THE LOWER HARBOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2090, 15 March 1894, Page 15

THE LOWER HARBOUR.

The letter written by Mr Moore, agent of the Shire line of steamers, dealing with the depth of water in the channel in the lower harbour, having been referred by the secretary of the Harbour Board to the harbourmaster (Captain M'Callum; for a report on the matter, that officer has replied as follows : — Harbourmaster's Office, Dunedin, March 10, 1894. Sir.— ln reply to your memo, re arrival and departure of s.s. Perthshire, I have the honour to report as follows : — This vessel arrived at Port Chalmers on the 20th ult. on a draught of 19ft forward, 23ft aft, and sft lOin on gauge. On the following morning I instructed Captain Wallace re outward draught, trim, &c. On the 4th inst. the steamer sailed for London— draught 22ft sin forward, 23ft Bin aft, sft 6in on gauge. Previous to the Perthshire's departure the captain informed me ha calculated on receiviDg 2000 carcases of mutton which never came to hand, and while proceeding down the harbour he_ further stated that, on account of the vessel's draught, he refused to receive 700 bales of wool, which were afterwards transferred to the s.s. Fifeshire. lam 'not aware of anything having recently tranßpired calculated to cause an alarm concerning the prosent'eondition of the harbour. On the contrary, I find that although the west channel has deviated to the eastward of the dredged channel the depth of water today is practically the Fame as I had the honour to report to the board in November 1893. As to the departmental management of the harbour, I can confidently refer you to my past record up to date. In conclusion, I beg to state that in order to obtain a proper margin of safety for vessels of the Perthshire class being able to leave or enter the harbour independent of good tides it is absolutely necessary to maintain a permanent low water depth of 21ft in the channel. In support of my statement I desire to point out that if the Perthshire had bean ready for sea on the Ist inst., when the tide gauge registered only 4ft Cm, at high water, it would simply have been impossible to have passed through the west channel on that date. On tho other hand, if vessels of this class continue to make this port their final port of departure they must either be prepared to trim their ships to suit the depth of water in the channel or give way to other vessels of more desirable dimensions and draught. — Your obedient servant, D. M'Callum, Harbourmaster. Secretary O.H 8., Dunedin.