HARBOUR MATTERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 59, 20 February 1911, Page 11

HARBOUR MATTERS.

W INTERVIEW WITH MR. LESLIE < REYNOLDS.

THE WANGANUI AND WAIROA

WORKS.

Mr. Leslie H. Reynolds arrived in Napier on Saturday, en route I for Wairoa, and advantage was taken of his visit by a representa-j tive of the “Tribune” to ask a> few questions regarding harbour matters. A telegram from Wanganui on Saturday announced that latest soundings on the bar gave a depth of 16 feet which was an improvement of sft on the depth prior to the work starting two years ago. Asked if he could give any additional details of the work, Mr. Reynolds said that in the late seventies and early eighties the Wanganui Harbour Board spent £BO,OOO odd in improving the fairway and sailing course to the town. They also made an attempt to improve foe entrance. Hie result was almost entirely negative. _ In 1866 Mr. Reynolds was called in to advise upon improvements generally, and in his report advised foe ■construction immediately of works exiling £27,000, and outlined future works which he concluded should give a depth of 20ft. on the bar at low water, spring tides, or soft at high water. The wonks which have been carried out by foe board during foe last yhave cost under £*>,ooo; they have increased foe depth on foe bar from lift to l«ft, and in foe river on to <he town from a minimum depth ot 4ft to . depth in the -fling ot from Mft to Uft. *»• ***!"“? that the nitimrte depth -whhdk will be maintained by scour tte bar .nd .t Cmtlewin be aaft to 30ft at spring tide, and foe shipping facilities at Castlecliffe, should foe ratepayers think fit to vote for a progressive policy, will, within the neat few years, surprise foe most sanguine harbour enthusiasts. The works executed at present have only paved foe way for foe increased results that may be expected, in that it is Sw BOV on that foe benefits will be realised in much greater ratio than hitherto. With a district each aa Wanganui has at foe back of it, and such testimony of good results borne out by present work, it is to be hoped the town and country ratepayers will make every legitimate effort to extend foe achene with all speed to Rs ultimate UwBA

Asked as to foe probable cost of the felly completed work, Mr. Reynolds replied, “Ah, veil, now you are asking me something I do net think I care to go into. I eoold not bind myself now to any definite figure in print.” “ Could you not give an approximate figure 1 It might be interesting in eorawutison with foe expenditure on Napier Harbour.'* “No,” replied Mr. Reynolds, I would not pledge myself, but offhand I should say it will cost well under £200,000.”

WAIROA HARBOUR.

Speaking of his proposed work at Wairoa, Mr. Reynolds said that his estimate of foe work there was £77,000. This amount was to be expended in fixing and improving the entrance by foe construction of two breakwaters carried out a short distance seaward of foe lowwater mark, with foe object of confining the tidal and river flow, and permaiwmtiy directing them in a course calculated to secure foe best scouring effects. This would give • fixed outlet with a depth of 8 to 10ft at low water, which, accepting a tidal rise of sft, would give a total depth of 13 to 15ft at high water, epring tides. The river presented no difficulties, but about a mile from the bar there was a papa for** 1 which required dredging in order to give a depth in touch with what was obtained on foe bar. From the shoal to the town no dredging or improvement in depth would be necessary, and Mr. Reynolds thinks that with these improvements Wairoa will become a ■very busy port.

“How are the works to be carried oott By contract or day labour, or has the work been entrusted entirely to youl” we asked. Mr. Reynolds replied that he eoeld not say at present. The board had not decided how the work should be done. His visit to Wairoa now was to prepare the working plans and advise the board what to do. He pointed out, however, that he had designed the Patea work, and his estimate was £16,300. The board wished to call for tenders, but he advised against this course, but. being a small district, they were in favour of a contract. He prepared the plans and specifications, but when the tenders came in the lowest was £900,000. The board referred the matter to him, add he advised them to go ahead with day work and give

him a free hand, and foe result was that he completed foe work at from £l2OO to £l4OO under the estimate.

Going “full steam ahead,” it would take about two to two and a half years to complete foe work. Speaking of the bar, Mr. Reynolds said he did not consider there was much travelling shingle at the mouth of the river, but the | blocking of the entrance was caused by a re-adjustment of shingle by the force of the heavy seas which heaped up the shingle under stress of severe weather at a greater rate than the outflow could cope with. The estuary then becomes a lagoon with no perceptible current, and the river becomes like a lake, until it overtops the crest of the bar. When it does this the confined water takes charge and sweeps the shingle away. The construction of foe breakwaters will extend beyond the rip of the breaking waves on the beach, which, picking up the shingle, pile it ashore and block foe entrance.

Questioned as to the future capacity of the port, Mr. Reynolds said he could not hope that the largest ocean liners would ever go

there, but foe works proposec would secure a harbour open at al times to smaller craft, and excepl in case of very heavy weather fot liners could be tendered outside. Mr. Reynolds is accompanied bj his wife and sister, and expects t< remain in Wairoa for about three months.