D.—l

20

The improvements indicated in this table have resulted entirely from the construction of a mole at the south side of the river, and, in addition to carrying this on as hitherto, the Harbour Board has recently let a large contract for the construction of a training-wall on the north side. Before leaving the subject of harbour works, I may also mention that the Government has decided to ask the House to give the necessary power to both the Greymouth and Westport Harbour Boards to expend some of their funds in supplying further facilities for shipping coal at the ports, and extending the railway accommodation to the mines. In view of these proposals it should be remembered that the works are really being carried out for the benefit of the colony, as it is open to Parliament to claim them at any moment. Meanwhile under local management they appear to be progressing very satisfactorily. HAEBOUE DEFENCES. Existing Defences. —At the end of March last it was considered advisable, owing to the threatened outbreak of war with Eussia, to place the chief ports of the colony in a state of defence as far as the means at the disposal of the colony admitted, and to commence the construction of the necessary works for the reception of the guns. These works were proceeded with vigorously, and in about three months the whole of the guns available in the colony were mounted, and the necessary magazines, stores, barracks, and enclosing parapets are now in a fair state of completion. Defence Works. —At Auckland works were undertaken at North Head, Point Eesolution, and Mount Victoria. The first two works are almost completed, and the third will be completed for about £1,200. The total cost of these works when completed will be about ,£13,200. At Wellington works have been erected at Point Halswell, Gordon Point, and Kaiwarra. These works are all in a fair state of progress, and barracks have also been erected for the constabulary at Haitaitai Peninsula. The cost of the works at Wellington, when finished, will be about £15,000, which includes the making of a considerable extent of road and the erection of a redoubt on Mount Crawford. At Lyttelton works have been constructed at Battery Point, Spur Point,, and Erskine Point, and barracks have been erected for the constabulary working there. The works will shortly be completed, and their cost will be approximately £5,200. Works have been constructed at Taiaroa Head for the defence of Port Chalmers, and also on the Ocean Beach to protect Dunedin from bombardment. The cost of these works, which are also nearly completed, will be £9,600. The cost of the land will bring the total for all these works to about £52,000. Toepedo Defences. —A small number of submarine mines were supplied by the Admiral commanding the Australian Squadron. These have been laid down at Auckland, and the 64-pounder converted guns, also supplied by the navy, will be mounted at Auckland and Wellington. Proposed Additional Defences. —Taking into consideration the recent improvements which have been made in the construction of ordnance, and the methods of mounting guns in coast defences, it was considered advisable, for the better protection of the harbours, and to prevent their bombardment at long range, to provide 23 guns of the latest type, as well as 20 machine-guns, Whitehead torpedoes, and other necessary accessories for coast defences. These will be supplied shortly at a cost of £166,000. It is proposed to mount the twentythree heavy guns and the twenty machine-guns at the several ports, and also to provide for the defence of the Bluff. The cost of the works will be greatly reduced by the employment of the constabulary in their construction, which