356 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION HU. 
majority of building stones used in Melbourne. At the same 
time considerations of appearance were not wholly ignored, and 
by the insertion of a few bands, string courses, and arches of 
white brick, or Waurn Ponds limestone, the University archi- 
tect has succeeded without much extra expense in producing 
a structure that will, I think, be presentable, and at the same 
time appropriate to object intended. The accommodation at 
present being provided is intended for the Professor of 
Engineering and the Lecturer on Surveying, the Lecturers on 
Architecture, Hydraulie and Sanitary Engineering, and Mining 
being unprovided for. They will, as heretofore, have to be 
content with makeshift accommodation in some other part of 
the University premises. This is greatly to be deplored, but 
it is hoped that before long further funds may be available, in 
which case an extension already planned and provided for in 
laying out the present building will be carried out. 
The building is two stories in height, with a tower rising 
70 ft. from the ground. The lower story will be devoted to 
engineering, the upper to surveying and drawing. The build- 
ing stands upon solid silurian rock, which forms an excellent 
foundation. On this come footings of concrete, composed of 
Geelong Portland cement and broken bluestone, upon which 
the brickwork commences, being carried up in Geelong cement 
mortar to the level of the ground floor. Along the south, and 
therefore cool, side of the building a basement passage, largely 
below the level of the ground, extends for a length of slightly 
over 160 ft., widening out at the end to a fair-sized room. 
This will provide for all kinds of work requiring uniform con- 
ditions of temperature and humidity. Primarily, a high-class 
standard of length is intended to be here provided. Piers rest- 
ing on the solid rock will carry terminals for testing 66 it. 
and 100 ft. chains. This will be of value, not only to the Uni- 
versity, but also to the public. The ground-floor plan com- 
prises at the west end or front the engineering lecture-room, 
25 ft. by 27 ft., which will comfortably accommodate fifty 
students. As the attendance has hitherto never reached 
twenty, this provides a fair margin for growth. The room has 
a level floor, and is abundantly lit by windows on the west and 
southern sides, which should be very pleasant during the morn- 
ing, when the lectures are given. Should it be necessary, pro- 
vision is to be made for darkening any or all of these windows. 
Another point of importance is that they are sash windows, 
capable of being opened when required, and therefore, while 
cheaper, immensely more comfortable and healthy than the 
costly fixed windows, with stone mullions and transoms, of the 
rooms at present occupied in a building which, while regarded 
as a triumph of architecture by connoisseurs, is anything but 
a triumph either of comfort or scientific construction. 
