X. NORMAN SELFE. 



went on, and it is recorded that in 1826, during Governor Darling's 

 administration, half-a-dozen boys were caught swimming in the- 

 water supply of the town. 



At the time of the writer's first arrival in the State, the stream 

 was still quite open to Hunter-street, and it could be seen at 

 intervals still higher up the town, but it had become a sewer. 

 One of the last cottages on its banks was occupied by the late 

 Mr. Bayliss, the lighterman, on the western side of Hamilton-lane. 

 As the adjoining ground was raised by the reclamation, an upper 

 storey was added to his house, which opened to the level of 

 Hamilton-lane, and the original apartments became practically 

 cellars. 



The Tunnel, or Busby's Bore. — In March, 1823, Mr. Thomas 

 Busby was engaged by Earl Bathurst for three years, and sent 

 out to New South Wales as Mineral Surveyor and Civil Engineer, 

 at a salary of £200 a year and his passage expenses. On his 

 arrival in February, 1824, he was instructed by Governor Brisbane 

 to look into the question of a water supply for Sydney. After 

 levels had been taken by Messrs. Hoddle and Finch — who, with 

 Govett and others, were assistant surveyors — it was determined 

 to drive a tunnel from the Lachlan Swamps (now part of the 

 Centennial Park) to the south-east corner of Hyde Park. Th& 

 work was commenced in September, 1827; Mr. Busby's son 

 Alexander (afterwards a successful squatter), was appointed assis- 

 tant engineer at £100 per annum, on the 25th August; and on 

 December 7th, 1826, Mr. Thomas Busby was re-engaged by the 

 local Government, with his salary advanced to £300 a year. 



The length of the tunnel is two and a quarter miles, but owing 

 to the springs tapped on the way, water was supplied to the Hyde 

 Park reservoir long before the swamps were reached. The drive 

 was to be five feet high by four feet wide ; and the twenty-eight 

 shafts from which it was worked were all shewn on the maps of 

 Sydney which were current forty-five years ago. The original 

 excavation is given at 255,930 cubic feet, which gives an average 

 section of twenty-two feet. The total cost, including salaries of 



