FLOATING- BREAKWATERS.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1247, 7 September 1869, Page 2

FLOATING- BREAKWATERS.

(From ike Wesfjport 2smes.)

Sometime ago,. Captain Beveridge, harbor-master at Charleston (Nelson Province) j suggested that,possibly, that harbor might be made safe for vessels moored in it by the use of floating booms across the entrance. By all but the ignorant and incredulous, the idea was thought to be worthy of Borne attention. Such a contrivance has been exhibited near Port Denison, and is thus described by the Sydney Morning Herald : —

" A contrivance for resisting the violence of seas at the entrance to ports and harbors was lately exhibited near to Port Denison, in the presence of a number of gentlemen officially and otherwise interested in our internal navigation, and its chief feature makes thf» title of 'Floating Breakwater' not inappropriate. It is a raft of transversed timbers, those on the upper sides lying at right angles to the set of the sea. The idea is said to have originated in the resistance offered by lai'ge spars to heavy seas, aud the shelter obtained in the smooth water on their lee. Mr. John Evelyn-Liardet, of this city, is the inventor of the raft breakwater, but it is not a new device, as he initiated it in 1851, imd since then has brought it under the notice of several Governments in the Colony. The raft measured 12ft. square, and is constructed of four inch by sis inch timbers, four beams being fixed at equalintervals—transversely upon three, and projecting three inches above the water surface. The weather was not very favorable for the exhibition, no wind stirring, and the water being nearly dead. There was, however, a ri-'ple of about twelve inches rise, sufficient to indicate the mode in which the raft wards off the sea, which is arrested by contact with the first beam, and lessened as ifc is met successively by the others, so that the water becomes perfectly smooth oa the lee side. The trial would have been much more interesting had there been a heavy sea running, so as to show whether waves breaking well over the raft would be reduced with equal success. Of this the inventor expressed full confidence. He proposes that for permanent use the raft should be formed of galvanised iron cylinders. The visitors seemed to be impressed with the effectiveness of tie invention, as a sea banner, leaving smooth water on its lee; and the only difficulty suggested was as to the practicability of safely mooring it when constructed on a large scale. The inventor maintained that this could be done without much trouble, and he would use coir hawser for the purpose. The Minister for Works has so far favored the development of the design as ro ask Mr. Evelyn-Liardet for a plan and estimate of a raft on a moderately large scale, wil h a a possible view to its use at exposed ports and harbors of refuge on our coast."

Messrs. N. Edwards and Co.'s steamer Charles Edward arrived at the Albion Wharf on Sunday morning, at 4 o'clock, after an absence of less that 5 days. She left Nelson on Tuesday, and arrived at the Buller next morning; left same evening, and crossed Hokitika bar at 7 a.m. on Thursday; arrivedat the Grey on Thursday morning, and left at 8 p.m. same day, arriving at Westport early on Saturday morning ; left at 10 a.m. same day, and arrived here as above. Export of Gttm and Flax to America.—The barque Lancastria took from Auckland to New York, on August 21sfc, the following cargo, valued at £11,688:— Tons. 2214 cases gum 224 400 bags gum 42 69 bales flax 6 8 bundles flax ... ... ... 5 16 bales tow 15 New Steamer tor the Thames. —Two gentlemen have called for tenders in London and Glasgow for the construction of a large steamer for the Thames goldfield. The new boat is to be capable of steaming fifteen knots an hour, and of carrying 500 passengers; and, sis soon as the tenders are accepted, the work will be rapidly pushed on. She will be brought out in sections, under the superintendence of a competent person, and put together in Auckland as soon as possible after her arrival.