THE CAPABILITIES OF THE BREAKWATER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 4608, 24 March 1884, Page 2

THE CAPABILITIES OF THE BREAKWATER.

THE S.S.- WANAKA ALONGSIDE. Saturday last marked a new and important phase in the progress of tho breakwater, as the first of the Union Company's steamers hauled alongside and discharged cargo there. This event had been looked forward to with no small amount of interest, and it really happened much sooner than had been anticipated. Hitherto the colonists outside of Taranaki have had a very imperfect conception of the work and the progress made, and it therefore remained for an event like that which occurred on Saturday to prove the fact that the breakwater will be a great success. When it became definitely known that the s.s. Wanaka would proceed to the breakwater and discharge her cargo of cement, a largo number of townspeople — being determined to witness a sight which would be one of the most important in the history of tho Provincial district — went out to tho Harbour Works on Saturday afternoon. The Wanaka arrived in the roadstead early in tho morning, and at 2.30 p.m. she had discharged her cargo of genoial merchandise consigned to the roadstead. Captain Neville weighed anchor, and afterwards the Wanaka was steaming for the breakwater. A run of about fifteen minutes brought the Wanaka abreast of Moturoa, and her course was at once altered in shore. Captain Neville, without the least hesitation, continued a direct course at slow speed, and skilfully brought the Wanaka to her berth at the breakwater, whore she was made fust, in deep water and a smooth sea. The precision with which the steamer was berthed was the subject of general praise, andCaptaiu Neville could not have judged his distances more accurately had he been long accustomed to the breakwater instead, of it being his first trip. There were between 400 and 500 spectators on the breakwater, at the outer end, who gave three vociferous cheers for Captain Neville as the Wauaka took up her position. The gallant Captain returned the compliment by calling for three cheers for the New Plymouth Harbour Board which was lustily responded to by the crew and passengers on board the steamer. The gangway was then run out, and an eager throng crowded round it, each vicing with the other to be first on board. The vessel was soon crowded by the public, and tho scene was one of unusual bustle and animation. Cong_ratulationa and laughter I resounded through the ship, and everyone was delighted with the result.

Mr. T. King, Chairman of the Harbour Board, addressed a few words to the assemblage. He said it was two years and a quarter since the first block was laid by Mr. Rhind, and in the course of the construction o£ the breakwater there had been many difficulties to contend against. It had, however, reached so far that the Wanaka had been brought alongside, and he was sure the settlers were determined that the work should be coqtinued until the largest of the Union Company's steamers could be berthed there. (Loud choers.)

The work of discharging cargo was then commenced, and the rapidity with which it was performed was astonishing, as tho men worked with a will. The cement barrels were deposited in trucks, and run up to the cement store by the locomotives ; the whistles of the engines and the general bustle, gave it, for the time being, all the appearance of a busy commercial port. Meanwhile Captain Neville, accompanied by Mr. W. Newman, tho agent of the Union Company, and Mr. Rhind, Resident Engineer, proceeded to inspect the mixingliouse and the block-yard, and he expressed his surprise at the complete system which prevailed for carrying on the work, even to the smallest detail. He was thoroughly pleased with the accommodation afforded at the breakwater for berthing his vessel, and he spoke in high praise of the general arrangements. The visitors on board the vessel felt, of course, in duty bound lo drink each other's health, and as the saloon was crowded, the resources of the steward were taxed to the utmost limit. After the crush in the saloon had subsided, Mr. W. Newman, the local agent of the Union Company, invited the members of the HarbDur Board to celebrate the Wanaka's arrival in bumpers of champagne. He did the honors of the occasion with the bonhomie which makes him such a general favourite, and a very pleasant social half-hour was spent. All the member* of the Board were present, with the exception of Mr. Carrington, who was detained on account of sickness in his family. The toast, " Prosperity to the Union Steam Shipping Company," was drunk enthusiastically.

Mr. W. Newman said he begged to return thanks on behalf of the Manager and Directors of the Company for the honor they had done the toast. It gave him great pleasure to see one of the Company's steamers alongside the breakwater, and he believed the day was not far distant when there would be more than one vessel at one time discharging cargo there. He considered great credit was due to tho Board's able Engineer for the substantial manner he had constructed, and was still constructing, the harbour. The surf-boat iustitution had had its day, and before long it must give way to the better facilities offered at the breakwater. The results of that day should stimulate them to continue the work with greater vigour than ever, and there could be no doubt that the breakwater would ultimately bo a great success. With these few remarks he would propose the health of Mr. Rhind, the Resident Engineer.

