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had if required, hereafter, and I know it is impossible to get one near the course followed by the Natives at present. At Te Harato the made road descends rapidly towards the Mohaka, which it crosses, and winds up the hill to Titiokura, continuing through the bush to Messrs. Towgood & Campbell's Station. While freely admitting that the works executed by the natives have been of advantage to persons obliged to travel to Taupo or Auckland overland, yet if even less labour was bestowed in making a track round, instead of over, these hills, and with some regard to gradients, a tolerable good one could be formed; and in future I do not think any assistance should be afforded unless the works carried on were laid out by some European conversant with such matters, and executed under his direction. And as I believe that the natives are at beginning additional works very shortly in the hope of being paid wages when completed, it would be only fair to inform the chiefs Nikora, Henere, Kipa, and Kingita, that they cannot be paid for such works unless carried on under the direction of some proper person appointed by the Government.

From Messrs. Towgood & Campbell's I travelled over Mr. Marshall's track through that gentleman's and Messrs. Blair & Munro's runs. As a pack road it may be useful when the water in the Petane river is high, but it is very circuitous, without the advantage of a good level—a great objection to any kind of dray road. An additional objection is the heavy and expensive fillings and side cuttings along a great part of this line. Perhaps the cheapest method of making a road for draying down the wool from these stations would be by bridging a small creek near Messrs. Towgood and Campbell's; improving part of the way under Mr. Marshall's path, across the Waku; and making a sideling from the Petane river to the high ground along a creek tributary to this river. This side cutting would be about 12 chains long, and, for a 12 foot road, cost £4 per chain. The rest of the way would be down the river to the Mangokopikopo, from whence but little would be necessary for the rest of the way to Petane. These works, including some of the crossings in the river, should be done for £85 or £90, and, if either of the runholders interested would undertake the work, I would recommend the latter sum to be placed at their disposal for that purpose. They could readily obtain sufficient native laborers for the purpose.

I have the honor to,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
THOMAS GILL,
Provincial Engineer.

To His Honor
The Superintendent,
Napier.

Superintendent's Office,
Dec. 27, 1859.

THE Superintendent has directed the publication of the following correspondence with C. D. R. Ward Esq., Barrister at Law, Wellington, on the subject of the proposed harbour improvements at Port Napier, to be published for general information.

G. T. FANNIN,
Superintendent's Clerk.

Superintendent's Office,
Napier, Dec. 8, 1859.

SIR,—I would be much obliged if you would give me your professional opinion as to the best course to be pursued under the following circumstances:—

It is in contemplation to effect very considerable improvements in the harbour of Port Napier; amongst which it is proposed to fill up and reclaim some very shallow mud flats in front of Town Sections 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 498, 499, 500, 512, and all round that part of the town known as Gough Island, the depth of water at high water not being in general more than from 1 to 2 feet, though in some cases not more than 6 inches. In the original plan of the Town, from which I send a tracing, you will see that the sections above mentioned and those on Gough Island have been marked as having water frontage, even though it is of the character before stated, and of course almost useless. Nevertheless, as some persons might object to its being taken away from them in order to extort compensation from the Government, I should be glad to have your opinion as to the best course to adopt, and whether, under the 2nd clause of the Public Reserves Act of 1854, we could be prevented from filling up the