HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 12

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The recent refusal of the Chamber of Commerce and Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association to support, without inquiry, the Harbour Board in its endeavour to force the Railways Department into an undertaking seemingly uneconomic from the points of view of both the Railways Department and the ratepayers, is to be commended. Why has the Harbour Board deliberately, against the wishes of the Railways Department, gone ahead with expensive preparations for connecting up Victoria street wharf? One hears that Kitchener street wharf—a new wharf abreast of which a receiving shed has been erected —has been condemned for rail connection and even to present use, after tens of thousands have been spent there on the plea that an adequate de.pth can be maintained only by continued and expensive dredging. Prior to the shifting of the suction dredge to its present position the amount of dredging at Kitchener street seemed infinitesimal, and overseas boats of considerable size regularly unloaded their cargoes of timber, etc., whilst now this expensive wharf seems relegated to use as a lay up berth for the Otakou, when she is empty, and the commodious concrete shed, erected at a great cost, is lying idle. One hoars that this lack of use of one of our finest wharves and the board’s decision to favour Victoria street wharf instead are because of continual shoaling. What else can be expected when the suction dredge is operating so close to this vicinity—for undoubtedly this shoaling is almost entirely due to the settling of slurry from the deposits of the Otakou, The suction dredge seems to be in a ridiculous position. If it were some hundreds of yards closer in to the wall (a) loss power would be required; (b) fewer pipes would be required, and therefore less upkeep of pipe lines, and (e) the use of Kitchener street wharf would again ho a possibility. For the reclamation of Logan Park, a very much smaller job than the one now embarked upon, the 'suction dredge was pul as dose in (o the point of discharge as possible. Dredge 222 spout days dredgin.r to that end. Why has the same not been clone in (his case? Is the board deliberately trying to condemn Kitchener street wharf for overseas connection?—l am etc. White Wings.