Harbours.

In addition to that already mentioned, the large City of Dunedin is situated at the head of Port Chalmers Harbour. Lyttleton, the seaport of Canterbury, is on the fine harbour of Port Cooper. Then we have the lovely harbour of Akaroa (in Bank's Peninsula), one of the finest in the colony. Picton, the seaport of Marlborough Provincial District, is situate at the head of Queen Charlotte's Sound, which with others extends for many miles inland; while the City of Nelson is on Blind Bay, which extends inwards for forty miles from Cook Straits. On the west coast (excepting the charming sounds) there are no harbours; but the estuaries of the Rivers Buller, Grey, and Hokitika constitute the only ports, and these, owing to bars, were only navigable for vessels of light draft. As, however, the coal export trade from this coast increased it became necessary to dredge the beds of the Rivers Buller and Grey, whereby a depth of eighteen to twenty-four feet can now be got on the bars.