LVI. J. F. FURNISS. 



Many papers of descriptions of the pumping plants have 

 been published in the Proceedings of the Institution of 

 Civil Engineers and other scientific bodies, and I think it 

 will be interesting to members if they will look at Vol. 78, 

 where they will see a paper on "The comparative merits 

 of vertical and horizontal engines and rotative beam engines 

 for pumping," by the late W. E. Rich, m. inst c.b., and com- 

 pare some of the engines illustrated in that paper with, for 

 instance, the centrifugal pumping engines at Ryde and 

 Crown Street, they will then have a good idea how much 

 recent investigations and experiments have simplified the 

 construction, reduced the cost and the spaces occupied; 

 but will the new types last as long, will not the wear of 

 guide blades soon impair the efficiency of the pumps and to 

 a large extent counterbalance other advantages? 



The table of steam consumption and piston speed given 

 in the paper could I think, be further elaborated, the old 

 Botany beam engines gave an excellent result if they only 

 required 30 lbs. of steam per pump horse power per hour, 

 although it heads the list of steam consumption, yet for a 

 single cylinder type the result is good. I am sorry to see 

 in the paper no reference to a very interesting engine 

 which was at Botany, designed by Mr. Selfe, I think, some- 

 where about 1883 or 1884. I saw the engine at work for 

 some days, and although the steam part was not of the 

 highest class, having been, I know, the best that Mr. Selfe 

 could get in the short time available, yet the pump had 

 every point of the more recent high speed horizontal pumps, 

 and I think it is a pity that some use could not have been 

 found for it with a more economical type of engine for the 

 supply of some of the outlying districts of Sydney. The 

 data which the author has given as to quantity of water 

 pumped and the machinery in use for the supply of Sydney, 

 and also the various systems of raising sewage, will I am 



