WANGANUI—MORE ABOUT THE PORT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1158, 20 June 1911, Page 2

WANGANUI—MORE ABOUT THE PORT.

A GBEAT SCHEME OUTLINED. (By Telegraph.—Special CorresDondenfc.l Wanganui, Juno 17. The report of Mr. Leslie Kc-ynolds on the hatbour extension scheme, as outlined by Mr. C. 11. Howortli (resident engineer to the Harbour Board) has como to hand, and practically endorses the latter's recommendations. Referring to tho moles at the entrance, Mr. Reynolds recommends extending tho north mole by another 2GOO feet, and tho south by £200 feet, which means 500 feet and 400 feet respectively additional to what was proposed by Mr. Howortli. The latter's proposal was designed to give a depth of 20 fcrt low water springs, and 28 feet high water springs, whereas tho additional length recommended by Mr. Reynolds will, ho considers, give a lowwater depth of 25 feet and 32 feet at high water springs respectively, and he thinks that it is better to push out with this object at once instead of later on. Regarding internal work, Mr. Howortli proposed a floating basin of 3G acres, with 15 acres dredged to 30 feet at low water for present requirements. Mr. Reynolds has increased the dredged area to 25 acres. These works will be, of course, at Castleeliff. • From thence to the town, Mr. Reynolds recommends that, the river channel should be dredged to 17 feet for smaller shipping. In reference to the proposal to make a deep water harbour at the town, Mr. Reynolds' says that such a scheme was not feasible unless tho board was prepared to face the cost of heavy and continuous dredging. The first cost of same ho put in at .£417,000.

He estimated the cost of the Castleeliff scheme as follows:—Additional wharfage at CastleclilT, .£8500; dredging 25 acres of Heating basin, ,£15.720; dredging between the bar and the basin, £8750; walls of basin, .£10.700; extension of north mole, JM6.140; extension of south mole, X 39,050; cost of new dredge. .£30.000; quarry extension, tugs, cranes, barges, and other plant, engineering, and contingencies, ,£22.010; total expenditure at Castleeliff, .C1S8.100; dredging the river channel to town. .£10,700; new training wall in river, £2(1,800; additions to existing training walls, .€3300; grand total of Castleeliff scheme, .£228,900. Future developments, Mr. Reynolds estimates, will cost another ,£47.450.' This scheme is practically tho policy nn which the present board was re-elected. Tt has to received the approval of Mr. Holmes, Engincer-in-Chief for Public Works, and, in case lie is not able to vir.it Waneauui immediately, the lward has decided that the chairman (Mr. J. B. .Murray) and the resident eneincer shall proceed to Wellington and discuss matters with him, prior to the latter visiting Wanganui later on.