The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-29 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

On Tuesday, March 27, William Cubbit, Esq., Vice-
President, in the chair,

The paper read was a " Description of the Groynes
formed on the South Rocks, the site of the new docks
at Sunderland," by Mr. W. Browne, Assoc. Inst. C. :E.
These groynes have been erected for the purpose of te-
taining the deposited materials excavated from the nii•w
docks, and of arresting the sand and shingle which nil-
turatiy travel southward, in order to form a barrier
beach, that should effectually exclude the sea from be-
yond a given line. The three first, whose lengths va-
ried from 326 feet to 358 feet, were erected at a height
above ordinary high-water mark of 2 feet six inches and
10 feet at the seaward and inner ends respectively. T:he
exterior was composed of ashlar work ; the interior
partly of the excavated magnesian limestone, and partly
of rubble set in mortar; the batter of the north sides was
two and a half inches to a foot, that of the north sides
one to one, and the crest was formed into an arch, witbi a
radius of 8 feet 6 inches. The four other groynes were
constructed of a different form, in consequence of those
first erected not retaining the deposited excavation, and
accumulating other materials as was desirable, and from
their having been injured by the sea, during a heavy
storm, which occurred at the time of the equinoctial
tides, during the spring of 1848, when a breach was
made in the first and third groynes, and at the same
time some of the stones in the second groyne were
loosened; these effects were produced at about the same
point in each, namely, the intersection of the inclination
of the groyne with the line of ordinary high water
mark; and it was found, from observation, that the mo-
mentum of the waves was greatest at or about the time
of high water. The sides of these groynes were semi-
cycloidal, each being generated by a circle
of 12 feet 9 inches in diameter, and uniting
at the apex; the seaward and inner ends are re-
spectively 7 feet and 10 feet above ordinary high water
mark, and their lengths varied from 510 feet to 579 feet;
the foundations of these groynes consisted of a course of
freestone, laid at an average depth of 2 feet below the
surface; the sides were also of coursed freestone, set
header and stretcher alternately, and the hearting of
large sized rubble, closely packed, the vacancies between
it and the ashlar work being filled with small stones set
in Roman cement, so as to ensure a solid bed; at a depth
of 6 feet below the crest of the groyne, and resting upon
the rubble , hearting, coursed ashlar was introduced,
and carried as near to the crest as possible,
the vacancy being filled with small rubble
and Roman cement. The construction of these
groynes commenced at the seaward point, and
they were placed! at distances of from 350 to
450 feet apart; the quantity of material ex-
cavated and deposited between them was stated to
amount already to 730,000 cubic yards; it consisted
partly of hard blue clay and partly of marly rock or
soft magnesian limestone, and the barrier beach formed
by them had completely withstood all the gales which
occurred during the winters of 1847-8, and 1848.9.
Some very interesting information was given as to the
action of the tides in the Wear, and the reasons for the
construction of the new docks, which were stated to
promise to be of immense importance to the trade of
that port.
I)uring the discussion, Mr. Murray explained very
clearly his views in the design for the docks, and for the
direction of the groynes, and the various works in the
harbour for arresting the waves in their progress up the
river. This investigation of this subject elicited some
very interesting remarks as to the action of waves strik-
ing walls and groynes at various angles, when instead of
being entirely reflected they were in part retained and
guided along the face. This was a peculiarity which, it
was stated, should be taken advantage of in hydraulic
works.
This discussion was announced to be renewed next
Tuesday, April 3d, when a paper " On the Obstructions
to Navigation in Tidal Rivers," by Mr. J. T. Harrison,
M. Inst. C. E., will be read.

REPRIEVE OF SHEEPIVAS/I, CONVICTED OF MURDER.
—The Governor of Maidstone gaol has received an order
for the reprieve of the convict Sheepwash, found guilty,
with Miller, of the murder of an old man at Bethersden,
from whom they took ls. 6d., his trousers, and some
sausages. The respective ages of the prisoners are 16
and 17, Sheepwash being the younger. Great exertions
have been made by the people of Maidstone and vicinity
in favour of Sheepwash,
on account of former character
and other circumstances, which have been laid before the
Secretary of State for the Home Department. The exe-
cution of the other prisoner is to be carried into effect
this day, in front of the county gaol.
DARING BURGLARY.—Yesterday at the Brentford
Petty Sessions, John Turnbull alias George Norman, a
powerful-looking fellow, was finally examined before
the bench of magistrates,
on a charge of having bur-
glariously entered the premises. of Lady Neville, the
widow of Sir George Neville, Bart., at Great Marlow,
Bucks. From the evidence gone into it appeared that
the prisoner was stopped, on the evening of Tuesday,
the 19th instant, with a large packet on his shoulder,
by a policeman of the T division, on duty at Hounslow,
when he stated that it was his own property, that his
name was George Norman, and that he was on his way
to town. On the packet being examined, it was found
to contain a large quantity of valuable damask napkins,
table cloths, and fine linen sheets, and all marked with
crest, and the initial letters " G. N.," and he was con-
sequently remanded for inquiries to be made. Yester-
day the cook and a housemaid of Lady Neville's
establishment attended and identified the whole of the
property as belonging to her Ladyship, and deposed that
on the night of ,the 18th instant the premises were
burglariously entered, and the above articles stolen.
The chief constable of Great Marlow also deposed, that
on the morning of the 19th, he met the prisoner with
the packet on his shoulder, bat not having heard of the
robbery at the time, he did not stop him, or make any
inquiry as to what he had got or how he came possessed
of it. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.