Information Sought About Westport Harbour

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1947, Page 8

Information Sought About Westport Harbour

Additional information in respect to the training walls and river berthages at Westport is being sought by the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop), according to advice received at a recent meeting of the Westport Harbour Advisory Committee. The letter stated that the consulting engineers were favourably impressed with the continuous record of the Westport harbour under bar, weather, and river conditions. Mr McKillop requested that his comments be passed to the Harbour Engineer (Mr A. C. Bascand). Mr Eascand, who introduced the recording system at Westport, passed the congratulations on to . Captain Tointon, who had had the tedious task of compiling the records, often under adverse conditions. Present at* the meeting were Messrs T. Parfitt (chairman), C. F. Watson. B. J. Mathieson, J. Ward, A. C. Bascand, Captain Tointon (Harbour Master), and Mr C. F. Douthett.' It was stated Railways Department engineers were inspecting the top wharf, where timber is stored. It was suggested that this partition be widened by 10 feet. This was impracticable at present, owing to a number of railway lines running up to the bins. If in time the sug' gested improvement was carried out, it would improve a bad corner which at present runs ynder the lines. Mr Parfitt said that so far nearly all improvements -for the harbour, such as workshops, dredge, tug, etc., were under promise. The only* thing which had yet been received, but which he considered very disappointing, was the visiting engineers’ report. The position for new workshops was mentioned. Mr Bascand said that there were two sites in view. The old Empire Hotel site was preferable, but if it were not possible to procure an entrance to this site from the Railways, then another site at the end of the railway yards near the lagoon could be used. A motion was carried that, in view of doubt as to the likely entrance for proposed new workshops site, the Marine Department’s urgent need for the facilities be impressed upon the Railways Department for the most favourable consideration, and that such Department’s decision be made known to the Committee as early as possible.