H.—35

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REPORT. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Charles, Baron Bledisloe, Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, GovernorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— The Commission, dated the 19th day of October, 1929, entrusted to us by Your Excellency's predecessor, General Sir Charles Fergusson, directed us to inquire into and report upon the following matters : — 1. The present Waitemata Harbour facilities. 2. The present and future harbour transit requirements. 3. The means by which such requirements may best be provided, and in particular the following matters : — (1) The necessity or otherwise for the building of a bridge across the Waitemata Harbour. (2) The following details concerning the bridge : — (a) The most suitable site at which the bridge should cross the harbour, taking into consideration the present location of the populations on each side of the water, the probable growth thereof, the main arterial highway system of the metropolitan and adjacent areas now existing or likely to be adopted, and the extent to which such harbour is required for commercial or naval purposes, or for aviation, or otherwise, bearing in mind the future development of such harbour. (b) The type and general nature of the bridge which will be the most suitable, including minimum length of the main spans, the height above high water, spring tide, the width and loading. (c) The location, width, and nature of the approaches to such bridge, and especially whether in addition to the bridge itself causeways should be constructed interconnecting Bayswater, Northcote, and Stanley Point, or other portions of either shore, and the land required for construction of approaches to bridgeheads. (d) The cost of the bridge on the recommended site, together with the costs of any other bridges which are investigated. (3) The method by which the construction of the bridge shall be financed. (a) If in the ordinary way by loans raised, then— (i) The area which shall be rated to provide the necessary funds ; (ii) The proportions in which the various local authorities within the rating area should contribute ; (iii) The proportion, if any, which should be found by the General Government: or (b) If by tolls, the approximate tolls which should be charged the various classes of vehicles and other traffic : or (e) If by a levy on the lands increased in value by the execution of the works, what lands should be levied on, and in what proportions : or