Harbor Matters—Western Spit.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9822, 23 July 1900, Page 5

Harbor Matters — Western Spit.

[to the editor.]

Sir, —I have read with much interest what has been said and written on the above subject, and I also await with much interest Mr Hales’s report and recommendations as to what should be done for the protection of the Western Spit. If the Harbor Board had £20,000 to spend no doubt some grand scheme would be brought forward, but as that body have little or no funds to spare, and the chance of Government aid is very remote, there is not much use of the engineers (whom the Board are consulting) suggesting works that would mean spending a large sum of money. Having studied the question carefully, and after many years of observation, I am of opinion that the most effective and inexpensive scheme is that already commenced by Mr Kennedy, iu facing the beach with concrete blocks. So far he has only a limited sum to work on, so that he has not been able to carry on the work so extensively as should have been done, but I am convinced that he is adopting the best method of dealing with the difficulty. Of course larger blocks will be required, and plenty of them, to make the work a success.

If the present style of cribwork is carried on the Board will find it not onlyvery costly, but will have to take into consideration the fact that the woodwork will have only a life of some twenty vears or so, when the structure will practically have to be rebuilt. In facing the beach with blocks, as Mr Kennedy is doing, it would be less costly and more endurable. —I am, etc., Ratepayer. Napier, July 23, 1900.