"We have reason to believe that the ■nnatl accumulation is not less than 76,000 yards, and although hitherto this has served a good purpose m strengthening the break water, yet its growth seaward it unchecked will within say 6 or 10 years reach the kaut j of tbe moles, and aiao that the destruction of! shingle m deep water may result m the for mation of a sand bank. " The qnestion then arises M to whether it would be preferable to erect one or more retaining grains or attempt the mechanteal re moval of the annual drift of shingle along side the breakwater. A proposal to build a groin on tbe reef opposite George Street bas been folly discussed by the Government .En gineers and Mr J. Goodall, nor has it found favour with tbe board it being regarded as an expedient by which time alone would be gained, since rery shortly tbe advancing abingle would probably obliterate it and again Advance northward. The construction of a deep water groin from tie kant of the break water would serve oar object for a much longer period of time but presents these objections : It would start at one* m deep water— about 23 feet— it must be tfcroug enough to stand tbe fall force of the sea, »nd tbe limit of its usefulness will be reached wben tbe shingle shall bave overtaken it. And it may favor the formation of a sand tenk by encouraging tbe advance of the •hingle into deep water. The cost of such a letainine wall if neoessarily built of con crete blocks would probably be £70 or £80 per foot, for not le»« than 1000 ft, but if stone could be mcd of snffldent weight to stand, the ©oat would be greatly reduced, but m cither cose far ba/ond the present rr»ourcei of tbe board. , ,. "It bas been said Stoat tbe retained lsnd resulting from tb« bflildwif of Jheie retainioj

walls would go far to recoup thoir cos^, but 1 1 have no faith m the receipt by the board of j any great assistance from this source during the next 20 years. " It has also been said that the board should obtain the opinion of some outside engineer m conjunction with the board's engineer on the whole question. 