N E W SOUTH WALES,
waters of the western rivers, in a large number of instances, consist
of veiy small streams, wliicli frequently, during seasons of drought,
oease rauning, and become mere cliains of water-holes,
Murray.—TI10 Murray or Hncie, which receives the western waters
from a large portion of Queensland and Victoria, is tlie most important
river in New South Walus. The native nauio Mwrewa or Milleica ia
now seldom used in cotmectiou witli it. It rises on tlic westei-n slopes of
the Muniong Range, and forms a com-se wliich, in many jmrts, is remarkably
tortuous. Issuing from a deep ravino near the base of.
Mount Kosciusko, the upi)er waters take a noi'th-\ve8terly dii-oction,
but following the course, we frequently find the stream tiowing north,
south, and even east. The general trend until South Australia is
i-eached, is west-north-west; sliortly after this it turns suddenly to
south-.south-west, aud entei-s the sea through Lake Alexancbiua. At
the time of the separation of Victoria from New South Wales this
river was adopted as the dividing line, Fed to a large extent by the
snows, which fall on the lofty peaks of the Muniong Range, and not
dependent entirely on rainfall, its volume is much more coustant than
that of liny other river flowing weat from the Great Dividing Range.
The countiy which it watei-s in its upper course, is hilly, rugged, and
in many parts, inaccessible, but stretching oat on each side of its
lower portion are immense plains. These vast level tracts, watered
by numerous small streams, are well kuown for their gi-azing capabilities.
The loose character of the soil, aud the small amount of slope,
have, in the course of oges, led to the formation of quite a network of
ana-branches, chiefly on the north bank before the junction with the
waters of the Murrumbidgee, The most prominent of these, perhaps,
ia the Edward River, which has a separate course of over 150 milrs,
and receives the waters of an aua-branch from the Murruinhidgee
before it regains the parent stream. Lake Aiexandrina, through
which the Murray flows, is a vast expanse, full of shoals from the silt
brought down aud deposited therein. Snags interfere to some extent
with the navigation of this river. The arta drained is not less than
15,500 square miles, and its length is about 1,200 miles.
Mwrrumbidgee.—The Murrumbidgee, before reaching the plains,
has a remarkably circuitous course. Bising between the Murrumbidgee
and ManaTO Ranges, from the slopes of which a large poi-tion
of its waters is collected, it first flows south-east, but after crossing
the 30th parallel, it turns suddenly to the north; when a degioe of
latitude has been traversed, a weswrly and then south-westerly direction
are assumed; reaching the l-t7th meiidian the course becomes
north-west and west. In longitude 14-i" east, it is joined on the right
bank by the Lachlan, and tlieu flows south-westerly into the Murray,
Several important tributaries add their waters to its sti'eam. The
snow-falls of the Muniong Range influence the volume of this river,
rendering it much more constaut than is found to obtain farther north.
The country drained is, !u its uppei' parts, of a very broken chai«cter,
but is, in many places, \'ery fertile. The soil of tho valleys is chiefly
alluvial aud suitable for agriculture. On the plains tho hind is occupied
for pastoral purposes. The area drained represents about
li5,400 square miles; the length of this river is about 1,350 miles.
Lachlan.—The Lachlan rises on the western face of the Cullai-m
Range, and at first has a northerly tendency; this gradually changes
into a north-westerly aud westerly course; after ci-ossmg the 147th
meridian, tho flow is south-west until the Mun'umbidgee is reached.
The volume of this river is liable to considei-able fluctuation, and its
stream is uncertain, when compared with that of the Murray. This is
no doubt due to tho fact that it is entirely dependent for its supply
upon iwnfall. The vast plains in which its lower coui-se lies, extend
with scai-cely any interruption to the banks of the Darling. These
form sheep-rims, many of them of gi'eat extent. The Lachlan drains
an area of about 18,500 square miles, and has a length of about 700
miles,
iJiiriiiij.—The Darling rises on the western face of tho Great
Dividing Range, and has a general westerly and south-westerly direction,
I'unniug diagonally across the colony, and emptying its waters
.r the I't2ud meridian. Regarded in connection
a (including a large part of Queensland) which it
o the Murray
with the vast a
drains, this river should rank of the first importance. Its volume,
however, on account of the lurge surface presented to the sun's rays,
the thirsty character of tho greater part of tho coimtry through which
it flows, and the uompai'atively small area which conti-ibutes to its
water-supply, is remarkable for its uncertainty. During seasons of
drought the river auliers in its total length, and from a na\-igQblQ
stream, dwindles down to a series of reaches, and in some ])lacos to
mere chains of water-holes, with little or no flow between. Many of
its tributaries have their courses amid plains and grassy slopes which
aro among the best pastoral lauds in Austi-alia. On tho right bank
of its lower course, and exteuding west aud oorth-west to the'border
of South Australia, are s-ast level areas, over which there is but a very
insuflicient I'ainfall, amounting ia some cases to only about 7 inches
yearly. The area drained, taking the Queensland tributaries into
consideration, amounts to about 231,000 square miles. The length of
thu Darling (¡.ropor) is about (¡50 miles.
