TIMBER IN TASMANIA. 23 



taking was made, and entrusted to Messrs. S. Pearson & 

 Son to execute. 



After all, perhaps, this delay was beneficial, for, when 

 first proposed, it was intended only to spend two millions 

 upon the work, whereas the present plans will require an 

 expenditure of at least double that amount, with cor- 

 responding advantages in extent and execution. 



I have prepared a sketch of the proposed works, which 

 I will try to explain to you, so that you may have some 

 idea of what has been accomplished during the last three 

 years, and still remains to be done before one of the 

 finest artificial harbours in the world will be finished, 

 and which will still require about seven years for its 

 accomplishment. 



It is to find the timber requisite to enable us to carry 

 out this gigantic work that I, representing the timber 

 department, have been sent to Tasmania ; and you will 

 be glad to hear that, so far, my mission has been most 

 successful, and I feel certain that when the piles I have 

 procured here reach England, they will prove admir- 

 ably adapted for the work for which it is intended to 

 utilize them. The splendid workmanship shown in the 

 squaring of these logs will also prove that Tasmanian 

 axemen are among the finest in the world. In con- 

 nection with this I may mention that a considerable 

 portion of this timber has been cut and -prepared, and 

 will be shipped from your township of Dover, to be 

 taken to and used at Dover, in England — a curioi^ 

 coincidence. 



This, I am happy to think, will add another record to 

 the services which little Tasmania has been able to 

 render to the mother country. She has already sent six 

 contingents of her most stalwart and tallest sons to help 

 to keep flying the flag so dear to us all, and now she is 

 furnishing some of her finest and tallest trees as her con- 

 tribution of the most necessary timber for the completion 

 of a harbour in which Britain's fleet can keep watch and 

 guard over those shores which must always be kept, and 



