ANNUAL ADDRESS. XI, 



engineers and other expenses, was £22,971, which works out to 

 about £2 8s. per cubic yard. 



As the natural catchment of the portion of the swamps drained 

 by the tunnel was only about two square miles, and as abundance 

 of water close handy was running to waste across the Randwick- 

 road and lower swamp3 to Botany Bay; subsequently, when the 

 requirements of the city increased, an engine was erected at the 

 road-side, near to the present Racecourse, to supplement the supply 

 to the tunnel. My inquiries, so far, have not led to the date when 

 this engine was erected, but it was well known to me as it was sold 

 when the pumping-station was dismantled, and afterwards worked 

 for many years in the steamer "Quandong," designed by me for 

 the Balmain ferry. This was the first local steam vessel built 

 with two sterns instead of two bows, and the one which led to 

 the complete revolution since made in connection with the Sydney 

 ferries. As the Hyde Park end of the tunnel is 104 ft. above 

 high water-mark, the principal part of the then city was well 

 supplied by gravitation ; but the water-cart was a great institu- 

 tion, and in the early "Fifties" twopence was the common price 

 per bucket for the water. The hydrant fountain at Hyde Park 

 was a centre of great activity during the summer months. This 

 supply fell into disuse when the Botany Waterworks, projected 

 by the City Commissioners, were opened in 1858. 



It is not desirable with the limited time at our disposal to go 

 into details about the Botany engines, which for nearly forty years 

 supplied Sydney with water. On the completion of the Prospect 

 scheme their occupation was gone, and they were sold practically 

 for old iron, together with a modern high speed auxiliary com- 

 pound engine pumping plant, which was designed by the author 

 for the City Council in the water famine scare of 1885-1886. This 

 was a very notable work from the fact that it was made, erected, 

 and put to work by the Atlas Company in sixty days from 

 acceptance of tender. The three great beam-engines with their 

 40 in. steam cylinders in operation, were for many years, the 

 greatest engineering sight of Sydney, but now with the exception 



