B.—No. 3a

About 75 per cent, of the goodt represented by the figures given above, according to the Collector of Customs at Invercargill, come direct to the New River, and about 90 per cent, of the remainder are sent to the New River from the Bluft' by lighter. Vessels from 200 to 400 tons, drawing 1G feet of water can come within seven miles of the Invercargill Jetty, and vessels not drawing more than nine feet of water can reach the Jetty. At the Mokomoko Jetty there are 20 feet at low water. The insurance on vessels for the Bluft' and New River is at present about 40s. from London and 20s. from Melbourne. It should be stated that the Channel of the New River is represented as continually shifting, and thus creating considerable difficulty and danger. Ordinary Revenue. The prospective Revenue from all sources (the sale of land excluded) may be calculated as not exceeding per annum £20,000 which sum is entirely absorbed by departmental machinery

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

esse. en: g Port of Inverci irgill. Bluff. Whence. Number of Tonnage. Crews. Number of Tonnage. Crews. Vessels. Vessels. Great Britain Colonies ... TJ. S. of America 4 43 1 1358 6802 258 55 351 10 1G5 33,595 2728 From Bluff 58 80 8-418 3657 416 290 From Invercargill. 165 125 33,595 6152 2728 720 Value of Imports at the Bluff and Invercargill for 1864 (12). Port of I: ivercaigill. Bluff Whence. Ecmarks. Direct. Via Bluff. General Goods. Stock. >reat Britain ... Hctoria S T. S. Wales ... Pasmania i, Australia [T. S. of America £ 20,711 137,015 3518 48,417 7,257 7,294 £ 83,653 13,279 195 474 £ -40,26216 0 £ 123,783 Of the Bluff Imports about £25,000 were for Eailway Plant. Total ... o 224,212 97,601 97,601 Grand Total ... £ 321,813 £1(54,045 16s. Od. The population of the Province may be roug The gross Customs Receipts for the year enc Port of Invercargill Bluff Harbor *hly calculated at about! ding 31st December, 18C £40,72! 1,63! 9000. 14, arc as follows (16). — i) 3 6 9 4 8 £42,36: S 2