INJURING THE PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 19, 28 October 1879, Page 2

INJURING THE PORT.

The desirability of the river being kept as free as possible from all banks and other impediments to navigation is so apparent, that it was with considerable surprise we noticed yesterday morning the crew of the schooner Martha Keid emptying the ballast from that vessel into the river. Upon making enquiries as to who had authorised so strange a proceeding, we learned that the responsibility rested upon Mr Seabury, Harbor Master. The majority of the Harbor Board being absent from town, no action was taken, especially as the Martha Eeid had only a feAV tons of ballast in her hold. The matter, however, is an important one. A large number of vessels aie likely to visit Foxton for the purpose of transporting sleepers, and as a great proportion of them are likely to come "in ballast," the question arises, should the authorities permit this ballast to be deposited in the river ? The law emphatically says no. Clause 217 of "The Harbors Act, 1878," says :— If any person commits any of the following offences so as to be or tend to the injury of navigation, that is to say.— (l.) Casts or causes to be cast, or suffers to fall, either from on board ship or ftv>m land, any ballast, rock, stone, slate, shingle, gravel,sand, earth, cinders, rubbish, or other substance.or thing on any tidal land or into any harbor or tidal water, or into the sea below low-water mark ; or (2) casts or causes to be cast, or suffers to fall, any such substance or thing on land in a pbsiLion where the Baine may be liable to full or descend or be carried or washed down by ordinary or high tides, or by any stream or flow of water, or by any storm or flood, or otherwise, into any harbour or tidal water, or into the sen, — bo shall be guilty of an offence, and for each offence shall incur a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds, and shall also be liable to pay the expenses of the removal to a proper position of any such substance or thing. Any buch penalty shall be recovered only

on tie pro-edition of th t Htib>r Board having jut-indicium at the jiluee w'lere the offjne j is co umittutl or the injury (,> navi-g-Uio i is or would be produced. The above is clear. Not even the Harbor Board can give permission for the deposit of ballast in the river. They may Avink at the offence, and neglect to prosecute tho offender. We are not aware whether the Board have delegated their functions in this matter to the Harbor Master. If they have not, we think there should at once be an understanding as to the course to be pursued. For some time past the depth of water at the wharf has been lessening, owing to the mass of driftwood lying at the southern end, and which tho Harbour Board is unable to remove, for lack of funds. Should any considerable quantity of ballast be thrown out near to that from the Martha Eeid, a bank is almost certain to form a couple of chains below the present wharf, and in a direct line with it. The consequence will be that when the deviation, which provides for 700 feet additional wharfage, is made, there will be comparatively low water alongside, aud a wingdam will need to be erected in the river to thiow the current towards the east bank, along the wharf. We desire every facility to lie offered to shipmasters to visit the port, but think it is the duty of tho authorities to zealoiisly watch lest in attempting to give the port " a good name," they inflict upon it lasting injury.