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ranges to the township or townships, which are
rapidly extending southwards. The ground about
here is so soft and boggy, and the necessity for an
extension so obvious, that I quite agreed
with Mr. Kynnersley's proposal to still further extend
it for about 30 chains, at a cost probably of about
£125; this will reach nearly the furthest portion of the
township—which is almost surrounded with
diggings, mostly sinking 20 to 30 feet deep, to the
black sand in which the gold is deposited—the
amount of labor here bestowed on tail-races, dams,
and well slabbed shafts, as well as wooden tramways
for the conveyance of timber, attest the confidence of
the miners as to the result of their enterprise—
in every probability this will be an extensive and
permanent diggings, from the character and area of
the ground all supposed to be auriferous.

My attention was drawn to the fact that the new
Court-house now in course of erection at Westport,
would not be suited to the requirements of a District
Court, and that new offices would be required when
the Court was established. On due consideration I
decided that such additions could be much more
economically and conveniently made now than after-
wards, and therefore drew up a specification of the
extra rooms, &c., required, and procured a tender
from the present contractor, for the work, this
amounted to £378, which, however, I considered too
much, and the amount was ultimately reduced to
£360, the additions being carried forward simulta-
neously with the original buildings.

A request was made by the Custom-house authorities,
that an examination-shed be erected in close proxi-
mity to the new wharf Westport. The consideration
of this, however, I deferred till my return in order
that it might be sanctioned or otherwise by His
Honor the Superintendent. Probable cost £150 to
£200. The increase of trade at Westport would
point to the necessity of a larger Custom House
being erected. Mr. Kynnersley, as I believe written
to the Superintendent on the subject; and, I believe
the building will be required very shortly, should the
place progress as it now appears to be doing. The
cost of this will probably be about £400.

It will, I think, also be necessary to consider the
question of Gaol accommodation at Westport—the
present Lock-up with only two cells, has sometimes
as many as 17 prisoners—and the new Lock-up with
four cells, now being built, will not admit of any
separation of prisoners, male from female, or criminal
from debtors.

It is true that we may relieve this to a certain
extent by sending a portion of the prisoners to Nelson
Gaol—which may serve the purpose for a time—but
I feel almost sure that further outlay will be required
in connection with this subject before long—say to
the extent of £500.

Wharf.

A further increase of shipping will also certainly
demand a block of wharf, and further accommodation
before long. This, however, I think, may be accom-
plished gradually, and at a comparatively moderate
cost by building detached jetties, instead of a con-
tinuous structure. As the present wharf approaches
completion, I should advise that tenders be called for
the its occupation, as is now done with the Nelson
wharf.

Many of the streets in Westport, partly in the
township, and partly in the reserve, have been for
a portion of their length well formed, gravelled,
drained, and also provided with footpaths; the for-
mer at the expense of the Government, the latter at
expense of the inhabitants—Some of this work is yet
in hand, and from the nature of the ground is very
costly—the contracts, will, however, very shortly be
completed.

Hospital Accommodation.

There is no doubt that this will shortly have to be
provided for, on an increased scale; the present
building (old Government store) not being adapted
for the purpose. The question of the maintenance
of the road between Westport and Cobden was
brought under my notice, with a proposal that the
road should be let out to contractors in lengths to be
kept in a good and efficient state.

On the ground, however, that the road, being new
and generally well made, would stand a considerable
amount of traffic without any repairs worth speaking
of, and that we should require an overseer to look
after the contractors and keep them to their duty,
and also, that we should be incurring a large and
possibly useless expenditure by entering into these
contracts—I decided that the wisest course would be
to attend to the assets as they were needed with our
present staff—and, therefore, directed that the sub-
overseer now stationed at Brighton, should overlook
the whole of the road from Charleston to
Razor-Back; employing hands only when required,
and that the overseer of works should attend to all the
roads in the vicinity of the Grey in the same way—
as well as exercise the general supervision of the
whole.

CHARLESTON.

A deputation waited on Mr. Kynnersley here,
requesting that he would immediately commence the
construction of a good packing-track to Waite's
Pakihi, some eight or ten miles, in order that the
inhabitants might partake of the benefit of supplying
these diggings as well as Westport. The deputation
was assured by Mr. Kynnersley and by myself, that the
making of this road was totally out of the question,
and that it was not needed in any way.

The Hospital at Charleston is just about finished,
and will soon be ready for the reception of patients.

BRIGHTON.

A deputation waited on Mr. Kynnersley at this
place also, urging several subjects on his notice, and
requesting that sundry works be undertaken at once
Amongst these was a dray road to Woodpecker Bay
(already described); a road to some new diggings,
near Jacob's Ladder; the conversion of the horse
road to Charleston into a dray road; and the con-
struction of a proper horse road up the branch of
Fox's river, instead of the river-bed road now in
use (described before). To the first only of these
demands was an assent given, and the work was put
in hand forthwith.

Brighton Hospital is now completed, and only
requires the internal fittings to make it serviceable.

COBDEN AND THE GREY.

I instructed Mr. Dent, the overseer of works
to proceed at once to the aura for the purpose
of marking out a line for the road through the Fifteen-
mile beach, and, to take with him a foreman who
should superintend the execution of the work which
should be let out in contracts of moderate length.
I also authorised him to repair effectually the horse-
track up the Grey between the Coal-mine and Arnold
Ferry.

I find it difficult to give an estimate of the cost of
the work through the Fifteen-mile bush. The felling
and clearing may probably cost £600, while the cost
of gravelling will depend on the facilities which exist
for obtaining the necessary material, and of which
I have at present no knowledge. The repairs on the
road above the Coal-mine may probably cost about
£50.