ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
By C. O. Burges, M. Inst. C.E. 
[Delivered to the Engineering Section of the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, 
May 19, 1897. ] 
GENTLEMEN,—My first duty is to thank you, not only for electing 
me to the chair for the ensuing session of this important section 
of the Royal Society of New South Wales, but also for providing 
me with the assistance of a strong Committee and Secretary. I 
hope that the ordinary members will add their strength to the 
section by furnishing suitable papers, and by good attendance and 
discussion. It must not be forgotten that the youngest of members 
can help us in the submission of papers, as these not only help 
other younger members, but frequently the elder ones also Any 
one who has looked through the students’ papers, contributed to 
the minutes of the Institution of Civil Engineers, can see that 
information is often given in them which is valuable to older 
members, who may possibly have missed the particular experience 
which they illustrate. 
I find myself confronted, as my predecessors have been, and as 
my successors will be, no doubt, with the difficulty of finding a 
Suitable subject for an opening address, and I have decided that, 
as a definite step forward has been taken this year towards the 
Federation of the Australian Colonies, it would be appropriate to 
refer to engineering works recently completed, in progress, and in 
more or less immediate contemplation, in those colonies. 
Though one of the smallest in population of the group, Western 
Australia stands one of the first in the importance of the works 
Coming under these heads—the two great breakwaters at the 
mouth of Swan River at Freemantle, more than a mile in aggre- 
gate length, are complete, and, when this is combined with the 
extensive deepening of the river itself now in hand, it is anticipated 
1—May 19, 1897, 
