That Communication.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 207, 11 October 1888, Page 2

That Communication.

TREATING THE HARBOR BOARD “ LIKE A LOT OF LITTLE BOYS.” At the Harbor Board meeting on Tuesday night in connection with the correspondence, Mr Chambers again referred to the request of the Marine Department that a report should be made on the approach to the river. He said the Marine Department, in not giving the name, was treating them like a lot of little boys. Mr Clark thought, for the information of the public, the name of the person who made the communication to the Department should be made known.

Mr Chambers said they were slandered and they did not know by whom. Mr Gannon said that supposing all the statements were wrong, the public had nnt even the gratification of knowing who made them. If this sort of thing went on where was the limit to be ? The Government had taken the money from the Board, and were now kicking them and treating them with

contempt. So long as the Board looked on and accepted the position it was all right, but they were there in a representative capacity having large sums to deal with, and received no courtesy from the Marine Department. Anybody could make anonymous statements. Thera had been nothing else but anonymous statements for the last two years in connection with Harbor Board affairs The Board should insist on knowing who sent the information to the Department. Mr Matthewson: What is before the Board ? Mr Chambers: We are on the correspondence.

The Chairman : Yea, I think it is in order. Mr Chambers said if they were at the beck and call of every loafer on the corner making such statements they should cer'ainly know the man’s name, and they could simply say, “ As he was a man of no account they would not spend money on his behalf. He moved that the Government be again asked to give the name of the informant with regard to the matter of the silting up of the channel. Mr Gannon seconded. Mr Dickson was afraid they would get the same answer.

Mr Matthewson said it should not bs discussed until the report was made. The Chairman again ruled the motion was in order. Mr Gannon said somebody else might send down to-morrow, and say there was a huge rook discovered between here and the Kidnappers Mr Chambers: It would seem that the Government have paid spies here to damage the district. Mr Matthewson said he was generally looked upnn as an obstructionist—that did not matter—but he knew nothing personally as to who sent this letter to the Department— Mr Chambers said, “ Ha that excuses himself accuses himself.” Mr Matthewson asked what good it was for anyone to come before the Board with such a statement. A public deputation had been practically snubbed, and anyone saying a word against the scheme would not be listened to. Mr Chambers: They want to be snubbed badly. Mr Matthewson, continuing, said he had no more to do with it than Mr Gannon. He liked to see a thing done openly, but he had nothing to do with the letter. If he had written it he should have been proud of it. (Laughter.) Mr Gannon: But you would have written to the Board. Mr Matthewson: Ido not think I would. Mr Gannon: Probably you know the writer.

Mr Matthewnon said when they could not justice they should appeal to Cresar, Since the statement had been made he had particularly enquired of men in the best position who knew the circumstances of the case, and the result of the enquiries was that he believed everything in the letter was perfectly trua at the time it was written. Ha was pleased to learn that since then the silt had washed away. On Mr Chambers making some further remarks, the Chairman said he did not think Mr Matthewson was standing there to be cross-examined. Mr Clark: Ido not see any harm in it. Mr Matthewson, continuing, said ha was assured by persona, whose names he ceuld give, but he did not suppose Mr Gannon would want them, Mr Gannon: Certainly not; best not to have any names. Mr Matthewson: That the letter must be true. Mr Gannon: According to ths man who wrote the letter. Mr Townley thought it was better to ask the Department to send the letter up. Mr Dickson : A copy. Mr Gannon : No, the original. Mr Townley said it they had a detective at work it would be better to get at the bottom of it. According to Mr Matthewson the river was now getting into its old position. He did not think it could be said that the river was worse now than it had previously been. He bad seen schooners stuck in the river for days together before the work was started. Mr Matthewson said the letter referred to beyond the breakwater. The motion was carried unanimously. Later on the following reports were read : — In accordance with the resolution passed at last meeting that the Harbor Master and Engineer were to report on the supposed silting up of the river, I have taken a set of soundings on the sama lines that ware taken in 1885, and also on some lines that were taken in August last. On Monday last I took some in company with the Harbor Master. I understand the report was to bo a joint one. The result of these soundings are shown on the accompanying drawing in feet and inches at ordinary low water, cur standard datum, and the same that Mr Perham used when he made the original surveys. As the soundings were only finished yesterday, aad the last put on the map this afternoon, you will see it is impossible to give an exhaustive report to-night, comparing the present state of the river with what it was formerly. Thirteen cross sections about 200 feet apart have been taken between the bridge and upper beacon, and from thence to end ol breakwater, nine sections at rightangles to viaduct and pier, also one for 900 feet ahead and in line with the breakwater, and one from the end at an angle of 45 degrees. Between the bridge and wharf, the bank has

