HARBOUR OBSTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 10

HARBOUR OBSTRUCTION.

ENTRANCE AT DUNEDIN. WORK OF REMOVING ROCK. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J DUNEDIN, Thursday. Steady progress is being made with the work of removing the toe of rock which juts into the Victoria Channel from Quarantine Island, on the Dunedin side. This obstruction has been a cause of anxiety to the Otago Harbour Board for some time, and its removal will prove a source of satisfaction both to captains of vessels and members of the/board. Mr. F. Goodman, of Gisborne, is the 'contractor. ,

On the Dunedin side of Quarantine Island, facing the channel, there is a rocky formation showing above sea level, and a toe of rock then juts into the channel below the water. As vessels come through this channel between Quarantine and Goat Islands, on their way to Dunedin, they have to be swung a bit to starboard to come in between the beacons of the upper channel. With a strong north-east wind a vessel so swinging has a pressure on its counter, causing the stern to come across to Quarantine Island as the bow is turned into the upper channel.

The depth of water over the toe at low water varies from 16ft. to 30ft., and the contractor has to remove the rock so as to obtain a uniform depth at low water of 30ft. When this has been done the width of safe navigable water from Quarantine Island to Goat Island will be about 320 ft. It is about 260 ft. at present.

A number of holes have already been drilled into the rocks. When the work of boring is completed, a diver will go down and fill the holes with gelignite, which will be exploded by electricity. Any loose rock then left lying about the 30ft. low water level will have to be' removed.