ANOTHER HITCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18343, 28 March 1925, Page 3

ANOTHER HITCH.

TIMARU HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.

REVIVAL OF COMMISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

(special to "the raiss.") TIMARU, March 27. The question of harbour improvements was again discussed at length at the meeting of tlie Timaru Harbour Board to-day, when a letter was received from the Minister of Marine (the Hon. G. .T. Anderson) stating that owing to a legal difficulty tho Royal Commission which had last year investigated the Board's proposals for improvements could not bo revived as a Commission, as the Board wished. They could, however, act in an advisory capacity as engineers, but a further Commission would be necessary to report on their proposals. The Board's resident engineer (Mr F. \V. Clarke) submitted a report on the shoaling which had taken place in Caroline Bay and the roadstead during tho past two years. The depths in the roadstead were well maintained, but. from Dashing Rocks to the north side of the channel, thence io the beach, there was shoaling generally from three inches to .1- inches, and in a few cases up to IS inches. The bank on the lee side of the Eastern Extension Mole continued to increase. The estimate of shoaling in the bay for the past two years, over an area of -65 acre's, was about 171,000 tons annually, and south of the channel 38,000 tons* making a total of 1200,000 tons in situ. He had measured the low-water contour in Carolino Bay, and found that the persistent advance continued, and this had been a prominent feature since the inception of the harbour works. Tho annual forward movement since the last measurement in January, 1924, was about 21 feet, and the measurements for the previous fourteen months, to January-, 1924, gave au average of 31 feet. Good water was maintained in the approacli channel by regular dredging, and this also assisted in maintaining the good depths in the inner harbour, where very little shoaling was noticed. Now that the question of the harbour improvement was still under investigation, the' important factor of shoaling that had been prominent, since the commencement of the first harbour works, and that was still going on without diminution, should receive very careful consideration, with a view to devising the best means of minimising that troublesome problem. Mr D. C. Turnbull:" If we don't do something during the next five years, we'll be able to build monuments to engineers and politicians on Carolino Bay! (Laughter.) I think tho engineer could have worded his report a good deal moro strongly than he has done. The chairman (Mr W. Hayman) said a fresh Commission would have to report on any scheme which the late Commissioners, as engineers, might submit. Ho thought it would be a good idea to get the views of Mr Cyrus Williams, tho chairman of the late Commission. Mr Turnbull said that Mr Williams had condemned tho last scheme the Board proposed. He thought they should ask the Government to appoint a now Commission.

Mr H. B. S. Johnstone said the Board would have to do something, or the port would bo closed in a fewyears. Their last proposals had been turned down as being too expensive, but tho position was that the Board would simply have to afford it. Mr A. R. Guild said he understood "that the "object of their endeavour to revive tho Commission was to get at what was in their minds, if they had some alternative scheme to propose. They would get it if they paid tho Commissioners as ordinary engineers. Mr W. T. Ritchie: We should first I find out what they are likely to charge us. Mr A. F. Campbell: What shall you do if you don't agree with their charges? Mr Garrick: We'll have to agree.

Mr'Turnbull: I should like to see a Government engineer report on the whole thing. The Commission's, only reason for turning down the last 3chema was because they were of opinion that tho Board could not afford it. They did not investigate the financial side of it at all.

Mr Guild moved that tho chairman should approach Mr Cyrus Williams, to ascertain what tho late Commissioners would charge to submit a scheme to tho Board, in their capacity as engineers. Tho motion was carried.