WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18256, 15 August 1921, Page 9

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

The Wanganui Harbour Board met on Friday evening last. Present: Messrs A. G. Bignell (chairman), A. Robinson, F. H. Allen, P. Higgenbottom, W. Bruce, C. G. Russell, W. Morrison, W. G. Bassett, N. Meuli. The following reports were adopted:— HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. Entrance: I obtained soundings at the entrance as follows: —July Bth. equal to 19ft. at H.W.O.S.T. and 16 feet at H.W. Neaps. July 11th equal to 19ft 3ins. at H.W.O.S.T. and 16ft. 3ins. at H.W. Neaps. July 25tlj. equal to 19ft Bins, at H.W.O.S.T. and 16ft 6ins at H.W. Neaps. July 28th equal to 20ft 9ins at H.W.O.S.T. and 17ft 9ins at H.W. Neaps. The freshes which we had in the rivei - during the early part of the month which on each occasion were backed up by southerly winds were in my opinion the cause of the slight shoaling at the mouth of the entrance, but the present westerly weather now prevailing should improve matters. The Channel.—The least depth of water now in Mitchell’s Reach and in line with leaders is equal to 15ft. at H.W.O.S.T. and 12ft. at H.W. Neaps. A small portion of the channel to the approach to the Town Wharf is 14ft 6in. at H.W.0.5.T., and lift. 6in at H.W. Neaps. Arricals and Departures.—l 96 vessels entered and departed to and from the port during the month, 100 entered and 96 departed giving an aggregate tonnage of 38,584 tons. Tonnage for two ocean liners in Roadstead was 18,030 tons. The ocean liners “Suffolk” and “Kai Oro” were in the Roadstead during the month and transhipped 61 lighter loads of frozen meat and general cargo. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Quarry.—The output for the month was 1370 tons. Several days delay was caused by freshes in the river and the break away of a truck on the incline (through a. drawbar fracturing). Investigations have been carried out to ascertain whether a supply of stone suitable for carrying on the training and basin walls could be obtained in the vicinity of the present quarry but nothing has been disclosed that can be considered a very attractive proposition. The most hopeful spot in my opinion is the deposit on the south side of the gully in which the water service is established; there is a seam of shell rock here about 16ft to 20 ft. deep and about 600 ft long which could be quarried without (for this quarry) an undue amount of stripping the stone however, is of rather poor quality so that there would be considerable wastage; but assuming that the nett amount of stone actually taken out was equivalent to a layer 9ft thick and a bench 60 to 70 ft. wide was taken out for the above length of 600 ft approximately 20,000 tons would be available, which amount would go far towards the completion of the training ’and basin walls. The point at which this stone would be tapped is about sufl. lower tnan the top oi the existing incline to reach wuicu would entail an approximate up grade of 1 in 14; as this is rather steep it would probably be better to run in a tramway on tue level to connect with Hie present incline at a point below tue top. The total length of tramway \o reach from the inclines to the further limit oi me deposit under discussion would be 27 chains. Dredging.—of Z3J wonting days 10 days were lost mostly on account of baa weather and freshes in tue river, 84 being due to tills, I day to coaling and J day to repairs. A total of 16,000 tons was dredged from the river channel *of which 5,z50 tons were from Mitchell's reach and 2,750 from near Languard Bluff. North Mole —The pile driving gear has been removed and the Wigan light in the meantime re-establislied. 110 5 tons of shell rock was deposited on the extension and i> now beginning to show up. South Mele.—The pile driving gear has been transferred to this side and is being erected preparatory to an extension on this side equivalent to the recent extension on the North Mole. The Wigan lignt been dismantled and a temporary light substituted on the end of this Mole. Training Wall. —140 ft additional of fascine mattresses were erected and place din position and 265 tons of shell rock rubble deposited. Beacons. —In accordance with instructions given in November 1920 I have conferred with the Harbourmaster concerning Capt. J. Wallace’s request for the erection of leading marks for tue benefit of vessels proceeding to anchor in the roadstead. This was deferred until completion of the recent survey. It is now recommended that a beacon be erected near the ctone groyne on the South Spit, together with the smoke stack of the Imlay Freezing Works would make a set of beacons whose line would intersect with the line of the two fairway beacons for the entrance, at a point about one mile from the seaward ends of the moles. This no doubt would facilitate the approach of vessels too and definitely fix the most suitable anchorage for vessels desirous of lightering in the roadstead. South Spit.—Notwithstanding exceptional tides and seas which causes the water to overflow both ends of the low portion of the spit practically no damage resulted. The beach is now wider at low tide tljan hitherto. MISCELLANEOUS. Captain S. Holm was 'granted six months leave of absence to visit England.