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conclusion I have to express my regret that the Harbour Commissioners have not thought pro-
per to respond to—or indeed to notice—my desire to co-operate with them in obtaining a report of the Harbour works; I trust, however, that they will entertain the request contained in my separate letter of this date.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. LOGAN CAMPBELL,
Superintendent.

To the Chairman of the
Harbour Committee.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, Decr. 4th, 1855.

Sir,

Having been informed that Sir William Denison, the present Governor of Sydney, who is esteemed an Engineer of high repute, has intimated his willingness to inspect and report generally on the plan of any great Colonial work submitted to him, and being given to understand that he has had great experience at home in the construction of Harbour works; I have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to procure his opinion on the proposed Auckland Harbour Works. I have therefore to request that the Harbour Commissioners will sanction their Engineer making a copy of the plan of the works now in course of construction, or intended to be carried out, a copy of any survey of the harbour which may have been made in connection with the proposed works, and generally, of all such documentary information at the disposal of the Commissioners as may bear on the subject.

I have also to request that the Engineer may be permitted to report upon Freemans Bay, Official and Mechanics Bay, affording as near an approximation as possible (without going into any detailed and lengthened survey) of the distances from high to low water mark—distance from that to the deep water channel, with intermediate soundings—distance between the headlands—height of these and amount of material, which they contain which could be made available for the purpose of filling in, and showing the positions of the various roads leading to, or abutting upon the harbour.

Information on all these points will be indispensable, as the time is not far distant, when the rapidly increasing coasting fleet that frequents this port will require to be provided with more accommodation than Commercial Bay can afford.

It would also be advisable that the Engineer should furnish a report on the nature of the harbour of Auckland, as the other information, which it is proposed to forward, in order to obtain an opinion as to the description of works best suited to the local peculiarities of the harbour, would be incomplete, unaccompanied by such remarks.

I may state my intention of sending to England a duplicate of such documents, should the Provincial Government vote a sum, that will be placed on the Estimate, for the purpose of being offered at home, as a bonus for the best projected plan of Harbour Works, or for the purpose of obtaining an opinion thereon from the best authority in such matters. For it is evident, that the sooner the Harbour Commissioners are enabled to correct any errors which have been, or may be, meanwhile committed, the greater will be the pecuniary saving to the Province.

I shall instruct the members of the Acting Board of Works to assist and co-operate with your Engineer, should he desire their assistance.

I have, &c.,
J. LOGAN CAMPBELL,
Superintendent.

The Chairman,
Harbour Committee.

Harbour Committee Office,
December 21, 1855.

Sir,

I am directed by the Harbour Committee to forward to your Honor a Resolution (No. 1) passed this day, in relation to your Honor’s letter (Dec. 4th, No. 50), and your Honor will please notice that the plans of Harbour Works for Commercial Bay, and any other plans relative thereto which have been submitted, to the Committee are directed to be placed at your Honor’s disposal.

Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM POWDITCH,
Chairman.

His Honor,
The Superintendent.

RESOLUTION NO. 1.

That, with reference to the communication of his Honor the Superintendent, dated the 4th instant, intimating his intention of procuring the opinion of Sir William Denison, respecting the present plan of Harbour Works, and at the same time of offering a bonus for new plans from England,—and with that view requesting the Committee to furnish his Honor with a copy of their Engineer’s plan of works already prepared and adopted, as well as with further surveys and soundings of the Harbour,—the Committee desire to assure his Honor that it will always be their wish, whenever it appears to them, that occasion may require, to avail themselves of whatever suggestions or assistance his Honor the Superintendent of the Province may be pleased to afford, and which in the opinion of the Committee may have a tendency to aid them to a better regulation of the Harbour, and of affording a greater extent of accommodation for vessels frequenting the Port of Auckland. The Harbour Committee would, however, at the same time most respectfully invite the attention of his Honor to the “Auckland Harbour Act,” which vests the power of undertaking and carrying on all Harbour works in the hands of Commissioners, with the Committee elected by whom it remains, in exercise of their duties, to determine whether it would be of advantage to the interests of the trade and shipping of Auckland to seek the advice of strangers, ignorant of the topographical and local features of the Port, and therefore, from the want of this necessary local knowledge...