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us to doubt that the accumulation of shingle to the end of the breakwater is merely a question of time, and that unless expedients, which we believe would be very expensive and doubtful in their results, are adopted in the future to get rid of this accumulation, it will eventually overlap the whole of the works. As regards the construction of the north wall now proposed, it will not tend either to increase or retard this accumulation of shingle to the south of the main breakwater, but it will tend to reduce the accumulation (within the harbour itself) of sand, which at present finds its way round the end of the breakwater, and which now gets washed back into the harbour in the absence of any enclosing wall to keep it out. While holding, therefore, that a time will come when these works can only be maintained at a cost which would probably be unwarrantable in view of, probably, reduced railway-tariffs, &c, in the future, we nevertheless think that, as the cost of the works constructed and in hand so far is about £280,000, while the northern mole now required in order to render the existing works much more convenient for shipping will only cost an additional £43,000 or so, it is probably a justifiable expenditure for the Board to undertake this work. Given under our hands and seals at Timaru, this 9th day of April, 1887. (1.5.) 0. Y. O'Connob. (L.s.) A. D. Austin.

Estimate of Cost of proposed North Wall to enclose the Harbour (to accompany Report of Commissioners, dated the 9th April, 1887).

Approved this 9th day of April, 1887, in terms of report of same date hereto attached. C. Y. O'Connob, A. D. Austin, The Commissioners appointed by His Excellency the Governor to examine into and approve or otherwise of proposals for the work above indicated under " The Timaru Harbour Act, 1876." [Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, nil; printing (1,275 copies), £2 Is. 6(1.]

Authority: George Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7,

Description. Item. Quantity. Kate. Amount. lubble (bank-measurement) loadway to end of mole 'lant ... lontingencies, say ... Cub. yards 108,000 7s. £ s. a. 37,800 0 0 500 0 0 1,000 0 0 3,700 0 0 Total 43,000 0 0