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Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 14 (Supplement)

The site of the Market Reserve building is G feet 11 inches higher and 6 feet further east than was the case before the earthquake. The contract price was £20,770, and the extras did

B' N 1860 was made the first attempt of any magnitude to improve the Port of Napier. The plans provided for a canal from Battery Point into the Iron Pot, the dredging of the Iron Pot, and the use of the material removed in the reclamation of the inner lagoon. It was estimated that this would cost £72,000, but two years later, after E 17,000 had been spent, the works were abandoned. By that time the Iron Pot had been dredged and a breastwork had been erected on the south side. Five years later a report on the best means of improving the harbour was called for, the expenditure being limited to £12,000 spread over two years. Further work was done at the Iron Pot, a quay being built on the northern side, together with a wharf and a small groin. In 1873 the breastwork at the west quay was erected, and land was reclaimed round what were known as Gough and Maori islands. This reclaimed land was joined to the mainland by a continuation of Hyderabad Road. The total cost of the work, including the £12,000 previously mentioned, was in the vicinity of £25,000. Problem of Harbour Bar. The problem of the harbour bar was then giving almost as much concern as it is to-day. In 1855 the bar had provided 18 feet of water at high tide, but it had been gradually shallowing and toward the end of two decades the position had so altered that delays to shipping had become frequent and serious. In 1873 a design for a breakwater and enclosed outer harbour was pre-

pared, together with a plan for a western wall or mole that would run toward the end of the breakwater, leaving an entrance facing the west. There were two schemes, one costing £246.000 and enclosing a basin of 120 acres of water, the other costing £lOO,000 and enclosing a basin of 55 acres of water. The problem, however, was far from being henceforth a mere matter of pounds,-shillings, and pence. For one thing it was necessary to determine if and to what extent the shingle of the beach was travelling north, and to do this a test groin was erected. The result of the test apparently was not in favour of the breakwater scheme, and the authorities proceeded to consider works at the Spit, estimated to cost £75,000 and embracing a 1500 feet eastern pier, a 1000-feet stone embankment from the western spit, the reduction of the entrance width, and a 845-feet western pier, parallel with the eastern one. Establishment of Board. Before this scheme was put in hand the Act establishing the, Napier Harbour Board was passed in 187 a, which date, therefore, may be taken as marking the beginning of the modern era in the history of the harbour, and its controlling body. At the same time authorisation was given for a loan of £75,000, which was floated in 1876. Work on the scheme was then begun and, to the general satisfaction of all concerned, it was completed two years later at a total cost of only £55,000. In ISB9 the movement of the beach shingle began to embarrass the port. It slowly worked along to the end of the eastern pier and swept round. Some time later, after a period of heavy weather, it was found that the bar had moved to a point between the pier heads, and that a shingle spit had been formed in the channel. At low tide this was dry to within about 100

feet of the western pier — a condition that remained un- •> altered for a number of years. With the object of providing more wharfage accommodation and improving the the port made it channel, dredging was carried out in 1882, and the western pier was extended by more than 700 feet. By this time the increasing trade of apparent that better and more extensive harbour accommodation was essential if Napier was to cater adequately for the shipping business coming her way. •, After several plans had been considered and rejected, a public meeting was called and, as a result, the Harbour Board offered £5OO for the best design of a harbour that would cater not only for the existing needs of the district,i but would be an encouraging asset to Napier in the years to come. The designs were judged in London, and a Melbourne engineer, Mr. Colchoth, won the £5OO. He proposed to extend the piers and place groins along the beach to arrest the moving shingle; also to increase the wharfage in the inner harbour and to deepen the

The deve opment of the breakwater ' harbour when ways and means were I found meant, as recommended in the past, the building of a mole running out from E shed to enclose a basin which afterwards could be cleaned out and deepened, he explained. The cost <>f* this work, including provision for the necessary wharves, sheds, and gear, would be in the vicinity of £400,000 and, when adopted as a berthage place for large vessels, the breakwater would be within reasonable haulage distance of the large stores of the port. On the other hand, the lightering system, the Harbour Board member contended, would continue to cost about £35,000 a year. Another view of the lightering versus breakwater question, and one which serves to indicate the continued conflict of opinions over Port Ahuriri’s problems, was expressed by a business man associated with the export trade of Napier. Referring to reports of rock being found on the sea floor near the breakwater, he raised a doubt as to whether the scheme would prove practicable. On the other hand the lightering system, he contended, was not as cumbersome as might appear to the layman. Loading and unloading could he undertaken simultaneously from both sides of a ship anchored in the roadstead —an operation that was not possible at a wharf berthage—and the work was very seldom held up by bad weather. Moreover, the cost of lightering spread over a year was exceedingly moderate. On a bale of wool, for example, it was so small that it could not possibly be computed in terms that affected the price of the wool itself.

Usefulness Not at End. “It is a mistake,” he said in conclusion, “to assume that because the port was badly hit by the ’quake, its usefulness has been seriously impaired. After all,, figures talk, and one must accept the fact that we are handling in satisfactory fashion this season a phenomenally large wool business, also that practically no business of seasonal im- . portance has been diverted from this port to other nearby ports of the North Island.” .Such are some of the views to be gleaned from public men of Napier, who have the welfare of Port Ahuriri, and with it the welfare of Napier, at heart. While there may be sharp differences of opinion, the fact remains that, faith in the future of the city as a geographical bottle-neck through which must pass the trade and produce of a great province is not shaken. Probably the most impressive feature of the reconstruction work in Napier is the borough’s record of achievement in renewing and improving civic services. The following summary supplied to “The Dominion” by Mr. H. R. Cliinie, Napier borough engineer, serves to show at a glance the thoroughness of the task now rapidly being brought to completion. It is dated December 14 Sewerage.— A total of 135.112 feet (251 miles) of sewers have been reconstructed. More than 2470 service drains relaid and tested. Waterworks. —A new pumping station equipped with electric pumps of 730 h.p. has been built.. Artesian bores, capable of supplying 4.000.000 gallon.s daily, have been sunk to a depth of 300 feet. A new high level reservoir with a

capacity of 1.300.000 gallons has been

provided to give a pressure in the business area of 1251 b. per square inch. Repairs h a v e been made to 35 miles of mains and 2000 service connections have been restored. Stormwater. —An electrically operated pumping station, capable of dealing with 4000 tons of water hourly, has been constructed. Six . miles of stormwater drains from 10ft. to 6in. diameter have been reconstructed. Streets. — Eight miles of kerbing and channelling have been reconstructed. Pavement flags to the number of 14,184 have been manufactured. Nearly 92S cubic yards of road material have been quarried and laid down. Electric Reticulation. — Twe 1 v a thousand yards of high and low tension • underground electric cables have been laid throughout the business area. Buildings.— Plans have been approved and 586 permits issued for new buildings in the borough to the value of £703.924.