PORT OF PATEA

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 August 1933, Page 3

PORT OF PATEA

HARBOUR BOARD AIEETING

REPORTS FOR THE MONTH

The monthly meeting of the Patea Harbour Board was held yesterday, those present being Alessns A. T. Christensen, (chairman), A. Pearce, AY. Jl. Watkins, L. E. Southeombe, J. RCorrigan, S. Blake ancl W. Back. The harbourmaster (Captain AY. It. Barnes) reported' on the work during the month as follows : Hard southerly ancl westerly gales had occurred during the month, but they had not affected the entrance in the way of shoaling. Although soundings had been impracticable during the month the channel was very good cm the line of beacons and to the eastward. Owing to the very poor spring tides the dredge had not floated off the hard, hut the mud had now been excavated as much as possible from under her and it was hoped to have her afloat on the coming spring tides. Work had been ini.practicable oil the walls owing to weather conditions, belt the walls were keeping tight and it was proposed to give the hloek-s now made another couple of months to mature before putting them over on to the beach. The gangs had been principally <’4i gaged in cutting lupins, grubbing gorse, etc., on tlie board s property, both on the town side and the eastern side of the river. Only one vessel had operated during the month and there had been four arrivals and four departures for the month.

The drodgeniiister (Air A. Alercer) reported on the work carried out during the month as follows: Work had not progressed ais satisfactorily as had been lioped for. During the month since last meeting, the peak of both spring tides, a southerly gale sprang up, causing the tides to cut off, making it impossible to float the dredge off, ill spite of the fact that on every possible occasion excavating had been done. Captain Barnes had been present at every spring tide, both iri, day and night, and had been satisfied that Hie gear rigged was -sufficient to take her olf had the tides been at all favourable. When the tides ilid not permit excavating the men had been .employed shipping out the old concrete and rust, which would be necessary in most of the hays on board the dredge.

Captain Barnes stated that as long as lh<> eastern wall was good and tight a good channel would always be available for boats. At present the boitts had been working right on the line of beacons, but there was deeper water on the eastern side of the line of beacons.

The reports were adopted with little comment by the board. The chairman stated that at present there was little shipping. The .small number of arrivals and departures was duo to this, and not to weather holding up the port activities. GENERAL. Samples of steel made from ironsands from the Patea beach were submitted in a letter from the United States people interested in the manufacture of steel from these sands. They stated that they had been unable so far to raise the capital £30,000 named, in the formation of the company.