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No. 6. The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 30th October, 1875. Thanks for information. Please send certified tracing whole plan. Board will pay reasonable charges for same. There are a few small pieces of land inside original Crown grant, towards Pelichet Bay, to connect survey of city with scheme shown on plans. If Crown-granted, Board could at once fill up and lease some of the holes —great eyesore along railway line. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. John L. Gillies.

No. 7. The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, to the Under Secretary for Public Works. Sir, — Otago Harbour Board Office, Dunedin, sth January, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favour of 22nd ultimo, No. 75-4484-4489, advising copy of plan of Otago Harbour Board improvements having been sent by " Taranaki," receipt of which I also beg to acknowledge. Enclosed you have duplicate slip from Bank of New Zealand, showing £9, the charge for the plan, having been paid into the Public Account at Dunedin as requested. Tou will oblige by returning enclosed voucher receipted. I have, &c, John L. Gillies, The Under Secretary, Public Works Office, Wellington. Secretary.

No. 8. • The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. Sir, — Otago Harbour Board Office, Dunedin, 15th Eebruary, 1876. I have the honor to forward copies of plans and specifications as required by law and in accordance with conditions attached to His Excellency the Governor's assent to the general plan of proposed harbour improvements. Hoping these plans and specifications will meet with His Excellency's approval, I have, &c, John L. Gillies, The Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. Secretary.

No. 9. The Secretary of Customs to the Chairman, Otago Harbour Board. Sir, — Customs Department (Marine Branch), Wellington, 3rd March, 1878. I have been directed by the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs to acknowledge the receipt of the letter from the Secretary to your Board of the 15th ultimo, in which he forwarded for the Governor's approval copies of plans and specifications of certain works it is intended to carry out in Dunedin in connection with the proposed Otago Harbour improvements. With reference thereto, I am to inform you that these plans and specifications were at once submitted to the Marine Engineer, who, in a memorandum of which a copy is enclosed herein, has pointed out that additional information is required regarding portions of the plans before he can make a report on the proposed works. The copies of plans and specifications are accordingly returned herewith, and the Commissioner would be glad if you would be good enough to obtain from the Engineer to the Board the additional information required by Mr. Blackett. I have, &c, W. Seed, The Chairman, Otago Harbour Board, Dunedin. Secretary of Customs.

Enclosure in No. 9. Memorandum for Mr. Seed. Public Works Office, Wellington, 29th Eebruary, 1876. Be plans and specifications for proposed harbour improvements Dunedin forwarded for Governor's approval. These are —Additions to cross wharf in Steamer Basin, now wharf fronting main channel, and new wharf inside Import Dock. The depths below low-water line in each of these places, as marked on the general plan, are respectively 17 feet, 15 feet, and 22 feet, and on measuring these depths downwards on the detail plans under consideration it is found that the front piles will scarcely have any hold in the ground. The plans do not show any ground line either in front of the works or under the wharves, so that no definite opinion can be formed as to the stability of the latter ; neither is there any description given of the character of the bottom into which the piles will be driven, or of the manner of protecting and finishing the slopes under the wharves, as well as that of filling up behind the sheet piling in the two last-mentioned structures. It is necessary that the above information be furnished before any report can be made on the proposed works, and the information should be as full and complete as possible. The tracings should I think, be returned so that the ground lines may be shown thereon. John Blackett,