DEPTHS IN HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 11

DEPTHS IN HARBOUR.

SOUNDINGS BY THE MATAL

SHALLOWER WATER RECORDED.

AN ALL-ROUND DECREASE,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HASTINGS, Sunday. Soundings taken from the Government steamer Matai reveal that as a result of the earthquake the depth of water at Napier breakwater is less by six feet, in tho inner harbour by nine feet, and in the roadstead by a similar depth, the minima being 22 feet at the. breakwatcr, 11 feet at the inner harbour and 36 fed in the roadstead.

These figures were secured from a chart which was made available by. Mr. .T. S. Barf on, chairman of the Napier Commission, on Saturday. Before the earthquake there was 29 feet of water on the breakwater side of the Glasgow Wharf at the seaward end, but this has now been reduced to 22 feet, while on the same side, but at the other end, the depth is now 25 feet, which is five feet less than originally. .At the other berth opposite there are 25 foot of water at the seaward end and 22 fe<!t at tho beach side, compared with 30 and 25 feet at those places before the earthquake. Commencing from a point off tho end of the breakwater and going in a circular direction toward the Glasgow Wharf, depths on the edge of the basin are as follows, ,the original figtavs being shown, in parentheses:— 27ft. (31ft.), 22ft. (32ft), 22ft. (28ft)., 20ft. (26ft.), 19ft. (24ft.), 20ft. (33ft.), 20ft. (26ft.), 21ft, (26ft.), 24ft.' (29ft.), 26R. (32ft.), 28ft, (35ft.), and 25ft, (33ft.).

In the inner harbour the uplift is even greater. Two soundings which were taken off tho West Quay are lift., and 12fc., compared with the former depthfi of 20ft. and 21ft. The entrance to tho Iron Pot., however, is 16ft., which iis only a foot less than formerly. (king down channel beside the cattlo wharf the depths are:—lift., 13ft., lift, and 13ft., against 21ft., 29ft-, 17ft. and 16ft. Where the dragline excavator was working tho depth rapidly increases to 26ft., which is about 3ft. less than th® previous depth. The outer channel out to the roadstead anchorage has the following depths, those existing before the earthquake being shown in parentheses lift. (18ft.), 12ft.- (17ft.), 16ft. (20ft.ji, 16ft. (23ft.), 18ft, (24ft.), 21ft. (28ft.), / 23ft. (30ft.), 29ft. (31ft.j, 26ft. (32ft.>, 13ft. (20ft.), 15ft. (22ft,j, 25ft. (21ft.), 15ft. (22ft.), 15ft. (21ft.), 15ft, (22ft. 'I, 16!:t. (26ft,), 26ft. (35ft.), and 35ft. (40ft,). Ali the anchorage itself the depth varies from 36ft, to 42ft., compared with 41ft. to <Bft. before. The navigation line to the open sea also allows of a depth of between about 36ft. to 42ft.

PEOPLE AT HASTINGS.

POPULATION NEAR NORMAL.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATIONS.

[BV TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HASTDTGS, Sunday.

An analysis of the figures compiled by the registration office at Hastings shows ths t the population of the town had reached almost its normal size. The registration officer, Mr. S. Averill, oxpresses the opinion that the residepts of tlie borough and immediate environs {ire now almost entirely back in their homes. Figures supplied by the office show that 12,552 Europeans and 518 Maoris, a total of 13,070, have been registered as residents of what may be termed an urban area as defined for census purposes. Th* normal population of that area vraa rather more than 14,000. Of tho total of 13,070 quoted. 8000 odd are European adults and about 4500 European chilarisn. Of the Maoris 233 are shown as adults and 285 as children. But it- should bo pointed out that Maori adults are men registered for labour engagement purposes, and include no women. The authorities find it difficult to estimate with any degree of accuracy the number of people who left Hastings as refugees. Many left the district for a day or two, but returned after taking their wives and children to safer paits.

WORK OF REBUILDING.

PLANS ALREADY IN HAND.

FIRMS READY TO START.

[from our own correspondent.] NAPIER, Saturday. Negotiations are well in train by a number of business firms in Napier who have had their premises destroyed by the combined effects of fire and earthquake to have them re-erected, and as soon as the plans have received the approval of the commission a start will be made with the work.

.Members of the architectural profession in Napier have received numerous requests from the principals of business firms to prepare plans and specifications either for new buildings or for the repair of those damaged. When once the 6ites have been cleared the present indications are that ifc should not be long before the ring of the carpenter's hammer is heard in all quarters. . At the present time, to mention a few of the works which are in progress, J. E. Peach's garage in Dickens Street, Dalgety and Company's No. 1 wool storci at Port Ahuriri and National Tobacco Company's factory at Port Ahuriri have all had a great deal of repair work effected on them, while others contemplated are the Hawko's Bay Electric Power Board's office and store in Dickens Street, the E. and D. building at the corner of Emerson and Dalton Streets, Briasco's, Limited's, shop in Emerson Street, Thompson and Payne's picture theatrij in Dalton Street, the Sunshine Brewery in Wellesley Road, Dalgety and Company's No. 2 and 3 store at Port Ahftriri, the Acetone Illuminating and Welding Company's office and workshop in Owen Street, the Napier fire station in Tennyson Street, the Caledonian Hotel at the corner of Hastings and Dickens Streets and Fred Lowe Motors' garage in Herschell Street.

As soon as finality is reached in the street widening proposals McGruers, Limited, in Emerson and Hastings Straets, intends to undertake reconstruction work, while Blythes, Limited, on the adjoining section, where clearing work commenced yesterday, is also considering the renswal of its premises. Next to Blythes is Ross and is in the name position as the other two businesses. With these three completed and "with the Market Reserve building across the road, which the commission is stated to be in favour of proceeding with, there will be the nucleus of quite a considerable shopping area, . • • • Further down Emerson Street, on the corner opposite the E. and D. builcjiwg, there is the Central Hotel, for which sketch plans and specifications _ have already been submitted to the commission for its approval. . . These are but some of the undertakings which are being considered at the present time, and it is certain that as as the commission gives the word tbQ. ift 1 building of Napier. will