PROPOSED WORKS AT HARRINGTON POINT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12509, 13 November 1902, Page 10

PROPOSED WORKS AT HARRINGTON POINT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—The recent decision of tho Otago Harbour Board to proceed with works for the improvement of the channel near Harrington- Point must give satisfaction to all who desire to see the port of Otago put into tho position of a first-class harbour, and, personally, like Mr E. G. Allen, a3 reported in your issue of 31st October, tho writer of this feels specially gratified as tile resolution of the board following upon the expressed preference of tho colonial marine engineer for longitudinal wall rather than groynes is an endorsement, though a longdelayed one, of tho writer's opinion of 12 years ago. In 1890 he submitted a design, for a longitudinal wall, and his motion for proceeding with it a t once was seconded hy Mr K G. Allen, Had that gentleman gone back to the incidents of that date instead of commencing in 1894 his contribution to the history of Otago Harbour would) nave been more complete, and his explanation rogarding his study of engineering text. ni' 8 WOuld llave > be * n < imlcces!? ary. Ihc board unanimously agreed to proceed w iv tho works ,ancl drawings were sent to Wellington for tho sanction of the Gover-nor-in-Conncil, but the letter sent by the secretary asked not only for that which was merely a question of veto or no veto, bub also for the approval of the Government, which meant putting a greater responsiiMlily upon the Marino Department than was usual in applications of that character, riie result was that Mr C. Y. O'Connor, the then .Marine Engineer, roported as regards the application to tho Governor that he could not recommend the disallowance of the work, but he thought that a cheaper system by groynes would bo preferable, and concluded by recommending tho reference of the- wnolc matter to Sir John Ooode.' The unfortunate, but not altogether accidental manner of putting the subject before the bovernment has postponed this much-needed work for 12 years, has prevented many calls by the larger direct steamers, and has been a source of risk and trouble to those tha,t have entered the port to an extent which can neither be calculated nor compensated. instead of at once accepting Mr O'Conner 6 advice, the hoard sent a design to Wellington providing for the construction of groynes, which was promptly and emphatically condemned by the engineer who succeeded Mr O'Connor, who had in the meantime- gone to Western Australia. After further delay, the required documents were despatched to Sir John Ooode, who, however, died before they reached London, and then Mr C. fcapier Pell was consulted, inafc gentleman encouraged the board in the absurd be hef that a permanent channel could be formed and maintained across a moving bank of loose sand'by dredging alone, but ?« a" alternative recommendation that il that did not succeed to expectation, then a system of four groynes constructed of clav Sh, TOI w r » u ith , fitone should be &» n^ 6 " u als ° a « the evil condition of the channel to the training wall constructed for the improvement of the outer-bar, but quite inconsistently.recommended worta for the training of the 2IZJ 9 T* to, y ards ' and 110t fr01 ". that %s*% $""** th6n and '»» m "mi*" reeently the board, notwithstanding the pros- ™° ° n wi B? n «emen supposed to specially represent the interests of the lower harbour, have practically ignored the necessity for dealing with, this particular place, though heir engineer has frequently called the & ten ion of ito members to its unfavourable

nJL™ EaW f" did « ct autllo >% to prepare designs for necessary works he went upon the principles htf/do vn by M? ISapier Bell, and these have met the same rotted for Government sanction, but it is tkt tbe ~. o ard'3'3 ««gineer pro •Mdcd for the construction to lie wholly of stone instead of partly clay. The board" and tttt-"* t0 f be c Wulated upon the of groynes by the Government engineer, for had those cross walla been gone on with the results upon the channel would have been as disastrous as in other cases where engineers of the long ago acted upon that principle with regard -to some of the British rivers, and it was ul imately found that longitudinal walls had to be placed connecting their outer extremities so as to regulate the current Iho present position, then, is that the board are only now where the writer plaed hlhcultie. of the channel afc this oart have been a reproach to the harbour and to tiZ «h ? had its management. Practically the design then submitted has been in possession Of the position all *!,» time, for ft has™ been disallowed, while the rival princip B. M.Babr.