The only thing that is certain ia, that the grants have
always come to an end long before the expiration of the
period over which the eipeoditure of them was fised to
spread. When the Poti-Tiflie Railway was completed
at the cloae of the Kliivan war, eitra energy was
infused into the undertaking, but nothing came of it ;
and after the spurt was over the works languiahed until
the Turkish conflict, since when they have been sus-
pended altogether. Originally the mole was to have
been 6ft. above high water mark, and to have been
constructed of blocks of stone weighing not less than
three tons. After a while the height was raised to
16ft., and the size of the blocta of stone to thirty tons.
Not long ago a storm occurred, during which twenty of
these 30-ton blocks were carried away by the aea, to-
gether with a couple of massive cranes, weighing ICH)
tons apiece. To render the mole of any use it would
have to be carried out fifty yards from its present halt-
ing point, or else a costly breakwater constructed. While
the Government is making up its mind what to do, the
plant of the harbour construction works is rotting or
being swallowed up by the sea, and the foundering of a
steamer and a number of coasting craft the other day
proved that what there is of the mole is useless for
the protection of shipping. The local opinion is, that
now that Batoiun has been connected by railway with
Tiflis, Poti will be allowed to go to ruin.
Already, owing to the revocation of free transit across
■ Caucasus, the place wears a languishing aspect.
