THE PORT OF KAIPARA

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15055, 26 July 1912, Page 4

THE PORT OF KAIPARA

PRESENT AND FUTURE.

THE NAVIGABLE RIVERS.

(FROM OUR DARGAVILLE CORRESPONDENT.) As delineated on the map tho port of Kaipara attracts little attention, possibly owing to the peculiar conformation of tho northern peninsula. It is one of the most extensive inlets in the Dominion, but outside maritime circles its peculiarities and advantages are barely known. Instead of being an ordinary harbour it is really an

inland sea with great rivers stretching to north, south, cast, and west. The fact that the tidal frontage of the port embraces 750 miles should convey some idea of the immensity of the estuary within which great fleets could safely anchor and yet be without view of one another. Like all west coast entrances it has a bar of

seemingly alarming proportions, and in heavy weather outward-bound vessels are at times delayed, because the mist of the turbulent billows rises heavenwards to such a degree that all vision of bar and channel are obliterated and navigation beacons are indiscernible. The Kaipara Bar. When one reflects upon the enormous land areas drained by tho Kaipara tributaries area embracing the whole ol Hobson and Otamatea, the half of Whangarei, Rodney, and Waitemata, the quarter of Hokianga, and a good stretch of Bay of Islands counties— wonder is that the bank barriers at the port entrance do not wholly block navigation. . Immense quantities of silt aro annually carried down to the Tasman Sea, leaving in their wake numerous shoals which dot.the important rivers flowing into tho estuary, and hence tho bar, well-known to coasting and intercolonial mariners. In place of an ordinary narrow barrier causing two or three rollers, it is composed of shifting banks which extend lengthwise for 15 miles, and are situated some two miles outside tho North Spit, and 12 miles from Pouto, tho signal station. When surveyed by the staff of H.M.S. Pandora in 1852, the bar was composed of six banks intersected by channels and swashways, ranging from a half to one mile in width, tho mam channel giving a depth of 30ft at low water. Four years later the barque Galatea passed through a clear and straight channel leading to the North Spit, carrying 42ft at low spring tides. In 1890 tin* least depth on the lino of leading beacons was 30ft at low water. The Galatea's channel has long since silted up, and the route for vessels is now mora northerly! with a channel three-quarters of a mile in width and a depth of 18ft at low tides. Still, in spite of changeful conditions, navigators aro not fearsome of danger, for though Kai-

para has its graveyard of wreckage, such has been chiefly caused by the wind dying away whilst the bar was being negotiated, and not by accidents of storm on the bar itself.

