LIGHT RAILWAYS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. 261 
the necessity for which might never be reached, and from which 
there was no drawback. Assuming that it was done with judgment, 
he entirely agreed with this, and thought, especially when money 
was getting dearer, that they might take a lesson from America 
in this respect, though without going to her extremes. As to the 
transition curves mentioned by Prof. Warren, they were already 
provided for in all the later construction and surveys in this 
Colony, on the principle of the cubic parabola, the practical 
application of which was brought before the Royal Society a few 
years ago by Mr. Walter Shellshear, M.Inst.c.e. They were 
therefore not mentioned in the paper. There is no doubt that 
they would reduce the severity of sharp curvature in a high degree. 
Mr. Rennick, whose high authority as Engineer-in-Chief for 
Railways in Victoria, added much to the interest of his contribu- 
tion, paid, unconsciously, a great compliment to the paper, as 
though he had not seen it when he supplied the information which 
had been now read, he agreed with the conclusions of the paper 
mainly, especially in the matter of maintaining at least a sixty 
pound rail, going as far as five chain curves and shewing that 
light lines are everywhere possible without meddling with the 
gauge. 
Mr. Trevor Jones’ information as to what decision had been 
arrived at in Victoria, on this matter, and the grounds for it, 
some years ago was a very valuable addition to the paper. 
Mr, Fischer and other speakers questioned the wisdom of the 
wide spacing, and of the small depth of ballast suggested, but the 
reduced axle weight must be had in view, and though some 
definite figures must be put forward in a proposal such as that in 
the paper, these must not be supposed to be unalterable. Where 
good timber was plentiful and ballast was scarce and vice vers§, 
modifications might be made to suit, without violation of the 
general principle. > 
Mr. Middleton, who spoke as a locomotive engineer, said, Mr. 
Burge was glad to see that there was no difficulty in designing an 
