THE PATEA HARBOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 282, 21 April 1913, Page 3

THE PATEA HARBOUR.

THE FLOODGATE PROPOSAL,

'The question requires to'be handled with the greatest caution, and nothing should be done hastily," remarked a cap" able marine engineer to a representative of the Waverlev Tribuu?, when asked to express an opinion on the proposal to put a flood-gate in the Patea river. He stated that the idea was not a new one —in fact it was as old as the hills. Floodgates were successful where conditions were suitable, but with the peculiarities of the Patea harbor it was questionable whether the scheme was practicable. The srreat difficulty, so far as he could see would be that of dealing with driftwood, which came down the river in great quantities at flood time. Then again the flood-gate, to be effective, would have to be placed well up the river, certainly not lower than the traffic bridge. It would only be possible to hold about SOft of water, and this would have to be released hi regular periods, otherwise the grading works and raijway yards would be flooded out. Then'"while shipping was working at the wharf it would not be possible to -elexse the flood-gates. The vital point to be considered, prior to adopting the scheme was—what would the effect be of releasing 30ft of water from a position at least one mile up the river on the masses of sand stored between the walls at the mouth of the river, where the whole trouble of the liarbor existed. If the water could be carried on 'o the sand in the solid body in which it was released the effect desired might be gained, lmt immediately the flood gates were lifted the water would spread out over the full width of the river bed, and thus lose considerable of its scouring power. If the Board is well advised, lie continued, it will adont 'the scheme laid down by Sir John Coode. He bad personally inspected many of the important harbor works carried out by that famous engineer, and he thought it was dangerous to depart from his scheme if a permanent and satisfactory harbor was desired.

From what we can gather the floodKate proposition is that of a vSwiss engineer who has had 'Considerable experience in harbor improvement where tidal rivers had to be dealt with. He is sanguine the idea can be adopted at Patea, and that the scour created by the outrnshing- water will keep the entrance quite free of sand, and enable the river to. be worked at all timea.