A Safe Harbour. Onco inside the bar deep water is carried to an anchorage on cither side of the harbour, and at Pouto, where the width between the North and South Heads is five miles, there is the best of anchor grounds for incoming or outgoing ships. Under ordinary conditions vessels enter port by day or night. At the North Spit there- is a second-order dioptric white flashlight, which shows every ten seconds, and at the Pouto a leading light is exhibited which indicates true land and water posi-, tion. Tnsi ie the estuary, there is complete safety, and vessels of large tonnages can proceed for many miles up the main ; rivers. The Wairoa River. The chief river is the Northern Wairoa. For 13 miles from Pouto this river has an average width of three and a-half miles, when it narrows to one mile for a further distance of 20 miles, then narrowing gradually till at the head of the navigable waters (70 miles), it is barely two chains in width. Recently the bafque Louisa Craig sailed in over the bar and proceeded to Dargaville, a river distance of 32 miles from Pouto, without any assistance from steamers. Vessels drawing 21ft load ~i sawmills, situated 23 miles from Pouto. The steamer Waihora (3000 tons) bus loaded at that point, and every month steamers of 1500 tons register carry away cargoes of 1,500.000 feet of timber without i inconvenience of depth. The latter class of ships can berth safely at Dargaville, and above that town for ten miles, large barques regularly load at one or other of the milling centres. The upper reaches of | the river are daily patrolled by ferry steamers for a distance of 30 miles above Dargaville to Tangiteroria, past which thetideway is navigable for launches for some 16 miles. The river is in places marked by sandbanks, which are well buoyed, shore beacons denote tho correct courses, and to favour navigation during night a light is shortly to be established at an important river position. The Kaipsra River. Next in importance to tho Wairoa is the Kaipara River, which trends southwards to Helcnsville. The largest vessels can safely proceed to Shelly Beach, 22 miles from tho North Spit, and 10 miles from Helensville, which town can be readily approached at high water by vessels drawing 16ft. For the greater portion of its length the Kaipara River is in extent a veritable sea with a width of eight miles. A large daily passenger and cargo steamer service is maintained on this and tne Wairoa River, and to accommodate such, an acetylene gas light exists at Shelly Beach, and a Wigham patent light at the entrance to the Helensville inlet. The Otamatea River. Tho Otamatea River is distant nine miles from Pouto in an easterly direction, and traverses some 20 miles to where it taps the North Auckland Main Trunk 'ine at Young';) Point. The channel throughout is good, and at the point of railway intersection there is 12ft of water at low tide sufficient for vessels of the ordinary barque rig. In the near future it is probable that a leading light will bo erected at Ivumete Bluff, as the construction of tho railway is expected to make Young's Point a chief discharging ground for South Is land produce, cargoes of which arrive al most weekly in the Kaipara. In view of such the Government is erecting a wharf at a cost of £8000. The railway bridge will impede navigation for largo vessels but small craft will still be enabled to pursue their ways to Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka. From tho Otamatea, the Arapoua River branches northwards at Batlev and for a distance of eight miles to Pahi the largest naval cruiser can find safe anchorage At Pain, the river branches into (Se Pahi and Matakoho Rivers which serve ™ extensive settled territory. an A further important river is the Orui wharu which trends eastwards for some 20 miles, when it touches the North An ) hind Main Trunk line at Te Hana and To num. Port Albert is situated on this tri butary, and from there to the railwav small steamers find unimpeded navigation

Trade o! the Port. Till recent, years, when the largo steamer companies entered into competition for freights, the Kaipara claimed an extensive fleet of coasting and ocean-going traders but the wind-jammers are being superseded by steamers having a carrying capacity of from one to three million" feet of timber.

The average tonnage which annually arrived the port is 60,000, and the averaJo export of timber is . 40,000,000 feet of a valueof £150,000. With the steady disappearance of northern forests the tonnage mentioned bids fair to rapidly dimmish if nothing exportable can be found to .take the place of timber. Luckily the kaipara has more than one string to its bow. .Extensive coal deposits have been located in the Northern Wairoa district, and the sole reason why these are not being worked is that vessels carrying timber to Australia demand a return freight, which is found in Newcastle coal, some 10,000 tons of which are annually imported for Kaipara steamers. .Incidentally it may bo mentioned that the steamers and launches permanently engaged on Kaipara waters number over 120. Once the coal beds are exploited it is anticipated that a brisk ! coastal trade in that fuel will ensue, as it has been proved excellent for steaming purposes. In the Otamatea district there are well-proved lodes of copper, which promise to create a valuable industry, and lime suitable for building purposes exists over a large area. For some considerable time farmers have discussed the desirability of erecting freezing works in the benefit of which Otamatea, Robson, and Rodney counties would principally participate, their combined live stock assessments being 192,339 sheep, 66,822 cattle, and 6675 pi£S. If the freezing works should lie established the butter exportation would also be a matter of moment, whilst the export of canned fish (of which there are four factories); would also be an important item. Possibilities of the Port. In days gone by some of the smartest units of the coasting fleet were constructed in Kaipara shipyards, and annually specimens of craft for all parte of the Pacific are consigned from the various firms enpaged in that industry. So with the vanishing of the timber it may safely be assumed that instead of its prestige waning Kaipara port will increase in importance, .and -tb»* ere, long the creation of a harbour trust will be necessary to govern its fortunes. With 750 miles of tidal water frontage, and sites ad. lib. for the prosecution of all industries, its potentialities are unbounded. The Government steamer Hinemoa visits the port quarterly, attends to lighthouse requirements, takes bar soundings, and, when necessary, relays buoys. Tho inward and,outward tonnage necessitates the alert superintendence of the harbourmaster (Captain Savident), who, with his staff, excellently mar.ages the conduct of the port, regularly sounds the main rivor, channels, and sees that no marine impediment mars navigation or hinders the speedy berthage or clearance of the numerous vessels with which he has to deal.