SYDNEY.
The Dry Dock. — Yesterday was appointed for the first blast from the site, on Cockatoo Island, on which it is proposed to erect the first dry dock built in this hemisphere. The blast was one of considerable importance, and attracted considerable interest, but owing to the very unfavourable state of the weather for an excursion to Cockatoo from Sydney, comparatively Jew persons were present. Amongst those, however, who favoured this very interesting event with their presence, were the honourable Colonial Secretary, his Excellency General Wynyard, Colonel Gordon, Mf. S. A. Donaldson, &c, &c, &c. The time fixed for discharging the blast was four o'clock, and at that hour boats were warned off the island, and the internal arrangements for the safety and good conduct of ihe prisoners were most satiofactory. The site of the dockjs^to the south-west of the island. The chafgeof powder was 500lbs. A cavern was made in the rock about two feet square and twenty feet long, turning off to the right about another eighteen feet. At the 'end of this second cavern was deposited the box containing the charge. The battery by which the charge was ignited, was placed within 300 feet of the blast, and an apparatus was affixed to it, so as to allow six minutes to all concerned to get away. The powder was deposited in a box, in which was placed the cartridge connected to the conducting wires of Mr. Norrie's very powerful battery, composed of twenty-four cells, fourteen inches high. The power of this battery had been previously tested by its fusing an iron wire, about 1 -200 th of an inch diameter, and 18 inches long. The rock in which the explosion took place is composed of sandstone, and therefore, from the soft nature of the material, the report was comparatively mild. The blast was, however, an effective one, and although a successive one will be required, the expectations of the engineers connected with the undertaking have been answered. There is little doubt but that enough has been effected to enable active proceedings on the part of the Government to be undertaken for that colonial desideratum — a dry dock. — Herald, September 7.
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 335, 14 October 1848, Page 3
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363SYDNEY. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 335, 14 October 1848, Page 3
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