Влплле.—ЕЁагіу Reclamations and Harbour-works of Wellington. 711 
commenced. Locally, the full stretch was known as ^ The Beach." 
Along the quays the water at high tides in many places covered part 
of the roadway, and probably it would be to form the roadway in one 
of these bad places that the breastwork was required. Even in 1850, 
Carter tells us, there was not room in some parts for two carts to pass. 
In 1854 Carter constructed for the Provincial Government another breast- 
work, 600 ft. long. It was constructed of brick, and, he says, was built 
with the object of widening the beach to a width of 60 ft. This contract, 
which also included the formation of a footpath and cross wood drains, 
cost £832. Mr. Edward Roberts was instructed in 1851 to prepare a 
scheme of reclamation. The Spectator proposed that it should extend from 
Pipitea to Clay Point. 
In 1852 the Government of New Munster, which comprised the southern 
half of the North Island and the whole of the South Island, called for 
tenders for reclaiming a part of Lambton Harbour. This reclamation is 
generally known in legal circles as “Sir George Grey's reclamation.” It 
ran from Customhouse Street (now usually known as “ 
Street") 360 ft. north, with a depth towards the harbour of 100 ft., the 
frontage being to Willis Street. Mr. Ro Engineer, and C. R. Carter 
secured the contract, his tender amounting to £1,036. Work was com- 
menced early in April, and was completed early in O Apparently 
put up for sale by public auction on the 21st July, when a 50%. frontage 
was sold to John Harding at the upset price of £6 per foot. On the 11th . 
September another block, of 60ft., was sold at the same price to S. Cimino, 
There was to be another sale on the 30th October. I can find no record 
2 
an endowment for the Wellington College. There was a cross-street from 
Willis Street to the waterfront (now part of Mercer Street), of a width of, 
say, 28 ft., which would account for the full frontage of 360 ft. as per 
contract. The value of the College Reserve would be £1,092, making a 
total value of £1,992 against an expenditure of £1,036. The cross-street 
was officially known as “College Passage," although later it was known 
as “College Lane "—now Mercer Street. Carter records that during the 
p 
he also records that his profit amounted to £212, although the Engineer 
assured him before he signed the contract that he had underestimated the 
work. During low tides the water would probably not be near the wall. 
By the Public Reserves Act, 1854, the Provincial Government was 
granted the right to reclaim part of the harbour below high-water mark 
om the “reclaimed land” to the foot of Tinakori Road. “ Reclaimed 
land " would, of course, refer to the 1852 reclamation. A definite scheme 
of reclaiming land from the harbour was asked for, when the Committee 
on the Harbour Reserves Bill reported to the Provincial Council (lst 
February, 1856), as follows :— 
Your Committee has been unable to obtain sufficient information to 
enable it to propose any specific plan for the management of the harbour 
Teserves. It therefore contents itself with recommending that the Super- 
intendent should invite, by competition, plans and specifications for the 
reclaiming of the land and building retaining-walls, and having especial 
reference to the practicability of carrying out the works in separate blocks, 
