D.—No. 44.

Sib,— Wellington, 18th August, 1870. With a view to its becoming generally known that vessels of Her Majesty's Navy as well as of the Mercantile Marine frequenting these seas can be docked and repaired in New Zealand, I have the honor to request that His Excellency the Governor may be advised to call the attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to tho Stone Graving Dock now rapidly approaching completion at the Port of Otago, the dimensions of which are as under : — Depth of water at dock sill, ordinary tides ... ... ... 19 feet 6 inches. „ „ springtides ... ... ... 21 „ „ „ neap tides ... ... ... 17 „ 6 „ Length of dock ... ... ... ... ... 330 „ Width above ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 „ „ below ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 „ „ where ship's bilge would be ... ... ... ... 43 „ I may add that the dock will be ready to take in vessels in January, 1871. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago.

REPORT ON THE STONE GRAVING DOCK IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AT THE PORT OF OTAGO.