OTHER WORKS CARRIED OUT BY MR WALKER.

Mr Walker also completed the Lisvane Reservoir for the Cardiff Corporation. He also constructed the Preston Dock, the Deal and Dover Railway, and many other large undertakings, and at the time of his death was carrying out two of the largest contracts ever known in history - viz., the Manchester Ship Canal and the large docks at Buenos Ayres. With regard to the former of these works, which will involve an outlay of some five or six millions, the directors had arranged with another firm to some extent, but they felt it would give the public in the scheme if Mr Walker would undertake the contract, and Mr Walker laid out his plans with so much skill and carried them forward with so much energy that there can be no doubt the contract will be completed within the specified time. About 12,000 men are employed on these works alone, and there is plant there worth three-quarters of a million. The Buenos Ayres scheme is a gigantic one, and, like many others of Mr Walker's contracts, was undertaken at Sir John Hawkshaw's request. It means the construction of docks equal to the whole Cardiff's docks put together. They are three miles long, right in front of the city, and the scheme includes the reclaiming of land of half a mile in width. Mr Walker offered to construct these docks, at a cost of from four to five millions, for the value of the reclaimed land. These works are now in charge of Mr C. H. Walker, nephew of the deceased gentleman. In addition to these, Mr Walker had a lot of subsidiary works, and had several steamers built and building at Chepstow for his South American contract.

MR WALKER'S CARE FOR HIS EMPLOYEES.

In all, it is computed that at the time of his death he could not have been employing less than some 22,000 men. His care of these and his regards for their safety (always the first consideration) attached his employees to him to an unusual degree, and those who witnessed the reception accorded to him by 1,500 of them at the dinner given by him on the occasion of opening Barry Dock will not forget it. He was a true Christian, and one of his first thoughts, after founding a colony, was to erect mission-halls, schools, hospitals, and temperance houses of refreshment. He was an interesting, lucid, and incisive speaker, and frequently addressed his men himself. At Sudbrook, the town he founded at the Monmouthshire end of the Severn Tunnel, he was superintendent of the Sunday School, and head of the Bible Class. He was always especially thoughtful for his old hands, and the widow of any old employee always had the first chance of taking the "huts" which were build as lodging houses for the single navvies. His charity was quiet, but far-reaching, and as one who knew him well put it on Monday, " There will be many wet eyes amongst Walker's navvies when they hear of his death." His sick fund was a model of organisation, and he always interested himself in his men's cricket and athletic clubs, and during the winter months he saw to the provision of social evenings for his men.