£.—9,

25

although in the former case, with a jetty on the line of No. 3, the depth alongside would be only from 13 to 14 feet at spring tides, and consequently the accommodation thus afforded would be limited. There is yet another mode of procedure—namely, to carry the breakwater as far as practicable for the sum of £200,000 upon the line laid down, obtaining berthage hereafter; and I should prefer this course to stopping the work at XX with a jetty on the line of No. 3. I have thought it desirable to go thus fully into the alternative proposals in order to anticipate points which might be raised in the colony. Briefly, however, I may summarise the recommendations as follows : If convict labour be available, and the amount to be expended on the works £200,000, then I would advise that the work should terminate at YY, with a jetty on the line of No. 2. If convict labour be not available, and the sum to be expended is also £200,000, then the breakwater should be carried as far as practicable for that amount without a jetty, in which case the work could terminate at about the point marked YY. In addition to the mode of construction herein recommended, I have carefully considered whether the work could not be cheapened by the adoption of some other type of section ; but, upon taking out quantities and preparing estimates of cost, I find that the system proposed and before described is undoubtedly the most economical under the circumstances. To the southward and eastward of Paritutu there is, as shown upon the plans, a considerable area of ground covered by loose sand, which, during strong westerly winds, drifts towards the bay. It will be an important preliminary step to adopt measures for preventing further accumulations, and for fixing the sand which may be on the surface. I would therefore recommend that the debris from the quarrying operations should be run out from Paritutu in the form of a high embankment, in a southerly direction (on a line to he hereafter determined), with a view of deflecting the travel of the sand. The whole of the sand-covered area should be planted at the proper season of the year with seeds of Arundo arenaria, or some other species of bent-grass adapted for fixing the sand. With the same objects in view, but as an additional safeguard, I would further recommend that seeds of Pinus tnaritimus should be planted in the form of a belt along a line running S.W. from the centre of Paritutu. In each case the seeds should be protected by a light covering of bush, spread over the entire surface of the ground. If the above precautions are adopted, there will be no reason to apprehend a reduction of the depth of sheltered water under the lee of the proposed work from blown sands. I desire, in conclusion, to express my thanks to Mr. Kelly (then Chairman of tho Harbour Board), as also to Mr. F. A. Carrington, and Mr, Weston, who, at the time of my visit to New Plymouth, afforded me every assistance. Mr, C. D. Irvine, Resident Engineer, and Captain Holford, Harbourmaster, attended to my wishes, and met all my requirements. At New Plymouth, as at all the other ports inspected in New Zealand, I had the privilege of being accompanied aud aided by Mr. Blackett, Marine Engineer of the colony, and to him my obligations are especially due. It would scarcely be justice to Mr. Blackett if I omitted to mention the fact that, although he had accompanied me on my tour of inspection for some weeks previously, it was only on arrival at New Plymouth that I became aware of the circumstance of his having taken any part whatever in proposing a plan for the harbour works at this place. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington. John Coode.

OTAGO HARBOUR. Sib, — 5, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., March, 1880. In compliance with the request that I should report generally upon Otago Harbour, and the Board's plan of improvements, and also specially upon certain questions remitted to me, I have the honor to state that having carefully considered the whole subject, paying due regard to the information contained in the numerous documents furnished, I now beg to present my report thereon. My study of the questions connected with the improvement of the harbour has been greatly facilitated by the plan, on a large scale, showing the results of the survey completed by the Board's Engineer, Mr. Simpson, since the time of my inspection. This plan embraces the whole harbour from outside of the bar to the city, and will undoubtedly be found most useful, not only in the execution of works, but also as a record of progress, and as a standard for ascertaining and recording results and changes. Secent Modifications. I gather from some of the papers which have last come to hand, that since the time of my inspection the question of the extent of reclamation along the foreshore at Dunedin has been definitely settled, and that permission has been given to the Harbour Board to reclaim llavensbourne, Burkes, and Shag Bays in consideration of their not reclaiming 80 acres at the head of the harbour lying to the southward of the city, as had been proposed. Bearing in mind the paramount importance of preserving as much tidal water as possible in the uppermost part of the harbour, the abandonment of the proposal to reclaim 80 acres at its upper extremity is a departure from the original intention, which, in my opinion, cannot be regarded as otherwise than beneficial. With respect to the railway-station reclamation, I gather from Plan No. 5 that the eastern boundary of the new station-yard is intended to he within 100 feet of the edge of the quays which lie on the westernmost sides of the two southern basins. If it be found practicable to increase this width to at least 150 feet, I think it very desirable that this should be done, in order to avoid what I should fear would otherwise be ultimately found to be a great inconvenience, arising from want of space for conducting the trade along the dock side. I would therefore recommend that, if not now too late this matter be reconsidered before the yito be wholly appropriated to railway-station purposes. 4—E. 9.