THE OTAGO HARBOUR BAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1865, 19 August 1887, Page 11

THE OTAGO HARBOUR BAR.

It is satisfactory to learn that the works being carried out at the Otago Heads are aifecting a change for the-better in the state of the bar. It has only been found necessary to use the bigdredgeonthebarfourtimesduring the past 12 months, and as the mole has i progressed there has been a marked improvement in the depth of water, in "spite of exceptionally heavy weather. The least depth is now, we are informed, 19£ ft at low water spring tides, and 'this 'is ample for the largest steamers. It has therefore been decided to lay up the dredge, but' if an emergency should arise it could be set to work in a few days. As to the Victoria Channel, there is only one small point where the depth is as low as 15£ ft, and this can be removed by the smaller dredge. The channel is now equal to all the requirements of the intercolonial and coastal shipping, and as the time has not yet arrived for generally deepening it so as to admit the smaller class of Home steamers, it is not necessary to use the big dredge at present. A considerable saving will be effected by laying up the dredge. ' It is not merely a question of £200 a month for wages, although that is a serious item. The cost forwages, coal, | stores, and repairs is about £560 per month, j and last year the total expenditure was £6733 for these items. As it is clearly the duty of the Board to economise in view of the funds under their control being barely sufficient to complete the works at the Heads, we cannot do otherwise than commend their action in laying up the big dredge for some time to come. The interest on its cost has to be paid anyhow, and as it will no doubt be properly looked after, it will not deteriorate in value by being laid up. There seems now every prospect of the works for the improvement of the bar being entirely successful. There is sft more water on the bar than when they were commenced, but until they are completed the Board will do wisely to limit their expenditure in other directions as much as possible. We have already attained what the works were originally undertaken for— viz., the bringing of the Home ships and intercolonial steamers up to Dunedin. The works at the bar were forced on us by the requirements of the Home steamers, and we have very nearly attained the necessary improvements for that object as well. The cost has exceeded the original estimates very largely, and the income of the Board is barely sufficient to meet the outgoings. We have only to complete what we have begun, and then we may, for some time to come, " rest and be thankful."