PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9812, 8 November 1917, Page 8

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

At the monthly meeting of the Pa tea, Harbour Board on Monday the pilot re-i ported that the channel over the bar, was very narrow and crooked, caused, he. thought, bv the beach making out and’ the sand coming round the western wail;; also by tire washing away from between, Pulley’s wharf and the guide pier. It was also shallow in the bay. On the 29th the Wavertey came in and wont out the same night, the first boat since September 7th. On the 31st, when tho Ka-, puni was coming in, she crossed the bar! safely, but got just a little boo far on the west side and took the ground in the bay. She was got off after an hour a bumping about. On Saturday, 4th, the Waverley and Hawerra, drawing Bft and with Bft on tho gauge, took the ground coming in just outside the walls, and washed over into deep water. It looked bad for shipping during tho present neap tides. Ho sounded on the morning of the - sth from Pulley’s wharf to very near tho end of the walla, and got from 7ft to 12ft, with 4ft showing on the gauge, bo that them waa good water in the channel inside. The Harbour Board’s engineer made reference in his report bo the board to tho fact that the new dredge had recently been utilised in unloading some heavy “lifts” from tho coastal steamers, and had proved very useful for such purposes. Mr Horner informed the board that the “lift£" referred to were heavy pieces of machinery that -Mr Heskett had landed for his iron sand works at Pa tea. ' ’ '