A New System of Harbor Construction.

Evening Star, Issue 7647, 25 June 1888, Page 2

A New System of Harbor Construction.

The ' Wanganui Herald' describes as follows a new Bystem of harbor protection, which it is proposed to carry into operation;— "Briefly stated, the plan is to extend the north wall by means of fascines secured by wires of several strands, fastened to piles. The tide brings in sufficient sand to cover the layer of fascines, when another lajer is placed in position, with the same result, until the embankment is carried up to a sufficient height. The cost is a mere trifle compared with the rubble wall, and the barrier against the action of the sea is equally strong. Mr Thatcher has patented his invention, and is prepared to submit proposals for a section of 150 ft of the work on the principle of no cnre no pay. If for L 2,000 a mole of this construction can be carried out to the bar, securing a depth of say 20ft, then the problem has been solved. The whole question turns upon the point whether the wall will resist the action of the sea ? For our own part, after the study of the conditions of the river for many years, we have no doubt whatever of the success of the scheme. The principle, in a modified form, was applied to the South Spit, and answered the purpose of resisting the action of the sea and the river. The essenoe of the plan is that, instead of raising up a wall to receive the full force of the waves, an artificial beach is formed by the conservative action of each wave carrying up the material and depositing it at the natural angle.'