A BAD ADVERTISEMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 4069, 8 March 1932, Page 67

A BAD ADVERTISEMENT

RANGE IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR MEMBERS OF BOARD EXPRESS CONCERN. CHRISTCHURCH, March 2. “ We ought to take steps to see that Lyttelton does not get such a bad advertisement,” said Mr H. M. Chrystall at a meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, referring to the recent heavy range which forced two ships berthed at the wharves to put out to sea. “ The range certainly does not come every day, but it comes occasionally and this time it has proved serious. It is ridiculous for the board to put stones back where the sea moves them.”

Mr Chrystall emphasised that the range was a serious matter. He had been told that the fact that two vessels had had to go outside the harbour had prove! a very bad advertisement for the port of Lyttelton, particularly in the North Island. He had in his possession copies of reports made by the board’s engineers between 1906 and 1921 which showed that the same matter had been brought up about 25 times. Even then it was fccognised that the harbour was liable to a heavy range and that it must be dealt with by proper engineering means. “I maintain that it was a cardinal error to make the reclamation where it is, since that has brought the range into the harbour.” declared Mr Chrystall “ The wave-trap on the west side is use less.” It was a serious thing that ships had had to leave a port which had the reputation of being the safest in the South Island and go out to sea. Mr Chrystall moved that the board's engineer be asked to devise measures to counteract such a range. Mr R. T. M'Millan, who seconded ’.he motion, said that no doubt the reclamation had had an effect on the range in the inner harbour. Captain H. Monro said he thought that the harbour had been damaged more by the publicity than by the range. Immediately anything happened at Lyttelton it was flashed from one end of the country to the other, but when other ports suffered not a word was said. Mr Chrystall said that he was not raising a storm in a teacup. “I am doing what I am doing in the interests of the ratepayers,” he continued. “ The range has called attention to the want of a definite constructive programme.” The motion was carried without dissent.