WESTPORT DISCUSSION ON THE HARBOUR REPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 9

WESTPORT DISCUSSION ON THE HARBOUR REPORT

The principal recommendations made by the English engineers, Messrs E. J. Buckton and A. J. Clarke, fpr improving Westport harbour, were not considered impressive and were not enthusiastically received by members at the monthly meeting ol* the Westport Harbour Advisory Committee. After a discussion on the various aspects of the preliminary report received from the Minister of Marine (Mr. O’Brien), W- B. Mathewson (thp Westport Coal Company’s representative on the committee) said that until full details were received the committee was acting on assumption at present.' A portion of the engineers’ report on the harbour suggested that the dredging of the shingle spit at the merchandise wharf should be discontinued as soon as a new merchandise wharf could be developed .in the lower reaches of the river, and there- 1 after the spit should be allowed to

build up naturally, and in the meantime be dredged only when absolutely necessary to provide working depth at the quay. This suggestion did not meet with the approval of the committee, and it was decided to make inquiries about the ’position of the » bar between 1917 and 1920 with respect to river dredging. Mr. J. Kilkenny said that it was only reasonable to think that it river dredging was proved successful years ago, and alternative methods had since failed, the old methods should again be used to advantage. In reply to a question by Mr. Kilkenny, the chairman (Mr. T. Parfitt) said that the plans would not be taken as final, but would be placed before the works commission.