The Secretary pointed out that the con tract expired on the 31et insL., and the penalty for every day over that time was £5. It was decided that the application should stand over until the completion of the contract. harbormaster's report. The following report was received from the Harbormaster, Captain Thomson ;— " I have the honor to report to you that the river has improved since my last report to you. This will be seen by the sound ings taken this day. Thß waliogs at the Town Wharf are falling off, through the copper sheathing on the. piles eating the iron fastenings, Thiß should' te attended to as soon as possible. Soundings : End of breakwater, 19ft; 300 ft out from end of breakwater, lift 3in ; 200 ft out, 9ft' 6in ; 100 ft out, lift 6in ; s.s. Snark's landing, 91t 3in ; large crane, lift 6in .; black buoy, lift ; line of town wharf, 9ft 6in. Ship ping : Steamers— Arrival 28, departures 23 ; sailing vessels — Arrivals -4, depar tures 5." Members expressed their pleasure at the fact that the river was improving, and 'hoped that it would continue to do so. engineer's report. The Engineer reported as follows : — " The Board's dredger has been at work in the oHannel near the breakwater and at the Gisborne wharf on fifteen dayß. 2175 oubio yards of Bpoil has' been dredged up and discharged over the breakwater, at a' total cost of £118— 1 -08 shillings per cubio yard. Agreeably with your instruc tions four new water tanks, e^ph of a capacity of 600ga1., have been put to the goods' shed on the wharf ; the contract is not quite completed. McGaffiin's con tract : Fair progress has been made pn this contract during the month. Forty eight main piles and thirty sheet piles, have been driven, and the head stocks and braces, etc., for 100 ft of .the wharf are fitted and secured. Dredger : In com pliance with your instructions I proceeded to Christchurch to examine and report on the progress made with the construction of the new dredger and its machinery. At Messrß Anderaon's workshops at Lyttelton the plates for the hull of the dredger are stacked ready for use. 