recommended by the Board, the Minister asked the Board to meet and consider the question; and on the 10th December, 1880, the Board reported to the effect that if the Government considered the additional ground worth the cost that would be entailed there was no objection. On the 19th January, 1881, the new line on the north side of the river, as desired by the Railway Department, was therefore adopted. In the conditions of competition it was provided that the author of the first design might be requested to prepare the working drawings of the bridge, and Mr. J. H. Grainger, having represented that such design was prepared by himself, applied to be entrusted with their preparation and that was acceded to on 10th March, 1881. On the 22nd November, 1881, the plans were completed by Mr. Grainger. On the 26th January, 1882, the plans were forwarded to the City Council and approved, and afterwards forwarded to the Emerald Hill Council. On the 19th May, 1882, the Minister of Public Works asked the Board to again meet and report, as it was stated that the views of the Railway Department as to the extent of ground required for station purposes had been now modified. In May, 1882, Messrs. R. Watson, W. H. Greene, A. J. Skene, and W. Cain were added to the Board, as Messrs. T. Higinbotham and A. K. Smith had died, and Mr. W. Elsdon had resigned. On the 30th May, 1882, the Board, after ascertaining the views of the Railway Department, reported and recommended that the original line of river and site of bridge referred to in the Report of 3rd September, 1880, should be adhered to. On the 8th August, 1882, the Board again reported, fixing the gradient for the north approach to the bridge so as to give headway for the railway traffic under the structure. The above Reports were approved, and Mr. Grainger was directed to make the necessary alterations to the plans of the bridge consequent on the change of site. On the 18th August, 1882, at the request of the City Council, a roadway 24 feet wide was provided for on the south bank of the river, and granite or bluestone was substituted for Stawell stone in the face-work of the masonry of the bridge. Tenders were invited for the new bridge, exclusive of the south approach, on the 21st March, 1883, and the tenders were opened on the 7th June, 1883. The lowest, £128,000, was not accepted, being considered too high. On the 9th August, 1883, Mr. Grainger received the balance of his commission for the preparations of the plans of the bridge, and his connection with the Department and the work of the bridge then terminated. On the 31st August, 1883, it was reported by the Inspector-General that, in view of the occurrence of a flood while the piers of the new bridge were being built, it was necessary that a temporary bridge be erected and the old Prince's Bridge removed, so that an outlet might be had by removing part of the reef under the old bridge. This was approved by the Minister of Public Works on 12th October, 1883, and tenders were invited for the erection of a temporary timber bridge and the removal of old Prince's Bridge. These tenders were opened on 1st November, 1883, and the contract was taken by Mr. W . Halliday, for £6695, and was completed about 1st August, 1884. The year 1884 and the early part of 1885 appeared to have been occupied in negotiations between Mr. Deakin, Minister of Public Works, and the various local bodies south of the Yarra, with reference to the amounts to be contributed by them towards the remaining one-third of the cost of the bridge. It was decided that when fresh tenders were invited the work should include the south embankment and the widening and deepening of the river adjacent to the bridge. The preparation of the plans of the south embankment, the widening and deepening of the river, and the modifications of the plans of the bridge rendered necessary by the cable tramway passing over it, were now entrusted to Mr. F. M. Hynes, C.E., of the Public Works Department. On the 29th May, 1885, tenders for the new bridge were invited, and the tenders were opened on the 27th August, 1885, the lowest being that of Mr. David Munro, for £136,998. The contract was signed on 16th November, 1885, and the work proceeded forthwith.
"'The cost of the bridge is contributed as follows:—The Government, one-third; City Council of Melbourne, one-third; City of South Melbourne, £10,000; City of Prahran, £10,000; Borough of St. Kilda, £10,000; Shire of Malvern, £2500; Borough of Brighton, £2000; Shire of Caulfield, £2000; Shire of Moorabbin, £1000. The names of the officers of the Public Works Department who have been engaged on the works of the new Prince's Bridge are as appended:— W. H. Steele, Inspector-General; W. Finlay, Superintending Officer; F. M. Hynes, Engineer; C. Catani, Assistant Engineer; J. Bell, Inspector of Masonry (killed by falling into the coffer dam in August, 1887);
