DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH OF NEW ZEALAND. 



"59 





and jetties, constructed of the same material, stretch out at right angles ; and at either 

 extremity of the breastwork spring the substantial rubble-stone piers of the breakwater 

 that hold within their secure embrace all the shipping of the place. Long lines of 

 galvanized-iron sheds lie within the breastwork, and on both sides of them, and down 

 the full extent of the wharves, run lines of iron rails pretty well covered with railway 

 trucks. So ample is the shed-accommodation of the Port that two of the largest 

 will alone hold eleven thousand tons of grain. Immediately beyond the sheds is situated 

 the business portion of the town, durably built of stone or brick, its buildings being 

 of an average height of two storeys. On the slopes of the hills, to the sides and at 

 the back, are dotted far in all 

 directions widely scattered villas 

 and dwellings more or less pic- 

 turesque and pretentious. 



The harbour, originally called 

 Port Cooper, has had more money 

 spent upon it to ensure perfect 

 security for shipping and to provide 

 maritime facilities and conveniences 

 than any other sea-port of the 

 colony. The harbour works were 

 projected so far back as 1 863, and 

 about half a million of money has 

 been spent upon them. The two 

 arms of the encircling breakwater, 

 formed of rubble-stone faced on 

 the outer slopes with huge blocks, 

 and extending respectively from 

 Officer's Point and Naval Point, 

 enclose a water area of about one 

 hundred and seven acres, the depth 



of water ranging from nineteen up to twenty-five feet at low-tides. The arm extending 

 from Officers' Point is two thousand and ten feet long, forty feet wide on the top, 

 elevated six feet above high-water spring-tides, with a timber breastwork extending along 

 its inner face for nearly its whole length. The other arm is one thousand four 

 hundred and thirty-four feet long. Within this inner harbour the berthage space is 

 computed at upwards of eleven thousand feet, and will accommodate without trouble 

 tucnty-two ocean ships and steamers, twenty barques and brigs, eight intercolonial 

 steamers, and thirty schooners and smaller craft. 



The wharves vary in length from one hundred and sixteen to one thousand three 

 hundred and eighteen feet, the latter being the measurement of the Gladstone Wharf. 

 The Graving Dock is a most important and useful addition to the harbour works ; in 

 capacity it is second only to that of Auckland. Its dimensions are : length on floor, 

 four hundred and fifty feet ; width on floor, forty-six feet ; width of entrance, sixty-two 

 feet ; depth on sill at high-water, twenty-three feet. The total cost, including pumping 



THE STATUE OK SU I'KKIM KNDKXT M(>< IRIIOUSE. 



