A SERIOUS POSITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4827, 26 March 1918, Page 6

A SERIOUS POSITION.

BANK AT, THE RIVER ENTRANCE.

CONDITIONS IN THE HARBOR.

What was considered by some members of the Harbor Board to be a serious position was revealed’ at the meeting of the Board yesterday in the Harbormaster’s report, which contained the following paragraph:— “The weather during the month has been very unsettled. On Saturday, March 2, a gale set in from the eastward, and on Sunday night, March 3/ backed into a _ S.E. gale with heavy rain, and continued with more or less force till Wednesday, March 6, when it abated. Flooded conditions ensued throughout the district. On Monday, March ■4, the Waimata stream was in flood, heavily charged with silt. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 5 and 6, the Waimata, Taruheru and Waikanae streams were all running strong. The streams returned to normal conditions on Thursday, March 7. Close soundings were taken on Friday. March 8, and revealed that the- bed of the river had been considerably altered. The 2ft sandbank abreast of Nos. 1 and 2 sheds, which has blocked the approach to the townwharf for the last twelve months, has now a depth of from 6 to 7 feet, though close into the wharf it is still shallow. The deep water abreast Kaiti wharf and coal bunkers has beeii maintained and increased in area. The sandbank situated between the root 9!' the groyne and the inner end of old breakwater, which had 1 to 2 feet before the flood has now 10 to 11 feet of water. Before the flood, the Maui cut a channel 8 to 9 feet deep for 1200 feet upstream, from a point 200 feet inside the end of groyne; this water has been maintained and extended level with the end of groyne. There is now an 8 feet channel from groyne end to Kaiti wharf. . “From end of groyne a 6ft to 7ft bank extends 150 feet seaward of the breakwater extension, 300 ft seaward Bft, 300 ft seaward 10ft. and 400 ft seaward 12ft of water. This bank is pear-shaped with apex to seaward. It is a serious phase of the silting ot this river. The John Townley was taken to the entrance and a sample of the bank was obtained.- It was found to consist of sand.” “This is a very serious position,” remarked Mr. Lysnar. Mr. Smith asked whether the Tuatea could work the Kaiti side at low water. Mr. Preston: No; on account of the bank at the mouth. It was in the interests of the public to keep the Tuatea on the Kaiti side. It was the most serious thing the Board had experienced. The Harbormaster said there had been heavy seas for some time on the bank. He was of opinion that it had shifted a little to the westward, for there was a heavy break just by the groj'ne. Mr. Preston: We went out with the Tuatea last night with two feet of tide and struck. Tlxe Harbormaster said there was a heavy swell then and a ship was bound to strike. In answer to questions the Harbormaster said _ the pumps would only be able to shift a portion of the bank. The Chairman said that m past years there had been a bank at the mouth after floods but it had subsequently disappeared. Mr. Preston said it was a serious matter, and the bank was beyond the protection of the breakwater. In addition, the bank had been pounded for nearly 24, hours with a heavy southerly gale. There used to be deep water there. 1 The Harbormaster said that the entrance had always remained deep up to last .May. It would be a dim- j cult matter to deal with. Since the flood part of the bank had been lessened by a foot. Mr. Smith asked whether' the silt which had been put over the breakwater had come back again on to the entrance. , . ~ Captain Carson said east of the breakwater the depth was the same as it was 20 years ago. Mr. Long said the seas had been pounding the bank, and the Harbormaster had reason to believe it was getting better, but he could not say for certain. - ’ . Mr. Preston questioned whether the work of the groynes was going to be of any benefit now the silt was ruling up at the entrance. Mr Smith: We can only wait and Se llr. Humhpreys: Mr. Preston is too pessimistic. ~ , Mr. Lysnar thou gut it would be dangerous for the Tuatea to work the bar with a swell on. . She might have a heavy load of passengers on and by bumping on the bank deposit her loacCinto the river. Mr. Preston said that as a result of the discovery the precaution had been taken of resorting to careful consideration of tidal working. It was the worst aspect of the harbor matters lie liacl known, and lie \iewcd it with grave concern. : Mr. Smith asked whether, when it was too rough for the dredges to work'at the entrance, it was not possible for the John Townley to work around the wharf and deposit the spoil where the Maui could put it over the breakwater. The Harbormaster said that there was not sufficient water. The idea was a good one if it could be carried Mr. Humphreys asked whether the silt which was pumped over the breakwater was forming the bank at the entrance. The Harbormaster: So far as my soundings show. No! There "as. a quantity of silt remaining on ixaiti Another member suggested that the Maui should dredge a channel to the town wharf depositing the silt in the part, of the river not used. The Harbormaster said the suggestion was being borne in mind, but it could not be carried out until the groynes were erected. Mr. Lysnar: Did the sand come from the sea or from the river i „ Mr. Holden said that there were hundreds of tons coming down the river. - 1+ The Harbormaster said it vas silt from the river. While cutting the channel in the river sand and shingle were continually met with. iheie was a bed of shingle at the southern side of the slip. As soon as the weather was fine enough he would put the dredging plant on to the bank to keep the channel open. _ It was left m the hands of the Harbormaster to do the best he could to cope with the difficulty.