VIEWS OF HARBOUR-MASTER

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1928, Page 10

VIEWS OF HARBOUR-MASTER

SHIPPING ASPECT ANALYSED. PROBLEMS OF SAND AND SHELTER. The disadvantages liable to be encountered owing to shoaling of sand, difficult dredging, and 'ncreoeed exposure of shipping to bad weather, should Mr. Cruickshank’s scheme be adopted, were commented on as follows by the harbourmaster (Captain W. Waller) a* follows : “At the outset. I would call attention to the fact that in the original plan the Newton King wharf was .to be 800 feet in length, with a corresponding extension of the breakwater of SOO feet. This latter lias been carried out to 660 feet, leaving 140 feet to complete it to the prescribed length. After the Newton King wharf was completed, owing to the necessity for more berthage it was lengthened 400 feet, thus making the length 1200 feet. No further extension of the breakwater has been decided upon to give shelter to the additional 400 feet. The outer berths on both sides of the wharf get the least shelter during north-east and northerly gales, especially the one on the eastern side.

“If 'he wharf is widened 115 feet, the distance of a steamship eastward from the wharf, plus 33 feet (being the line of keel of a vessel of 66 feet beam) would bo 148 feet further eastward than at present, and the ship would consequently be in a less sheltered position. “The dredging inshore necessary to ensure safety for berthing the largest vessels trading to the port should be 330 feet, viz, One cut 100 feet wide to a depth of 35 feet at low water spring tides and the remaining 230 feet to 25 feet low water spring tides. With regard to the nature of the bottom to be dredged, I made a survey of it some years ago at the board’s request, and found it very rocky indeed —in fact, a submerged reef with a coating of sand. Soundings taken on the 12th and 13th inst. confirm my previous findings. The siltation from the influx of sand in suspension during heavy weather, caused by the scouring of the beach, would be, considerable. This can be seen from the present 100 feet cut eastward of the wharf, which has shoaled from 25 feet to about 21 feet during the last two years.

In reply to the two specific queries contained in the chairman’s letter, 1 therefore have to state that:—

(a) In manoeuvring vessels to berth at the eastern side of the proposed widened Wharf, a greater width of deep water would be required in the approacn from seaward.

(b) Vessels lying at the eastern side of the proposed widened wharf would be subject to the greatest amount of sea and ransre.”