Coastal Ships May Use Old Channel To The Town Wharf

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 October 1948, Page 4

Coastal Ships May Use Old Channel To The Town Wharf

Congratulations on his action in sending the coastal vessel Holmdale up the river to the Town Wharf last week when mooring lines parted after an abnormal swell at Castlecliff were extended to the harbourmaster (Captam R. D. Stewart) at yesterday’s Boafd ng ° f the Wanganui Harbour

Dealing with the channel, Captain Stewart said that great care was needed in navigating it and the passage could be made only In daylight hours, as there were no lights availI able for the channel now. i Captain Stewart suggested that piles should be placed in the old channel and lights placed on them, as it was found that buoys dragged their moorings. When the lights were provided he suggested that the board could approach the shipping companies to use the old channel to the Town Wharf. The swell which caused the trouble at Castlecliff was exceptional and caused trouble at other ports on the coast, said the chairman (Mr. E. A. Mill ward). Captain Stewart agreed that the upheaval was abnormal. . The latest soundings at the bar showed that the depths had deteriorated considerably recently, said Captain Stewart. This was due to the westerly winds. He had been across the bar recently in the dredge Te Whaka, and there was no change in the position. “Bad erosion is still taking place between the crane wharf and the Mana, because of the presence of a big bay and heavy seas,” reported the supervisor (Mr. T. G. Mullins). Sixty shots had been fired in the wall at Imlay and 50 cubic yards of stone had been lifted and placed on the spit. The wall had been lowered now for an average of live feet for 100 feet and three feet for 100 feet. This work had been held up in the meantime because of stress of wather and holdups.