RECLAMATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 160, 22 June 1932, Page 7

RECLAMATION

EXTENDING NAPIER’S AREA WORK BEGINS TO-MORROW HARBOUR BOARD ADOPTS SILTATION METHOD Reclamation by siltation, the process by which Napier South was so successfully reclaimed from a swampy waste, is again to be adopted for the reclamation of a large area of low-lying land in the Richmond block, an endowment of the Napier Harbour Board in proximity to the most closely settled portion of Napier. It has been decided to start tomorrow making the necessary cuts and low banking, on which a largo number of relief workers will be engaged. The work is to be carried out under the supervision of Mr. George Latham, of Napier, who was associated with the reclamation of Napier South, and his practical experience should prove invaluable in this undertaking. When interviewed this morning regarding the matter, the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. T. M. Geddis, said that a most important decision had been reached which would bring into occupation a valuable portion of the board’s endowments along a closelysettled part of the town, and once reclaimed, the land would be available for extension of the borough of Napier. The scheme further offered a substantial means of increasing the board’s revenue. Mr. Geddis added that he was hopeful that sufficient siltation would result ■during the next few months to enable the whole area to be covered to a depth of from 18 to 24 inches, which had been considered sufficient for all purposes. SCHEME IN DETAIL. Outlining the scheme, Mr. Geddis made the following statement: — “A meeting of the reserves committee of the Napier Harbour Board was held on Monday last at which the chairman, Mr John Barker, presided. An important decision was arrived at and, as the result of which, prompt measures are to be taken to obtain as much silt as is possible during the next few months on that area of the Harbour Board’s endowment land directly across the river from Napier South—the area being that portion which is usually under water and is known as the Richmond Block. The committee, under Mr Barker’s direction, spent a good portion of the day in making a elose inspection of the area, and it was decided that the earliest opportunity should be taken of getting all the silt possible on to the area, “With this end in view the committee decided to have cuts and channels made in the bank of the Tutaekuri opposite the Boys’ High School and near the Te Awa bathing pavilion, and to seek the assistance of the Napier Unemployment Committee in having this work carried out. “Following on this decision representations have been made to the chairman of the committee, Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., and the secretary, Mr A. E. Wood, and as a result 85 unemployed men will start on the work to-morrow morning, MR LATHAM TO SUPERVISE. “The committee also decided, in view of the urgency of the work and the need for having it under the control of someone with expert knowledge of rectamation by siltation, to place the carrying out of the work in the hands of Mr George Latham, of Napier, whose long experience tn connection with the successful reclamation of Napier South, in which he played an important part, will be of considerable value to the board at the present time. “In addition to the cuts referred to, a low bank is to be constructed across the Richmond Block starting from a point about 100 yards above the High School across to Petersen’s residence on the opposite side, which will prevent flood-water further encroaching on the southern end of the block. It will concentrate the flood-water on to the area it is so necessary to raise. An outlet is to be cpt at a point near the residence owned by the late Mr C. D. Kennedy so as to give the flood-water a free run, after having deposited its silt, to the Ahuriri Lagoon.”