THE WANGANUI DREDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1920, Page 6

THE WANGANUI DREDGE.

A DISAPPOINTMENT. Wanganui's dredge, the Kaione, has been in the river port for a year, and its work has not been as successful as was expected. At a meeting of the local Harbor Board last week, Mr. A. Robinson said the vessel could not work outside in a seaway, nor inside because of her draught. It was absurd to shut their eyes to facts. If they could get rid of the Kaione for £(10,001) or £70,000 and get another dredge, even at a cost of £IOO,OOO it would be a good thing for the Board. Mr. C. G. Russet said he hoped that the Kaione Was not a failure, and if she was he wanted to know why. There were people in a position to express an opinion who stated she was not a failure. The chairman said the Kaione was a first-class vesjscl, although there had been one or two mistakes. She was too deep draught to ■ do the work for the moment, and "her pumps had proved unsuitable for the heavy sand. Mr. Bassett blamed the misfortunes at .the quarry for delaying the work on the moles. The chairman said lie was afraid some members were pessimists. When they contemplated buying the dredge they had 25 feet depth on the bar, but it had come back to the present depth. The important thing was to push out the moles. Captain Holm questioned if the moles were pushed oitt whether the beach would not follow them out. The chairman said in 1908 the beach was surveyed. They had gone out hundreds of feet, and the beach had not followed. Captain Holm: How did the wreck of the Pelotas get where it U1 It must have been carried there by water. Speaking in reply to the motion, Mr. Bassett said it would be suicidal to sell the Kaione. A committee was set up to discuss juris* ftaother tate,—Chronicl*-