Excerpt from Report and Proceedings of the Committee of the Legislative Council: Appointed of Consider the Documents Relative to Harbor of Refuge in Table Bay, June, 1859 Your committee also concur in the views expressed by the acting port captain, that the northern pier should only be carried out to two thirds of the length proposed by Captain Vetch, as it will afford complete protection for all ships that call at Table Bay. Your committee are also of opinion that the breakwater should be constructed upon the same principle or system as that of Portland harbor, in England. Your committee are also convinced that the works could be most advantageously carried out if as considerable a number of colonial convicts as can be conveniently spared from the roads could be concentrated upon the spot, by which great saving in the expense of maintaining them, as well as in the cost of superintendence, could be effected, and stricter discipline enforced, that by employing them in detached parties upon other works, in which recommendation the committee are fully supported by the opinion of the Superintendent-General of Convicts. Your committee also agree as to the desirableness of some of the inner works, for facilitating the loading and discharging of vessels, being commenced as soon as possible, as part of the material or debris of the quarries could be used to fill up the valuable ground to be reclaimed from the sea, if these works were carried out simultaneously. Your committee deem it, however, expedient to bring to the notice of the Council that it appears to them not to be desirable to employ a contractor, as the plans, before the works are completed, will probably have to undergo some alteration, and a contractor might rather obstruct than advance the views of the colonists, in a work of such magnitude, the contingencies of which cannot be accurately foreseen, or laid down in any agreement. Your committee perfectly coincide in the views of the colonial engineer, Mr. Tucker, that it would be better to carry out the works under the superintendence of an engineer, who might refer any question to a consulting engineer, if he wished to do so, assisted by a staff of competent officers, as the plant, as well as other material that may be required, could be obtained from England, or elsewhere, without the intervention of a contractor. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.