The first jetty in Port Cooper—the original name of Lyttelton harbour—was built by the Canterbury Association before the arrival of the settlers in 1850. Since then there have been many developments in connection with the port. Two breakwaters, to form an inner harbour, were begun in 1872, by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, and were completed by the General Government in 1877. They are of rubble stone blasted from the quarries at Naval and Officers' Points, and the outer slopes of both are protected or faced by huge stone blocks. The eastern or Officers' Point breakwater is over 2,000 feet in length by a width of 40 feet on the top and 6 feet above high water at springtides. The western or Naval Point breakwater is 1400 feet in length. The area of water enclosed within the breakwater is about 107 acres. For very nearly thirteen years, ending 1901, dredging operations were uninterruptedly carried on within the harbour, over five million tons of dredged material having been removed within that time. The depth of water inside the breakwaters and at the wharves varies from 20 feet to 27 feet at low tide, nearly the whole of the inner harbour having been deepened, so that vessels drawing 27 feet and up to 10,000 to tons may be berthed at high water. A number of piers

Lyttelton, May 4th, 1899. Shipping at the Wharves: 55,191 Tones.

and jetties have been constructed, the total wharf frontage available for mooring vessels being 10,750 feet. One of these jetties has been especially constructed for berthing ocean steamers, its length being over 552 feet, with a depth of water alongside of about 27 feet. Special berthage is provided within the inner harbour for ships of war, and two vessels can be berthed at the moorings inside the breakwater without in any way interfering with the ordinary shipping of the port. The whole of the wharves and jetties have railway lines laid upon them, and are connected with the railway system of the South Island. Extensive shed accommodation is provided on the wharves and at Lyttelton railway station yards. A cooling and freezing chamber has been built by the Harbour Board for the accommodation of butter, cheese, and other perishable goods prior to shipment. The Board has also made provision for the storage of grain and produce, the space available in the stores being equal to 17,000 tons.

The Lyttelton graving-dock was built in 1882 at a cost of about £105,000, including pumping machinery and caisson, and is capable of docking a first-class warship, and most of the large ocean-going steamers now running to the colonies. Its general dimensions are: 450 feet length of floor by 46 feet wide; 481 feet 6 inches length at top by 82 feet wide; width of entrance 62 feet; where ship's bilge should be, 55 feet; depth of water on the sill at high water, 23 feet. A workshop for carrying out repairs required by any vessel is situated conveniently near the dock. In addition to the graving-dock, the Board has provided a patent-slip, which is capable of taking up a 300-ton vessel.

The work of supplying the port with electric light was completed in 1884. The plant is worked on what is known as the Gulcher system; each arc lamp has 2000 candle-power, and there is a total capacity of over 32,000 candle-power.

Prior to the 10th of January, 1877, the port of Lyttelton was under the control of the Provincial Government of Canterbury, but at that date the Harbour Board came into existence. For two years previously the practical control of the harbour had been in the hands of the Hon. J. T. Peacock, as Secretary for Public Works. The Board consists of fifteen members; namely, George Laurenson, M.H.R., appointed by his Excellency the Governor; Mayor of Lyttelton (member ex officio, for one year); Thomas McClatchie, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of Lyttelton; Isaac Gibbs and Albert Kaye, elected by the Canterbury Chamber of Commmerce, page 119 Frank Graham and Robert Pitcaithly, elected by the ratepayers of the city of Christ church; John Brown, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of Sydenham; F. Waymouth, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of St. Albans; William Dunlop and John Rennie, elected by the Selwyn County Council; D. Buddo, M.H.R., Ashley County; Edward G. Wright, elected by the Ashburton County Council; James Hay, elected by the Akaroa County Council; John Connal, elected by the ratepayers of the boroughs of Linwood, Woolston, and Sumner. Mr. E. G. Wright is chairman of the Board.

The finances of the Board from the date of its constitution to the end of 1901, a period of twenty-five years, have been highly satisfactory; the ordinary revenue for the period having amounted to £762,670 17s 8d; the ordinary expenditure to £261,038 16s 6d; payments on account of interest and sinking fund, to £299,284 15s 4d; total expenditure, £560,323 11s 10d; surplus balance on ordinary revenue account, £202,347 5s 10d. On the other hand, the loan receipts amounted to £279,556 19s 4d, and the total expenditure on harbour works to £445,446 11s 11d, leaving a deficit, under the head of loan, of £165,909 12s 7d, which has been met out of the abovementioned surplus of ordinary revenue; leaving a credit cash balance at the close of 1901 of £36,437 13s 3d.