in 1901. The work of reconstructing the wharfage accom- 

 modation was at once taken in hand, and much has been 

 done and is being done to meet the ever increasing trade of 

 the port. When it is remembered that the shipping in Port 

 Jackson has increased from 1,006 vessels of an aggivgiitr 

 tonnage of 385,161 in 1870 to 8,944 vessels of an aggregate 

 tonnage of 6,901,057 last year, it will be realised what a 

 difficult work it has been to provide adequately for the 

 heavy tonnage of to-day at wharves constructed largely by 

 private owners to suit their individual requirements, with- 

 out system and without due regard to future expansi »n. 

 The wharves at Circular Quay and at Woolloomooloo were 

 constructed by the Government on lines which were con- 

 sidered at the time ample for many years, but even these 

 have had to be largely reconstructed to meet present 

 requirements. The reconstruction of the shipping acom- 

 modation in Sydney Harbour is but a typical example of 

 what is being done in many of the principal harbours of the 

 world. It will be found that in nearly all seaports of any 

 consequence, the reconstruction of the wharfage will 

 necessitate the remodelling of the city frontage streets, 

 just as the developments in land transportation frequently 

 require the remodelling of streets farther back. All this 

 is of course slow and expensive work, but it will have to 

 be done sooner or later. 



The problem of the class of wharf construction best suited 

 to the needs of the immediate future is one that has not 

 yet been satisfactorily solved. Timber, which formerly 

 served the purpose, is being largely set aside in Europe for 

 several reasons. In the first place its life is brief owing to 

 decay, and it is difficult to protect it from the ravages of 

 marine borers, as the yellow metal which was at one time 

 durable in salt water cannot now be relied upon. 



Deep sea-walls have long been used, but with the increas- 

 ing draft of vessels, the great height now required renders 