As several of the tributaries of the Darling are streams of some
importance, and water a very large o.tteut of country, they will receive
Bnguv.—This rivor collects its upper waters among the low
spurs which extend into the plains at the north-was torn extremity of
the Macquavie Range, and flows in a north-woat direction through
country noted for its dry thirsty oharaoter, reaching tho Darling
a little above the towu of Bourke. Only during ilcods, and seasons in
wliich the rainfall is excoRsive, does the Bogan possess a continuous
stream. Its bod, to a very largo o-ftont, is dry, and in some places
consist-s of a series of watei-holes or small reaches. The length is
about 4,'iO miles, and tho area of its basin 13,1,^0 square miles,
MuiquuTie.—The Macquarie rises on the western slope of tho
Blue Mountains, on the north side of the Macqiuirie Range, and has
a course which assiunos a imrallelisni to the Bogan River. Several
streams collect its watfli-s on the tableland. Among these are
Camphell'i River, which has its sonrco near some of tho northern
tributaries of the Laclilan, Mill, Tttron, Cudyeij'mg, and Bell Rivera.
In the lower part of its course this river spreads out into vast marshes.
Before the advance of exploration into the interior it was believed
that these mai-ahes formed tho mai-gin of a vast inland sea, into which
the Macquarie emptied itself. It has now been ascertained that
this is not the case, but that the rivei' eraei-ges therefrom, and shows
a defined course to the Darling. The volume of the Macquarie
is remarkably uncertain; only during very high Hoods does its water
reach the main stream. Flood-waters escape over its left bank in
several places, and following the slope flow in small creeks into
the Bogan. The area knoirn as tho Marshes lies immediately north of
the 31st parallel, aud consists of vast reed-beds over which the waters
spread in tiin sheets. The Marra Creek leaves it on the ¡eft bank
just above the Marshes and carries part of its waters into the Darling,
reaching that river some miles below the confluence of the Maequaiie.
The length of its coui-se, which in the upper portion is very winding,
amounts to about 730 miles; the country di-ained represents an area
of 15,440 square miles,
Castkreagh.—The Caslleroagh rises on the southern slope of the
WaiTumbuiiglo Range, and at first flows south-west i it then turns to
the nortli-weat, and, after traversing plains, well known for their dry,
arid character, reaches the Darling after a course of about 300 miles.
I t is, perhaps, worthy of notice here, that whüo tho Mact|uarie and
Castleroagh have a general direction to tho north-west, the land on
their lower coui-ses lias a distinct fall towards the south-west, that is
at right angles. This is evidenced during floods, when the escaping
waters of the Castlereagh reach the Merri Merri Creek and Macquarie,
and those of the latter find their way into the Bogan. Prom this it
might be inferi'cd that a slow but gradual chango has taken place
during the past in the relative levels of different parts of the plains
through which these rivers flow. The volume of the Castlereagh is
only seen dui-ing floods; at other times there is little but a dry bed
containing drift aand. The area dj'ained has been estimated at 6,700
square miles.
Namal.—The Namoi has its sources in the Liverpool and New
England Ranges, and at first nins north-west; it then changes to
west, and again to north-west, before it reaches the Darling, near tho
30th parallel. This river receives a large number of tributaries, among
which may be mentioned the Maluerindie, Manilla, Feel, and Mooki
Rivers, and the Turruheilu and Bi-ignlow Creeks. Its coarse has a length
of about 600 miles, aud its basin an area of 16,2.')0 square miles.
Gviydir.—The (iwydir takes its rise in the New England Range,
and at first runs north-west and then west, reaching the Bai-won after
forming a series of ana-branches, in about latitude 29° 30' south,
and longitude I't«" 45' east. Its length is about 445 miles, and area
of basin 9,500 square miles.
Uacinhjrc.—The JIacintyre rises on the west-em slope of the New
England Range, and, in the lower part of its course, divides into
sevei-al ana-branches of considerable divergence. Its principal tributaries
are the Secern and Dumaresg. The Macintyre has a length
of about 350 miles, aud its basin an area of about 5,250 square miles.
The tributfti-ies received by the Darling on its right bank are the
Mooni, Ciilgoa, and IFumpo Rivers, whicii take their rise in the
south part of Queensland.
INI.ANP SLOPE.—
The inland slopes of the colony are not numerous, and are neither
of any great extent nor importance. Lake George, on the Southern
Tableland, receives three small streams, known as Turallo, Butmaroo
and Taijlor'e Creeks.