THE WAIRAU BAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3646, 24 January 1899, Page 7

THE WAIRAU BAR.

FORMATION OF A NEW ENTRANCE

Some time ago tho idea was mooted that if a channel;wore cut just at the last bend of the River Wairau before it reaches the sea. in ,a straight lino with the each immediately higher up, a new and straigiiter channel would be-formed, wmch, in all probability,- would prove of immense advantage to tho maritine trade ot Bleu-' -hoim, particularly so as- the channel 'thtougli the'old bar was becoming so bad as'to be .in-'certain „weather almost un-' workable. The work was taken in hand bT Mr Hardham, a' farmer residing .in the, locality, and, on; Friday, last the final protecting wall was demolished, and the ■ water began to trickle through- The current of the river finding Vent in a straightor direction than it has formerly run soon took advantage thereof, and the trickle soon became a stream, the s(.ream a torrent, and the torrent a river in point of fact the mouth of the Wairau. The rush of water has earned tnousands of tons of shingle to sea. leaving a clionnel. safely navigable, 200 yards wide with a uniform depth of 10 feet. Only those who understand what this actually . means to the navigation of thetriver will appreciate the benefit this new channel will bo to shipmasters and the river trade. In conversation with Captain Fisk, of the Pania, ho expressed himself highly pleased with the improvement formed by the new channel, and says that in addition to the benefits gained by the increased breadth and depth thereof it lessens the distance between the outlet and Blenheitn by two miles. The Pania, leaving on Saturday morning, wtis the first vessel to iitivignte the channel.