D.-^l.

Harboubs. Westport Harbour.— -Entrance and bar: Conditions generally at the entrance have not been altogether satisfactory, and in spite of continual dredging difficulty has been experienced in maintaining at all times an adequate depth of water for the class of vessels now trading here. As mentioned in my previous report, the only satisfactory method of dealing with these conditions is to extend the training-walls. Work on these lines was proceeded with during the year, but unfortunately the financial conditions of the harbour, due to the reduction in the export of coal, has been such as to necessitate a temporary cessation of the breakwater-construction. The suction dredger " Eileen Ward " has been kept constantly employed on the bar, and has removed a total of 571,885 yards during the period. Lower River : The average working-depth of the river over the period was 24 ft. 3 in., which is a slight reduction over last year's average. The dredger " Maui " was occupied part of her time in this portion of the harbour, principally in the floating-basin and in the vicinity of the Cattle Wharf, and in this area she removed 14,475 cubic yards. Berthage area : With the exception of the work at the Cattle Wharf, the bucket dredger " Maui " has been engaged solely in deepening the berths and improving the river fairway opposite the wharves, and depths generally have been maintained, total yardage shifted by the bucket dredger for the year being 97,570 cubic yards. Eastern Breakwater extension : Prior to the commencement of the work on the Western Breakwater, 604 tons of first-class stone was tipped with a view to consolidating the postion there. Western Breakwater : A definite start was made with the extension of this breakwater, the timber staging being driven and the depositing of stone commenced in July. Considerable difficulty was experienced with heavy weather the first few days while the staging was being erected, and two bays were carried away. 130 ft. of staging has been erected and 22,397 tons of stone have been tipped. This work has, however, now been discontinued, owing to decreased output of coal and consequent shortage, of funds. Quarry : The quarry has been worked regularly throughout the year ; the quality of the stone is good, and it is estimated that there is ample good stone in the vicinity of the present workings to complete the proposed breakwater extensions of 300 ft. A considerable amount of waste material has to be shifted in order to procure the suitable large stone, and this has considerably hampered the output generally. Prior to the suspension of work it had been proposed to procure a small steamshovel to facilitate the loading and disposal of this waste material, and to clean up the quarry-floor generally. This should be one of the first matters to be attended to when work is recommenced, and a new 10-ton crane will have to be purchased or the existing 10-ton machine very thoroughly overhauled. The total output for the year has been 38,980 tons, but this included approximately 16,000 tons of third-class stone, which has been used on the extension of the wall at Organ's Island and the groyne at McPadden's. River-protective works : The training-wall at Organ's Island which was built last year has been extended for about 3 chains, and, although there have been comparatively few floods, the present effect indicates that the river should considerably straighten its course through the shingle-bank between it and Roselli's. The willow plantations near Hannah's are now becoming well established, and where any damage has been caused it has been reinstated. The river-banks where protected with willows resisted the January flood well. Surplus stone from the qxiarry which was not suitable for breakwater-construction has been tipped at McPadden's in continuation of the protective groyne there. Plant: The plant generally has been fully maintained. The suction dredger " Eileen Ward' and the bucket dredger " Maui " have been constantly in use, and wherever possible all necessary repairs and renewals have been carried out when dredging-conditions were unsuitable, in order to keep them thoroughly efficient. The suction dredger " Rubi Seddon " has not worked during the period, but the necessary attention has been given to this vessel in the nature of chipping, tarring, and painting, and the engines are periodically turned over. The tug " Mana" and the launch " Kaiuruanga " have both been slipped, and are in first-class order. The workshops have been kept .busy repairing and maintaining the dredgers, locomotives, trains, &c. ; and signal-station buildings, beacons, lights, &c., are in good order. Karamea Harbour. —Fairway and entrance : During the year the shoaling in the fairway has .been accentuated. An enormous quantity of sand, silt, and general detritus has been brought down jfco.the lower reaches by successive floods in the Karamea River, and a very considerable deposition has occurred in the slacker waters through the coastal plain. The last investigation of the upper reaches of the river, in January, confirmed the extensive rending and disturbance of the hills and mountains ..by the earthquake in nearly all parts of the watershed, and revealed the fact that only a comparatively small quantity of the disintegrated rock-material had reached the tidal area. The transportation of detritus, associated with deposition in the lower reaches and harbour area, can be confidently assumed for many years to come, and under these circumstances any marked immediate improvement in the harbour entrance and fairway with works in hand or proposed can hardly be anticipated, though the influence of such works in relation to the river-flow is an important factor. At the beginning of the period under review it was possible to work the port only at spring tides and with favourable sea conditions. A slight improvement to the channel at the wharf occurred in October, but further floods practically closed the port to shipping as from November, 1930. The last serious floods, which occurred at Easter (3rd April, 1931), caused further extensive deposition and the formation of shoals between the Otumahana and the training-wall, and resulted in a considerably increased flow (approximately 70 per cent, of the river) down the Otumahana Channel. Steps were immediately taken with regard to a proposal for improving the flow over the Karamea bar by

48