ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 31 
Macleay River.—In 1893 a flood having broken through the 
narrow strip of land between Spencer’s Creek and the Ocean, at a 
point about one and three-quarter miles north of the South West 
Rocks, thereby forming a navigable channel, a scheme was pre- 
pared for fixing the entrance at this place instead of at the Heads 
some five miles distant. The work done up to the present consists 
in straightening up the channel by dredging, protecting the slopes 
of bank with stone, and constructing a portion of the southern 
training wall. 
Trial Bay.—The breakwater at Trial Bay, which when com- 
‘pleted will enclose an area of about five hundred and fifty acres 
to form a harbour of refuge, has now been extended from the 
shore to a distance of five hundred and eighty-three feet, the 
apparently slow progress being due to the great depth of water in 
which the breakwater is being constructed, and to the height above 
water which, owing to the exposed position, it was found necessary 
to raise the top. Blocks of granite up to thirty tons in weight 
are being used in the construction of this breakwater. 
Manning River.—The work done at the Manning River has 
been the construction of portion of the wall on the northern and 
- horth-western side of the entrance, the total length constructed 
being 2,070 feet. As the scouring action at the tip head was 
causing a considerable deepening of the water, thereby necessitat- 
ing the use of a much larger quantity of stone in the wall, the 
bottom was coated with a layer of stone deposited from a punt, 
and extending to about 200 feet in advance of the tip, which has 
effectually prevented any further deepening. 
Newcastle Harbour.—Owing to the necessity for an increased 
depth of water at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour, it was 
determined to extend the northern breakwater and construct a 
Suide wall at the southern side of the entrance, commencing near 
the eastern end of Newcastle Wharf. Most of the preliminary 
work in connection with the construction of these works, such as 
the opening up of quarry, constructing railway lines, gantries, 
