CXIl. A. B. PORTUS. 
availed of for carrying a Woodford pump over the stern of the 
- vessel, the pump was about 3’ 6” in diameter, fitted in framework 
hinged to the taffrail, and was lifted or lowered by tackle from @ 
derrick overhanging the steamer’s stern ; the pump was usually, 
when working, near the water, the suction pipe projecting beyond 
it and of the necessary length to suit the depth of channel required. 
The pump spinner was driven by the steamer’s engine, suitable 
bevel gearing being applied to permit the suspended framework to 
be lifted for dredging work. The delivery pipe was fixed so that 
branches leading on each side to the shores left it at the hinged 
joint carrying the overhanging platform. ; 
The next stage in the development of the sand pump was its 
application to steam hopper barges used by Dutch contractors for 
deepening the seaports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This type 
of sand pump is substantially the kind first used by the New 
South Wales Government, and instead of describing the twelve 
self-loading steam hoppers of Messrs. Volker and Bos of Holland, 
I purpose briefly to refer to the sand pumps ‘ Neptune” and 
“Juno,” (Plate 6) vessels used in this Colony for self loading and 
dumping at sea, as well as for pumping on to reclamation areas 
original bottom and silt lifted by ladder dredges and brought 
alongside for putting on shore: 
The “ Neptune” was originally an iron steam hopper barge of 
400 tons capacity, built by Morts Dock Company. The hull was 
148’ 3” in length, beam 24’, and draft light, 8’, and the vessel was 
used for carrying silt to sea and towing punts in connection with 
the Sydney ladder dredges. 
Until 1888, there was no inducement in this Colony to adopt 
the system of sand pumping. In Sydney harbour there were 2° 
reclamation areas near enough to the channels to permit of float- 
ing pipes being placed between the dredge and the shore, while 
at Newcastle the crowded state of the harbour discouraged the 
idea, as it does now, of connecting the dredges with the shore by 
: anne of pontoons carrying pipes ; but when it was determined ; 
