at a cost of about 1d. per acre. The size of rural sections is not given; the cost by annexed return will be seen to vary from 1s. 3d. to 2s. 0¼d. per acre.

Regarding the other Provinces of New Zealand I have no reports, either as to style or cost, but with the exception of this Province and Southland, believe them to be conducted on the "spotting system."

J. T. THOMSON,
Chief Surveyor.

ENGINEER’S REPORT,
(WITH NOTES BY PROVINCIAL SECRETARY)

Provincial Engineer’s Department,
Dunedin, 22nd October, 1862.

To His Honor the Superintendent.

SIR,

I HAVE the honor to forward a report of the state of the Department, which has been under my charge since the 1st April, 1862.

The Provincial Engineer’s Department has hitherto consisted of three Branches, viz.:—1, Engineering; 2, Architectural; 3, Road making and maintaining.

1. ENGINEERING.

Previous to the first of April, the Engineering works were proposed and carried out, partly by the Superintendent of Public Buildings, and partly by the Chief Surveyor, and consisted of Jetties, Piers and Bridges.

The Jetties and Piers in course of construction were:—Jetty-street Jetty, Rattray-street Pier, Stuart-street Jetty, Pelichet Bay Jetty, Port Chalmers Jetty, and Waihola Jetty.

Jetty-street Jetty.

The Jetty-street Jetty was contracted for on the 11th January, 1862, by Mr. Henry Hill, for a sum of £4484.

I found that if constructed according to the original contract plans, the structure would not be sufficient for the traffic to which it would be subjected. I have, therefore, introduced additional beams to support the planking, and a large quantity of iron work, in order to secure the superstructure of the piling. The total cost of the work was £5159 16s. 4d., being £675 16s. 4d. in excess of the contract sum—3s. 6d. per square foot. In the original plan it was contemplated that iron tramrails should be used to convey the goods by trucks along the Jetty to the end nearest Princes-street, in a similar manner to that in use on the old Jetty. Being convinced that the Jetty would be of comparatively little use unless horses and drays were permitted to traverse its entire length, I proposed to abandon the tramrails on the Jetty, and by placing an additional layer of red pine planking, render the structure serviceable for horse traffic. This suggestion met the approval of the Government, and a Contract has been entered into (on the 22nd August, 1862) with Messrs. Bullock and Walker, to cover the Jetty with 3-inch red pine for the sum of £1763, or at the rate of 1s. 2¼d. per square foot, including all labor, nails, tar, &c. The Contractors are bound to complete this work on the 9th day of December, under a penalty of £5 per day.

In July last I prepared a plan and estimate of such additions to the Jetty-street Jetty as I considered essential to its proper working, viz.:—

1. Two Landing Stages each 890 feet in length, 18 feet 6 inches in width, raised 2 feet 10 inches above the level of the present Jetty, so that drays backing against the staging might have the goods rolled instead of lifted into them. Upon these stages it was proposed to place four 3-ton travelling cranes, by which means goods might be lifted out of vessels into carts, or deposited upon the landing stage.

2. A passenger platform, 150 feet in length by 125 feet in width, with proper steps.

3. A Deck House, including on the ground floor Ladies’ Waiting Room and Closets, Gentlemen’s Waiting Room, Closets, &c., Jetty-keeper’s room, and Staircase; on the first floor Look-out gallery for Police, &c., Clock and Belfry. On the second floor, Lantern and lamps, with compass points and Vane. My estimate for the foregoing works was as under:—

The Government approved of the suggestion, but thought the extent of work too great to sanction at once. I was authorised, however, to call for Tenders