HARBOUR BOARD HAS ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF ENGINEERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 November 1950, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD HAS ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF ENGINEERS

“The present board has always followed the advice of qualified engineers, and today we can see the success of such a policy," said Mr. G. G. Burgess, Citizens candidate for the Harbour Board, addressing electors at Keith Street. “At Castlecliff ' three years ago, there was very little water alongside the wharves, and it was a continual headache for our harbourmaster.

Today, our harbourmaster is a much happier man, because after six months’ dredging, with the ideal type of dredge for this port, we have the following depths at Castlecliff at high tide:— No 1 Wharf, 17ft 3ins; coal berth, 22ft; Meuli Wharf, 19fL “These figures cannot be disputed, because they are the latest soundings. Castlecliff has always been, and always will be a dredging proposition.

“It has been stated that a groyne was causing siltation at No. 1 wharf. This wharf was well silted up before the groyne was put there. As for the Puriri and Storm being stuck, the present dredge had not worked at this point; up to then it had been too busy clearing siltation from the wharves, caused by the basin wall being partly dismantled.

“Now, as to Mr. Mullin’s personal remarks about me, which I saw in the paper this morning. He should confine himself to the truth, and not indulge in flights of fancy. “He said that it was due to my complacency and some of my colleagues that the spit was neglected. When the serious break in the South Spit occurred, I was not a member of the board. I have only been in for three years, and today the South Spit is better than it has been for many years past.”