THE RIVER FLATS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9404, 2 April 1898, Page 2

THE RIVER FLATS.

Dredging to be Discontinued.

Lengthy Discussion at the Harbour Board.

The question of dredging the river flats was before the Harbour Board yesterday (Friday) afternoon. The matter was introduced by a deputation, consisting of Mr H. J. R. Tilley (representing the owners of the steamships Oreti and Moa) and Captains Robertson (Oroti), Jarman (Moa), and Pallison (Glencairn). Mr Tilley explained that the deputation were present to urge the importance of dredging the flats. At present the steamers Oreti and Moa were stranded on the flats, and he pointed out that Bince the Board had stopped dredging, the river was not sc navigable as it was three months ago. Tho boats could get over the flats where they had been dredged, but frequently stuck on the undredged portion. If the Board dredged a little more he believed steamers would be able to come up to the town wharf without any difficulty. The loss and inconvenience to shippers caused I by tho boats sticking was very great, and only a year ago the Moa struck the flats or a snag in the river with such force that it co3t £200 to repair the damage sustained.

Captain Pallison stated that he had been compelled to lighten his vessel on the occasion of the last two trips, owing to the insufficiency of water on the flats. On the last trip he had to take out fifteen tons, and it was just touch and go with him. His vessel on the occasion in question (neap tides, easterly weather) was drawing 7ft lOin. The chairman (Mr Peat) pointed out that the easterly winds made a difference of two feet in the tides, and said that, accerding to the reports of the foreman, there was an average depth of 6ft and over all the way up from the Heads — a depth they never had before. Captain Robertson understood that the soundings referred to were taken in December, but since that date the depth of water on the flats had altered very much. They had no difficulty in negotiating the flats where they had been dredged. They had made a big gutter which would take some time to silt up, but in the meantime the lower parts of the flats were in the same position as they had been for some years past. If the dredging were continued right through the flats they would secure a good scour, as at Westport, which would keep the flats fairly dear. Without dredging it would be impossible to keep the river open. If the dredge wore kept going 'the sand wonld never reach the lower portion of the river. In reply to Mr Paruons, Captain Robertson said that the Oreti was stuck about two hundred yards below whore the flats were recently dredged ; his boat was drawing about 9ft" and they had no trouble whatever in getting over the bar. The Oreti had been stuck for three days, and all the freight would be lost. The Mayor— Have you sounded the flats a low water?

Captain Robertson— Yes, and got sft, or sft 2in. Mr Wixcoy— Are you sure you are in the channel ?

Captain Robertson— Yes, lam perfectly satisfied. I went down the river and took my own soundings and made my own marks, and then cams up with a full head of steam and a good vacuum. Mr Wixcey- -What was the state of the tide?

Captain Robertson— At the top of high water. Mr Stevenson — Did you touch on the bar? Captain Robertson-- 1 may have touched, but did not bump. I have not bumped on the bar for some timo. Captain Pallison— l came in an hour after high water and did not touch. Mr Stevenson — iJid not the Oretibump a couple of months ago ? I was standing with the pilot, and he thought you bumped as you appeared to stop altogether. Captain Robertson— He might have thought so I may have been turning at the time, and if so it is impossible for a man on shore to say whether she stopped or not Mr Wixcey— At the same time you may have dragged, though you did not bump. Captain Robertson — But we did not drag. The Chairman— The Foreman of Works says the depth of water on the flats is just the same to-day as it was in December. Captain Robertson— The ohannel alters very materially in 'a short time. The grounding of a schooner some time ago made a difference oftwo feet in the channel by raising a sandbank, which took some time to scour away. The Mayor— l would like to ask the three captains if they think that jf^the dredging were kept up for four months in the year it would keep the channel clear? The Chairman— There is no harm in asking the question, but they are not experts. Captain Robertson — I feel satisfied dredging would keep the same depth of water in the river as on the bar. It would not give any more. Formerly we frequently stuck on a bank which has been taken away by the dredge, and we never stick there now. Mr Stevenson— What do you say is the increased depth by dredging? Captain Robertson— I should say about 18 inohes.

