A NEW BREAKWATER.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 146, 22 June 1876, Page 2

A NEW BREAKWATER.

A number of members of Parliament and i leading citizens attended by* invitation at Mr. Hunter's rooms at noon to-day to hear a 1 description of a new breakwater invented by \ Mr. Joseph Dyer, of this city. Among those . present were the Hous. E. W. Stafford and J. Johnston, Messrs. Larnach, Moorhouse, Cars rington, Button and other Members of the House of Representatives. The drawings and plans having bsen inspected, Mr. Dyer nroceeded to explain the nature of this invention, : which he claimed as entirely original to the ! best of his knowledge and behalf: Hisdispscri-

tion is as follows : — " I oppose to the advancing WAve a wall not composed of a flat sui "ace which will offer resistance to its approach, but a wall composed of longitudinal iron cells or tut js the open ends of which, closely fitted together, front the wave. These are secured to eacn other and kept in position by being attached to very strong screw piles which have a vertic?' section of an acute triangle, so that they oppose no resistance to the attack of the wave. This wall of hollow iron cells so attached, extends in height from 2 ft. to 3 ft. below lowAvater mark, to such height above high-water mark as may be found necessary. The sectional area of these cells to be of such dimensions as may be hereafter described. These cells so attached together, and of such length as may be found sufficient, extend backwards towards the shore at a given angle of elevation to the horizon. The sides of these cells, may be rectangular or hexagonal, which in shape 'converge to each other at the shore or rear side of the said sea wall, gradually diminishing in dimensions until the aperture at the rear is not more than £ of the area at the sea front. The interstices between the converging sides of the said iron cells are to be filled up with cement concrete, and the superficial face of the wall so constructed will it is claimed, form a pier or jetty, that the sea cannot sweep away, or pass over, but which may be used as a road for means of access to shipping sheltered from the jsea by such wall or ietfr*. It J s claimed that the front of this wall of hollow iron cells, the sides of which are of the thinnest structure compatible with' the requisite strength, will offer the least possible obstruction to the face of the advancing wave, ns the open mouths of the cells will face the prevailing direction of the current of wave and wind to be opposed in each specific case. It is claimed further that the wave in rushing with extreme violence .into these partially closed and gradually rising cells will have its coherence so destroyed and cut up that it wiH encounter the graduated and elastic.obstruction of the atmosphere contained in eacii of them. Bin the rear af the cells being partially open, the air will be expelled with more or less force, and thus the vast dynamical force of the water will be employed in compressing and expelling the nil* contained in some thousands! of selfacting pneumatic breaks, and willnot avnil to disturb the surface of a harbor so protected. It is claimed that this process will ba far ¦cheaper and more rapidly constructed than Solid walls of concrete, or a wall of masses of stone deposited in the usual form. It will also be apparent that immediately on the retreat of the wave the superincumbent air will rush into the orifices from which it has baen so forcibly expelled, and then the structure will again constitute an elastic atmospheric wall against which waves may dash in vain." , - Mr. Stafford asked Mr. Hardy-Johnston, C.E. (who was present at Mr. Dyer's request), to give his opinion as to the feasibility of the plan. Mr. Hardy-Johnston said he was ready to pledge his professional reputation as to its feasibility. In his opinion a breakwater of this description could be erected for one-third the cost of a stone or concrete construction, and in one twentieth of the time. It would be only practicable, of course, where piles could be driven, and not on a rocky coast. A general opinion was expressed that the plan was a practicable one, and after thanking Mr. Dyer ior his explanation, the meeting separated.

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