NAVIGATION OF RIVER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23002, 3 October 1936, Page 19

NAVIGATION OF RIVER

WARSHIP’S PROPOSED VISIT TO DARGAVILLE SOUNDINGS DISPEL DOUBTS (Per United Press Association) DARGAVILLE, October 2. Any doubts about the possibility of safely navigating Northern Wairoa River with H.M.S. Leith, which it is proposed should visit Dargaville in February, have , been dispelled by soundings taken by the harbourmaster (Captain C. V. Stanich). The warship has an overall length of 267 feet and a draught of not more than 10 feet, and will be able to negotiate the river without any difficulty at high tide. There will be no trouble experienced in turning her for the return trip. The Borough Council, which is responsible for the proposed visit, had hoped that the warship would be able to berth at the Dargaville wharf, but soundings reveal that, unless the depth of water increases, this will not be possible. The depth of water at various points is constantly changing, and, although there is only Bft of water at the wharf at low tide at the present time, this may increase, or, on the other hand, it may shoal. If berthing at the Dargaville wharf is out of the question when the time arrives for the Leith’s visit, it is considered that sufficient water will be available at either the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company’s wharf, the Kaipara Steamship Company’s wharf, or the Kaipara Steamship Company’s coal wharf. No definite soundings sufficient to indicate the usual depth of water at these wharves have yet been taken, but this work will be carried out when the time for the visit draws nearer.