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Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2977, 14 June 1899, Page 3

..i ..in. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. ; Sir,—l think all will admit that the Harbour Board, when appointing a con--1 suiting engineer, ought to have chosen one of large experience, distinguished by works carried out, more especially marine works. In choosing Mr Maxwell they entirely failed m this point. His. chief record Ins been as General Manager and Commissioner of Sevr Zealand • Railways, mnu way connected with enI gineering. My attention was drawn to the cool, free and easy way he dismisses shingle lifting, as he calls it. He had I heard of the experiment, but did not say from whom. It did not commend itself to him. If reported to him by the present chairman little wonder that : report was unfavourable. He went to a ' small port m Sussex to see what was done there m that way; he supposed the idea originated there, and was not ' impressed by the method. Now, ie is ' not hia impressions nor his likes or dislikes that the public care about, ' What the public want to know is ' the name of this fog-begirt port and its benighted engineer, the cost per cubic yard, whether removed by land or water, and most important whether the local conditions of both ports are equal. In the absence of these particulars I may be pardoned for being some- ' what sceptical of this Sussex story. It is allowed the old country can furnish the best marine engineers of the present • age. They had little idea there was a genius among them taking notes, and would print them, to show their lack of knowledge, especially m marine engineering. Mr Maxwell admits that a considerable portion of the intelligent public 1 is against hia plan, and for that matter

-g-.ii,Bt the whole of his conduct as far ns harbour matters are concerned. Knowing this, it was hh duty to the. ratepayers, as well as to himself, to report faithfully on shingle lifting, comparing that method and its cost to the extension scheme, which latter he so strougly supports with an array of figures confusing to laymen, and I few scarcely less so to himself. Now, about the idea of shingle lifting being obtained from Mr Maxwell's report. There is not the slightest foundation for Mr Maxwell's supposition. The old Board instructed Mr Marchant to prepare a report on the best way of removing the shingle. The Board's proceedings were reported m the Herald. lam quite satisfied the members had no knowledge of any other way of removing shingle. The report was not one-sif cd. It described two plans, one by water and the other by truck and rail. Mr Marchant advised the Board to try the water method, pointing out that to do it properly a steam launch of large carrying capacity was necessary, and adding that there would be plenty of time as the shingle would take years to reach the danger point. This report is m the harbour office and can be seen by Mr Maxwell. It may enlighten him on shingle shifting, etc. There can be no manner of doubt that with proper cranes for the purpose theTimaiu would carry away the yearly drift m a very short time. Anyone can see at a glance how much easier it is to lift the dry shingle south of the breakwater, than lift it by the same process m an average of 25 feet of water, and this only m smooth water, whereas m lifting from the south side hardly any stoppage would be met with. I hear about the best berth being taken up whilst shingle shifting. When we know, that on an average, there is but one large mutton boat here m three weeks, it does not require particular penetration to see that this is but the excuse of those who hate the very name of shingle shifting, for the dredge would only be employed now and again to keep the shingle from going beyond danger point. Mr Maxwell estimates the annual drift at 400,000 cubic yards. We will see how far he is at sea. Ihe block-making ended m January, 1888, and the shingle did not reach the bend until last year, so that the whole of the shingle drift for over ten years lies now m the angle formed, by the old beach and the breakwater. This accumulation has been measured more than once, and the average annual amount was found not to exceed 140,000 cubic yards. I ask the public m the face of this what confidence can be placed m Mr Maxwell's figures, and if they have no confidence m his figures what can they think ef his extension, where including cranes, railways and plant of all kind £1.4,000 will be required before a single block of stone is ready. The ratepayers may count this £14,000 beforeevery thing isready including Mir Max well's commission, as £20,000. Thus one-fifth of the loan of £100,000 will be gone before they begin. Mr Evans distinctly tells us that this will not be the end ; that those who come after must go on extending, and so on to the end of time with other hundreds of thousands. Next year £10,000 will be demanded of the ratepayers. The local bodies must strike a harbour rate, and this will only be the beginning. There ia no necessity for extension. The 140,000 cubic yards of annual drift can be lifted over the breakwater with ease, and at little cost. Once started and kept m check the end of the everlasting shingle difficulty ia achieved, and that without a loan and with no dread of the future, which otherwise those who follow will have to face m. the ahape of harbour rates on one £100,000 after another, which ia as sure as the drift shingle has formed the shingle plains between this and Christchurcu. Mr Evans talks of the shingle being our best friend. Who ever heard of a harbour requiring shingle to protect it. If the shingle had not been allowed to come tip and damage the cant, the sea would never have done so. In proof of this anyone walking round the bend at low water up to June last, could see the blocks covered with mussels and Beaweed, all of which is now swept away. It was allowing the shingle to come round the bend, forming a beach along the cant and arm, and part of this beach being flung by hydraulic force against the blocks that has caused all the damage. The BoaTd seems determined to allow the shingle to still go on, so that we may have to deplore still greater damage, whilst each member is chattering about his own engineering fads, apparently careless of what the loss may be to the ratepayer. I am, etc., Ratbpaybr. Timaru, 12th June, 1899.