ON THE BELFAST HARBOUR. 125 
property. In the same year, the Commissioners having secured by purchase 
from Dr. Ritchie a large tract of slob land on the county Antrim side of the 
channel north of Thompson’s embankment, a commencement was made with 
its reclamation from the sea. This work is still in course of progress, and 
when reclaimed will afford a valuable parcel of ground for harbour exten- 
sion, 95 acres in area. The embankment is being entirely formed of material 
raised by the dredgers in deepening the harbour. ‘he slope is formed on 
the outside, at an inclination of 4 to 1, and is being securely protected by 
stone-pitching. Having acquired the latter grounds, steps were at once 
taken to form a large portion of it into a timber-pond, which was done by 
enclosing an area of about 26 acres with a row of closely driven round larch- 
iles. 
‘4 In the year 1872 a work of considerable magnitude was commenced, and 
is at the present time in course of progress ; it consists of the renewal of the 
entire length of Albert Quay, and its further extension to the circular pier 
head of the Spencer Dock. A portion of this work for a length of 267 feet 
is constructed of stone, in the same manner as that in which the other stone- 
work of the docks is executed, the remainder being constructed of timber. 
The entire length of the work is about 680 yards, which will give, besides 
the renewal of the decayed portion of the Albert Quay, an additional length 
of quayage of 207 yards. The timber-wharf is about 1776 feet in length by 
25 feet in width at the top, is composed of three rows of bearing-piles of 
creosoted pitch-pine timber, 12 inches square, the front row being 45 feet in 
length, the middle row 43 feet, and the back row 40 feet. These piles are 
driven 5 feet apart, centres longitudinally, and between the piles in the front 
and mid row sheeting-piles of the same timber 11 inches in thickness are 
driven quite close together, the length of the front row being 37 feet, and 
that of the middle row 32 feet. The front and back rows of main piles are 
secured together by diagonal braces. The platform is composed of strong 
joists 12 inches by 6 inches, sheeted with timber planking 53 inches thick, 
which is covered with a layer of bitumen, and paved with square setts. 
The back of the wharf is sheeted with timber 4 inches in thickness, against 
which is filled a backing of engine ashes and cinders, in order to secure the 
least possible lateral thrust against the wharf. The space underneath the 
wharf, between the front and back row of piles, is formed into a slight slope, 
which is paved with pitching-stones, in order to prevent the abrasion of the 
water from carrying away the soil; and the front face of the wharf is cleaded 
with open timber work to prevent the deposit and accumulation on the 
slopes of bulky matters held in suspension by the water. Mooring-piles of 
egreenheart timber, cuppd with cast-iron hoods, are driven every 60 feet apart 
along the entire wharf to secure vessels to; and a number of sets of strong 
piles are driven 60 feet back from the wharf, and are connected with it by 
strong tie-rods of wrought iron, in order to guard against the possibility of 
the wharf being driven forward by any undue weight placed on the platform, 
or by the weight of the materials by which it is backed up. The piling of 
this work is so designed that a depth of 16 feet at low water may be 
secured by dredging without the risk of injuring the stability of the super- 
structure, and by the setting back of the quay line as it is done a water 
space of about 335 feet in width will bé provided in the river opposite the 
new wharf. This work is being carried on by Messrs. H. and J. Martin, 
contractors, aud will, when completed, cost about £50,000. During the 
present year an extensive double line of tramway has been laid by the 
Harbour Commissioners from the South Quay of the Abercorn Basin through 
