ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 29 
Instructions have been given for the construction of the George- 
street and Harris-street Electric Tramway, recommended by the 
Standing Committee for Public Works on May 8th, 1896, and 
assented to by Parliament on the 14th September, 1896. The 
length of the line from the eastern side of the Circular Quay 
to Harris-street, Pyrmont, near the intersection of John-street, is 
three miles twenty chains of double track. Several contracts 
have already been let, and the site for the power and car house 
fixed, which will eventually become the Central Station when the ~ 
conversion scheme in connection with existing steam tramways is 
carried out. The overhead construction will be of neat appear- 
ance, embodying all the Jatest improvements, the wires being 
carried on ornamental poles. Special attention has been paid to 
the permanent way, a new type of rail having been specially 
designed, and which has since been adopted as the standard rail 
for all future tramway work. The rails will be bonded with the 
Edison-Brown Plastic Bond, which has proved to be the best 
preventitive of electrolysis. The rails throughout will be laid on 
concrete, ahd the entire surface of the streets wood-blocked. The 
power and car house arrangements will be very complete and 
economical in working. The site chosen, which is between Mary 
Ann and William Henry-streets, Ultimo, and adjoining the rail- 
Way, is a very convenient one. Considerable attention has been 
given to a scheme to connect the tramway systems of Sydney and 
North Sydney by means of a sub-aqueous tunnel. The length of 
the line, double track, would be one mile thirty-two chains, of 
which one and a quarter miles are in tunnel. This, with other 
Schemes, was subsequently the subject of enquiry by a Select 
Committee. 
Harbours and Rivers.—Tweed River.—On the Tweed River 
_ about five and a quarter miles of stone walls for the training of 
the river have been constructed, and the channel deepened by 
means of sand pump dredging, the material raised being discharged 
on shore at the back of the walls, thus reclaiming land and pee 
ing the channel by the same operation. 
