XXX. H. D. WALSH. 
is to increase the length and tonnage of both cargo and 
passenger over-sea carriers; only last week it was an- 
nounced that the Commonwealth Government had accepted 
a tender which provided for a line of steamers with a 
minimum tonnage of 11,000, to carry our mails between 
England and Australia in 636 hours, and it is also rumoured 
that another line of large cargo steamers will shortly enter 
the Australian trade. The limit of size in ocean going 
vessels has not, however, been reached yet by a consider- 
able margin. The largest vessels at present visiting this 
port do not exceed 13,000 tons. Vessels are now being 
built for the Atlantic Service which reach upwards of 
30,000 tons displacement and measure over 700 feet in 
length. Besides these monsters, the 13,000 ton White Star 
Liners which now come here are comparatively small. 
Everything points towards another enormous advance in 
the size of vessels for which it will be necessary in the 
near future to provide berthing accommodation in Sydney 
Harbour. The longer the voyage, the greater the economy 
of the large vessel over the small one. The 30,000 tonner 
can be worked more cheaply per ton than two 15,000 ton 
ships. It is evident, then, in view of these probabilities, 
that we must look forward in our wharf construction to 
being able to meet such emergencies. With these facts 
before us, it is difficult to realise what class of berthing 
accommodation will be required 10 or 15 years hence; 
certainly the records of the past should warn engineers 
engaged in harbour construction, that, while the necessity 
for economy may make it impossible to do more than pro- 
vide for present requirements, wharfage systems should be 
so designed as to allow of very large extensions and expan- 
sion in the future. 
Wharf Construction.—The demolition of a number of old 
wharves and jetties, many of which were erected 30 to 40 
