WANGANUI HARBOUR WORKS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8739, 27 March 1890, Page 3

WANGANUI HARBOUR WORKS.

The Wanganui correspondent of. the LylhUon 'Times writes :—": — " Among the institutions of which we hear a great deal locally must be included the harbour. It has, in fact, achieved somewhat of a Colonial reputation, owing to the rejection of the Wanganui Harbour Bill for several years in succession. Two years ago, however, Mr Ballancc was elected a member of the Harbour Uoard, and also its Chairman, and bis brain has not lain dormant during that time. Want of funds was the bugbear of the Board — is still, in fact — but they had an endowment which seemed practically useless. However, he managed to render it of some good, and got it put in the market. Meanwhile another harbor enthusiast, Mr Thomas Thatcher, was imbued with an idea of building a fascine training wall which, at a greatly reduced cost, would answer all the purposes of Sir John Coodc's stone wall. He offered to carry it out at his own risk and cost, and was given an opportunity which, unfortunately, resulted in a loss to him of £600. As this plan did not seem feasible, Mr 33allance suggested going on with stone, md his plan has been adopted. It is a modification of the system used hitherto, find will, if successful, achieve the same end with a great saving in stone. Timber is used on the North side, and it is expected that the sand will follow it up, and back up the wall as it has done with the portion already completed of the rubble work. Mr Thatcher, I believe, contends that a vertical wall induces scour, and not drift, but this is hardly borne out by practical experience, otherwise we should not find ,at both Xew Plymouth and Timaru, the sand or shale following the vertical concrete walls. In any case, the experiment here will not cause a great expenditure of money, and while it may not " pan out " right, the chances are that it will, and so give us the depth on the bar we require."