SOUTH TARANAKI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 3

SOUTH TARANAKI

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD The Paten Harbour Board met yesterday, those present being Messrs A. T. Christensen (chairman), A. 11. Hodge, A. W. Williams, A. Pearce, J. R. Corrigan and W. 11. Watkins. Air IS. Blake wrote from Russell expressing his regret al being absent from so many meetings. He hoped to return to Hawera for Christmas, and be able to attend the ncx. meeting. Leave of absence, in accordance, was granted. It was decided (o hold the next meeting the first week in February, omit ting the January monthly meeting. Messrs Hamill ami Rutherford wrote giving details of summonses issued f>r overdue rates. The following report was received from the dredgemaster for the past mouth: —

The dredge v\ |' iced on the slip on November 23. Owing to a request from the shipping company to dredge out certain berths which were shoaled and which were included in the last report, it was impossible to slip the dredge before this date. Dredging was carried out from November 6 to J."-, shifting 1,320 cubic yards. Since the dredge was slipped the necessary scraping was done and the surveyor carried out. his examination yesterday. Arrangements have been made to get the work carried out as speedily as possible, and it is hoped that it will be possible to get the dredge off the slip during the next spring tides. Air Naismith was present with the surveyor, and acted as arbitrator.

The following report was submitted by the pilot, and also adopted:— The channel over the bar remains fairly good but the westerly gales keep the channel to the eastward, the best wafer being within 100 feet of eastern wall.

During the month seventeen vessels have crossed the bar; nine departures and eight arrivals, the first fifteen occurring from November 2 to 19. This fact is mentioned to point out to the Board that it is not the bad state of the bar that is causing poor shipping returns, but the unsettled weather conditions in the latter part of the month. It has been impossible to obtain soundings on the bar but by careful observations there is about lift. 6in. at high water spring tides, and Oft. high water neap tides.

The work set out by the committee in connection with the Pilot station was not commenced till Friday, November 28, and owing to the heavy nature of the work, progress is slow. Some of the boxthorn taken out is in 33ft. lengths.

The flagstaff gear, etc., at the station is in good order, minor repairs having been carried out during the month. Air Hodge spoke of the increased improvement of the soundings on the bar since the drag had been at work. Eighteen months ago depths had been at 6, 7 and 8 feet at high water, but now increased to 10ft. to 13ft. Although no soundings had been actually taken since April last, no trouble had been caused, which went to show the improvement made.

The chairman expressed his best wishes to the Board for Christinas and for a more, prosperous New Year. Applications for harbourmaster and pilot were received and dealt with, there being twenty-seven from all over the Dominion.

After accounts were, read and passed for payment, the Board rose.