FOXTON BAR BLOWN UP

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1933, Page 4

FOXTON BAR BLOWN UP

Owing to shallowness of water on the bar during the present summer months and consequent complaints from shipping companies, the Foxton Harbour Board decided to carry out an experiment in the nature of geligniting the sand on tho bar in an endeavour to obtain deeper water, the idea being that by disturbing the sand it would [be carried out to sea by tho run-out [(states the "Manawatu Herald"). A _uitable tido was selected and the gelignite deposited overboard from the pilot launch in between six and eight feet pf water. The explosions disturbed the sand banks on the bar, and after each detonation the. sand, and "silt could -be Been being, carried out to sea. When the bar was sounded two days later, the pilot fouiid,:"a_. average-of six inches [greater depth; *>f: water and' that the banks had-been, levelled and, considerably reduced. The experiment was not considered an outstanding success, but, where.. shipping is working on inches of water, well worth while. The board previously .found that. the. scheme worked satisfactorily in'the matter of shifting sand banks in the :river fairway, but it was found much more' difficult to operate on the bar, where the boat was continually rolling, and it was impossible to: place the gelignite into the sand before exploding it. '