98

Fencing Victory Square.—The square has been enclosed with a seven-wire fence, by Messrs. Braithwaite and Morton, contractors for the work; the standards being of iron, and the straining-posts of wood, well and substantially erected.

Two iron wickets and one iron cart-gate have been provided to give access to the square.

The fence, I think, would be improved by the addition, at intervals, of stout wooden posts, to ensure its greater stiffness against the pressure of crowds.

Road to Quarantine Ground and Dip.—This work is now in progress, having been let by contract; it consists principally of forming a roadway over two pieces of swamp; this being done by laying bundles of manuka on the surface, and of throwing on them the material excavated from a large ditch alongside; also of draining the swamp to some extent by cutting a ditch through the hard ground into the adjoining tideway.

It will shortly be completed, but additional work will be required in levelling and forming beyond the point described, and one or two small bridges will be required.

Pelorus Road, Repairs.—A succession of heavy floods has considerably damaged this road in the Maitai Valley, and rendered necessary extensive repairs in several places; many parts of the old road which never before had been reached by any flood, were by this year's floods submerged to a depth of several feet, and torn to pieces. Several old bridges and culverts have been repaired, and one tolerably large bridge at the extremity of the gorge in the North Maitai has been almost entirely renewed; the road generally has been repaired, and cleared of fallen timber, &c., &c.

Stump-felling Machine.—This machine has arrived in Nelson; also a small steam-engine to work it, as well as a horse-power for the same purpose. I had the machine put together in the Depot yard, and tried with ordinary river gravel; a short trial convinced me that no economy would result from its use, and that, could we work it, incessant expense would be incurred to keep it in repair, to such an extent as to baffle the idea of using it. I have therefore had it taken to pieces and stowed away.

The engine, on the other hand, has been most useful, and has been at work almost constantly since the trial, engaged in driving piles, for which purpose I had it specially fitted; it is now at work at the Waimea bridge.

The "horse-power" should, I think, be sold, as we shall not require it; it seems to be a strong serviceable piece of work.

Maintenance of Bridges, &c.—A considerable portion of this vote has been spent in repairing damage done to the embankment beyond the Wairoa bridge, which suffered during one very heavy flood. The stones forming the embankment were not entirely carried away, but those on the top were merely washed a little lower down, the effect being to give a longer slope below the roadway, thus really producing a form of embankment stronger to resist future floods; the crown of the roadway has been made good with other stones carted for the purpose, and what the whole of the lower slope the stones have been properly packed and "feathered," to resist the disturbing action of the water. I do not apprehend any serious damage to this work in future.

The floor of the bridge itself has needed considerable repairs, and has not been attended to as well as I could have desired. I intend to have it thoroughly examined and repaired, and have given orders for this to be done, after which some fresh arrangement may be made by which it shall be well maintained.

Damages to Bridge-street bridge also have been made good, as well as repairs to the floor of that and Collingwood-street bridges; the latter suffered in some of the late floods, by the displacement of some of the frocks, packed around the north pier, for its protection; these are now being replaced by heavier ones.

Botanical Garden Reserve.—Although not the subject of any vote, the reserve has been almost entirely levelled by prison labor; the whole having been first carefully surveyed and level pegs put in for the purpose. Some provision will be required for the effectual drainage of this ground, as a large quantity of water descends from the hills at the back, and becomes ponded for want of an outlet—which could be obtained by cutting a channel from Milton-street along Bridge-street to the Maitai.

This has been the subject of correspondence with the Board of Works, but no decision has yet been arrived at. It is very desirable that some arrangement should be made for this purpose as soon as possible.

Nelson Waterworks.—I have much satisfaction in being able to report that all the plant has arrived from England safely, and that the whole of the cast-iron main piping is now laid from the dam to the town, and in the several streets of the town embraced in the original plan.

This work was completed on the 28th March, having been a few days less than twenty weeks in hand.

The dam also has been completed and appears to be perfectly substantial and secure, having stood the test of several heavy floods.

The reservoir has now been completed for some time, and has been filled with water several times. Some little delay in finishing this was occasioned by a strong spring of water from an adjoining hill, which did not show itself in force until the wet weather had commenced. The means taken to remedy the mischief which this spring was likely to cause to the work have been successful, the spring having been cut through, and the water diverted by a deep drain and culvert.

The full pressure of water from the dam has now been laid on the pipes for some weeks, and, with a few trifling casualties, easily rectified, the works have been placed in a state of completeness and efficiency, as has been proved by repeated trials and inspection. The house services have been laid in several streets, and in a few weeks more they will be all laid, as well as the wharf services for supplying the shipping.

The principal contracts under this head have generally been well and faithfully carried out. Amongst them I may mention that for the dam and retaining wall by Messrs. Bray and Lloyd, who also executed the pipe bridges, and the contract for forming the road up to the reservoir. The reservoir was executed by Mr. John Scott in a very creditable manner. The contractor for the pipe-laying failed to carry through his contract, and this part of the work has been carried out by the Government, principally by day labor; sub-contracts however were let where preferable for trenching, carting, and the necessary mason-work.

Although some work yet remains to be done, such as fencing, &c., and a few other items, the accounts are sufficiently made up to warrant me in congratulating the Province on the fact that the whole expense of the work will be considerably under the estimated sum of £20,000 when fully complete.

As the town has considerably increased in size since the first design for the works was made, it will, without doubt, be necessary to extend the main pipes.