59 TARANAKI GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

nation of the locality having induced us to believe that the facilities offered by the island for procuring material, and the great natural protection afforded by it in breaking the worst sea, might be turned to profitable account in the design of the works; and, indeed, this would have been at once dismissed had not the soundings proved that the area already partially sheltered by Moturoa is much shallower than we had believed it to be, so that nothing short of works so extensive as would more than counterbalance the apparent advantages of this site would shelter a reasonable area of water of sufficient depth.

Bearing in mind, therefore, the comparatively limited expenditure to which we are restricted by the circumstances of the case, we have been compelled, after careful consideration, to abandon this site for one where a better result can be obtained for the sum proposed to be expended.

The reasons which have led us to reject the Moturoa site are as follows:—

We are of opinion that no expenditure there which should fall short of closing the entrance between Mikotahi and Moturoa, would be of any real use, and that the outlay necessary for this purpose would be far too great when compared with the result obtained. For this work we should not feel justified in recommending the construction of a Breakwater of less strength than either of the alternative designs shown on the drawing sheet No. 2, figures 1 and 2; and either of them with a railway and other appliances rendered necessary by the distance of the Harbour from the Town, we believe would cost, at least, from One Hundred and Fifty to Two Hundred Thousand Pounds (£150,000 to £200,000). This alone, when completed, could only be used as a pier in fine weather, and then only for vessels of comparatively light draught.

To completely enclose this Harbour, a mole projected in an easterly direction from Moturoa, and curving to south-east would have to be constructed in an average depth of from forty to forty-five (40 to 45) feet of water, for a length of, say, eight hundred (800) yards. This we estimate would cost from Four Hundred to Five Hundred Thousand Pounds (£400,000 to £500,000). To these two amounts has to be added the cost of the eastern mole projected from the mainland in a northerly direction, which, with sundry other items of expense, would bring the total amount up to at least three-quarters of a million sterling (£750,000).

There are other considerations, irrespective of cost, affecting the merits of the Harbour when constructed; as, for instance, the comparatively small area of deep water which could be enclosed even at this large expenditure; but in view of the facts here adduced, we deem it unnecessary to enter into further details of this project, and conceive that it may be at once dismissed as impracticable.

After a close investigation we have decided to recommend the adoption of a site opposite to the Town of New Plymouth as the one best suited to all the requirements of the case. By adopting this site we avoid the necessity for constructing a railway; its proximity to the town will be convenient for the transaction of business, while at the same time diminishing the cost of carriage of goods, and we believe the whole cost of a good Harbour on this site may be kept within the limits of Three Hundred Thousand Pounds (£300,000).

On referring to the plan, sheet No. 1, your Honor will see the general outline of the Harbour which we propose to construct on the town site, and also, for the sake of comparison, the outline design on which our estimates for a Harbour at Moturoa were based.

The main objections to the town site are twofold:—

1st. The bottom there is much more rocky and irregular than near Moturoa, at which place there is a coating of greater or less thickness of sand, mud, and clay overlying the rocks.

2nd. The entrance will be more leeward in westerly gales.

The disadvantages arising from the more rocky nature of the bottom are not of sufficient importance to affect our preference for the town site. We need scarcely point out that this formation will necessitate constant modifications during construction of the designs accompanying this report; these it would be impossible for us to provide for in detail with our present information, but such modifications are only usual during the execution of similar works, and the designs we furnish may be accepted as a fair approximation to those which we consider should be adopted, and are, in our opinion, amply sufficient for the general guidance of any competent engineer who may hereafter be entrusted with the conduct of the works.

After the completion of the piers the only objection to the rocky nature of the bottom is the fact that it offers inferior holding ground to vessels anchored under the shelter of the Breakwater, but this difficulty can easily be overcome by laying down fixed moorings.

The leewardness of the entrance is a more serious objection, as vessels failing to take it properly would require to be