which point to the plains the road has already been set out by Mr. Whitcombe. A few miles of bushcutting on the north side of Lake Sumner and at the south-east corner of Lake Brunner would open a communication between this line of road and the valleys of the Waiau and the Grey.

22. It is of equal importance to secure a road up the Esk Valley from Lake Pearson, where the present dray track terminates, to the township reserve at the west end of Lake Sumner. A dray track would be sufficient to effect this improvement, and could be formed along this line at a very moderate cost as far as Lake Sumner, from which point a short line cut through the bush on the north side of the lake in the Nelson Province would throw open the upper valley of the Waiau, and open up a communication with the Lyell diggings by way of the Maruia.

23. A third line of road, which deserves careful examination, is that from the Wanaka Lake to Jackson’s Bay over the pass recently explored by Dr. Haast. The connection of Jackson’s Bay with the Otago diggings, is a question of such deep importance to the future interest of the Canterbury Province, that I think it would be desirable at once to cut a horse track through the district for the purpose of assisting future explorations, preparatory to laying out either a dray road or a line of railway, as circumstances may render most desirable.

24. I have made special reference to the three lines of road just described, because it would probably be necessary to make special arrangements for setting them out, and to take distinct votes of the Provincial Council for the purpose, in addition to that for the ordinary road surveys. I would, however, at the same time urge the importance of keeping the last named work well in advance of the land sales as the only means of securing available lines of road at a moderate cost, and of avoiding those extortionate claims for compensation which have become a byword and a reproach in Canterbury.

III.—ESTIMATES FOR NEW WORKS.

25. The work of preparing the Public Works estimates will be greatly simplified for the future if the Provincial Council should sanction the plan of transferring the management of the ordinary road works to local boards; as in this case, it will simply be requisite to place a fixed proportion of the land fund at the disposal of each district, leaving the road boards to arrange the distribution of the grants, and to supplement them by local rates, where necessary.

26. Pending the consideration of this important change in the management of the public works, it is unnecessary for me to make any suggestions with regard to those works which are simply of local importance, and which will probably be executed under local superintendance. There are, however, several important undertakings to which the attention of the public has been directed for some time past, and the execution of which cannot be long delayed without injury to the interests of the Province. They may be summed up as follows:—

Harbour improvements.

Improvement of the Heathcote navigation.

Extension of Telegraphic communication.

Bridges over the Large Rivers.

I propose to offer a few remarks on each of these subjects.

27. Year by year the trade of the Port has been rapidly increasing, without any addition being made to the wharfage, until the deficiency of wharf accommodation has become a most serious evil.

28. The simplest way of relieving the present pressure is at once to add a length of 50 yards to the present jetty, making it 30 feet wide from end to end, and dredging out a berth on each side for large steamers. The sum of ten thousand pounds would be sufficient to effect this improvement, and to provide rails, trucks, steam crane, mooring buoys, and everything requisite for working the jetty efficiently.

29. In the next place I would urge the importance of running out a jetty 300 yards long on the line of the railway tunnel, as proposed in my report of last year, and would recommend that this work should be put in hand at a sufficiently early date for it to be completed simultaneously with the opening of the railway into Lyttelton.

30. I consider this jetty to be essential to the proper working of the railway, and that it cannot be dispensed with. Whether accommodation shall be given for vessels drawing more than 12 feet by the extension of the proposed jetty into deep water, by an extensive system of dredging, or by building a pier at Officer’s Point, is a further question, which, considering the heavy cost of each of the plans suggested, requires the most careful consideration on the part of the Government. Meanwhile it is desirable to procure a steam dredging machine, as this is certain to be required whatever plan may be adopted.

31. I would also recommend employing the prison gangs to blast away the cliff at Officers’ Point, running out the rock to form a breakwater on the line recommended by the Commission for the new pier. Every yard of breakwater thus formed will increase the shelter afforded by Officers’ Point to vessels lying at the jetties, whilst the cost of the work, if done by prison labour, will be trifling in comparison with the result to be obtained.

32. The river trade has increased greatly during the last twelve months, and many of the vessels employed are of large tonnage. It is therefore very desirable to remove the shoals on the flats, which at present are a serious cause of delay. There are also several rocky points between the old and new ferries, which are dangerous to vessels and should be removed. I would recommend appropriating a sum of £3,000 for the purpose of removing the shoals and easing the sharp bends in the channel between Sumner and the Railway Wharf.

33. As I have explained my views with regard to the Rakaia and Hurunui bridges in my last annual report, I have here only again to urge the importance of these works.

34. I would call your attention to the advantage to be derived by running a telegraph wire to the West Coast at the mouth of the Grey, in connexion with a line to be promoted by the Nelson Government from Nelson to the same point, by way of the Buller diggings. The opening of this line would be a valuable step towards the settlement of the West Coast, and the through messages to Nelson would probably pay the working expenses.