OLD HARBOUR CONTROVERSY

Southland Times, Issue 17193, 12 November 1912, Page 8

OLD HARBOUR CONTROVERSY

WHEN THE NEW RIVER WAS BUSY. 'O*rom the Invercargill Times, Septem*. her 1. 1883.> During the course of last week, some remarkably well informed individuals were "laying the odds ” that after all that has been said the steamship Gothenburg would hot find her way into the New River; that her captain would think better of it, or, if he ventured to attempt the of the bar, that the good ship .■would there find a resting place until Winds and waves had broken her up. We are very happy in being able to the fact that the aforesaid shrewd and well informed indi■ylduals were altogether in the wrong. Ho doubt they will pay their money, 3ook pleasant, and confess that their (knowledge of the capabilities of the Hew River Harbour was very small. 'But besides the men who were willing to risk their money on the event — looking at the matter from a purely wporting point of view—we have good reason for supposing that there were others, who, from interested motives, spread a report in town that the Gothenburg was certainly not coming into the New River, but would content .herself with calling at the Bluff. It need scarcely be said that, if those .who credited this statement had taken B very small amount of trouble, they might have satisfied themselves that It was false, and in one or two instances a good deal - of time and trouble would have been saved. After taking some little pains in order to find out whence the report originated, hwe believe we have succeeded, and should strongly recommend a certain to use his tongue for the Juture with a little more discretion. £The journey from Invercargill to the JEUufl, and back again, with the prospect of losing the vessel you expect to »ail by, can by no means be looked top on as a source either of pleasure ■or profit. It has been" our duty on many occasions, but more particularly .towards the latter pnd of. last year, to gwrite. not against” The, : harbours,, but i*gaJnst the neglect they met with at ithe hands of the Provincial Government, at a time when the growing importance of Southland was beginning ■to attract very largely the attention iof Australian shippers. From all «ources, from the public prints, and tdrom private despatches, we learnt that that neglect was having a depressing effect on our commerce, and our opinion on the subject was pretty freely expressed. Our Northern neighbour i(a very good and useful sort of neigh,l>our on the whole), was not slow to echo the cry that certain shipwreck awaited the master mariner who was foolhardy enough to risk his ship’s bottom in Southland waters Still the Government made no sign. Fortunately for the Province, a light appears to have recently broken in on the gloomy recesses of that beautiful pile of buildings with which the corner of Dee street is decorated. The official slumberers have awoke, and •though late in the day, begin to show signs of renewed vitality. Who thought that every one was dead within the Government buildings ? Whoever thought so was mistaken; it was a case a serious case certainly—of suspended animation, and the sufferers

are again, to a certain extent, in posession p£ such faculties as each may happen to be blessed with. One of the principal proofs of what we assert ds to he found in the improvements rwhich are being effected in the harbours, especially in the much-reviled Hew River. Some months back the owners of the Gothenburg would have ;thought a very long time before they jaent so fine a vessel on what was then jxonsidered a really dangerous undertaking; to-day we have, the same vessel iiiding comfortably at anchor in the ’ Pool, and Captain Mackie saying that

; he sees no more than an ordinary risk ■to taking the Bar, and coming up the i channel. Amongst those things that fthe Government have done for the New Kiver, is the increasing of the number ■of pilots, though further additions are Btill called for, and their pay is not ;high enough, considering the work .they have to perform; we may besides, mention that careful soundings have been taken, which show that the range of tide at the New River Heads is from six to eleven feet, and that at five feet rise there are H! feet of water in the channel at present'in use. Some fears have been expressed lest the present channel should at any time become closed, in which case those fears may be dispelled when ,-we state that there is another channel to fall back on, where there are eight feet at low water during spring tides. A vast improvement has been effected in buoying this harbour, and H may be reasonably hoped that hut a snort time will elapse, ere that part ol these necessary works will be fully completed. Quite as important may be considered the impiWed arrangements which have hcen made for signalling vessels at sea. There are now two signal stations, ore situated on Steep Head, which can he seen from Stewart.-, Island, and a second immediately above the Pilot Station at the New River Heads. These two signal stations art within sight of each other. -A vssel iuniting down from Stewart's Island in a gale of wind, can consequently be communicated with by the Sceep Hoad Station as to the .state of the JBar, and if it be not

fit to take, she can run into Port William, whereas formerly she would have had to run for the New River Heads before the desired information could be obtained, and then, if it was not safe to enter, would have had to get back for shelter into Port William in the best manner she was able. Altogether these changes and additions have done a vast deal towards removing the bad name so long enjoyed by the New River Harbour; and credit is due, not only to the Government who oringinated the scheme, but also to those under whoso superintendence it has been so far carried out. We do not wish to be understood to say that the New River Harbour is about to become perfect; from time to time careful soundings must be taken—the oftener the better—and the Pilot Staff must.be increased. There are, moreover. several places after the Bar is safely passed, which with the expenditure of a little money and engineering skill, might be rendered far better than they are at present. These matters will, we trust, receive the attention they deserve.