THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1923, Page 4

THE HARBOR.

At its last meeting, the New Plymouth Harbor Board debated a motion asking the engineers to furnish an estimate of the cost of a light pile structure to be builtover the line of the breakwater extension, with a view to facilitating, the dumping of stone and capping the nibble, etc., that have for some time been deposited there by the dredges and building the wall that, though unseen, is having an appreciable effect upon the “range” of the sea, thereby ensuring safer conditions for the big vessels moored to the wharf. The mover (Mr. Connett) advanced several reasons for adopting the plan suggested, instead of relying upon the present slower and more expensive method of using the smaller dredge, but, as pointed out in the ensuing discussion, the board has considered similar proposals before and is already in possession of all the data asked for. There are difficulties in the way of a nature which at present it is, unfortunately, not possible to overcome, however desirable it may be to change the methods now being followed. The first difficulty is the lack of money. The board will require all its available funds to complete the new wharf (which is the most pressing need to-day), and carry on the other work of harbor improvement. To erect the proposed structure would entail substantial expenditure. But an even greater difficulty than that of finance was referred to by the chairman—the insufficiency of large stone supplies. Large stones are required to cap the wall, but to maintain the apron work on the completed breakwater practically exhausts available supplies. No doubt as the ParitutU quarry is opened up more, greater quantities will be available. Far better, now that the under-sea wall is having such a beneficial effect, for the board to concentrate its whole efforts upon building the new wharf, which is such a vital necesity, and which, in itself, v/ill add considerably to the safety of the port. From the trend of the discussion this would seem to be the policy of the board, and it appears to be entirely justified. Unhappily, there has already been unavoidable delay over this work, a cogent reason why the board should now proceed with it as energetically as possible, and not dissipate efforts on other works of less urgency and importance, however desirable they may be per se.