AWANUI HARBOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 12

AWANUI HARBOUR

SILTING NEAR WHARVES INCONVENIENCE TO SHIPPING CONFERENCE TO BE HELD [BY TELEORArn —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAITAIA, Thursday The silting of the Awanui River in the vicinity of tho wharves is causing considerable delay and inconvenience to shipping, and a conference of all those interested in the working of the port has been called by the Awanui Harbour Board for June 15, at Kaitaia. Previous to the land drainage operations undertaken by the Lands Department in the Kaitaia Swamp area, the Awanui River was navigable with ease by coastal shipping of up to 300 tons, hut during the past 12 years the river has shallowed as the silt from the drainage operations has come down, the river being tho outlet for tho water from that area to the sea. Tho Lands Department has undertaken the work of dredging tho river thrico during the period, the last work having been carried out about seven years ago. At first tho river shoaled rapidly during the drainage operations, but during the past five years the process has been gradual, and it is claimed by some that if the river is now cleared of tho silt little if any further trouble will be experienced by shipping.

At present the river is so shallow iri places that the two boats trading to the' port cannot come up with full cargoes, and even lightly loaded are continually being stranded, greatly to the inconvenience of the business firms in the district. Farmers also are suffering great inconvenience, as there is waiting in Auckland approximately 600 tons of manure for this district, but the boats are unable to bring'this, and owing to the difficulties of navigation in the river other boats are not willing to undertake the trip. As about 25,000 tons of cargo is handled at the port each year, the need for keeping the river open is apparent.

At the conference to be called the question will be thoroughly discussed and arrangements will be made for a deputation to meet the Minister of Lands or the Minister of Public Works when they visit this district early in July to inquire into every phase of the Kaitaia drainage scheme.