Harbour.

The total length of the pier to date, June 7th, 1886, is 1800 lineal feet, giving a depth, at low water of ordinary spring tides, of 18 feet and at high water, of 30 feet

On the Queen's birthday, May 24th, Mr. Those King, on the occasion of the opening of the short line [unclear: a] rails that connects the harbour with inland, stated:—[unclear: "Tht] Mr. McGregor, the Board's consulting engineer, has described the Breakwater as a protection that would [unclear: yie] the best artificial harbour in New Zealand, and would include the largest area of smooth water. It was only a [unclear: fe] weeks ago that the first English ship came alongside, and in a few hours, discharged 350 tons of cargo; whilst the day before, May 23rd, the S.S. Wakatipu took position [unclear: i] the Breakwater with the greatest ease, shipping 1671 [unclear: kef]. of butter, equal to 94,958 lbs., 7 tierces of beef, 40 [unclear: bal] of fungus, besides grass seed, etc., etc, the value of this first cargo being £4,171.

Between fifty and sixty years ago, the great demand for carraige, arising from the increased production of the factories, gave rise to the Darlington railway; and so it [unclear: w] be with the Breakwater, should, unhappily, its advance [unclear: fs] the present be checked; so great will be the demand [unclear: ft] transport, from the accumulating increase of goods [unclear: awaitis] export, that no outlay will be deemed too great for bring it to a satisfactory completion. And, furthermore should the cattle from the well-bred herds of the district page 39 be in growing demand in Australia, the continuation of the protective walls will be more than ever needed, as there is a large extent of country with no direct outlet for shipments to foreign ports.