The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3603, 17 April 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886.

This is essentially the age of breakwaters and Ughthonses, and the protection afforded to shipping by {heae maritime safeguards has now reached a perfection not dreamed of by our forefathers. A century ago there was not a single breakwater m all-Europe, but freqnent.disastrous shipwrecks nnd loss , „»•■, 3. v " ""•"f-'*l* v°° °* life led to meansv beine devised for ii. L .• . ..^ ■i v the construction of artificial barriers to shelter shipping m harbour^ and anchorages. The best engineering skill was called into requisition, and .e^periments began to be made. About ninety years ago the Frenoh Government ex--1 nJ ■_ „„ m„ l ■ j • .. 7 ?, Pre! sed f nT eai 7 lest de f.r? that *he harbour of Cherbourg, which was much frequented by the nav.al and mercantile fleets of the nation, should be protected, and an eminent French civil engineer— ?; f Caasart-^undertook, the work. At firsfc J» proposal was regarded w very problematical, as was that, of

Baron Ferdinand de Lesseps m regard to the cutting of the Suez Oanalr Oaseart, however, perseTered m his project,;feeling confidentf'that tne'plans he had" prepared Ytor the exebuition of the work would be eventually carried ont successfully. The Prehot Government employed him, and tfie undertaking was slowly proceeded with at considerable expense. Prom time to time stormy weather had so militated against the operations as to threaten their utter cessation, although several engineers, after consultation on the subject, coupled with' a careful survey of the harbour, and what work had been already done, assured the Government that EVecess would sooner or later attend the work. Courage was then taken and the breakwater was vigorously proceeded with and completed m 1853, under Napoleon 111., at a cost of £2,500,000. It is constructed of stone, and is the largest breakwater m the world, being two and a half miles m length. England soon followed the example of France, and the construction of the Plymouth breakwater —the oldest m the United Kingdom —was proceeded with and completed m 1824. Many other similar works on the English coast were successively undertaken where necessary, the result being that harbours, open roadsteads, and anchorages that' were formerly the dread of mariners, are now safe refuges for shipping, and incalculable boons to national commerce.. Like all other inventions, improvements m breakwater work for permanent stability to resist the action of the heaviest storms, are constantly developing themselves, and sncli work is now designated a science, even as canal making is. At an early stage of the colonisation of New South Wales —the parent Australasian colony —a breakwater was erected at Newcastle, the work being executed by convict labour. Shortly after its completion it was wholly destroyed by a terrific storm, but has since been reconstructed, and from the strength of the structure it is not likely to sustain further damage. Many other breakwaters have been constructed on the Australian coast within the last twenty years, and more are contemplated. New Zealand is by no means behind the age m these great and useful works. Timarn, Lyttelton, and Oamaru have their breakwaters, and the gigantic breakwater at New Plymouth is so far finished as to render valuable service to shipping. The work is under the superintendence of Mr George Rhind, under whose direction the formidable granite breakwaters at Aberdeen and Arbroath, on the east coast of Scotland, were constructed a few years ago. Timaru, like New Plymouth, being exposed to the violence of the ocean, it was absolutely necessary that the harbour should be protected by a breakwater to shelter shipping, and thus facilitate trade and commerce to and from the town and district. Without such protection our commercial interests would materially suffer, and corresponding loss to ub would be the inevitable result. Steamers and sailing vessels would be disposed to shun our harbour, as they usually do where danger from unprotected anchorages exists, as it did here before the breakwater was commenced. The landing and shipping of cargo and passengers by means of surf-boats, as at New Plymouth, was invariably attended with great inconvenience and expense, and the prosperity of the town was correspondingly affected. Public meetings on the subject were held end a thorough agitation for a breakwater set m and eventually triumphed. In 1877 it was decided to erect the structure, and a commencement of the work was made m the following year, under contract with the Harbour Board. An Act of Parliament conferring borrowing powers upon the Board to defray the cost of the breakwater was passed, and loans for that purpose were raised. Success attended the work throughout, without accidents. The present length of the structure is 1917 feet, but it is intended to extend it m a northeasterly direction much farther. The bveakwater is built of ponderous blocks of concrete, upon which the sea can produce no effect. Immersed concrete used by the Romans 2000 years ago is yet as unimpaired as ever, so that the duration of our breakwater may be considered unquestionable. Alongside the breakwater, nnd attached to it most substantially, is the main wharf,' at which vessels discharge and load cargo. The latter is a wooden structure of great strength, supported on the north side by stringy bark piles, tho most durable timber m Australia. A line of iron rails cover the whole length of the wharf, and thus the facilities for loading and unloading vessels by means of railway waggons are complete. Another wharf —the " Moody Wharf " —situated at a short distance from the breakwater, is approaching completion, and will afford the requisite accommodation to coasting vessels. A powerful dredge is constantly at work m -the harbour inside the breakwater, and its operations have already secured such a depth of water as will admit vessels of large tonnage. A still greater depth is needed, and dredging operations will be continued till that is reached. The harbour is now one of the best and safest on the East Coast, the holding ground being good and the moorings immovable, let the vessels fastened to them be ever, so large. Since the breakwater was erected the shipping, inwards and outwardsj has much increased, while the benefit to the town and district, through this augmentation of traffic, has been. great, not to speak of the shipwrecks and loss of life this sea barrier has prevented m the pasb, and must also prevent m the future. It is an estimable boon to Timaru, and present and future generations will '•derive benefit from it. Without such a maritime .safeguard the town could not prosper, and, we^ have certainly cause to congratulate..ourselves upon tho work being so successfully and expeditiously carried out. .""',','