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rather more than a mile from its mouth, and the least water I obtained was 3½ to 4 feet at dead low water, while at the same time of tide I found from 15 to 18 feet both at the entrance and abreast the Government coal wharf.

I have placed a buoy, painted red, on the only dangerous snag lying in the fairway, abreast the Maori pah, and I have appointed Mr. Jas. Stalker to be signal man, subject to the approval of His Honor the Superintendent.

I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of the instructions I gave to him.

Before leaving the Grey I assisted Mr. Revell in enclosing Messrs. Whitcombe and Townsend’s graves with the railings forwarded by the Government for that purpose. Having completed my instructions, I proceeded by land to the Teremakau, both for the purpose of examining the entrance of that river, as well as enabling me to report more fully on the suitability of the coast line between the Grey and Hokitika for surf boat communication.

This river which is situated ten miles to the southward of the Grey, empties itself into the sea at the present time by two channels, the one running northwards, which is nearly dry at low water, and the other in a S.W. direction, in which I found five to six feet.

The entrance is not so confined as that of the Grey, nor yet is it equal to the Hokitika, but small vessels drawing from four to five feet water could cross its bar without incurring a greater risk than they would at either of the other rivers; the only obstacle to the navigation of this river is a dangerous snag on the northern side of the S.W. channel, in the break on the bar which I think it is possible to remove without very much difficulty. It is high water, full and change at nine hours fifty-five minutes, mean rise and fall, nine feet.

I have carefully studied the coast line from the Grey to the Hokitika, and I have examined the proposed boat landing, situated about one and a half miles to the northward of the River Arahura, and I am of opinion that though the place indicated is without a doubt the best adapted for the boat communication, yet I cannot recommend the establishment of a surf boat service; I believe it would entail great loss of life and property, and in the end prove a signal failure.

The objections against this means of communication are as follows:—

1. The irregularity of the line of surf, and the great distance the broken water extends to seaward.

2. The non-consistency of the shingle outside of the break, which renders it incapable of holding any surf moorings.

3. The highest rollers break outside in from one and a half to two fathoms water, a long distance from the beach, and nearly always present such a volume of water as to preclude the possibility of hauling any boat through it to gain an offing.

It is my belief that a boulder bank exists extending the whole distance from the Grey to the Hokitika, running parallel with the beach, at a distance of from five to six hundred yards to sea-ward; that it is on this the heaviest of the break takes place; through this the freshes down the rivers burst; forming the channels over the bars, and I cannot help thinking that this portion of the coast is extending to the westward, being gradually formed by the sea through a series of lagoons. The whole coast immediately above the high water mark tends to confirm this opinion, not less so the low water line to the north of the Arahura where the sea has nearly completed its work in forming a new lagoon.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) Fred. D. Gibson,
Port Officer.

G. S. Sale, Esq.,
Commissioner, Hokitika.

Hokitika, May 9, 1865.

SIR,—

I have the honor to submit to you my report on the coast between the Hokitika and Mahitahi rivers, which I have visited in company with Mr. John Rochfort for the purpose of examining from seaward the bars of the various rivers, with a view of finding another port.

On Saturday evening the “Bruce,” under command of Captain Malcolm, shaped a course at dusk, and proceeded under easy steam for Okarita. The wind was south-west with drizzling rain and a long rolling swell, (Barometer 29°).

At daylight on Sunday 7th, finding ourselves off the Waiau, or five miles to the south of the Okarita we steamed back to it. The weather on our arrival there was very