moved towards Kaiti, leaving deep water on the town side. From wharf to upper beacon, as compared with the state in 1885, I found the Waikanae bank has advanced towards Kaiti and the Haiti side has retreated to the rocks, which ate bare, leaving the river about the same width. From the wharf downwards for 500 feet, the river is deep. Thence to the upper beacon, the greatest depths at eaoh section are 3ft 3in, 4ft 9in, sft Gin, sft Sin, and 4ft 9in, and from beacon to beginning of concrete 3ft 6in, 4ft, and 3ft Cin. From thence to end of work at distances of 100 ft apart, the greatest depths on each section are 4ft 9in, 4ft 9in, 4ft, and sft 6in. whilst gjose alongside of the breakwater I find 6ft for the greater part of the length, and about 7ft Cin at the end. Straight ahead of the work, and in line of breakwater, reckoning distances along the work at 600 ft 6ft 2in, 00ft ahead of where Work has stopped there is 9!c 3in instead of 6ft Qin as ip August fast. At 600 ft, Ost Sin against Oft; at 700 ft, 9ft 9in against IQft; at 800 ft, Il ft in both casia; and at 000 ft, 12lt Sin in both. At 100 ft along the pier, the distance to low water mark is about 130 ft. At this point the end of spit has come in towards the river, 200 ft along the pier, the distance to low water (on other side of river in all cases) is 200 ft, The low water end of spit is square off pier line about 220 ft from the end. On line 300 ft we have in line with

the spii S!t Sin of water, against Ift in August, and on line at end perpendicular to pier we have in line of spit Bft Ein of waler, against IB in showing that instead of extend, ing seaward, the end of the spit is bring out away, and water deepening. Generally speak. Ing, tfie water is deeper than in August, before the fresh, except in the spot indicated, It the Board only wish to reply to the two state menta from the Marine Department, I oan only say that we never, einoe I came here, had twelve feet at low water near the entrance, so that that statemont is untrue. Aud the epit, instead of advancing seawards aud being 800 feet beyond pier, is now much shorter than in August, before the bad weather.

In compliance with instructions received at the last meeting nf your Board, I have, for the information of the Marine Department, as well as for yourselves, made a careful examination of the river, and in order to make myself thoroughly explicit, attach a plan showing soundings accurately calculated at low waler, spring tides. These soundings have been made by the Engineer and myself, and will, I believe clearly demonstrate the alterations in the various depths of water in the river. The doited line (blue) points out the channel in September, but the difference will be made made more noticeable by the figures appended. The spit which formerly extended W.S.W. of the breakwater has, during the heavy seas running from the 2l)lh to the 25th ultimo, considerably altered, or perhaps I might more correctly say, disappeared. Where formerly there was a depth of only three feet, there is now, as will be seen by the plan submitted, seven feet three inches. Unfortunately however, another spit, something like a horse shoe in shape, has formed just opposite the crane, and (as shown in red on plan) occasions a great deal of trouble in consequence of its many fluctua-

tions. To sound there to-day will give no reliable idea of the depth to be obtained there to-morrow. This statement more or less applies to the whole of that part of the river used by shipping, and it should be borne in mind that there is a constant alteration going on. Since acting on the intractions received at the Board’s meeting, I have received a letter from your Secretary asking me to report upon : Ist, “ Whether the river has silled up to 100 feet beyond the present breakwater ?” To this I can only repeat the statement made by myself at your fast meeting, namely, that beyond the work, there is no alteration in the depth of water. 2nd, “ That where before the gale there was twelve feet of water at lows tide, there is now only from eighteen inches) to four ieet at low water.” I reply, I oaaonly state that during my position as Herbormaster, I have never yet discovered twelve feet of water, at any given point where it is now asserted it has shallowed to from eighteen inches to four feet. The accompany, ing plan shows the depths as at present. J. Bennett.