OUR HARBOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10035, 28 April 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR HARBOUR.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir,—At the ordinary meetiug of the Otago Harbour Board held-on tho 26th inst. a gentleman is reported to have said in effect that there would bo no difficulty in dredging the channel ■to a depth of 22ft, and he gave their engineer's estimate of the cost, which I think we may fairly asßume as heiug correct. But what I would wish to impress on the mind of the Dunedin public is not only the importance of having a depth of 22ft in the channel, but tho absolute- necessity of maintaining the channel at that depth. It appears to me there the difficulty arises, uules3 wo keep dredge 222 within our own bnrbour. Pact experience has proved this, aud I fail to see how the conditions of our harbour have since altered. In February 1893 the dredge left the channel with a depth of 21ft, but within a very short time of her departure for Wellington the channel had materially shoaled up, and in Maroh last there was only a depth of 17ft 6io. I notice in your issue of to-day that the Lyfctelton Harbour Boaid have accepted the offer of dredge 282 for six months, with the option of extending thoir charter fir six or twelve months longer. Who can say what the depth of our 22ft channel will be when she returns to Port Chalmers. Shipowners can have no faith in a harbour where a permanent depth is not maintained.—l am, &0., Donedin, April 27. Wa. B, BoH). j