Some of the most copiously flowing bores, however, discharge water of unexceptional quality, whether for domestic use, manufacturing purposes, or irrigation. The Hydraulic Engineer doubts, having regard to the immense quantity of water required for irrigation, whether it will ever be found useful for that purpose in so far as the greater agricultural industries are concerned; but for intense cultivation around the homestead he thinks bore water might well be utilised. In some cases it would be in sufficiently large supply for the raising of green fodder for stud stock--perhaps even for protection against minor local droughts. An irrigated crop needs three or four waterings of 3 inches each, and as each inch means 22,614 gallons, the quantity required for a crop, with four waterings, would be 271,368 gallons per acre; so that a cultivation plot of 20 or 30 acres would absorb from 5 to 8 million gallons a year, according to the seasons, the nature of the soil, or the soakage. While doubtful as to the suitability of bore water for irrigation on a large scale, Mr. Henderson strongly advocates its being applied to machinery of small power. Many years ago he directed attention in one of his annual reports to the extensive use of water power in competition with steam in certain parts of America; and it is satisfactory to note that in some inland towns of Queensland the American example has been followed. In quite a number of towns the public water service is artesian, and in a few it is the motive power of electric lighting systems. The information that the flowing wells of Queensland are discharging daily 320 million gallons of water "to waste" indicates that when population in the artesian area becomes more dense bore power will become an invaluable aid in economic manufacture. The water so harnessed would not be wasted, as every gallon would still be available for human or animal consumption. [Illustration: ABERDARE COLLIERY, IPSWICH DISTRICT]