Mr Stevenson — Would you be surprised to find that the average is only about 11 inches ? *

Captain Robortson— According to my soundings there is more. Taking your figures (11 inches), prior to the dredging wo had 18 inohes less. The hole you have dredged out will always be a trap. The Foreman — Did not the Moa stick where we dredged ? Captain Jarman— No, we are not in the channel.

The Foreman (td Captain Robertson)— The harbourmaster's aasistaut (Japtain Pope) says you are out of the ohannel. Captain Bobertsou— l say then, sir, he is wrong, and am prepared to wager £10 that I have the best water in the channel. I sounded and marked it carefully. Captain Jarman — According to the foreman, I am in the best water. In reply to Mr Parsons Captain Robertsoon said there was not as muoh water in the channel as on the bar.

Captain Jarman believed dredging would be of great benefit. He never touched on the bar.

Captain Pallison— l feel convinced dredging would be very beneficial. Mr Tilley— lt certainty woifld bo of great benefit to shipping agents and owDers.

Captain Jarman— We also ground alongside the wharf, and, sometimes we are delayed an hoqr in consequence. The deputation then withdrew, and after one or two othm' matters had been considered

The chairman moyed the motion stand: ing in his name, That, taking into consideration the estimated cost of dredging and the fact that the soundings in the river show a depth eqnal to that expected by Mr Eeynolds in his report of 1894, the dredging be not proceeded with. Mr Parsons asked for the ruling of the chairman on the question of whether such a motion could ,be put after jt had been decided to proceed with the dredging and a notice of motion at a special meet' rig to the effect that dredging should bi stopped, had been defeated, and pointed out that there would be no finality to the question if such, proceedings were ollqwed. The chairman said be had considered the question and consulted those competent to express an opinion, and the motion was in order. He brought forward the resolution on the ground that fresh information bad come to light since thg-motiou re dredging bad been passed, Some of the members of the Beard had been called the Progress Party and some the reverse. Anyone who had known him for the past 40 years could not conscientiously say that of him. He was not afraid of spending money if he could do so to advantage, but he did not think money could be spent on dredging for the welfare of the river. He had read at the last meetiug on extract from Mr Eeynolds' reports to prove that they had now as much water on the flats as they could expect from the state of the bar. He contended the capacity of the river was equal to the capacity of the bar. He did not feel disposed to take the reports of outsiders in preference to the reports of the Board's servants until the latter were proved to be in the wrong. Reference to the official map of soundings taken in 1877 showed that the depth of water in the channel was two feet more now than then, and it was all nonsense to say it had not improved. Mr Reynolds backed up MessrsSßarr and Oliver's report, and said that a depth of five feet at low water in the channel was the capacity of the bar outside the Heads. That showed that the river ohannel at the present moraeat wan equal to the oapaoity at the

Heads. All the ongineers' reports bore out that fact. The works done on tho bar had proved of no avail.

