SERIOUS POSITION

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 12

SERIOUS POSITION

Shoaiing of Grey Bar SHIPS AND MINES HELD UP A serious position for the sawmilling and coalmining industries of the Grey district has resulted from the shoaling of the Grey River bar. The bar has been shoaling for several weeks, and for more than a week now there has been only about 14ft. on the bar at high water, which is almost a record low level in recent years. Three vessels, the Omana, I’oolta and Kaimai, have been bar-bound in the port for over a week, and there appears to be no immediate prospect of their sailing. The Omana, tlie largest vessel using the port, lias 700,DU0 feet of lumber fol Australia, while the Poolta and Kaimai are loaded for Wellington. Several vessels have had to be diverted to Westport, while the steamer Abel Tasman, which is to load 1,300,000 ft. of timber for Australia, has now been in the roadstead since the beginning of this week, waiting for the bar to improve. So bad lias been the bar that even the Rata, drawing only 12 feet, was unable to cross the bar for several days, but it cleared tlie port finally on Wednesday.

The shoaling is located between the inner and outer bars, and apparently is caused by the south-westerly winds and a coastal set in the same direction, coupled with the fact that the river has remained at a low level. There has not been a flood of any magnitude in the river since the Omana and Kiwitea broke their moorings last winter, while it is stated that there is little chance of relief from the present position unless a flood occurs. Large cargoes of coal and timber remain in trucks on the Greymouth wharf, and these trucks cannot be released until ships are available, resulting in a shortage of rolling stock, and until the position is relieved the trucks are being withheld from the mines and mills.

The paralysis of the port means that no work is available for the watersiders.. The Wallsend mine is now idle awaiting shipping for an order of 1000 tons of coal fo rthe North Island. The Dobson mine has not worked this week and appears likely to remain idle, as the orders in hand are mainly for the North Island, and cannot be filled until ships are available. The State mines are also affected.