Chorus : For he's a jolly good fellow.

Mr. liiiiND, in returning thanks, said he could not deny that twelve months ago ho had grave doubts as to the progress he would be able to make, for at that timo he was working with the old machinery," and it was very slow progress indeed. It wns nearly twelve months since the new machinery had commenced to work, and they lad uty seen the great change eftectod by it. He did not himself expect that the work would be done so rapidly. Ho was pleased to 6ay that everything now went like clock-work. The men understood their duty, and worked harmoniously together, ull being eager to see the work progress. At the present time, unless it wub tine weather, they' could not get a vessel like the Wanaku. alongside ; but when he had got the 'work 200 or 300 feet round the corner a vessel could come iv, in all weathers (cheers). Mr. Pauuis proposed the health of the "Clnurman and Members of the Harbour Board." lie said their duties li id mil been light, and they were untiring in lluir endeavours to advance the lint hour Works. The duties of the Cliainiiuu \\< n; oL'avery onerous character indued, and ho was Mire that they had been faithfully discharged (cheers.)

Sir. T. Kino, Chairman of the lUird. said ho liad to tlnnk tlio cninpiiny l'nr the warm manner they had drunk his health and tli.it ot: the members tif the Hoard, lie oould my that the present IJour.l woiked harmoniously together, nnd ih.it wiis more thnu ho could t-ay for tliu old IJour.l. It was because of unanimity thut matters weio piognssiun" satifaclorily, uud Mr. Uhind was aided by the Board in ( very possible w ay. lMr. Palm, naid he liad sjrrut pleasure in proposing the health ot Captain MoJford, the lmrhotir-iimstor. whoso scrvioi-s hail undoubtedly contriliutcd to tlio general success. It uppeiirud to him very strongly that a railway to tlio breakwater was onu of the uolinil l'LUjiiiremeuts of the place. He wuh certain ihat if the Minister of Works was present that day he would also bo impressed with the sumo idou, uud

would do his best to see the line carried out immediately. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the whole of the community would l do all in their power to have the railway carried out at once. He would call updn Mr. Downes as being the only nautical man present (laughter) to respond for Captain Holford, who was busily engaged attending to his duties.

Mr. Downes said it gave him great pleasure to return thanks on behalf of Captain Holford. He was certain that when Captain Holford had business to attend to he always gave his undivided attention to it, and performed it thoroughly. i He was not a man to neglect his duty at any time, and if he had been instrumental in facilitating the progress of the breakwater, he (Mi. D.) was sure that Captain Holford had done it with a great deal of pleasure. As a comparative stranger in New Plymouth, and having visited other breakwaters in the coiony, he (Mr. D.) was able to give an unprejudiced opinion of the New Plymouth breakwater. He had visited both the Oamaru and Timaru breakwaters, and he must confess that as far as he could judge the workmanship here was far superior to that at those places he had mentioned. With regard to the surf -boat service ho did not think they should speak disparagingly of it. The surf-boats had served their purpose, and it was generally recognised as one of the beßt surf-boat services in the colony, if not in the world. (Loud applause.)' When the time came for dispensing with that service, he felt convinced that every settler in the district would own that much was owing to the skill and courage of the men engaged in the service in having so few accidents during the many years^ the service had been employed. (Cheers.) The company then brake up. The second whistle having sounded, warning all" on board who were not passengers to leave, a rush was made for the gangway, and in a few minutes the steamer wns clear of visitors. Captain Neville was on the bridge, and having seen all the necessary preparations made for leaving, he blew the third whistle, and the lines were cast off. The telegraph denoted " easy astern," and the steamer glided away from the breakwater, amid the cheers and farewells of the assemblage. After tho departure of the steamer, Mr. Rhind ordered an engine with carriages and trucks, and an impromptu tram was thus made and placed at the disposal of the public. The tram was soon filled and the visitors were conveyed to the new goods-shed, where cabs and expresses from town were waiting for passengers. Everyone returned to town greatly pleased with the proceedings, and tho country settlers present were loud in their praises of the breakwater, and were astonished at the substantial progress made.