18 H. D. WALSH. 



which in nearly every case consist of a rocky headland on 

 one side and a sand beach on the other, are, (a) by the direct- 

 ing of the ebb and flood tides over the same line, to deepen 

 and maintain river channels, (b) to increase the velocity 

 of the current, so that the silt brought down by the ebb 

 tide may be carried as far as, and be dispersed by, the 

 littoral or coastal currents, (c) to prevent beach sand from 

 entering the river on the flood tide, and (<l) for the protection 

 of shipping navigating the entrance. 



If after careful consideration of all natural local con- 

 ditions, tides, currents, winds, flood waters, etc., a scheme 

 is prepared to achieve these objects, it is scarcely to be 

 expected that the carrying out of a portion of that scheme 

 will lead to altogether satisfactory results. Whether the 

 area of agricultural land in the vicinity of some of our 

 smaller rivers or estuaries is sufficient to justify the carry- 

 ing out of works, which must necessarily involve a consider- 

 able expenditure to be successful, is not for me to say, but 

 certainly any work put in hand for the improvement of a 

 river entrance should be carried out to completion as 

 quickly as possible and without interruption during its 

 progress. The ever restless waves and other great forces 

 of nature are constantly at work day and night, and similar 

 activity is necessary on our part to successfully cope with 

 them in work of this class. 



Where ocean transport ceases and land carriage begins, 

 there arises the problem of changing from one to the other, 

 and much difference of opinion exists as to how this can be 

 effected in the most efficient and economical way. A large 

 majority of the modern cargo-carryingsteamersare equipped 

 with appliances suitable for the rapid handling of ordinary 

 merchandise, and it seems to me superfluous to duplicate 

 these appliances on general cargo wharves. In some ports 

 in Australasia numbers of hydraulic and other cranes have 



