out to low-water mark or a little beyond it. This would be highly beneficial, both to the town and to the Military Authorities. The inconvenient interruption to the Praya might be done away with, whilst providing the Naval and Military Authorities with deep-water wharf accommodation and boat cambers, affording far greater facilities for their work than they now possess. It is probable that the advantages which the public would obtain by the completion of the Praya, past the War Department's property, would be sufficient to justify the Colonial Government in incurring a very considerable proportion of the expense of this work."
4. The Surveyor General (Mr. PRICE) has furnished the following report to the Colonial Secretary :-
"In accordance with the instructions of His Excellency the Governor that I 'should prepare a plan and estimate of the junction of the Eastern and Western Prayas by a Marine Embankment and roadway running across the sea-frontage of the Artillery Barracks, Naval Yard, and the water-side premises to the East, so as, among other objects, to carry out the sanitary recommendations of Mr. CHADWICK, I have now the honour to transmit to you the plan called for. The cost of carrying out this work will be Two hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($230,000). The Equivalent to about £15,000
in English money. extent of area reclaimed will be over 7 acres, about 5 of which will fall to the Military Authorities, while the Naval Yard will be extended by over a quarter of an acre of dry land and three quarters of an acre of water area in the shape of a new basin.”
5. I annex the plan of the proposed embankment and roadway which has Enclosure. been prepared by Mr. PRICE. It will be remembered that Sir JOHN COODE furnished some valuable suggestions, which were forwarded with the despatch from the Colonial Office, No. 111 of August 29th, 1876.
6. It is estimated by the Surveyor General (as was stated above) that this important project would cost about forty-five thousand pounds (£45,000), and would take about three years in execution; so that the annual expenditure on it would be fifteen thousand pounds (£15,000) for three years. This sum has been already voted by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. It is proposed that the entire work should be executed by the Colonial Government, but that the Imperial Government acting on behalf of the Admiralty and War Office, should contribute hereafter to the cost whatever sum the Home Authorities may decide to be just and equitable, considering the great value of the reclaimed land which will be added to the Naval and Military property, and the improved sanitary conditions for the Garrison which will be doubtless follow the completion of the embankment.
7. It has been suggested here, and I submit the suggestion for Your Lordship's favourable consideration, that the Colonial Government should pay two-thirds of the entire expenditure of forty-five thousand pounds (£45,000) at the rate of ten thousand pounds (£10,000) a year for three years; and that considering the large benefit which would be derived by the Naval and Military Departments, the balance of the annual expenditure should be supplied by an annual deduction for three years of five thousand pounds (£5,000) from the Military Contribution of twenty thousand pounds (£20,000) paid by the Colony to the Imperial Government.