BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 21

BALCLUTHA.

August 29.— The recent fine weather has given an impetus to farm work, which is being pushed ahead with vigour.- The good prices ruling for oats have induced the farmers to sow a larger area of that cereal than usual this season. It is a great pity that oats do not always keep somewhere within the vicinity of 2s per bushel, for this is a price that will pay the firmer for his labour, and when the farmers are prospering, the country in general prospers to a corresponding degree. A New Molyneux Harbour.— The general topic of conversation at the present time is the Erojcct of opening up the river for big ship traffic, oinc little time ago Mr G. M. Barr, and along with him Mr W. Smaill, made a survey of the river mouth with the view of reporting upon a scheme for making the river available for ocean traffic. The report, which will be laid before a meeting of the Clutha River Board tomorrow, outlines a scheme, I believe, so simple and so inexpensive that the board cannot reasonably decline to proceed with the work forthwith. So far as I can learn the facts are these : Inside the river, near Coal Point, where it will be remembered during the memorable flood of 1878 the river made a new channel for itself, there is some 28ft of water at low water. About 700 ft from the i-hore there is a bar or ridge of sand over which there is only Oft. Beyond this bar the water rapidly deepens to 70ft, and still further out to 20 fathoms. All that is required, therefore, is a retaining wall on the south side of the river to prevent the water spreading as it debouches into the sea. The headland at Coal Point on the north side forms a permanent wall. By confining the river scour the bar at the entrance will soon disappear, and then there will be a water way right up to Kaitangata, with depth enough to admit the Arawa and Tainui, for there is not less than 25ft all the way. What this will mean for, the district, it is not easy to estimate. The Castle Ilill Coal Company at Kaitangata, I am informed, is prepared to launch out with an extensive coastal coal trade as soon as the harbour is opened, and, of course, the Kaitangata Coal Company will have to follow suit. There is already talk of erecting freezing works in the Clutha district, and I see no reason why we should not, as the new harbour is the natural outlet for a big block of agricultural and pastoral country extending from Milton to Tapanui, and including the Catlins district. The opening of the liver for ocean-going vessels will boom Kaitangata to start with, and must also benefit Balclutha, and the district as a whole. August 30.— At a full meeting of the River Board to-day Mr G. M. Barr's iv.port was read. The report shows that the river mouth can be deepened to admit large vessels at a total cost of L2OOO. Consideration of the report was deferred. Mr John Nelson gave notice of motion to capitalise the rents of the endowment, and to spend the money on a comprehensive scheme for opening the river mouth and making the river fit for steamer traffic into the interior. He estimated that the board could raise Llb',ooo on its endowments.