EROSION BY THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1921, Page 6

EROSION BY THE SEA.

PROTECTING THE FORESHORE. LOOKING FOR STONE SUPPLY. In a letter to the New Plymouth Harbor Board, which was read at yesterday’s meeting, the chief engineer of the New Zealand Railways (Mr. F W. McLean) enquired if the board was willing to supply stone to make goqd the damage sustained by the foreshore wall at the New Plymouth railway station during last week’s storm. The amount of stone which would be required by the department, it was stated, would be at least 5000 tons, in five to six-ton blocks.; with some stone of smaller size. In asking for an early reply, the department emphasised that the matter of carrying out the repair work was urgent. They offered to provide trucks, and said there would bo no objection to these being used on the incline up to the board’s quarry. Speaking on this request. tl;e actingchairman of the board (Mr. E. Maxwell) remarked that, while the people had realised the necessity (on account of harbor works) for the destruction of Paritutu, he believed an entirely different view would be taken if any quantity of the stone was diverted to other than harbor works. Ho did not believe the board could, see its way to divert any of the stone, and he pointed out that it was essential the board should not be hampered in its own work. Mr. C. E. Bellringer said that while the consensus of opinion was behind the board in using Paritutu for harbor purposes, he believed it. would be a different matter if the intention was to use the stone in other directions. In addition

t f o this point, there was the aspect that the board’s work was extremely urgent. The engineer (Mr. G. W. Baxter Lowson) remarked that the board mast do something to the breakwater extension as soon as possible. He added that preparations for opening out the quarry should be completed, by the end of the month. The board resolved to inform the Railway Department that, in view of the urgent need for stone and the pressing necessity of the board's works, they regretted ' being unable to accede to the request.