564 REPORT—1896. 
only to a depth of nine feet below datum, it has been found inconveniently 
shallow for large modern ships on neap tides, to rectify which the pumping 
scheme before referred to has been adopted. 
Towards the middle of the Liverpool Estate, the Author, about twenty- 
five years ago, designed and carried out &n important system of docks, 
known as the Waterloo group. They consist of two docks, each running 
parallel with the river, and approached from the south through the Prince’s 
Half-tide dock, which formed part of the design. The easternmost dock is 
surrounded on three sides by warehouses of a very extensive character, 
having a total length of 1,500 feet. They, with a similar group at 
Birkenhead, were especially constructed for the storage of grain, which at 
that time was beginning to come into the Port in large quantities. The 
combined floor area of the two sets of warehouses is twenty-three acres, 
and they are capable of storing upwards of 400,000 quarters. They are 
equipped with a novel and elaborate system of machinery, specially de- 
signed for facilitating the rapid discharge of ships, and for housing, trans- 
mitting, and delivering grain, not only in the warehouse, but also from 
ship to quay. This system has since everywhere become the recognised 
means of dealing with grain under similar conditions. 
The import of live cattle from abroad, chiefly the United States and 
Canada, has of late years assumed very large proportions, and a Foreign 
Animals’ Wharf, with extensive lairages and slaughter-houses, and other 
necessary adjuncts have been provided. These were the first constructions 
of the kind in the country, and have been increased from time to time 
until they now occupy twenty-two acres ; the lairages or stables are suffi- 
cient to accommodate about 8,000 head of cattle, and a vast number of 
sheep, the number of cattle which passed through the wharf last year 
having been about 200,000, and the number of sheep about 500,000. The 
landing of the cattle is effected’ at two floating stages, alongside of which 
cattle-ships can berth at most states of the tide. ‘These stages are moored 
in the River abreast of the walls, to which they are connected by bridges 
formed of girders about 150 feet long. The accommodation thus afforded 
amounts to 850 feet of lie-by. Special cattle runs are laid from the stage 
to lead into the lairages. 
At Liverpool, the Coal Trade of the Port is well provided for on a 
high-level structure, midway of the Estate, standing on and above the east 
quays of the Bramley-Moore and Wellington Docks, and north quay of 
the former. It is abundantly supplied with the most modern appliances, 
viz. hydraulic cranes, and an elaborate and extensive system of sidings 
and main lines in direct communication with the Lancashire and Yorkshire 
Coal-fields. The shipment by this Railway last year amounted to 809,000 
tons. Recently a 25-ton hydraulic crane has been erected on the east 
quay of Herculaneum Dock, chiefly for Lancashire and Yorkshire coal for 
ships’ bunkers. 
At Birkenhead an important system of sidings and coal-hoists has 
been constructed on the south quay of the West Float. These are worked 
in connection with the coal-fields of North and South Wales, and add 
materially to the trade and commerce of the Port ; an average of 1,190,000 
tons being annually brought to the docks for export and the use of steam- 
ships. 
"The petroleum trade has of late years become so important as to 
require a large amount of accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the 
docks. In addition to the storage space provided in the casemates exca- 
