THE MANUKAU BAR.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 126, 28 May 1919, Page 9

THE MANUKAU BAR.

SOUTH CHANNEL CLOSED. I j QUESTION OF SURVEY. The shoaling of the south channel to the ilanukiiu Harbour has increased tq such an extent as to practically close this inlet. The matter was discussed at yesterday's meeting of Auckland Harbour Board, when a letter was received from the secretary of the Marine Department asking if the Hoard considered the leading lights on the channel should still be shown. The harbourmaster of the Manukau Harbour had reported that he considered the lights no longer necessary. Tin- matter came up again later, when the following notice of motion from Mr. i E. H. Davis was considered: That on ac- I count of the masters of vessels crossing the Manukau bar having reported the existence of a new shoal on tho bar in the main channel and the altered position of Ehoal~ in the south channel, and in view of the fact that the harbourmaster at Onehunga had not the facilities to properly carry out the work, the Marine; Department be requested to allow the Hinemoa to make a complete examination j and survey of both channels on her next visit to the port. i Sir. Davis, speaking to the motion, I said that he thought it was a disgrace j that the leading lights should have to he; extinguished. It was a mercy there had not already been an accident. j Mr. Entrican said that he regretted he j ■Would have to vote against the motion, because he considered it a grave reflection | on the responsible oflicers. i Mr. Heather said that he also consid- I ered that the motion amounted to a reflection, not only on the oflicers con- j cerned, but on the administration of the ] Board. j Mr. Carr expressed surprise at the. motion. It was well known that bars 1 were continually shifting, and the present i trouble in tiie Manukau channel had been j going on from time immemorial. Mr. Mackenzie said that he could not' ■cote for the motion after the harbourmaster had reported on the matter, and ! expressed himself as satisfied. He con- ! sidered tbat the best thing for Mr. Davis to do would be to withdraw the rnotio.n I In reply. Mr. Davis said that the matter appeared to have come simultaneously before the Board and himself o\ May 23. though at that time he had had no idea that it was before the Board. The reason for the motion was the repeated representations made to him by masters of vessels with whom he came into ■.-ontaet as a director of the Northern Steamship Company. Mr. Entricun had stated that the recent dry weather may have affected the condition of the shoa!. Of all the rot he had heard this was the worst: it was sheer nonsense to suggest that the dry weather had anything to do with the shoal. Mr. Entrican: Do you object to it "going dry"? Mr. Davis: That's cheap wit. Continuing. Mr. Davis said that it was absurd to say that his motion constituted a reflection on the oflicers concerned. Xo such reflection was intended. He had merely said that the harbourmaster at Manukau had not the proper facilities for carrying out the work. There was nothing before t T >e Board to •show how the difficulty was to be got over. The lights should lie kept there and a surrey made as quickly as possible. Tie bar did. not shift continuously as suggested, and in the main channel it did not shift nearly as much as in the south channel. He urged that the work should I be carried out at once in the interests of ' the people on the visiting this port! and in the interests of the owners of those ships. The motion was put and declared lost! on the voices.