NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9306, 20 November 1901, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

A report on the New Plymouth Harbor iiiid suggested improvements has been drawn up by Mr Napier Bell, and was laid before the Harbor Board at its meeting on Friday. As to the breakwater itself, Mr Bel] says it was built at the best possible site, and it is very •reditable to the harbor officers that they have managed so well with the breakwater, short as it is, that in the year only four vessels have had to pass owing to stress of weather. "But," he adds, "no one doubts that the breakwater is far too short for efficient shelter, and consequently considerable damage is incurred to ships, to the wharf, and to the tackle used, not to mention the risk of being caught in such a narrow place in a gale of wind. All such disadvantages would be quite abated if the breakwater were lengthened, in which case vessels berthed in this port would fear no weather." Mr Bell then proceeds to generally endorse a scheme for extension of the breakwater submitted by Mr F. W. Marchant, and after giving details, concludes thus : — "The breakwater extension proposed would therefore give shelter to wharves with a total berthage length of 3170 feet, that is, for about nine vessels, four of which would be of the largest size, and New Plymouth would be very prosperous indeed if it could find trade for all this shipping. The following is an approximate estimate of the proposed works, not including the additional wharves and reclaimed land mentioned in the last paragraph: — Breakwater extensions, 1060ft, at £75 — £79,875; inclined approach in concrete, £1500 ; wharf . extension, £10,800 ; dredging, say, £17,000; new dredge, £16,000; moorings, £1500; extra pfant, £3500— £130,175 ; contingencies, 10 per cent., £13,01'/. Total, £143,192."

We learn from Wellington (says the Carterton Observer) that very few sales of cheese have been effected this season in either the South or North Island. The companies prefer taking their own risk on the British market. The price quoted for the colonial market is 5d per lb, although some companies are said to have contracts' to supply at 4}d net 30 days. Mr A. E. Trott, .who has been engaged to act as coach for the Napier cricketers, will arrive from England on the 15th prox. The engagement is only for the present season, but Trott has promised to return to Napier at the end of next season if the work suits him. "He' is under contract to be back in England by May next. In connection with Trott's play in England, Mr A. C. Maclaren said to an interviewer — "Major Wardill wrote me and expressed surprise that I had not included Albert Trott in the team, but I replied, 'If we could not beat Australia with Englishmen we could not beat them with Englishmen and Australians. Mind you, only for the fact that Trott was an Australian was he left out, otherwise he would have been the first trundler I would have chosen. His variety ofi bowling is just what we want for you Australians, and I wish we had,a few like him."