THE MODEL BREAKWATER.

West Coast Times, Issue 615, 13 September 1867, Page 3

THE MODEL BREAKWATER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.

Sib, — Having paid a visit to the protective works on the beach I was surprised that any professional man should have planned such a miserable abortion to repel the waves of the mighty ocean. The work is just as futile as that of the celebrated Mrs Partington who endeavored to check the advancing tide with her mop. It is said " there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous" ; but on the beachthe speculator canhave bothunderhis eye at once ; the azure billows and this fancy breakwater — and I venture to predict that during the next spring tides, if accompanied by a heavy surf like the last, the greater part, if not the whole of the brushwood will be washed away— and of what avail will a few scattered piles be for protective purposes. If the work is required why not do it effectually ? I will give you a plan far more likely to answer the purpose than the present erection. Let a double row- of -piles about six or seven feet apart be. driven nine or ten feet into the sand : the hindermost row to stand midway between the spaces of the front row, and about two or three feet in the rear of the same. Then fill in the spaco between the rows with brushwood to bo kept in its place by a few pieces of quartering intersecting the brush diagonally, and being spiked to the piles would bind the whole together. There would then be some strength to resist the force of the water, although it would not bo so good as sheath piles driven obliquely, but that would be a costly job, and beyond the present means of our Corporation. Yours, &c, John Ceobs.