adjusted at the date of our information, but it will be understood that a work extending over five years, and then yielding a comparatively small supply, makes bore-sinking a highly speculative industry, even in what the geologists declare to be artesian water-bearing country. [Illustration: COOKTOWN AND ENDEAVOUR RIVER, NORTH QUEENSLAND] [Illustration: PEARLING FLEETS OFF BADU ISLAND, TORRES STRAIT] At the Kynuna bore, work had been suspended at the time of the last annual report at a depth of 2,221 ft., the flow being 807,608 gallons a day. When cased to the bottom the flow was 880,154 gallons per day. It was handed over to the Winton Shire Council, the total cost having been L2,610, half of which was granted as a loan to the council by the Government, and the other half as a free gift. Another unsuccessful bore was at Windorah, where, under contract, a depth of 4,000 ft. was reached, with no water save an insignificant spring touched at 103 ft. below the surface. The total cost, including casing and supervision, was L7,508. A bore at the joint expense of the Booringa Shire Council and the Government was started at Mitchell in January, 1908, and on 18th May, at a depth of 1,405 ft., the work was stopped, the supply, equal to 205,000 gallons a day, being considered sufficient. The cost of the bore was L1,935. SUMMARY BY THE HYDRAULIC ENGINEER. Summarising the information supplied in the accompanying tables, Mr. Henderson writes:--"The total continuous yield from 716 bores--the flows from which have been estimated by various persons, not connected with the department, and communicated to me either directly or through the public prints, for the accuracy of which I cannot vouch, and measured under the hydraulic survey which was suspended in 1899 and not yet resumed--is now estimated at 479,268,000 gallons per diem; hence the average flow per bore is 669,369 gallons in the same time. "These figures do not include the flows from nine sub-artesian wells the flow from which is artificially produced by cutting down the outlet, but which it is understood have since ceased to flow, nor do they include the yield from 215 sub-artesian wells which are pumped more or less regularly during periods of drought, and which are estimated to yield 8,600,000 gallons per day, or an average of 40,000 gallons per well if pumped continuously night and day; but as it is impossible to form a trustworthy estimate of the daily volume raised I have put it down at what I think is approximately true--namely, 1,720,000 gallons. "I may also mention that owing to the suspension of the departmental hydraulic survey previously mentioned, I have obtained no official data relating to perennial springs. The last data to hand are given in my summarised report for the year 1902." WELLS SUCCESSFUL AND ABANDONED.