THE BREAKWATER QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4710, 14 October 1886, Page 2

THE BREAKWATER QUESTION.

Thk following is the letter forwarded to the Harbor Board by Mr Rgcs containing the public meeting Committee's objections to the proposed site : — 1. That in our opinion the present plan is simply intended as a plan for river improvements. 2. That in our opinion (judging from the evidence we can obtain) that the plan, as a river improvement plan, will be a failure, inasmuch : — (</) That the various deposits in and about the river comes from the sea. (b) Because there i 3 not sufficient volume of water, nor speed of current in and out of the river 10 create a scour, (c) That the river 13, and lias been (particularly since the present viaduct has gone out beyond high water mark) gradually silting up, and in our opinion it would continue to get worse as the work of the present plan proceed (d) That any scour of the river there may be will only have the effect -.if currying out deposits, and settling them in the area of still water, created by the proposed works, (c) That as the Committee unanimously believe the above statement to be beyond dispute, we submit it will be found that one of the most indespensible parts of the present scheme, to render it available, will be a perpetual use of a costly dredger inside the river and outside, which will entail a most serious charge on the revenue of the Board 3. That the Act under which the harbor loan was borrowed, directs that such loans shall be raised and expended upon the erection of a harbor of refuge, and a harbor of accommodation for vessels of a large tonnage. 4. The proposed works even°if successful will not give accommodation to vessels of a large tonnage, because there is neither depth of water or sea room. 5. That in a strong south or south-east gale it would be unsafe for any ship or schooner of 200 or 000 tons to try and round the end of the breakwater into shelter, and in fact they would keep as faraway from it as possible. G. That when there is a heavy aea running the most break in the Bay is on the middle bank, closely adjacent to the end of the present proposed work, over which bank ships must cross to get access round the end of the breakwater. 7. That in view of the fact that there is abundance of sea room, and ample depth of water available quite near the town with a solid rock foundation the neater part of the distance ; the Committee cannot undorstand why the Harbor Board should have selected the present site especially as the £175,000 to be spent thereon does not complete the scheme does not cover the cost of the improvements on the Western side of the river, of straightening the river, nor does it cover the cost of the groin running from the Waikanae beach, and the amount of these works, should in common fairness, be added to the cost of the proposed breakwater in making a comparison with the cost of any other scheme, 8. That the ratepayers of this district only consented to the raising of the loan, thereby incurring very heavy liabilities for the purposes intended, and expressed by the Act and for no other purpose whatever • and they will not be satisfied by anything less, 9. \\ c think that at or about Stony Point is the best place to build a breakwater (a) Because there is plenty of depth of water to be got within a short distance of the shore (b) Because there is about nine chains of rock as a starting point, and because we beueve there is a rock foundation pretty free from a covering of sand a greater part of the distance under the water and because we believe we would be free from the great trouble of silting. ( c ) Because a depth of dOft at low water can be reached by a length of breakwater very much shorter than that now shown on the present plan to get 21ft at low water, (d) Because a work starting from this point would satisfy the requirements of the district, and fulfil the conditions imposed by the Act. (c) Because if the money takes us into 20 to 30ft of water at low tide, the scheme would have this great advantage that it would he complete us far as it goes. (/) That in the event of more money being wanted in future times (the harbor erected in this place being available for large ships, and forming also a harbor of refuge to vessels of the Colony) we have a strong claim on the Government for substantial monetary assistance or endowments to carry out the work into 33 to 40ft of water, if this is considered necessary to render the breakwater a perfect harbor, so far as our requirements are concerned, for all time to come, and a good harbor of refuge. (g) Because if the breakwater startg at Stoney Point valuable reclamations can be made by the Board in the rear as required, andjjecause when the whole reclamation, of 27£ acres is finished, the property wou)d form a most substantial asset in the hands of the Board, and the rents would «*o a long wa> in helping to pay the interest on the loan. In reference to this poinfc the Committee considers that the estimate of the Engineer, that it would require over £1,601 per acre to reclaim the 27 acres, is most excessive. 10. That the Committee object to the expenditure o| any public money by the Board in obtaining any scientific advice, unless the professional men visit the port and advise upon personal inspection. 11. That tha Harbor Board be requested to lay the objections and suggestions now made beforethe consulting Engineers, and be a&kedto. obtain the evidence of local seamen when, the Engineers come here.