xL. H. D. WALSH. 
and tacked in place before the planking is put on. Iam 
in hopes that this covering will prevent the rain water 
from saturating the beams through the cracks and also 
keep the humus matter from finding its way into the heart 
of the wood. 
Decking.—For decking the two most durable timbers are 
Ironbark and Brush Box; the former is practically out of 
the question on account of high cost, Brush Box is however 
quite as good for the purpose, it does not shred and wears 
smooth and hard. The best results are obtained when a 
decking is laid of only one species of timber cramped close 
up, aS the wear is more uniform. To lay planks of 
different durability indiscriminately, sometimes causes a 
very uneven surface, which cuts up much more quickly 
than when laid with less durable but uniform planking. To 
lay a deck only with Brush Box would cost more than 
using mixed hardwoods, because the waste Box from the 
mills is at present practically unsaleable, as when cut into 
small scantling, it has the reputation of warping badly. 
Diagonally laid decking lasts longer than the transverse 
method. 
Land Ties.—I have adopted a method of tying the wharf 
back to the shore which has given complete satisfaction. 
The old system of bolting double 9 inch x 6 inch ties to 
the headstock, and the inshore ends to short piles with 
bearing logs in front, never proved satisfactory, and con- 
stant trouble was experienced, owing to the wood ends 
splitting open from the jar of vessels berthing. I now use 
old double-headed railway rails, linked together in such a 
way that they can only act in tension. These are fixed at 
the inshore end to conerete anchorages and each whole 
tie is then bedded in concrete to preserve it from oxidation. 
The land ties are therefore permanent. 
