213

ABSTRACT.

5½ miles of Streets .................. £969,897
Metalling do. .................. 56,478
3 Swing Bridges and Locks .................. 30,000

£355,305

The embankment necessary for the street having been formed, the question of filling in the spaces becomes a matter of time; those portions nearest to the harbor can be filled in with the material dredged from the channel, the portions nearer the present town could be filled in from such excavations as are required in forming or lowering existing streets and building allotments. This work I consider might be left to private parties, that is, to those who purchase or lease.

The building sites reclaimed—In some cases the owners or occupiers might not wish the site filled in level with the streets, as for instance when cellars are required under warehouses, &c.

It will be seen, therefore, that the Government will not necessarily be called upon to fill in the whole of the reclaimed area of 137 acres, but merely to provide and deposit the material requisite to form 10,087 lineal yards of embankment, 66 feet wide at the top, or in round numbers 1,472,602 cubic yards, an amount of work which 600 men could easily perform in two years, taking into account every possible contingency.

My knowledge of the value of property in Dunedin is necessarily very limited, but I am given to understand that £7000 per acre is a low price.

54 acres at £7000 = £378,000, or £22,695 in excess of the cost of the formation of Streets, Docks, Wharves, Bridges, Locks, &c.

As a commencement towards the work of reclamation, negotiations were entered into and completed with the proprietors of that part of Dunedin called Church or Bell Hill, in order that the same might be reduced to the level of the surrounding streets, and the material derived therefrom deposited in the Bay.

The site known as Church Hill includes an area of 5 acres 6 roods 16 perches.

From sections I have had made of the site, I find that the quantity of earthwork available for the purposes of reclamation, which can be procured from the Hill, is 338,754 cubic yards.

Borings have been taken of the Hill, the result showing that its main body is composed of a close grained sand, with occasional bands of stone from 1 to 3 feet in thickness. The quantity of stone is much less than I expected. The labor, therefore, of reducing the level of the hill is of the simplest description.

About three weeks ago the Government being beset by numbers of destitute persons, requested me to find some employment for them, and as the material in Church Hill lay in immediate contiguity with the land it was proposed to reclaim, I have placed as many men as possible to the work of excavating on the hill and filling in the Bay. At present there are upwards of 500 men at work. They are not, of course, so advantageously situated as men should be; or in other words, if a Contractor were carrying out the work for a definite sum, he would not employ as many men or conduct the work in the manner in which it is now advanced. Still if destitute persons are to be employed, it is as well to make them earn their living as far as possible, and I cannot at present find so suitable a field for their labor as on Church Hill.

As more room is obtained I intend setting a number of the men to break stones, either into sizes suitable for facing the slopes, or into 2½ inch metal for covering the streets. (a)

I propose also to employ about 100 of the men in cutting a large drain 10 feet wide round the Reserve for Public Recreation. This, however, though a beneficial work will not afford employment for any length of time.

2. ARCHITECTURAL.

The following works were in progress when the Department of Public Buildings was combined with that of the Provincial Engineer. They have since then been carried on under my direction.

High School, Dunedin.

A Contract for the erection of a portion of this building was entered into with Messrs. Currie and Co., on the 26th March last, to complete the work in 4 months for £2138. Drawings have been given for details of the work, and for necessary additions to the roof and portico. The Contract is nearly completed.

North Dunedin School.

A Contract was entered into with Messrs Mirfin and Co., on the 19th March, 1862, to complete the Masons’ work in 2 months, for the sum of £763, and another with M’Ilwain and Croll, on the same date, for the performance of the Carpentry and other works in 3 months.

(a) This has often been urged by the Provincial Government as the only mode of securing a fair return of labour from those who are indisposed to work.