SILT IN CHANNEL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1932, Page 7

SILT IN CHANNEL

PROBLEM AT NAPIER.

INNER HARBOUR UNWORKABLE.

The anticipation that the inner harbour at Napier would become unworkable on account of deposits of silt as, a result of the recent fresh in the TutaJekuri River has beeen realised, and as the position continues to become worse two overseas vessels at the roadstead anchorage are to be lightered from the breakwater.

The position at low water on Friday, Staten a correspondent, was almost hopeless. It was only with difficulty that a surf-boat drawing a foot of water could navigate the channel. As the tide came . in conditions improved, and it was possible to proceed with lightering to the Tekoa and Raranga, but on a number of occasions the lighters touched bottom. There was a good time in the. afternoon, which enabled work to be carried out more satisfactorily, but it was only possible to transfer three loads instead > of the customary four during the day.. The rapidity with which siltation is occurring may be realised from the fact that before the fresh there was a hole 14ft. in depth in the centre of the channel, but by Friday this had half filled. There have also been great reductions in depths in various, other por- ■ tions of the harbour, particularly at the-entrance to the Iron Pot and. in front of the goods shed. Silt’is still being deposited thickly. The trawler Pania, when endeavouring to leave the harbour on Friday morning for its day’s fishing, ran aground off the cattle wharf in the middle of the channel, but was got off late in the afternoon by Richardson’s tug-boat Kuri. The Harbour Board’s dredge Apiti is working three shifts, and it has been decided by the board to put a drag line excavator auto operation. Owing to the extent to which the inner harbour has silted up during the last three days it will be quite impossible to work lighters from there and it has been decided to take advantage of loading arrangements prepared at the breakwater by the board. It is anticipated that lighters wall be able to work from the new berths conveniently. Work will continue there until it is again possible to carry on from the inner harbour when the siltation is overoome.