountain, about 40 or 50 miles higher up. I cannot say at what elevation there the water is above Reedy Flat, but I have satisfied myself that if the Government were to grant unrestricted rights to those who would bring water on, it would be well practicable for a Company to make a payable speculation of it. There is a never-failing and unlimited water supply there for an immense tract of auriferous country 40 or 50 square miles. "To prevent monopoly I should certainly recommend that the parties bringing on the water should be obliged to sell it at a reasonable rate, to be ascertained, in case of dispute, by arbitration. 122. The Burrangong Gold Field is also of a character that would be vastly benefited were it. possible to obtain a more liberal water supply. This, however, cannot be done very easily, as from ( physical difficulties the works necessary to the construction of a reservoir would be very expensive. The area of watershed of the Burrangong, Spring and Stony Creeks is comparatively small, the dividing range not being more than five miles from the mines. An impression has long prevailed among the residents that water could be brought on to that place from the Murrumbidgee. Jugiong is the nearest point on the river to Young, and is about 35 miles as the crow flies. 123. Your Commissioners took considerable trouble to ascertain the relative heights of these i places above the sea level, and, as levels had been taken along the Main Southern Road through to i Gundagai, they did not apprehend any difficulty. In a communication received from the Surveyor I General's Department, we are informed that the altitude of Young Cricket Ground, as determined by barometer, and which is approximate, is 1,500 feet, and the altitude of Narrandera, on the Murrumbidgee, determined by levelling, which is reliable, is 1,740 feet. We applied to the Works Department for further information, in order to fix the altitude of the Murrumbidgee at Jugiong, and after repeated applications found nothing definite could be made out, excepting that the altitude of the Hume River at Yass, was about 1,560 feet. Some of these figures must therefore be inaccurate, unless the Murrumbidgee River has the astonishing peculiarity of running uphill. The length of a race between Jugiong and Young would most likely be 50 or 60 miles, and as there appears to be scarcely if any fall between the two places, a supply from this source would be positively unattainable. Probably better results may be obtained from the Boorowa or the Lachlan, 124. Wattle Flat and Tambaronra are both situated on very high tableland. From evidence t, taken at these places, it seems to be considered almost impossible to obtain water from a permanent T Kource, but that a great deal may be done by means of dams. G 125. At Gulgong, it has been stated that water might be obtained from the Cudgegong River, q and while we do not pronounce the scheme as positively impracticable, from what we observed as to the fall of the Cudgegong River we are not sanguine as to its possibility. The question, however, is, of such importance that we think a survey should at once be made, to determine whether it is really practicable or otherwise. 126. Your Commissioners have no means at their disposal for ascertaining the extent of water- j shed of any particular Gold Field, and in the absence of any geological survey, trial levels—in short, si of all reliable data absolutely necessary to form a correct opinion—find it impossible to report definitely as to the best mode for securing to each Field a permanent water supply. They would, however, strongly recommend that, on the discovery of any Gold Field, the District Surveyor, or some other duly qualified officer, should be instructed to make a series of trial levels, with a view to a permanent water supply ; and that on all Gold Fields such as we have enumerated, at present badly supplied with water, such levels be at once carried out. The expediency of this measure may be inferred on considering the magnitude of the interest involved. To make it more effectual and valuable, we would suggest that the Surveyor should also be instructed to report on the geological features of the country, marking the same on his plan. From correct information such as this would 8

Tumut and . Upper Adelong Gold Field.

Evidence of Mr. Travers Jones.

The Burrangong Gold Field.

Apparent inaccuracy in present official information.

Wattle Flat and Tambaroora Gold Fields. xulgong

Trial levels should be made

29

NEW SOUTH WALES, 1871.