E.—2

14

A second breakwater would then have to be built generally parallel to the shore, which, if of a good length, say 300 yards, would give shelter in which vessels drawing 12 feet to 14 feet of water could lie. Landing and shipping of goods could be carried on here during somewhat rough weather, unless the sea was from the north-east, to which the harbour would be quite open. The first effect of the above works would be the degradation of the coast to the north. Caroline Bay would bo deepened, unless the bottom is rock, and would extend somewhat further inland at Mr. Henry John Le Cren's ; but it is so well protected by the rooky capes on both sides, that no great change would take place there. The detached shingle beach across Washdyke Lagoon would next begin to disappear, and it would take very many years before this supply was exhausted, so that there could be no effect on the coast further northward. In the meantime the shingle from the south would have been heaping up behind the breakwater. It is quite impossible to say how long it would be before it would reach the end; but eventually it would certainly do so. A new breakwater seawards would then be required. I consider it so probable that this would happen within a few years, that I strongly recommend the Board not to undertake the work, notwithstanding the great benefit which a harbour at Timaru would cause to the rich surrounding country. The cost of such a work as I have above described would be about £100,000 if of coucrete, or about £80,000 if timber were used for part of the work, and its value, when completed, would not be great, as but a small part of the roadstead would be sheltered, and that only indifferently. Plan No. 2.—The chances of failure with this plan are very great. Mr. Balfour's experimental breakwater had this object in view, but completely failed, although it was very well selected for the purpose. It has been suggested that, if a long jetty were constructed, with a short, solid breakwater at the end, the object would be gained ; but a short breakwater detached from the shore would give no shelter, the waves would simply curl around it, and a long one would stop the shingle, with the further disadvantage that it would be difficult to predict exactly where the shingle would be deposited, and more harm than good would probably be done. I consider this plan.even less advantageous than the first. Plan No. 3.—lt is to the improvement of the boat service that I think the Board should look. An iron jetty would, by shortening the distance to be gone over by the boats, help considerably to make the landing and shipping of goods less tedious. It would be only on a very few days in the year that a ship could lie along it, so goods would have to be carried from the pier-head to the ship in boats, as at present; and, as the jetty would be very high, there would be considerable inconvenience in raising and lowering : still, there would be a balance in favour of the jetty, especially if steam cranes w rere used. A jetty extending into 16 feet of water, supplied with two steam cranes, would cost about £10,000, and I think the expenditure of this sum would give a good return. The use of a couple of small steam-launches to towr the boats out and in would perhaps be nearly as good as a jetty. They would cost about £750 each. I have, Sec, The Chairman of the Timaru and Gladstone John Carruthers. Board of Works. P.S. —A copy of this report is forwarded to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works.

No. 8. The Engineer-in-Chief to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Ist October, 1877. I telegraphed to the Chairman of the Timaru Harbour Board for a copy of Sir John Coode's memorandum for my own information, and the Board have courteously sent it. Sir John recommends that a copy should be sent to me for any remarks ; but, as no tracings have been sent, and the enclosing letter does not ask for any remarks, Ido not think any action is required in the matter. The Board also appear to have given up Sir John's design, as they arc inviting competitive designs. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. J. Carruthees.

Enclosure in No. 8. Sir John Coo.de to the Chairman, Timaru Harbour Board. 2, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sii;,— _ sth July, 1877. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 10th March, transmitting for my information copy of report of evidence, taken before the Legislative Council of New Zealand, of the Engineer-in-Chief for the colony relative to the proposed harbour works at Timaru. The design which accompanied my report of 10th August, 1875, was the result of much careful study and consideration of the data and information laid before me by Mr. Eliot upon his return from the colony, but, notwithstanding the fact that the proposed works were thus based upon a special survey and examination, coupled with much local inquiry and investigation, I nevertheless feel bound to give due weight to the opinions of an engineer of the standing of Mr. Carruthers, who is well acquainted with the locality, and has watched the peculiarities of the shingle-travel; and the more so as I have not myself had the advantage of personally examining the site. I was therefore glad of the opportunity of perusing the evidence which had been given by that gentleman, and have since well considered how far the objections which he has raised can be held to affect the principles of my design.