E.—2a.

the coast further northward." It will be seen that Mr. Blackett leaves out the protection afforded by the rocky capes, and that there could be no effect on the coast further northward: this is very different from imagining that the effect would extend to Lake Ellesmere. Surely Mr. Blackett is aware that there are many large shingle-bearing rivers to the north of Timaru, which carry very much larger quantities of shingle to the sea than the Waitaki does, and so would make up for any deficiency that might be caused by the action of the breakwater. I think it is very problematical if any of the Waitaki shingle reaches as far north as the mouth of the Opihi, excepting in the shape of sand. So much for the effect that might be produced. We now come to Mr. Blackett's next quotation from Mr. Carruthers :" 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." There is only one meaning that can be attached to this, placed as it has been by Mr. Blackett, and that is that Mr. Carruthers recommended the Board not to undertake the works, because he feared the effects of the scour on the coast to the north. If the preceding part of the clause had not been left out, Mr. Carruthers's meaning would have come out in a different light. The original stands thus: "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." Mr. Carruthers's meaning is very plain: he only fears that the shingle would reach the end of the breakwater, and so necessitate its extension, within a short time ; and therefore recommended the Board not to undertake the work. Mr. Blackett goes on to say that Mr. Carruthers, and, later, Sir John Coode, have been emphatic in the expression of their views as to the bad effects of stopping the flow of shingle; and that Mr. Balfour fully appreciated the difficulty of dealing with the moving shingle, and so advocated a detached breakwater to allow the shingle to pass through. This is in keeping with the previous remarks ; for, from their report, Mr. Carruthers, Sir John Coode, and Mr. Balfour advocated not stopping the shingle, not on account of what might be the effect on the shore to the north from want of sningle, but on account of what might be the effect of the accumulated shingle on the works. Again, it is mentioned that, "Sir John Coode, taught by a life-long experience, provided no less an opening than 900 feet before he proposed to begin the solid work of the breakwater, thinking (although he had not seen the place) that this was sufficient. But, on this fact being questioned by Mr. Carruthers, on 24th October, 1876, and his criticism being brought to the notice of Sir John. Coode, the latter felt that the objection might be just, and begged that all the facts of the case should be referred to the consideration of a third party of high engineering celebrity, before any rash steps were taken." In justice to Sir John Coode, I shall give his own words from his report: ''Should Mr. Carruthers's opinion still remain adverse to the success of the works, then I would suggest that the opinion of another engineer—say Sir John Hawkshaw —should be solicited." I cannot see from this that Sir John Coode felt that Mr. Carruthers's objection might be just; he merely, in deference to Mr. Carruthers's high standing as an engineer in the colony, wishes the difference to be settled. Sir John Coode does not in the slightest waver from his opinion. Mr. Blackett goes on to state that " the promoters, anxious, apparently, to have a harbour of some sort as quickly as possible, and also to avoid the large expense and delay of building such a breakwater as designed by Sir John Coode, sought the special aid of the Legislature to assist them in building a les3 costly structure —a solid breakwater, in fact, attached to the shore. Accordingly, a clause was inserted in ' The Timaru Harbour Board Act, 1870,' by which any proposal for such a work, instead of being submitted to the scrutiny of the ordinary Government engineers, who were known to be averse to such a structure being erected, should be approved by a Commission appointed by the Q-overnor ; and this legislation was confirmed by 'The Harbours Act, 1878,' which specially provided for such a Commission, although all other harbour works would be dealt with in the ordinary way by the officers of the Government." The Harbour Board did wish to have a harbour, not of some sort, but of a substantial and permanent character; and the aid of the Legislature was sought, not to set aside the plans of Sir John Coode, as proved by the action of the Commission, who took into consideration, along with those of others, the plans of Sir John Coode, and set them aside on account of their great cost, the delay that would ensue from building such a breakwater —as it could not have been utilized until nearly completed—and for the reasons so pointedly brought forward by Mr. Carruthers, that such a breakwater would cause the shingle to bank up inside the harbour; which latter objection was strongly urged by many whose evidence was laken by the Commissioners. The Government of the day, in justice to the requirements of Timaru, did not include in the Commission the ordinary Government engineers, who were '; known to be averse to such a structure being erected." How could the Government do otherwise, unless they had delioerately determined to deprive Timaru of the slightest chance of having any harbour works whatever? Mr. Blackett goes on to slate : "The result is now a matter of history. The Commission was appointed, and plans for a solid breakwater were laid before those composing it. The Commission, composed of gentlemen having no special experience in marine engineering, affecting to ignore or undervalue the importance attached to tho movement and quantity of shingle, so strongly insisted on by engineers, approved of certain plans submitted ; and here is the result —a solid breakwater in course of erection, attended with all the bad results anticipated." The matter of history is that a structure, in spite of great difficulties, has been begun, and is now being successfully carried out, and, instead of being attended with all the bad results anticipated, is already beginning to protect the shore to the north, which protection will extend as the breakwater advances, until tho viaducts at Whale's Creek and lands adjoining will bo more securely protected from the action of the waves than they ever were before the breakwater was begun. In this opinion 1 am supported by Mr. John McGregor, C.E., engineer to theOamaru Harbour Board. Mr. Blackett is wrong in inferring that only plans for a solid breakwater were laid before the Commission: plans of nil kinds, eleven in number, were laid before them. The gentlemen of the Commission, although supposed by Mr. Blackett to have no special experience in marine engineering, were 2— E. 2a.

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