Drainage of Melbourne. 121 



never be in such volume as to remove the metal from the 

 streets. 



Many of the crossings of the city streets have been for the 

 above reason most difficult to deal with. However, there 

 are other open crossings of a very objectionable kind, situated 

 in the principal thoroughfares, which might be entirely dis- 

 pensed with by means of a combined cast and wrought-iron 

 culvert, so constructed as to give the greatest strength and 

 sectional area at the least depth below the surface level of 

 the street, and at the same time to admit of easy access to 

 any portion, so that the level of the street could be main- 

 tained. 



I especially allude to an open channel crossing the main 

 thoroughfare to Collingwood, from the Parliament House 

 reserve to the Princess's Theatre ; to the open crossing at the 

 east end of Collins-street, opposite the Treasury ; and the 

 crossings in Collins-street at Queen-street, at William-street, 

 and two at King-street. The four last crossings are upon 

 the direct road of the vehicles running to and from the 

 Victorian Railways, and are not only dangerous both to 

 passengers and horses, but destructive to the vehicles. 



A slight modification of the ingress end of such culverts 

 would prevent their being choked, and any one in the habit 

 of driving over these crossings can easily imagine the vast 

 improvement such an alteration would make. 



If the crossings tp which I have now specially directed 

 your attention had been where the streets are level or nearly 

 so, I would not have recommended the adoption of a culvert 

 instead of the open channel, but in each case I have alluded 

 to the street not only has a considerable fall, but the quan- 

 tity of water passing through these open channels is very 

 limited indeed, as may be seen by reference to the plan. 



In conclusion, I will briefly review the advantage to be 

 derived by the adoption of the plan now submitted. 



Swanston-street, at its intersection with Bourke-street, 

 would be relieved of no less than 85 per cent, of the water 

 which periodically renders this portion of the city impassable 

 to foot passengers, to the great detriment of shop-keepers 

 and the general public. 



Elizabeth-street would derive still greater benefits. No 

 overflow would take place from Swanston-street, and the 

 quantity of water received by the channels would be dimin- 

 ished ; at Collins-street by 4-5ths, at Bourke-street by 5-6ths, 

 and at Lonsdale-street by 9-10ths. 



