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plan, if, as I have been informed, all the piles have
been driven to a hard or solid bottom.

The entire cost of the work will be about £6000, a
like sum having been expended on former protective
works, all of which have been carried away.

At Hokitika, I observed a great variety of protec-
tive works, some completed, and some in progress;
the wharf itself is protected in front by sheet piling,
about 20 feet long, and is yet standing, while below
it, and above it, wing-dams, or groins, of various
character have been erected, some of which have not
yet been tested by floods.

Breastworks of different kinds have also been
erected, the most successful of which, I was informed,
being made with piles deeply driven in two rows on
different levels, between which a mass of brushwood
has been forced down to the sloping bank of the
river, and this has as yet not been destroyed, nor
from its appearance does it seem likely that it will be.

The amount spent in Hokitika in these works, has
I believe, exceeded £40,000 I examined these river
works with interest, as being likely to exhibit amongst
them some principle which might be favorably adapted
to the Buller. In all, however, are points of weakness,
even in their present situations, and as they stand,
not one of them would resist the action of a single
flood in the Buller, in which river the volume of
water is immeasurably greater than in the Grey or
Hokitika.

The use of the timber also, most of it of a very
perishable nature, will lead in the course of a very
few years to a large outlay for necessary repairs and
maintenance.

On this account I should strongly recommend the
use of stones and rocks in the formation of permanent
protective works wherever practicable.

As a temporary protection of the river bank
against the surf I authorised the erection of a low
breastwork, not exceeding 15 chains in length, and
guaranteed the payment of £3 per chain towards
its cost, on conditions of the work being executed to
a given specification, and to the satisfaction of the
District Engineer.

This will prevent further destruction of the banks,
unless against very high floods, and may last until
something more permanent shall be decided on.

Meanwhile I must point out, in the most forcible
manner, the danger to which a great portion of the
Reserve is liable, and the certainty that a consider-
able amount of further damage must ensue, unless
some work be undertaken to keep the river in check.

It has been suggested that an old barge, or other
vessel of sufficient size might be sunk and filled with
stones, at a convenient place, to act as a groin or
wing-dam. This (were a vessel to be obtained con-
veniently) would be a ready and comparatively cheap
manner of attaining the desired result, if fixed and
laid carefully, and at a proper angle.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,

JOHN BLACKETT,
Provincial Engineer.

P.S.—Since writing the above, I have received a
report as to the character of the spur from which I
proposed and expected to have obtained rock. It is
reported to be gravelly in places, but with no large
boulders; it is composed mainly of very soft sand-
stone, which may easily be broken up by the fingers.

We should, therefore, have to look further for a
supply of rock which might be obtained at the foot of
the main range, at a distance of about 5 or 6 miles.
This would add to my estimate for a tramway, and
make the total, say for 6 miles (instead of 2), £3000
instead of £1000.

Should this tramway be formed, it would be of
the greatest service in supplying goods, &c., to the
diggings beyond the Orowaiti—such as the Caledonian,
Giles' Terraces, &c., and its formation might possibly
lead to a rapid settlement of the bush land, through
which it passed.

JOHN BLACKETT.

The Provincial Secretary, Nelson.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government, Nelson, by CHARLES ELLIOTT, Trafalgar-street,
Nelson, Printer for the time being to the said Government.