SHOALING OF TARUHERU RIVER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13699, 1 June 1915, Page 3

SHOALING OF TARUHERU RIVER.

At yesterday's meeting of the Harbor Board Messrs Grant and Cooke submitted a letter received from Mr-W. Nelson, Tomoana, m which the latter stated he was disappointed with the Board's reply re dredging shoals m Tarulieru river. It appeared to be based entirely on legal grounds, whereas a very strong moral ground existed which probably some of the members had forgotten and others were not^ even aware of. About ten years ago it wa s agreed that if Nelson Bros, dredged a straight channel from the works to Lyttibn roau.. the Board would remove the shoals from that point to the wharf. Nelson ' Bros, faithfully carried out their part of the agreement at a cost of about £2000, the Board contributing £400 towards this expenditure. Nelson. Bros, made an 'Xcellent job of their part of the contract. .' It would appeal- absurd for the Board to contribute towards the : improvement of the upper part of the 'river if they did not intend to. make the lower part; of equal capacity, which at the time they undoubtedly did intend and promised him that it should l>e done. There was no doubt that Nelson Bros.' work had vastly improv,ed the current m flood time. and. probably had had the. effect of deepening the lower part of the river m places and forming more pronounced shoals m others. Xt was only those shoals that they asked to have removed and the Borough water main lowered. They thought that after reading the letter the Board would meet what was an actual necessity, otherwise their traffic might some day be absolutely blocked, which he dould, not think any member of the Board would care to Bee happen. He reminded the Board that 25 years ago Nelson Bros, were looked upon by 'all Gisborne residents as quite desirable people to support. The reference to the possibility of Nelson Bros.' erecting works further up the river contained, he supposed, some hidden wit, but Nelson* Bros. ( not only would not ask to have the river deepened above their present works, but they would never ask for any • attention to the river above Lytton road — they would take the entire responsibility of that half-mile. Nelson Bros, were paying the Board £2000 a year though probably not putting a ton of goods a year on to the wharf. The chairman said the matter would be new to most of the members. He thought Mr Brown would be present: on the occasion mentioned. — Mr Brown: No; I think you are the only one, — Proceeding, the chairman said it' was true that the Board had undertaken the dredging stated. There had been a flood, and a great deal of silt had come down. — Mr Brown : From their own dam. — Continuing, the, chairman said that the Board had done the work to Mr Nelson's satisfaction at the time, but he had no knowledge that the Board was to continue the work.— As to the pipe line, that had nothing to do with the Board, but it would have to be lowered. After referring to the growth <of the pipi beds, which he said were causing the trouble/ he suggested that the Board should enquire what work was to be done, and no donbt Mr Nelson would assist. The river had to be kept open. — Mr Brown urged there should be something on the minutes.— Mr Smith said that they should first have a report from. the Harbormaster, who should plot the portions of ■ the j : ver m question. — Mr Preston pointed out that Air Nelson raised a big question. . ■, ■

A ■■'"'^ which was produced by Mr Gram shows that the shallow area m question extends particularly from the footbridge, at Ballance street to a short distance above the old 'hospital. Opposite Disraeli street the river has shoaled from 2ft llin at low water to lft sin, and proceeding up stream there are other portions that have shoaled from, 2ft 9in to lft sin, and 2ft liin to Ift Sin. The scour around the piles of the Roebuck road bridge has altered the soundings from 2ft Bin to 4ft lOin, but above the old hospital there is now only 2ft and 2ft 2in, where there was formerly 2ft lOin and 3ft. Opposite Herbert road there was only 2ft lQin when the soundings were taken m November last. • .