PATEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1916, 28 April 1888, Page 2

PATEA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRKSPONDENT.)

Captain Wray having returned to Patea for a day or two to remove his family to Timaru, the opportunity was taken yesterday afternoon for a few of his friends and admirers to meet at the Central Hotel for

the purpose of saving good bye and presenting him with a slight token of regard in the shape of a purse of sovereigns, with which to purchase some small memento of Patea and district. His worship the mayor, and in a few wellchosen words made the presentation. Mr. Cowern and others followed, one and all testifying to the regret we experienced at Captain Wray being removed from the district. The health, long life, and happiness of Captain and Mrs. Wray were then drunk in bumpers, and Captain Wray replied at some length, stating his regret at being compelled to leave Patea, but that he could not have chosen a more suitable place than Timaru. Captain aud Mrs. Wray and family left by train to-day. The meeting called for last evening to

take steps for a renewal of the assemblies this season fell through for want of a quorum. It is to be hoped that these assemblies will not be allowed to claps, as Patea has the credit of possessing one of the best floors for dancing on the coast. ' April 27.

Mr. Blackett's Report on the Harbor Works.

(united press association.)

WELLINGTON, April 26. The following is the full text of Mr. Blackett's report on the New Plymouth Harbor Works : — I have the honor to forward herewith a report on the harbor works at New Plymouth, m accordance with directions contained in a letter from the assistant secretary for the Marine Department, dated 27th March. These directions were to proceed to New Plymouth for the purpose of examining and reporting upon the alleged acccumulation of sand near the breakwater there, and of stating whether, in my opinion, it is probable that it will be a permanent injury to the harbor, and, if so, the best means of removing it and preventing it again accumulating ; and furnishing, at the same time, an estimate of the cost of doing this. I will first shortly describe the general features and extent of the harbor works, which have been executed to date. These consist of a concrete breakwater or a total length of 1950 feet, the top of which is about 8 feet above the level of high water at spring tides. This structure, for about 1200 feet, projects into the sea in a north-easterly direction ; then, for the remainder of its length, its direction is altered by a very easy curve east-northeast, thus partially enclosing a sheltered area of harbour lying between it and the shore, to the east of it. Within this sheltered area has been erected a landing, wharf, extending to about 1300 feet from the shore line — not alongside of the breakwater, bnt a distance from it of about 150 feet. The wharf itself is about 350 feet long, and is joined to the root of the breakwater by a curved gangway carrying a railway for the passage of locomotive engines and trains of wagons. It is also fitted with cattle yards and race, etc., for the loading of cattle and sheep. At times when it would be impossible for the vessels to lie alongside of the breakwater owing to the sea breaking over it in large volumes, vessels can lie in smooth water alongside the wharf, on either side of it, thus permitting the safe and easy discbarge or loading of goods at all times. The depth of water at this wharf are — At the outer end 15 feet, at the middle 12 feet, and at. the inner end 10J feet at l^w water, the rise- and fall of tide being about 12 feet. In a N.N.W. direction from the root of the breakwater, and at a distance from it of about 450 feet, lies the rocky island of Mikotahi, itself being also about 550 feet long, in the same direction. Before the harbor works were begun Mikotahi was at the time of the highest .water an island joined to the mainland by a rocky reef, swept clear by tbe passage of the tidal waters, and offering* at tbe time of low water an easy means of access to the island. After tbe erection of a portion of tbe breakwater sand began to accumulate on this reef, and as the work progressed the accumulation increased in width and height up to the present time, when it presents the appearance of a broad bar or bank of sand, extending from the root of the breakwater to the island, tbe top of the bank being considerably above high water level, and tbe sides of it respectively forming flat sloping beaches to the east and west. That to the west extends along tbe boundary or sea wall of the block-yard, against and over which the sand is heaped up by the action of the wind ; that to tbe east extends along the outer line of the breakwater, where it has gradually shallowed the water to such an extent that the sand forming it has found for itself a passage round the end of the breakwater, whence it has formed a narrow spit across the entrance to the harbor, extending for a distance of about 450 feet in a direction nearly at right angles to that ot the breakwater, and thus barring, to a certain extent, the direct approach of vessels proceeding to the wharf. The sand spit is pear shaped in the plan, with the narrow end next the breakwater, and the broad end, which is about 50ft wide, was lately visible at low water of spring tides, where before there was a depth of about 14ft of water. The height of this spit has, however, of late been observed to be variable, there being at present about 18 inches more water on it than was observed a fortnight ago. A further deposit of sand, which has apparently come over the breakwater during heavy storms, has taken place along the face of the breakwater, covering a length of about 900 ft, and a width varying from about 100 ft at the outer end to about 70 or 80ft at the inner end, or nearly opposite to the inner end of the landing wharf. This deposit is several feet in depth, being generally greatest next the breakwater, and decreasing towards the wharf, at which it has not yet affected the facilities for loading. An opinion has been expressed that the accumulation of sand above described is due to tbe manner in which tbe works connected with the quarries, and the roads leading to them, were carried out; that is, that a large amount of excavated material from the roads, and of debris from the quarries, were thrown into the sea, thus forming material from which 6and was produced, and which has thus caused the evils now under consideration. It would be well for tbe interests of the harbor that this were the extent of the evil, but it is a view of the question with which Ido not agree ; not that the debris, etc. above mentioned did not produce a certain amount of sand, etc., but the quantity was insignificant, and has long since been carried away, and ceased to bear its part in the operations now going on. These are far more extensive, and the supply of sand threatening tbe existence of the harbor comes, without doubt, from the long stretch of sandy beach lying to the south and west of Paritntu and the adjoining islands, which, from their rocky character and the deep water existing outside of them, were, when the- works were designed, thought to form a barrier sufficient to prevent the passage of sand from the southern beaches.'

In evidence of the fact that the sand does travel from the southern beaches and around Paritutu and the other rocky islands, and proceeds thence northwards, it may be stated that gradually, since the breakwater was commenced, its formation barred the movement of the sand to the east and north, and thus cut off the supply which kept the beach covered with sand between the breakwater and the town of New Plymouth, the effect of this being that between these points the beach has been denuded of sand almost entirely, the sand having travelled northwards, and all tbe reefs are laid bare. The fore-shore being thus deprived of its natural protection has, at certain poiots, been attacked by the 6ea, rendering necessary expensive protective works, particularly in the vicinity of the new railway station at New Plymouth.