166 Tidal Phenomena of Hobson's Bay. 



compliance with the strict letter of instructions to consider 

 the question so as to conserve existing interests ; but I 

 would suggest that it is a fair subject for the consideration 

 of the House when voting supplies for the work. 



The retention of the present entrance of the Yarra as the 

 mouth of discharge, is, I think, a sound and wise discretion, 

 for many reasons. 



A flood channel entering the Bay at or near to Sandridge, 

 would be subject to many disadvantages, from which the 

 entrance of the River Yarra is free. For instance, near to 

 Sandridge, the outlet would be at a place where the waters 

 of the Bay would be driven to the highest level under the 

 influence of the prevailing winds ; and, from the drift and 

 making of the foreshore, it would be very expensive to 

 maintain open. Even if dredging were available, it would 

 necessitate a double cost for two entrances, in lieu of the one 

 which is now available. 



By using the entrance of the Yarra as at present, we 

 merely avail ourselves of one which has been formed under 

 the influence of natural laws, and to maintain which we 

 have but to assist natural causes which are at present exist- 

 ing and in operation. The discharge along the Williams- 

 town shore is under the lee of Point Gellibrand, where the 

 water-level would be the lowest ; and, as a further reason, 

 apart from the current caused along shore by the entrance 

 of the River Yarra at this point, there would be a natural 

 current due to the waters of the Bay being heaped up and 

 driven along the St. Kilda and Sandridge shores by the 

 prevailing gales, and their subsequent escape round by 

 Williamstown and Point Gellibrand. 



In the case of a new entrance near to Sandridge, the 

 scouring powers of the discharge waters would be intermit- 

 tent ; and the above influences, which are favourable to the 

 discharge by the River Yarra mouth, would in every case 

 be the reverse at or near to Sandridge. The adverse in- 

 fluences of the latter are, I believe, much more than 

 sufficient to counterbalance any contemplated saving or 

 advantage in shortness of length and economy in first cost. 



The length of canal, .and amount of materials to 

 be removed, in the proposal for cutting a new channel from 

 the Queen's Wharf to the entrance of the Yarra, is, in my 

 opinion, scarcely a matter to be regretted, seeing the advan- 

 tageous use to which the materials can be put in reclaiming 



