Channel Depths In Wanganui River

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1948, Page 8

Channel Depths In Wanganui River

The shoal which was deposited in the channel by the recent westerly weather has restricted the channel at the entrance to some 300 feet for deep draught ships during neap tides," reported the harbourmaster (Captain R. D. Stewart) at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board, lhere was no change from the mole ends to the Castleclilf Wharf., At the Castlecliff berthage the bank of sand off No. 1 wharf, continually referred to in monthly reports, had not materially altered and, should any Hooding occur, the position would become serious. Piles had been placed on either side of the narrow channel off the South Suit to mark the position of the deepest " water. Soundings m th.s channel were 12ft. 6in at high water ordinary spring tides. Above this in Mitchell’s Reach the least depth 01 water was 12ft. 6in., and from Mitchell’s Reach to the Town Wharf the depths varied from 13ft. Gin to 20ft. 6in. There was a shallow bank 150 ft. off the berths at the Town Whan with a depth of 12ft at high water spring tides Otherwise the depths oi water in this area were good. The supervisor (Mr. T. G. Mullins' reported that 140 cubic yards of stone had been removed from the wall at Imlay and placed on the South Spit. During the month 800 piles had been driven into, the breach between th? Mana and the mole wharf and sand catching fences had been erected along the spit. The work was now completed on the breach. “The work on the South Spit has progressed steadily in spite of a big drain on manpower for other urgent work,” stated the report. “The gap is now capped and many sand arresting fences built of logs and rubbish erected along the gap and also along other parts of the spit Many hold ups havtoccurred through breakdowns of plant but this must be expected, con- ’ sidcring the age of the plan! and tin 1 continuous and haru work the plant I is called upon to do.”