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will exercise his authority, are matters well understood by the profession and contractors generally, to the effect that they shall not be enforced to the prejudice of the contractor, unless the nature of the work should require it; they are meant to cover unforeseen contingencies, and are always liberally interpreted.

With respect to the works generally, I desire to add that they have been carried on by the contractor with energy, good faith, and judgment, and I think his efforts should be met by support and encouragement on the part of the Government.

On commencing the work it was well understood from the Government, by the engineers, that the works were, if practicable, to be completed by the 22nd of June, it was not therefore considered necessary to submit the deviation from the contract, made with that object, for any further approval of the Government.

Invercargill, 26th March, 1864.

Sir,—Having been appointed by His Honor the Superintendent to enquire into the particulars of alleged deviations from the specification in contract No. 1, of the Bluff Harbour and Invercargill Railway, and having taken certain evidence therein, we intend to inspect the line on Monday next. We shall feel obliged to you if you could make it convenient to accompany us, as there are some points on which we require professional assistance, and we believe that we can apply in no better quarter, whether we regard your extensive experience, or the fact that being the designer of the line, you are somewhat individually interested in the proper conduct of the works.

At the same time, we beg to hand you copies of the evidence taken, which will inform you of the points on which we are desirous that you should report.

We have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servants,

Alfred Sheath.
J. Newton Watt.
Theophilus Heale, Esq.,
&c., &c., &c.,
Invercargill.

Mr. Heale’s Report.
Survey Office, Invercargill,
31st March, 1864.

In the rapid examination which I made, in company with yourselves, of that portion of the Bluff Harbour and Invercargill Railway, which lies between the Green Hills and Invercargill, my attention was especially directed to the following points—

1st. The soundness of the embankments.

2nd. The stability of the sides of cuttings, and their efficient drainage.

3rd. Spoil banks, and the question whether they injure the work.

4th. The construction of bridges and culverts.

5th. The timber facing of embankments reached by the tide.

6th. The fencing.

I also looked, but cursorily only, to the construction of the highway by the side of the railway across the Mokomoko Flat.

The first point was that over which, at the time of issuing the railway contracts, the greatest risk appeared to impend. The great peat swamp extending from Green Hills to the terraces near West’s, was so wet and unsound that it was quite impossible to carry the surveys over it, until several outfall-drains had been cut; and even after this had been done many months, and down to the time at which the contracts were made, the surface was still so tremulous that no satisfactory levels could be taken over about two miles of the line.

In order to obtain sound embankments over this quaking bog, great precautions were taken in drawing up the specification. It was provided that all the drains should be first cut and completed within three months after the acceptance of the tender, so as to complete the desiccation of the ground, before commencing the embankments; fascines were to be laid wherever required, and no sludgy matter was to be placed in that condition in the embankments.

The result of these precautions, especially of the first, has been, that both the embankments and their seating are now in the best possible conditions, not the slightest bulging or spreading of any embankment having shown itself; and the subsidence having been everywhere moderate and uniform. The excellent and early drainage has in fact completely altered the character of the ground for some distance on either side of the line. The upper three feet of peat, formerly more sludge, has now shrunk down into a tough fibrous mass, which has in most cases rendered unnecessary the use of fascines (which would, if used, have been a large additional expense); and the material from the side of the ditches is the very best which, on such a foundation, could be used for forming the lower part of the shallow embankments. It is almost impossible that sludge could have been used.