HARBOR MANUFACTURE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 764, 22 October 1886, Page 20

HARBOR MANUFACTURE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES,

Sir, —In your leader of yesterday you state—“ Another frightful example—if we may believe what we hear—is New Plymouth. People who have lately visited Taranaki during rough weather have seen some very strange sights on the New Plymouth breakwater. They describe the sea as flying over the top, and even capsizing trucks standing thereon, etc.” Now, Sir, it may appear, strange to some people witnessing the sea “flying” over a breakwater, but can you inform me of any work of this description oyer which the sea does not break during stormy weather ? As to the capsizing of trucks by the force of the sea, I fear your informant has drawn on his imagination. Anyone who has visited the West Coast of the North Island will recognise the fact that the New Plymouth breakwater is a work of great importance to the district. The settlers between Wanganui and New Plymouth intend, during the coming year, to ship large quantities of produce, stock, &c., to Australia; withoutthiswork they would beunabletodoso. The coast line from the North Cape to Wellington, a distance of 700 miles, is without a place of shelter. Now, the breakwater, even in its unfinished state, affords protection to vessels during stormy weather—at the moorings inside vessels are as secure as at anchor in Wellington Harbor. The want of wharf accommodation will be met shortly. Plans submitted to the Government for approval were returned a few days since, and a wharf, having 17 feet of water at low tides, will be constructed in a few months, suitable for the Wakatipu and other large Bteamers. It is admitted by persons competent of judging, that the New Plymouth breakwater is far superior to any work of the kind in the Colony ; and it will be of great service in effecting rapid communication with this city and Auckland. With these facts before them, I will leave it to your readers to form their opinion as to the supposed existence of “ another frightful example.’ —I am, &c., October 16. K. M. [We are very glad to see for once a better account of the work in question. Other information received by us is, however, of a different character. Ed. N.Z.T.]