MANUKAU HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 5

MANUKAU HARBOUR.

RIVAL SCHfetES. [by TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL correspondent.] Wellington! Tiiursday. Tnis aftbrnoon Mr. Bollard asked the Minister for Public Works to cause a, survey to be made as soon as possible of a short line of railway from New Lyriii td Raiftka Bay, on the nortii channel of the Mariukau Harbour, also to ascertain the estimated cost of the said railway, and tlie erection of a wharf at the said Jvliraka flay,.with a, view of having the said railway arid wharf constructed, in order that mail boats oSii le&*e tile Manukau with the 'Frisco mails at all times of the tide. Mr. bollard said he rnderstood that the cost- of dredging tbe channel at Onehunga would be about £22,000, . .

Mr. Hall-Jones: " Oh, no." , Mr. Bollard said at any rate he quite approved of something being done at Onehunga, but before going into any 'ilrge expenditure on the Onehunga Harbour, iiie Government should consider the suggestions made in his question., Mr. Hall-Jones said Mr. Bollard was a long way out in his estimate of the cost of dredging at Onehunga. Besides, they would have the same difficulty nj Knraka Bay. There was a mud bank there too. It was true the proposed line would be only one and a-ha!f or two miles long, anil (lie line would not be a very expensive miller, as the country wiis favourable, but even if the line were constructed, the trouble regarding tlie mails would not be got over, as the distance by rail would be four miles longer than by the present route. Owing to the mud bank extending into the channel at Karaka there would be the same difficulty as at Onelmiiga, especially at night; as iii some places there was only 15ft of water at low tides, The proper course would be to rehiovt the mud bank at Onehunga, as improved communication between the Manukau and Wellington was certainly necessary. Mr. Bollard said there was no such bank at Karaka as the Minister had mentioned, His authority was Captain Grant, who said the work he (Mr. Bollard) had advocated should have been done years ago. Mr. Hall-Jones reminded Mr. Bollard that changes were continually going on all along the coast they were referring to. He was relying upon the advice of experienced engineers.

MR. NAPIER BELL'S REPORT. On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Napier Dell visited the Mamikau Harbour, in company with Mr. Vickerman, Government engineer. Both gentlemen were met at Onehuiiga by the Mayor (Dr. W. R. CloSe-Erson, and introduced by that gentleman to Captain Neale, harbourmaster. At half-past three p.m., it being about low water at that time. Captain Neale took the visitors to inspect the sandbank abreast of the wharf. Mr. Napier Bell made a careful examination of the sandbank, and we understand that be is satisfied that a channel, 12ft deep, could be cut through this bank, which is Only about a third of a mile in length, in about tlitee weeks, with a powerful dredge, such as that owned by the Government, and now at Westport. The bank consists of soft mud. This was proven on Wednesday by the fact that one man could push an iron rod down to the proposed depth of the channel, in any part of the bank. Mr. Napier Bell expressed Ills surprise that this work was not done years ago, considering the small cost and the great benefit that would be conferred on the steamers trading to the Manukau. Ho also stated that once the channel is cut the scour of the tide, which runs fully five knots an hour, would not only keep it open, but would tend to deepen it. In the event of the new channel being made, which is highly probable, in view of the nature ofc. Napier Bell's report, all steamers trading to the Manukau will be able to approach and leave the wharf at low water, and they will gain a much quicker despatch by being able to steam straight ahead, and so reach the main channel in a direct line with the wharf, instead of making a circuit of the harbour as at present. Mr. Napier Bell and Mr. Vickerman thanked Captain Neale for his courtesy and were afterwards entertained by Dr. Erson.