79

pletion of the painting the roof will require a
thorough re-examination, as in many places the slates
are loose and damaged.

Court-house.—The accommodation afforded by
the Court-house and the offices attached to it, is
found to be quite inadequate, particularly as respects
the latter, and it has been proposed in order to ob-
tain more accommodation to remove the cells of the
Gaol to and devote the room thus gained to the
formation of additional offices; also to build a new
Police Station on a portion of the Reserve at the old
Depot: say the N.W. angle, in close proximity to
the Court-house. This proposal, I think, merits a
careful consideration. The office-keeper's house,
store-room, fodder-room, fuel-shed, and stable, for
which money was voted last year, have been com-
pleted, and are now in occupation and use. A por-
tion of the Old Depot Reserve has been fenced off
by a boarded fence six feet high, and the old kitchen
altered and converted into a store-room and work-
shop. This, besides being useful as a general store for
tools, &c., will be useful for the reception of the
Waterworks plant, part of which has been deposited
there.

Gaol.—The proposed addition to Nelson gaol (a
vote for which was passed in the last short session of
Council) has been contracted for, and the work will be
proceeded with at once. It has long been found to
be necessary, and will be the means of securing better
discipline amongst the inmates, and better conve-
nience generally to the gaolers and wardens. The addi-
tion consists of a turnkey's room, kitchen, two dark
cells, and women's day room on the ground floor, and
seven cells on the upper floor, three of which for women
will be connected only with the women's room.

Wharf.—I have been unable to carry out the im-
provements in connection with the wharf which were
proposed, consisting of an extension of the platform
for the storage of goods, &c. Being desirous of in-
troducing some better and more durable kind of wood
for the construction of such works, I ordered a quan-
tity of blue gum from Tasmania, a portion of which
only has arrived, viz., the piles; the rest of the timber
has not yet come to hand, but is expected in a short
time. I have carefully examined the wharf at low
water, and find that many of the piles have suffered
much from the attacks of marine worms and other
causes, so much so, as to necessitate some repairs
being carried out. I propose that these repairs shall
consist simply of the driving of additional new piles
in place of or alongside of those most decayed, and
bolting them securely to the top-plates, &c., without
interfering with the cross-ties and the bracing, much
of which is very much worm-eaten. The renewal of
this latter would involve too much expense, and I think
that the additional new piles will make the wharf
yet last many years longer. Soundings and measure-
ments were taken of that portion of the harbor be-
tween the Albion Wharf and Akertons Wharf, with
the view of letting the whole of the frontage (reserv-
ing enough for a boat-landing) in one piece, in order
that another large deep water wharf might be
erected. After a careful examination, however, of
the ground, the facilities afforded by the place were
not found to be such as to induce anyone to take a
lease of the ground under the usual conditions—
mainly owing to the presence of the buoy-rock, the
want of sufficient room with deep water.

New Hospital.—I have much pleasure in reporting
that the plans for this work have been matured and
completed; that one contract for a considerable por-
tion of the works in connection with the foundations
has been executed; and that another contract for the
erection of the building has been entered into—the
building to be completed in twelvemonths. The

contract does not include internal fittings, or furni-
ture, or the laying out and ornamentation of the
grounds and walks.

Lunatic Asylum and Buildings for the Poor.—It
has been found necessary to make some small addi-
tions and alterations to these buildings to increase
their efficiency, which it will not be necessary to
describe in detail. Some further alterations, I believe,
will also be required of small extent.

Swimming Bath.—A portion of the eel-pond has
been cleared out, and devoted to the forming of a
swimming bath. The general plan of this was fur-
nished by Mr Barraclough, subject to my approval,
and care was taken to have all the woodwork strong
and of a durable character, with the view of main-
taining at a small cost so very useful an institution.

Bridges over the Maitai.—Of these, Bridge-street
bridge was damaged at the western approach during
a heavy flood which carried away a portion of it.
This has been replaced with an addition, and the
bridge is longer than before, giving more waterway.
I trust that the new work will withstand the effect of
future floods. Collingwood bridge has been
thoroughly outlanded. A few pieces added to the
trusses to stiffen them rendered necessary by the
shrinking of the timbers, and the whole well
screwed up. Hardy-street bridge has needed very
little more than a few stakes driven in the bank at
the west end, to arrest the scouring action which had
commenced to destroy the bank. Much inconveni-
ence is said to be felt by the public from the want of
Nile-street bridge which has not been restored since
its partial destruction by a flood.

Post Office.—The roof of the post-office has been
altered by the removal of the large sky-lights, which
were always leaky, and the alteration has been effec-
tual in making the roof tight. Some smaller alterations
were also made inside, for the purpose of the better
establishment of the telegraph department in the
same building.

Boat Landing.—The boat-landing has been erec-
ted on a piece of land reserved for the purpose below
the Albion Wharf. Caro has been taken to build it
in a substantial manner, and as durable as possible.
It has been found necessary to extend the lower end
of it beyond the original design, as occasionally during
very low spring tides a long reach of flat muddy
bottom is laid dry. In connection with this work
100 feet of road has been made good to its full width
of one chain, and well gravelled, being a great im-
provement to this part of the Haven road.

Pelorus Road.—This road has been repaired and
improved during the past year, the Heringa-bridge
also, the floor of which was beginning to decay has
been looked to, and again made safe for travellers.
The dray road at the Nelson end has been extended
further up the Maitai, so as to reach the bush, thus
affording another source for supplying the town with
firewood, &c. The whole length of the road from
Nelson to the Heringa has also been cleared of all
trees that could in any way injure the telegraph wires
by falling upon them.

Nelson Waterworks.—Two vessels, the Fairy
which have arrived in Nelson, each
containing a portion of the plant for the Waterworks;
the remainder is expected in the Donna Anita and
the Vesta. That portion which has come to hand
has arrived in good order and with very little break-
age. Messrs Ransome and Sims have been very
prompt in executing this order, which was sent to
them in May, 1866, and the two first shipments
arrived here in March, 1867. Until the arrival of
the Donna Anita the laying down of the pipes cannot
be commenced. I have, however, commenced such
other works connected with the Waterworks as can at