PROPOSED CANAL TO THE LAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 109, 8 May 1903, Page 4

PROPOSED CANAL TO THE LAKE.

-WOULD COST £47,000.

RECLAMATION '\ ADVOCATEiyI

"' Mr H.Munro. Wilson, engineer County Council, reported tj his Council this morning on Mr P er , ? Ward's scheme for cutting a ,-cau.v through Shoal Bay so as to give a smft direct ferry route to Lake Takapu_sj|| ,In the course of his report on tfo scheme. Mr Wilson says:—"The c_y e contents of-the material to be excaySfe is not given, nor how the is arrived at. Maripe works of t||| class are executed under difficulties, ajm the cost more or less can only be e<,„. mated by' a careful consideration of i.h_ means and appliances to be used in ej, ecuting the work, the possibility 1 cheaply -disposing Of the spoi_,./-|||ffi hindrance of the work by varying sta»e S . of the tide, a full knowledge of.the na. ture of the ground, and of the materi-.u to be removed,-and the probable cosi||| maintaining the work after its comply tion." The report expressed theopjygi that the pump dredge would probaj% bl r fefted .oil for the, w o rk,Ws 90 per cent: of the Material would be-water, which would take tine to Subside and return. The pump drec'ge would be suitable for the loose material, but the plans showed that rock would Jm ' met with, most of which, however, could be broken up by a modification of t'fa , ordinary digger dredger without blast, ing. The need of the different appliances would add greatly, to the cost. "To .issist in keeping the channel free, from silt Mr Ward proposes to confine a.largo quantity of water at the head of \\s bay, the points projecting out in the bay, to the east of Barry's Point making tliij practicable at a reasonable cost. Lock gates would be provided, and gradually. opened and shut at certain periods.' It is obvious that, a, mud embanking would not suffice as a barrier for tha impounded water, and the slopes on each side would require protecting with stons pitching dr.sheet piling. Shoal Bays!r|| ceives the full violence of a westeift gale, and an unprotected mud embank? ment would not sustain itself." fl, Mr Wilson then gives the following estimate Of the». cubic contents of W material to' be dredged, this, however, being only approximate, as in soft muj the angle*of repose would vary with the nature of the material, and withoutbreastwork the channel might iv places be 30 chains wide before: reaching t|j| 'minimum depth Of four feet in lou water:—"Dredged channel, 4ft. 'minimM depth at low Avater, 40ft- wide at b.l« torn, slopes of sides Ift. vertical to 3ft. horizontal, 138,000 cubic yards soft vi«. terial at 1/4, £9200; 14 : 500 cubic yaid* hard material at 6/, £4350; impounding dam, lock gates, etc., £32Q0; wharv>. £1200; contingencies, £1000; total, £18,950. Maintenance per annum, £2!io. To protect, the channel with sheet piling on each side Would cost (estimating m totara at 35/ per 100 super, feet worked: up). a further suni of £28,000. The disposal of the spoil is the chief factor ia estimating the cost, and I believe r.thafr land reclamation shbuld $&. aimed.sl| The exclusion of salt water from shallow. Hats is, we all know, sufficient in JuSS to effectually reclaim the laiid. , 'l\s dredged material could be utilised' to form a causeway along the edge of channel, and to convenient points -i land jutting out in the bay. These ■causeways would have to be made tip of dredged material deposited so that each consecutive layer would dry hard; and have sufficient "solidity. The causeway would be protected on the exposed face" with sheet.piling; " Culverts wou Id be required with automatic gates fur drainage, and storm water.'.' ,| .Mr, Bruce .moved that the report lis taken as read, and laid on the table for the benefit of the members. 'Mr Mackay moved that a copy of Ilia report be sent to Mr W. J. Napier, wlio--had taken great interest in the question. This was agreed to. - ' -'