D.—No. 10.

GREYMOUTH PROTECTIVE WORKS

5

No. 4. ■ From Mr. Blackett to Mr. O'Consoe. g IE _ Public Works Office, Wellington, Ist March, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your report of the 15th ultimo, on the damage by flood at Greymouth, enclosing plans of proposed works, with reference to those designed for the 25 chains, between the breakwater and Tainui street. I might say that they are in accordance with my own views as to what is necessary, and such as I have always recommended, care must be taken, however, to have the footing of all the walling, rather below low water mark if possible, and the largest stones that can be procured and handled should be used in its construction. The work must be well banded with frequent through stones, and the whole may be as rough as possible, consistent with sound work. Very little dressing will be needed on the face. The batter you have given to the face may do next the river, but towards the upper end a little below, where the wall turns off at an angle to join the solid rock of the cliff, the batter should be gradually increased, so that it may really present up-stream a flat fore shore of stone, becoming almost perfectly flat where it joins the solid rock, making thus a passage for the road. 11ns 1 have represented in sketches on sheet attached. . , I am in doubt whether the whole 25 chains between this place and Tainui street will be needed for Eailway work, possibly not, the width of the filling from the face of the stone wall across the road towards the houses must also be a matter for consideration. Tou have not stated any proposed width, but no more need be done than will be really necessary for safety untill we determine what width will be required for Bailway purposes. It is however very likely before we have proceeded far, that some arrangement will be made between the Government and the Local authorites by which the whole width of filling will be earned out, both for Eailway and Eoad, leaving for'future adjustment the proportion chargeable to each The wood work as designed is, as far as I recollect, a reproduction or nearly so, of what has been erected before, and will answer the purpose as long as it remains sound, but it must not be lost sight of, that stone work will eventually be needed, the whole of the way down to ensure real safely to the Town and permanence to the river bank, as well as an improved entrance to the Harbor, the expense of this will however prevent the work being carried out at present. ,'■_":,".■■,„ . ... On receiving the sanction of the Hon. the Minister for the Middle Island for carrying out the work as planned, I will again write to you, meanwhile let all necessary work already authorised, be pushed on as vigorously as possible. __________ I have, &c, John Blackett, C. Y. O'Connor, Esq., District Engineer, Hokitika. Assistant Engineer-in-Chief.

JNo. o. From the Hon. Mr. Fox, to Mr. Lahman. o E Greymouth, 16th February, 1872. Since I had the honor of interviews with you and the Mayor of Greymouth on the subject of an advance by the General Government to the Corporation of Greymouth for the purposed repairing or reconstructing the protective works of the harbour, I have consulted the AttorneyGeneral as to the power of the Corporation to deal with the J ocal reserve, and to mortgage its tolls and rates as security for such advance. _ . With regard to the former, it appears that during the tenure of office by your predecessor Mr. Hoos, a dispute existed as to whether the County or the Corporation was entitled to this endowment of the Coal Eeserve, which dispute appears still unsettled. The Attorney-General th nks that before the Government can be advised to accept the reserve as a security, resolutions should be passed by the County Council aud the Corporation respectively expressing their assent to the Governor (in whom the reserve at present is vested), granting it to trustees as security for the advance to the Corporation. I have therefore to request you to obtain from the County Council, if they are willing to give it, such a consent as I have indicated. The Corporation, in addition to giving its consent to the disposal of the reserve in the above manner, will be required to give a security over the wharfage tolls and other revenue for the repayment of the advance and interest within a given per.od. On this I have at this date addressed LiB TrJiCbe^n Hokitika in a week or ten days, and shall be glad jf you should be able then to report the decision of your Council. H. Lahman, Esq., Chairman of County Council. William Fox.

No. 6. From the Hon. Mr. Fox, to the Matoe of Geetmouth. s _ Grevmouth, 16th February, 1872. Since my last interview with you on the subject of an advance of, say £4000 by the General Government to the Corporation of Greymouth, for the purpose of reconstructing the protection