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There is also a large quantity of water used in the Botanical Gardens and Public Parks, for irrigating the trees and plants, and in ornamental fountains.

During hot weather, especially in the afternoons, the demand on the pipes from all quarters is so excessive, that houses on high levels are not able to obtain an adequate supply at these times, the theoretical pressure in the pipes being very much reduced by the large consumption which is taking place.

This reduction of pressure amounts sometimes to more than 75 per cent in certain places, and arises from the fact that the size of the main is not sufficient to transmit the quantity of water required on these extraordinary occasions.

This has been made the subject of a Government notice, requesting the consumers of water to be as careful as possible in their use of it—for although the supply in the reservoir is almost unlimited, the main pipes cannot deliver it quickly enough into town. The notice goes on to state that the daily consumption of water in Melbourne for a population supplied of about 150,000 is 10,000,000 gallons, more than equivalent to the total daily supply to the inhabitants of London, numbering between two and three millions.

Of this total daily consumption, 1,000,000 gallons are consumed in watering the streets.

The water in the Yan Yean reservoir was at first not very clear or pure, owing to the large surface of dead and growing vegetation covered by the waters after closing the embankment. This was gradually decomposed, and the water for a time thereby became discolored and impure. However, this is not now the case, and the water supplied to Melbourne, without being filtered, is both clear and tasteless.

The whole cost of the Waterworks is stated to have been £500,000—much of the work was done during a time when wages were very high, masons earning about 25s. per day, and laborers in the same proportion.

Although the water supply of both Sydney and Melbourne is on a much larger scale than we shall have to adopt in Nelson, the examination of the works will, I have no doubt, prove to have been highly beneficial, pointing out in some cases errors we ought to endeavour to avoid; as well as many useful and ingenious contrivances, which will admit of application in our case, with a certainty of answering their intended purpose well, and the adoption of which to say the least, would save much time, and avoid the uncertainty and doubt attendant on the introduction of any new form of mechanism.

I shall, however, reserve any further remarks, and will, at the earliest opportunity, make the proposed water supply of Nelson, the subject of a separate report, accompanied by a general plan and estimate of the cost.

I have, &c.,
JOHN BLACKETT,
Provincial Engineer.

Subjoined is the scale of Charges for Water supplied by meter.

[COPY.]

MELBOURNE WATER SUPPLY.
Scale of Charges for Water supplied by Meter, 27th August, 1862, approved by Board of Land and Works.

"All persons using water for other than domestic purposes must consume by meter, but every tenement so supplied will, in accordance with the by-laws of the Board of Land and Works, be rateably assessed, and, in the event of the rate per meter not amounting to the assessed rate, the latter will in every instance be charged."

The rate charged for domestic purposes is 4 per cent. on the annual rental of the premises.
J.B.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of Nelson, by R. LUCAS, Bridge-street, Nelson,
Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.