In 1862, at the request of the late Viceroy of Egypt, Said Pasha, Mr Hawkshaw visited that country to report on the feasibility then very much doubted of carrying out the Suez Canal scheme of M de Lesseps. The emphatic recommendation of the scheme by the English engineer as an entirely practical one went far to prevent the works from being at that time stopped. The present Khedive of Egypt has also called upon him to devise a scheme for the navigation of the first cataract of the Nile. He reported in favour of a short canal with a lock at the lower end, by which the difference in level of the river above and below the falls, amounting to twelve feet, might be overcome.

In 1860 Mr Hawkshaw was appointed sole royal commissioner by Government to inquire into the water supply of Dublin. The scheme which he recommended was carried out, and has proved a great benefit to that city. Under Government, he designed and superintended the construction of the fortifications for the Spithead forts, which are unique of their kind. He was also a member of the Government Commission on Fortifications.

Sir John Hawkshaw (for so we may now term the subject of our notice, as in 1873 he received, in consideration of his eminent public services, the honour of knighthood) is the engineer, in connection with Mr Dirks, of Amsterdam, to the Amsterdam Canal Company. This company are constructing a sea canal to connect Amsterdam with the North Sea. The canal, which is nearly completed, is sixteen miles long, and, being of greater breadth and depth than the Suez Canal, will be capable of passing the largest ships in nearly a direct line from the North Sea to the port of Amsterdam. Referring to this great work, it may be of interest to mention that the entrance to the canal at the North Sea is protected by two piers, each over a mile in length, enclosing a large harbour. Extensive locks are required at each end, and three large pumps are provided at the Zuyder Zee locks to maintain the water at a fixed level for drainage purposes. These pumps discharge 2700 tons of water every minute.

The failure of the great sluice at St Germans entailed upon Sir John perhaps the most difficult professional task he has been called upon to undertake, viz , to stay the inception of the tidal waves over the low fenny lands of Norfolk. This he successfully accomplished by the erection of a most ingenious timber dam. The drainage of the land was effected by means of sixteen huge iron syphons laid over the dam, acting as substitutes for the fallen sluice. These syphons have sufficed up to the present time to pass all the land drainage water coming down the middle level drain.

Last year at the request of the Brazilian Government Sir John Hawkshaw visited Brazil and examined the principal ports and harbours of the empire. He is now engaged in preparing reports and plans for the improvement of five of the principal Brazilian ports.

For a long period Sir John Hawkshaw has interested himself in practical inquiries as to the possibility of making a submarine tunnel to connect France and England. Satisfied from geological observation that the lower chalk is the best medium through which to construct the tunnel, so far as that formation could be used, he years ago caused borings to be made to a depth of between five and six hundred feet through the chalk at St Margaret's Bay, near Dover, and at Sangatte, near Calais. An experienced geologist was employed in mapping the outcrop of the various strata along both the French and English coasts, and in determining, as far as possible, the position of the outcrops across the bed of the Channel. To this latter purpose a steamer was chartered, and soundings taken daily for a period of some weeks. It was found that in many places the floor of the Channel consists of solid chalk. The expense of these investigations was borne conjointly by Sir john Hawkshaw, Mr George Wythes, and the late Mr Thomas Brassey. Sir John, we understand, takes a sanguine view of the practicability of this great contemplated undertaking, and is of opinion that were the construction of such a tunnel attempted there is little probability of any insurmountable difficulties being encountered.