THE HARBOR BOARD DREDGING SCHEME.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10716, 15 March 1911, Page 1

THE HARBOR BOARD DREDGING SCHEME.

To. the-Editor. ~7Sir, —As 1 consider the success of the idredging scheme is jeopardised, I have on two occasions endeavored to get the Harbor Board to look into certain points which are of paramount importance. On each occasion the Board has treated my suggestions with scant courtesy, therefore, because the matter means a great deal financially to the district, I am led to place certain facts before the ratepayers through the medium of the Press. First of all, let me state the resolution carried bv the Board on the 21st May, 1910': Moved by the Chairman and seconded by Mr Paterson: "That the necessary steps for the purchase of machinery and plant, and repairs to plant as required to carry out dredging operations on the lines of Mr J. Blair Mason's report of Bth May, 1909, be taken, and that the Board proceed to carry out the necessary work of dredging as previously outlined." The main features of Mr Blair Mason's report are as follows: —"Progress —a stationary .'dredge'.": A-ietty to be built: for .landing the Sfioil and to. extend out into the wafter 'sufficient to float pontoons at all/states oiS the tide, and to : carry.cranes pump, motor, and warping, winch with raflsjJpf ■ waggons .-'-' (The report does not'indicate -where the jetty'is to be' built,'-but Mr-Mason Out the • .'place; at-the mole; near the; bdat shed.> : "Two. pontoons to bar-fly ispbil- -from : ■dredge to, landing stag'ej" .--; '• ' r~-":.'- ■"■ . ,-' . i and efetjmat'ed cost of plant:i Two-- pontoons; •• to be ; built of (not; red • pine) wire -ropes, ten-inch sand pump and motor, 1000 ft pipes, one warping-winch and motor, one grab bucket rto fit -crane, ; 2 tons^rpf/4plb : .rajlSr ; 4 tip" waggons, horse andhlirness,7costJj29Q4 T ...~v-:-,. .',. After/this repprt. was.prepared it was pointed' out .to ,Mr .'Mason that there was a. {doubt : -. whether, the totvn : water .co'uid. 'be supplied',. ''and he suggested steam :or suction gas. ''_ ■_ - : ,~:;So ,:mu'ch for. the scheme that was adopted 'by the Board,. ~, The.'iacts which I have placed -before the Board gq to show, very -iclearly ; that that"' scheme has' not /been,, .carried and.further, those, facte prove pretty conclusively that the; scheme -subr stituted ..for Mr' Mason's has involved 'largely, increased cost of plant, and very considerably increased cost of working arid iip-keep. ,',-■■ '."■■% will:place those facts! clearly before your carry ; •pumping ;plant. . (2) Sm.all-.puiitg. to. carry landing. (3)" Ex'tra'piping and. universal .." As regards ..No. T, .' Vthis. is . not:,required' at all under Mr Mason's scheme, the pumping phmt being the jetty. •■ As regards No. 2 these.jpunts are absolutely'unnecessary. As.regards No. 3,- these.wptilcl,'.also not be needed if' Mr. Masdn's-.scheine had been carried out."';';;, 7 .:..;.'. v-.'-,'-!- —;':?■ '■'■:-.'{

';. It.surely is unnecessary.for me to emphasise, the fact borne ..out; by .the i'ore-r going that the forking cost must be; very much increased*,, because Vof : „the ; additional power needed to force the spoil, through the extra lengjbh/of. pipes. Add to this the much greater friction: in the pipes through, the continuous sea! 'motion-of the p.iints carrying, the. spoil; pipes, and filially the 'maintenance of: "the -plant must be more costly because of the increased wear and tear: "

'-' Brit I come-'to a more-seriousaspect.of"' the:-risk -we run through-''-the wanton: departure from Mr - Blair. Mason's: splie'me. ■ "Winter will sooii he here with its storms,', and in "a few minutes "the ■ i whole .of the precious plant', except the.l dredge, the; jetty (possibly), \ and the ■pipes" oil;" shore ma'y ; be . ivrecked, ' I would'point out that-the present point; of discharge of the pipes (840 feet)- can only: be: utilised for abbiit 61'500 cubic; yards of spoil. The to'tal'vestimated dredgings amount to 3.63,000 , cubic and tor.eacli tlie limiiat which Mr Masbii considers it safe ,to deposit spoil on the foreshore some twelve linn- J dred to -fourteen,'hundred, extra; feet of pipes will be required, making a total pi over 2000' feet of piping. Place this against- the 'IOOO feet specified "jby ' Mr Mason to land the spoil at the same spot. „■...; ~... .',:. .... I might here mention that Mr Mason* s estimateid cost of dredging and deposit--ingvspoil is.Sid-per cubic yard. "..;- ' ~" : I think I;have here shown.: : sufficient ieasonvfor justification of the position I have taken up. over; this matter, and.-1 will only add, in conclusion, this:': The Ghairinari has not answered the question why 3lr, Mason's scheme 'has been •parted from..- Mr , Mason: was in no doubt: about the :efficiency :of i.hls own scheme, . for "ha-■wrote, "I airi satisfied that the. proposals submitted are thoroughly practical:: and under -efficient management should not', .'exceed the.cost as estimated";';, more than" in order to ensure.'efficient management, Mr Mason generously: offered, to help tne Board in any way he could during the, working out.of the'schemel" : : Why the' Chairman: did not. avail Himself of Mr Mason's help passes my : comprehension: He (the Chairman) was appointed by the Board to carry . p_u%_. a definite scheme, and he. has materially-alte'red-that scheme without*the sanction of the Board. I claim that'th'e'BoarcT is en 4 titled to a-definite statement from him why the scheme which was adopted by: the Board and entrusted, to him to be carried, out has >beeh set aside and. an; extravagant one from all points of'view; substituted.—l am, etc., ■■""-'■■-'- ' W. H. PATERSON, \ Oamaru, 14th March, =l9ll. -■■■-' ;