and Proposed Works for its Improvement 111 



narrow strip of beach opposite Liardet's hotel, while a line 

 of sounding extended south-west and south into and down 

 the bay, indicating the edge of the littoral drift from the east, 

 south, and south-west. 



In 1875 there is a serious change of all this ; for 

 at the river entrance we have a stone dyke, which, as 

 constructed diverts the river waters direct into the centre 

 of Hobson's Bay, and the foreshore of Williamstown 

 literally bristles with piers, extending well into deep 

 water, which effectually diverts any feeble remnant which 

 may be left of the river current from its original course in 

 1853. On the Sandridge side the piers have been extended 

 further into the bay, but this, as will be afterwards 

 shown, is in such locality as great a benelit as on the 

 Williamstown side similar structures have been and are 

 mischievous. The increase of foreshore in front of Liardet's 

 and the creep westwards of the line of shoal water, are 

 the natural and unavoidable consequence of causes which 

 are beyond man's control. 



Such was the position of things as existent in 1853-4, 

 and we have now this lamentable difference, that in 1875 

 there is several feet less of depth of water in Hobson's Bay, 

 and the foreshore of Williamstown is silted up with mud. 



Under the circumstances it should surprise no one that 

 such injurious changes have taken place, because theory 

 points out that we ought to realise them under the conditions 

 given, namely, checking of the river current and its diversion 

 into the still waters of the bay. 



A consideration of the causes which have been, and are 

 still in operation forming and moulding the shores of 

 Hobson's Bay and of the River Yarra, and afterwards a brief 

 allusion to the laws governing the precipitation of matters 

 held in mechanical suspension in water, will aid in showing 

 the origin of much of the mischief done within the past 

 twenty years. 



I premise that no geologist will question that the site 

 now occupied by the low lands between Sandridge and 

 Flemington, within a comparatively recent period, formed a 

 portion of the Port Phillip Gulf, Emerald Hill existing as an 

 island, the River Yarra entering the bay at where Prince's 

 Bridge now stands, the Saltwater entering at the racecourse, 

 and the Moonee Ponds at North Melbourne. 



That in the course of time, owing partly to solid matter 

 brought down these several streams, deposits formed at the 



