Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1914. Harbour Improvements.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 26 June 1914, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1914. Harbour Improvements.

Ir is a well known fact that for many years past the local Harbour Board has received more of the frowns than the smiles of Dame Fortune. In spite of the works that have been carried out from time to time for the improvement of the porq the river has persistently refused to bo improved and the various storms and floods sent by Fortune instead of scouring the river bed as might have been expected, have but served to fill up the fairway with silt and logs of all shapes and sizes. Hitherto the members of the Board have apparently overlooked the important fact that it was the river itself as well as the bar that needed attention if the port was to be kept open and consequently little or nothing was ever done, or as far as we can ascertain, ever suggested in the way of clearing the fairway from the railway bridge to the sea of snags, rocks, silt and other obstacles. Mr MacDonald on his recent visit to the town was not long in placing bis finger on the sore spot and urging the Board to at once take in hand the work of snagging I and clearing the river bed. Dame Fortune for once in a way smiled on the Board when it led the footsteps of the Deputy Chairman to Gisborne recently and enabled him to obtain particulars quite by accident so far as the Board was concerned of an appliance for clearing the river in the cheapest and most effective manner possible. Wo believe the dredge that has recently been offered to the Board will bo found to solve the problem of clearing the river that has been staring the Board in the face for so long. During the whole of the past season the captains of vessels working the port have complained of their vessels touching again and again from the wharf to thj bar, and when dredging was mentioned as a solution of the difficulty, the Board very naturally hesitated when it was found that the cheapest thing in the large dredging line would cost some £30,000. It apparently did not strike members at the time that what was required at Gisborne or Auckland was not what was needed at Patea. It is not the aim of the ratepayers to obtain a harbour capable of accommodating vessels of the Oorinthic type. It is not even suggested that vessels of the size of the Takapuna, of 1036 tons, should be able to work the port. All that is needed is the clearing and deepening of the channel and bar to a sufficient depth to admit the vessels at present working the port entering and leaving with safety at all tides. When one comes to consider the matter, the purchase of a £30.000 dredge, such as is in use at Gisborne for instance would be a waste of money, even if such a dredge could be worked in (be river, which of course is impossible. The only alternativa is therefore to procure a smaller vessel which will serve Patea's requirements for the present and the near future. It is manifestly farcical to puggest purchase ing a dredge capable of working to a depth of 26 feet when less thin half that depth is all that is needed- From the description of the dredge offered by Messrs Lsngiands and Co, tho Board havo just the thing they require. With tho special apparatus installed for lifting heavy weights from the sea bottom such as cables, anchors, etc., | she should suit admirably for tho work of snagging tho river that is so urgently needed and wih tho centrifugal pump installed as suggested eh.) should he capable of deeponiug tbo riyor bod ua required. With a depth of throo foot only this craft should unre than fulfil tho requirements of tho Board. If it were used for the work of snagging alone it would, wo boliova, bo found to moro

than justify its purchaso. This work could be commenced at once and carried on throughout tbe winter irrespective of tbe state of tbe weather and the amount of sea on tbe bar. As the work is urgently needed as pointed out and emphasised by the Engineer, it would be in tbe interests of tbe town and harbour rating district if a special effort were made to procure if not the dredge at .present on offer at any rate some other vessel and tbe necessary appliances for snagging and dealing the river without further delay* There cm be no disputing the fact that the clearing of the fairway is one of tbe first works that needs taking in hand and it is work that ciuld with advantage be started at once whatever the ultimate loan scheme may be.