Raising Sea Bed

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5573, 11 February 1931, Page 7

Raising Sea Bed

WHARVES WITHOUT WATER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Fob. 10. A most extraordinary position is revealed by an inspection of the seafront at Port Ahuriri. Iu front of Hardinge Eoad, where tho sea in a storm frequently bioko over tho road, the waves aro now breaking fully 100 yards from the original place and the breakwater is said to bo much higher than it formerly was.. At tho Iron Pot portion of the Inner Harbour tho launch steps aro so far above tho water that they aro ten feet above tho sea at half tide. This applies to such an extensivo area that there is no tidal flow between the piers, but tho tide, which normally rose about four feet, is now rising seven feet.

Sand banks havo appeared all over the area, Tho wharves are now standing on dry land many feet from the nearest water. Mr Guy Rochfort, a surveyor, when asked to explain the position, said it was impossible to do so accurately for a couple of weeks. At present they could not determine where tho mean sea level existed and tho decision depended on that information. Mr Rochfort said he felt convinced that the earth on the waterfront at the Port had been raised from seven to ten feet. Just liow far that process extended it was impossible to say. He had been informed that observers be-ll^-eel the sea level at Awatoto, three or four miles away, was unaltered. If this were true the slope of tho land had been altered. Mr Rochfort, however, was not prepared to assert that the raising process had come to a stop in such a short distance. He wanted timo to gain the necessary information. The town beach docs not now appear to bo further away from the sea wall, but, in spite of that, the reef of rodlvS which appeared last Tuesday off the Bluff arc still to be seen at low water, whereas they were not seen before the big shake. It is expected that wool valued .at £IOO,OOO held in store at Port Ahuriri, will be shipped as soon as possible to Auckland and Wellington. Most of .it is exposed to the weather, but the. rain is holding off, although the wind is in, a bad quarter. Tho Governor-General loft for; tlijo south this morning. Bci’oro departing, ho took a personal interest in the rclim work and ordered many lots of boots and clothing for those in need of sueti f articles. . , The rough work of demolition is playing havoc with the clothes of tho workers. , , The last big shake occurred cloven hours ago and only one. or two minor tremors aro being experienced.