CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15270, 19 July 1920, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

HARBOR PROBLEM

(To tho Editor of the Herald.)

Sir,— Yes. it seems as though it were a "problem." and a great "problem," bm as to the spending of money over it, n seems as though it were no "problem" whatever. That seems to come, whatever may, happen. Now. sir, far away back m the history of Poverty Bay, 'there always was trouble as far as the shipping and port was concerned. When any of the boats that traded here— the small craft ,1 refer to— happened lo stick .Mn me river, which was often, tlie townsfolk would say: 'Oh, for a good lresh to clean out, tho river."- And n> it went oh uiitii the Harbor board gut the -ratepayers to vole a loan of x.OO.UUO, for the pitrposiof building vii "harhor," and obtained; the services of tliat eminent engineer, Si: John Coode. Well,- he came and designed a t"harbor" out m the sea, and at the same lime told them that the river was no good, and never would be aii> good, and that it was only a waste of money to tinker with it, and* experience has proved bis remarks to be correct. Still, m the face of that advice, they rur out the present breakwater and groyne, ahd for the time it certainly made sohie improvement, and, as we all know, some fairly large boats were berthed inside, and the Board were joyful, and towns #lk would go to the wharf 'and breakwater to see the shipping,', and congratulat<i themselves on a "wharf to' wharf* service. But, alas, clown conies the merciless rain, and made -'a- flood that completely tilled up m a few days that which took the dredges years to dig out, <«.ncl it is surprising, sir, how eminent mer will insist 6u sticking to the river. Tin rivei may be diverted, or anything elst they think proper, but it will still re main the Waimata river — muddy wateralways subject to floods. All the old set tiers remember well the havoc the flood of 1876 played 'and the. flood; since. Look at tlie reports from Australia "The biggest floods m history." Well, now, it is quite within the bounds of possibility that Poverty Bay may yet be visited by "the biggest flood m history,' and at a time when the course of th( river may have been changed, for, should the flood waters rise for several feet, then the whole of the embankment' and other works would be completely submerged, go clean over the works, and rush down into the inner harbor and fill it up again. Now, sir, why not adopt Sir John Coode's advice and leave the river . alone, and adopt a scheme that will. provide a large area of shelter ■and. accommodate all-»the shipping that comes to our port, also avoiding- me ostly method of excavating, also connecting directly with the town, and a it were, at everybody's "backdoor." With the river completely cut- cut of it there by avoiding the "silt trouble." and wit? the probajllity of "no dredging" for quiie a long time, una as to the "drift," well, i .think that is -settled, for only a short while ago it Was reported; m your paper that the .vans that were placed o! the Kaiti side were picked up on the Waikanae beach, so m that case the drift came from east to west. I? advocate the dinyt contact with the town because the "less handling" the more economy. Now, I say this— that the plan I am offering is a shelter from all the bad winds that come ,into our roadstead. I offer this plan to the Board, because I notice tiv the reports that tliey have as yet not mad° up their minds a» to the scheme that may be best suited to the district, -tor the scheme- I ■ am offering I claim! economy, shelter, and depth of water. Since .writing l notice that the chairman- of the Board is to give notice that the agreement, with the Board of Engineers be rescinded. So J have made up my mind to have: another try and have placed my plan m the hands' of a prominent member of the Gisborne Harbor Board— l am, etc., JOHN PIERCE.