T 17

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD INQUIRY COMMITTEE (REPORT OF), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX.

Report brought up 10th August, 1881, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thttbsday, the 7th Day or July, 1881. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, with power to call for persons and papers, to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbour Board in respect of its present and future relations to the public creditor, and to report generally in the matter. The Committee to consist of Mr. Barron, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Moss, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Murray, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Pitt, Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Weston, and the mover. Three to form a quorum, and to report within one month." — (Mr. Wright.) Wednesday, the 3rd Day oe Attghjst, 1881. Ordered, " That the New Plymouth Harbour Board Committee have leave to postpone the bringing up of their report for a fortnight. Also that the Committee be empowered to have the minutes of evidence printed."— (Mr. Wright.)

REPORT The Select Committee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbour Board in respect to its present and future relations to the public creditor, and to report generally in the matter —having gone into the question referred to them ; examined all available documents, plans, &c, bearing upon the subject; and having taken the evidence of the following gentlemen, namely: Mr. T. King, Chairman, New Plymouth Harbour Board ; Mr. J E. Kees, late Engineer, New Plymouth Harbour Board ; Mr. McKerrow, Surveyor-General; Mr. J E. EitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General; Mr. John Blackett, Marine Engineer, &c.; Colonel Trimble, M.H.R.; Mr. Kelly, M.H.E.; Mr. L. Stowe, Clerk, Legislative Council; Mr. Sperry, Property-Tax Commissioner ; Mr. John Goodall, Engineer, Timaru Harbour Board; Mr. John McGregor, Engineer, Oamaru Harbour Board; Mr. E. C. Jones, Engineer, Wellington Harbour Board; Captain Johnson, Nautical Adviser to Marine Department; Captain Eairchild, s.s. " Stella "; Captain Kennedy, s.s. " Hawea " —have directed me to report as follows : — That the first design, prepared and submitted by Sir John Coode for the construction of a harbour at New Plymouth, was estimated by him to cost L 928,730 for completion in its entirety, and was intended to enclose an area of 130 acres outside the 1-fathom contour line. As the New Plymouth Harbour Board at the date of this report (20th Eebruary, 1879) was, and still is, restricted in borrowing to a sum of L 200,000, Sir John Coode was requested to indicate the manner in which that sum could be most advantageously expended. He recommended the construction of 2,110 feet of the western breakwater as far as XX on plan, by means of rock from Paretutu, placed as pierre perdue; the total length of the western breakwater being 3,755 feet. Subsequently, the engineer to the Harbour Board reported that, after trials made, the rock at Paretutu was found unsuitable for the work, on the ground that it could not be obtained in blocks of sufficient size. The Board thereupon abandoned the original design, sent their engineer to England to consult with Sir John Coode, and requested that gentleman to prepare an amended design for the construction in concrete of a portion of the western breakwater. This amended design was prepared and forwarded to the Harbour Board by Sir John Coode, under date of 17th March, 1880, and comprises a concrete mole, extending 2,320 feet from high-water mark into a depth of 20 feet at low-water spring tides, and is laid down upon lines which correspond with a I—l. 7.