The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-14 00:00:00

It is to the dry dock in course offorrnation at Water-
view Bay, Batmain, that we now purpose to direct parti-
cular attention ; it is but due to the enterprising pro-
moters of this undertaking to state that, from the rapid
progress already made towards its completion, their dock
promises to be the first to offer accommodation for the
repair of vessels. It may be necessary to state, for the
information of those unacquainted with the geography of
Sydney, that Balmain forms one of the promontories of
our very sinuous and picturesque harbour, and is situated
about a mile to the north of Sydney, from which it is
separated by the arm of the river, known as " Darling
Harbour." With the late rapid increase in our population,
houses have been built in Balmain in every direction, and
the suburb now contains about 3,000 residents. The pro-
montory position of the capital will necessitate, with the
increase of its population, a proportionate increase in the
importance of Balmain, and in the value of its building
property ; and it is believed that Balmain will, before long,
sustain the same relation to Sydney that Brooklyn does
to New York. It is also anticipated that, as the com-
merce of the port gradually extends, the loading and dis-
charging of vessels will be carried on alongside the
wharves of Balmain—an event which appears likely from
the circumstance that no portion of Balmain is at a greater
distance from the site of the Sydney railway terminus
than is Circular Wharf—the great import and export depit.

Waterview Bay, where the dry dock is being formed, is
situated on the further side of Balmain, nearly opposite
Goat Island, and is entirely land-locked. Several natural
features of the bay point it out as wonderfully fitted by
nature for this purpose. A solid bed of sandstone—a
jleur d'eau at high tides—forms a natural quay at the spot,
over the brink of which from 25 to 37 feet of soft silt and
water are deposited. The dimensions of the bay, reckon-
ing from the opposite points, are about 50 square acres,
and excepting the silt deposits, there is an average depth
of 24 feet below low water.

The present dock is intended to be 416 feet in length,
but this length can at any time be increased, as the rock
extends for a great distance inland, and indeed underlies
nearly the whole of the suburb. The outer half of the
dock will be 100 feet in width, so that two ordinary-sized
vessels can be taken in abreast. This portion will be
divided from the inner dock by a caisson, except when
vessels of an extraordinary size are docked, when the
whole length will be thrown open.

The entrance to the dock Will be 66 feet wide, and
closed in by a wooden caisson; but, instead of a groove
being made to receive the caisson, a shoulder only will be
left for this purpose, as the weight of water outside will
always be sufficient to press the caisson into its place, and
keep it there. A lined sluice will be carried through the
lower deck of the caisson, for the purpose of filling the
dock; tidal decks will also be constructed for reducing the
amount of pumping, as it is calculated that the removal
of a few tons of water will be sufficient to lift her from
the ground for removal from the shoulders into the piers.
In connexion with the various departments of the dock
construction, about 150 men are employed ; and strenuous
efforts are made by nightwork, and by systematically
directed labour, to hasten the completion of the under-
taking. It is estimated that the entire cost of the dock
will be about £75,000.
The undertaking is the speculation of a limited company
of influential citizens of Sydney, of whom Mr. T. S. Mort,
the originator of the enterprise, is the principal partner.
The greater portion of the engineering details, together
with the practical superintendence of the works, is under-
taken by Captain Rowntree, the managing partner. The
project is being conducted with great energy, and every
week shows a rapid progress towards completion. The
work was only commenced in February last, and the pro-
prietors confidently anticipate that, should no unforeseen
emergency occur, a ship will be taken into the Waterview
Bay Dry Dock in January next.