OAMARU LANDING-PLACE. (From the "Qtago Daily Mail.")

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 358, 27 October 1868, Page 2

OAM ARU LANDING-PLACE. (From the " Qtago Daily Mail.")

The following letter ha8 been addressed to the abore journal by MisH. O. Hertslett : — SiH,~When kueharge of the landing Berrice at O*maru some ninft^yeatts^baclc, I made, among other propositions foyjimprofinifsyihe facilities of snipping and .landing, one^hleb: me at the time as combining *• the ./advantages' of practicability and economy. The 'Government of the day, however, vouchsafed no reply tofmy proposal. The pr&seworthy desire of the settlers of Oamaru to improve the shipping capabilities of their port, reports of which I have from time to time read in the local journal, have recalled the subject to my remembrance j and the interest which, as one of the earliest settlers at Oamaru, I hare ever taken and still continue to take in all that concerns the welfare and prosperity of that beautiful district, induce me to trouble you with my views upon the subject, which you can, of course, take for quantum valeant and no more. It is not my intention to enter into the question of a breakwater — the value and necessity of -which all admit — nor of the proposed method of forming the lagoon into a dock, of which I Bhould not, after an absence of so many years, be competent to give an opinion, these being, moreover, undertakings problematical and expensive. The proposal which I submitted, and which I now repeat, is, on the other hand, simple and inexpensive in the extreme, and capable of being completed and made available in the course of a few days, or, at the most, of a very few weeks. "What I proposed was, that on the cliff in the vicinity of the old Derrick, two pairs of shears should be erected, over the tops of each of which, passing through a block, should run a -wire ropo to extend to, and be connected with, heavy anchors or moorings, properly laid down outside the ordinary break at the usual low water mark. This done, I proposed to have the shore end of each rope made fast to a powerful crab winch, securely fastened in the ground ; by means of which the wire would always be brought to a sufficient amount of tautness. These wire ropes, I suggested, should be sufficiently far apart to admit of a basket or cradle, of whatever dimensions that might be desired, traversing between them. The cradle would be hauled up by means oi a stationary engine on the top of the cliff, and the goods could thus be hauled up and lowered as was desired. By this means, the necessity for the boats touching the beach would be dispensed with, and the damage frequently done to cargo aToided ; the boat could make fast to the anchors while either landing goods or passengers into, or taking them from the cradle. In anything like moderate weather the surf-boats could lie without damage at such an anchorage as the moorings could afford, and I am induced to think that if it were deemed advisable so to do, the wire ropes might be of sufficient strength to enable the boats to be hauled up between them by the engine referred to, beyond the reach of danger. There is, I admit, one point which, not being a professional man, I have not taken into consideration, namely, whether or not the " sagging", of the wire extending over so great a length would be sufficiently great to render the whole scheme unworkable atid useless ; that is a matter upon which a professional opinion could be easily taken, if the rough hints which I have thus hastily thrown out should be deemed worthy of an enquiry or consideration. Under any circumstances, however, these few remarks are offered in the sincere desire to benefit, if it be in my power, a place with which are connected many happy associations, and many lasting reminiscences of better and more proBperous days. By the meaus'proposed a passenger ladder, at least, could be easily, expeditiously, and conveniently constructed.