THE NAVIGATION OF THE WAIKATO ABOVE CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1287, 28 September 1880, Page 2

THE NAVIGATION OF THE WAIKATO ABOVE C AM BRIDGE.

TiIE following report of Mr Samuel Gorman, travelling agent for Nobel's Explosive Company (Limited), of Glasgow, on the Waikato river above Cambridge has been handed to us for publication by Captain James Lindsay, the manager of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company, and will be perused with very much interest : — Care Messrs E. Porter and Co., Auckland, 25th May, ISSO.—Capt. Lindsay, Manager W.S.N. Co., Ngvmiawahia. ■Sir, — Agreeably to request after having inspected River Waikato from Cambridge up a distance of seven or eight miles, the object being to see whether it is practicable tn remove the various obstructions and thereby make the river navigable up another twelve mile", I bog to submit thisinwritmgtoyou,and m doing s© would first state : The whole scheme is quite possible, and that at a comparatively reasonable cost. I will begin with the falls at Fergusson's place, as this is the most difficult part of river. Here bends can be straightened and river made thirtyfive feet wider by four feet deep at theB3 falls, which would lower them and lessen current at least one-third, because at present all the water has to rush through a passage about seventy feet wide. It will also do away with present eddy (50 feet in width now being only back water). Let what falls, which will possibly remain, extend over a greater length, and do away with present roll and the broken water. When sharp points have been blown away there will be an even halfmoon bend formed, enabling steamers to hug the near (east) side. The lowering at falls would not materially effect river above, as the water is even, slow, and deep. I may also 6tate that ju. c t above these falls there is a large bay where steamers could always steady themselves after swinging and pointing towards present falls. I now will detail work to be done within said five miles : — Rock in centre of river near Cambridge, lOC x 30 not less than 3ft. below summer level ; i a projecting point on opposite (west) side, 6 x 12 x 3ft. deep ; another point on east side just above bridge 6 x 10 x 3ft. deep ; a patoh of rocks about a mile and a -half up river in centre, SO x 80 x 3ft. deep ; a reef, 18 x 10 x 3ft., in centre of rapids, two miles up ; also, to widen and straighten here by cutting off lift, back I 45 long x 4ft. deep ; on east side, a little above here, a patch of rocks, loose and solid, 85 xBO x 3ft. deep ; large patch of rock just below Fergusson's place, 90 x 85 x 3ffc. deep ; two high sharp points of solid rock each 6 x 10 x 6ft. above water, to be blown away 3ft. below summer level ; another ditto, 8 x 16 x 9ft. above water, to be lowered same as all other rocks, viz., 3ft. below summer level ; also, one sunken rock in swift part of river to be made 3ft. deep, size 10 x 1 2ft. ; one solid point ou east side, 6 x 9 x 9ft. above water ; ditto, to give regular curve in present eddy, 29ft. wide x 9ft. back x Bft above water — these, two also to be made 3ft. below water ; a large patch of very hard and big boulders

70 x4O x sifc.i fc. above vrater, to be deepened 3^ or 4ft. below summer level; and ft sunken rock up Itt the htif< to allow Btoamers to swiopr for the f alU, size 8 x 1 1 x 3f fc. deep. This, air, is all t]he work required to be done, which I would undertake to do for the sum of fourteen hundred and eighty (£1480) pounds sterling ; or, as I do not wish to make a lnrge profit, but rather to remove obstruction* to important navigation, would superintend the work at a reasonable rate (salary). Yet I inoline to think the work oould not be done more reasonably by day labor, and perhaps lens satiVf.icrdVily?; because above estimate is result of cutting- everything: ns fine as possible. — I have, etc., Samttel CtOuman, travelling aqrent for Nobel's Explosives Co. (Limited), Glasgow.