Mr Wixcey seconded the motion with very great pleasure. Unless they coald place entire dependence on the foreman's reports it was no use having a foreman at all. It was generally recognised that if they had the same depth of water in the — ' river as on the bar they had all the advantages recommended as likely to accrue. He failed to see how the Board's finances could stand the strain of further dredging, Mr Parsons said ho intended opposing the rescinding of the resolution. They had the evidence of three eiperienced captains, whs told them distinctly that there was not as much water in the river as on the bar, and that dredging would do good, and he was inclined to listen to the opinion of practical men like them. It was not a very edifying sight to see the boats stuck on «he flats, and what was the nse of spending money on the wharf if they could not utilise it. Mr Stevenson had told them that the channel was dredged right through, but Mr Reynolds said quite the contrary. He (Mr Reynolds) said that the hard bottom formed a weir, and he (Mr Parsons) submitted that if the flats had been properly dredged there could not be tho conglomerate mass he referred to. The river must of necessity silt up if holes were dng in the flats, and the only effectual way was to cut the > channel right Ihrongh. He ridiculed the i lea of the dredging costing £5000, and said that the Mayor had showed that the expense of dredging for a few months every year would not be very great. Unquestionably one of the greatest mistakes the Board had ever made was when they declined the offer of aMr Stevenson, of Dunedin, to dredge 50,000 yards for 6d per yard, or a total cost of £1200 or £1300 for clearing the flats. The Chairman— He never could have done it. Mr Parsons, continuing, said that was not the Board's trouble. He took exception to the allegations about members of the Board being influenced by personal motives and did not for a moment believe tuck to be theoase. The Mayor supported the idea of con' tinning the dredging, and was one of those who believed they had received a large amount of good from dredging in the pastr The proof was in the fact that the larger boats, suoh as the Glenelg, were able to come up to the wharf, which formerly they could not do. He contended that the additional coat of dredging the flats would only be £50 per month and not £90 as indicated in the report, as the wages of the foreman's staff should be deducted from the dredging account. They could dredge for four months of the year at a cost of less than £360, or £200 in addition - ' to the ordinary expenditure, an amount they could very well face. Id all other ports of importance dredging was done, and there could be no exception taken to dredging here. He believed the reports of the other expenditure necessary re breakwater, bridge and pilot station were only got up as a bogey to frighten those who were not opposed to dredging. He did not agree that Mr Gerries report should be taken in preference to the evidence of three captains, and pointed to the faot of the boats stuck on the flats as proof of the necessity for further dredging. He reminded the Board that the last contested election was fought ont practically on the lines of dredging as against Mr Thatcher's scheme, and Mr Thatcher lost Ms seat. Tho decision >of the ratepayers should be considered. He would move as an amendment 1 that dredg. ing be continued subject to the amount to be expended not exceeding £360 per annum, this practically meaning an additional annual expenditure of £200 beyond the amount now expended on the Foreman's staff for a period of four months. He referred to the insignificance of the class of veasels trading to the port, and contended that to build steamers to suit the channel, as had been advocated, - would be a retrogade step. Mr Higgie said he had always been led - to understand the flats from the Landguard Bluff to the wharf had neverjbeen cut clean through, and would like to 1 gee that done. The Wanganui County Connoil, whioh he represented was entirely op* "- - posed to expending £5000 an the flatg, The Foreman pointed out that only the flats between two of the beacons had been dredged. Mr Stevenson differed from the Mayor about the last contested election,' and Btated that he had announced himself as opposed to dredging, and was returned. The question the election was fought on was one of fascines. With respect to the dredging, he peinted out that the Board had recently spent between £800 and £900 " in wages alone, and judging by the soundings taken the result was an increased depth of scarcely eleven inohes, He contended that if they wanted to gej Bigger boats they would have to begin at the bar,' They might spend thousands of pounds on tho flats, but it would not make a bit of difference to shipping. As to the Mayor's contention that the foreman's salary should be excluded from the dredging account, he submitted that if the foreman was engaged > at dredging he coald not bo doing other work, and that if .he hac(no ordinary voik ■ to do, what was the use of -keeping him on. .Although Mr Parsons said he was averse to spending £5000, he was also averse to dredging .a bis here and there, ' which meant that lie was hi favour of the, whole scheme. Bearing in mind the otherlarge expenditure the Bqard had to face, he would support tb,e chairman's rqotiou, , , The Mayor pointed out that Mr O^rson bad announced himself at the election contest referred to as being in fayoor of dredging, and. was. returned, second on the poll. ' ' " Mr Paterson supported the otsairmw'S motion, and Mr Elliott opposed it. Mr Peat briefly replied, contending thai it would be wasting money ta do as thg Mayor suggested."

The Mayor said that if they "did not dredge further, the money they had spent would all be lost.

The chairman then put the amendment, which, was supported by the Mayor and Messrs Parsons and Elliott, and opposed by the chairman and Messrs Palerson, Wixoey, Stevenson, and Higgie. The motion was then put and oarried.