THE SILTING PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4460, 30 January 1917, Page 2

THE SILTING PROBLEM.

IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED SINCE LAST FLOOD.

STATEMENT BY HARBOR ENGINEER.

In the course of his report to me Harbor Board meeting yesterday, the engineer-secretary referred to the silting question and harbor improvements in the following terms: — “The improvements m the harbor at the end of December, due to working the dredger Maui with her- pumps, were so considerable that arrangements were projected for taking complete .soundings of the whole harbor and entrance channel after tile New Year holidays, with the view of making a complete record of the work done for November and December, and also to show that the entrance channel has been widened and deepened sufficiently to allow for the draft and length of vessels of the class of U.S.S. Co.’s Arahura in navigating the channel at high water, that such could berth at the town wharf at high water, and that such could swing in the inner harbor-at high water. Unfortunately heavy rain set in on January 2 and 3, and a flood came down the Waimata, and from soundings taken on January 5 it was found that the low water depth in the entrance had been reduced from 104 feet to 5 feet, t|ie depth at the town wharf was reduced from 11 feel to 2 to 5 loot, and :u one part to (5 inches, and the ebanI nel to the Tualca’s berth had been j reduced from 7 feet to 2 feet 6 ;nones in places. " I lie Maui’s pump was got to work on January 5, being as soon as the run in the river allowed her to start, and by pumping on five tides the depth in the entrance channel was deepened by 2 fobL on the line of beacons, and on the Bth tlie s.s. Opouri came in drawing 11 feet 2 inches and berthed at the lvaiti wharf. The Maui with her pumps was then concentrated on dredging a channel to the Tuatea’s berth to open up berthage at the town wharf, and in parts a depth of -1 feet to 4 feet 6 inches of silt was removed. The Harbor Master was notified on the lOtli that the s.s. Ripple was due on the 12tli, so on the 11th the Maui was taken off the Tuatea’s channel and started deepening alongside the town wharf.' and on the morning of the 12th the Ripple berthed at the town wharf drawing 9 feet 3 inches, where the day before the depth of water ranged from 4 feet to 6 inches at low water. On the 13th the Maui resumed work on the Tuatea’s channel, and by the afternoon this channel was completed and berthage given for lighters and the 1 uatea. (hi the loth the Maui went back to work on the entrance channel, and lias been steadily working there since that date. • “On the 22nd there was a lresh m the Waimata river, and very large quantities of silt came down for two days. However, owing to the Mam being kept steadily at work, the silt did not get the better of us. but at the same time no further increase of depth was obtained for several days. The U.S.S. Kowliai, drawing 11 feet 10 inches, after entering the harbor on flic 20th, discharged the balance of her cargo at the town wharf. lhe U.S.S. Kini, with a cargo of about 500 tons of coal, berthed at the town wharf on the 26th, drawing 12 feet 2 inches gauge reading 6 feet. lhe minimum depth in the entrance channel on the line of beacons is now 1 feet, but at present this channel is very narrow. “With such a decided improvement over the whole harbor in three weeks as is shown by the above particulars, it must be evident to members that with a more powerful and more suitable pumping dredger than the Maui, the silt difficulty would be reduced to a minimum and at a very small capital cost.” . , . , , Mr. Preston pointed out that on Sundav the Tuatea could not get back to her'old berth, and bad to be shifted to the berth opposite the Harbor Board’s offices. It was true that the ships were getting in. but they were sticking on the banks and at the entrance channel. The channel was very narrow and took considerable care to navigate. Things wore not as they appeared to be according to the report. It was with the utmost difficulty that the port was being workedHe ’congratulated the Harbor Master upon the efforts he had made to get the larger class of ships in. there was a bank forming and shoaling across the entrance of the river between the groyne and the breakwatei, and the river" was causing much concern to shipowners and others working to the port. Dr. Collins remarked that the policy of the Board was not being maintained. He referred to the resolution passed at a previous meeting asking for a report upon what was necessary for the adaptation of the Maui to give it some of the advantages of a S' milling dredge. The Engineer said that the report would take some time to make. Dr Collins said that he was going to ask for that report at the next meeting, and lie would also like reports to he obtained in the matter of rain gauges, upon the future reduction of the tidal area, and the question of self-recording tide gauge. Mr Townlev said that before the December floods there was nearly enough water to enable the Aralmra to be brought in Mr. Preston: No. Mr. Townlev: I say there was. Ask the Harbor Master; he is my authority. Mr. Townlcy went on to any that the report was• justified ; it was an absolute statement of facts. Dr. Collins said he believed it was a statement of facts. He pointed out that there was a resolution passed by the Board that it would be the policy of the Board to pay for the work ot keeping the channel clear out ot maintenance. He wanted to know w nether the Board was going to nav tor the dredge out of maintenance. He urged the Board to keep to its policy. He asked the engineer to report upon the bar which was forming at the entrance channel and the reasons why it was forming and the cost to the Board in clearing. The motion was adopted.