THE NEW ENTRANCE TO NELSON HARBOUR.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 12, 1 October 1906, Page 353

THE NEW ENTRANCE TO NELSON HARBOUR.

By E. Cowirs, Richmond

Probably no public work ever undertaken m Nelson has aroused keener interest among Nelson residents, as well as the frequenters of the port, than the new entrance to the harbour, through the boulder bank, now in course of construction. As may be expected opinions, both professional and lay, have differed ; and it has needed a large amount of perseverance on the part of the managers of the undertaking, the Nelson Harbour Board and its staff, to bring the work to its present satisfactory position. It may fairly be said, taking a practical view of what has been accomplished, that the main difficulties of the enterprise have been overcome. When the idea of cutting a new entrance through the boulder bank was first brought within the domain of " practical politics," it was feared that the redoubtable " bank " might have a rocky foundation, or core, which would involve expensive blasting operations Trial borings, however, were made, and the results encouraged the engineers to hope that no rock would be met with. The subsequent dredging operations have fully realised their expectations and a channel has been cut through the bank, 1 5 ft. m depth at low water spring tides, and 200 ft. in width at its maximum depth. While the dredge was digging out the channel a wall was constructed on the south side to protect the bank from the scouring action of the tide. This wall consists of rough masses of a species of granite or metamorphic sandstone, the heaviest pieces, ranging up to over 8 tons, being placed on the outer face of the wall, which has been extended 630 ft seaward, from the outer line of the boulder bank. In order to test the utility of that portion of the channel which had been carried to its full depth right out to deep water, the Nelson Harbour Board, 111 July last, resolved to temporarily put it into actual use , accordingly, the new entrance was officially opened on 30th July. The Union S.S Co 's Rotoiti left the railway wharf with 800 passengers on board — the largest crowd that has ever left Nelson wharf in one vessel. Captain Collins, pilot and harbour master, was m charge, and the. steamer passed through the new channel, breaking the ribbon stretched across it, amidst the cheers of the crowd on board, the spectators on the bank, and those lining the wharves and hills. On the return oi the vessel to the wharf congratulatory speeches were delivered and a presentation made to the chairman of the Board, Mr. John Graham, M.H R. In the course of his speech Air. Graham quoted the appended interesting and important figures of expenditure to date in connection with the new cut —

Reci ipts \nd Expenditure on Account H \rbour Works Lo\n to July 14, 1906.

RECEIPTS. \ M P Society, at 4 per cent, interest . . 000 Debentures at 4 per cent interest . . 6,200 Miscellaneous receipts . . . . . . ;6 General account (part savings transferred to Loan Account) . . . . . . 2 4^4 Total £s3 /io

Expenditure. Cost of dredge and other Plant £24,577 Engineer's commissions and fees . . . . . . 2,770 Accident insurance and miscellaneous . . . . 250 £27,597 Cost of stone (contract) for rubble wall . . . . . . . . 10,795 Dredging — Wages (including Dredgemaster) . . . . Coal for dredge . . . . 2>2332 > 2 33 Stores . . . . . . 1.253 Total . . . . . . £9,419 Shore works — Wages (including Resident Engineer) . . . . £4, 515 Coal for crane . . . . 100 Stores . . . . . . 495 Total .. .. .. £5,110 14,529 Total £52,921 Funds still available — Balance, Current Account . . . . £689 Balance, bank deposits . . . . . . 6,940 Balance, debentures .. .. .. 13,800 £ 2l A 2 9

This statement shows in simple form that the total cost of wages, coal, and stores expended on dredging and shore works combined has been not much more than one-half the cost of the plant

and engineer's commissions, etc , viz against — and the amount still available is almost half as much again as the sum already spent on dredging and shore work added together, viz. 1,429, against £ 14, 5 29. The occasion was undoubtedly one of great importance to Nelson. It demonstrated that, though not complete, the new cut is now available for traffic, and at times, too, when the old entrance could not be safely used. The Rotoiti on a subsequent visit was detained at the outer anchorage by a dense fog , when it lifted it was too late to go in by the old entrance, and the new one became temporarily blocked by the lines of the dredge, which was at work widening the channel. But the lines were let down and the Rotoiti entered the haven m fine style, passing the dredge in the fairway of the inner channel. Detention at the outer anchorage for several hours was thus avoided. Other Union steamers have used the new entrance several times, and the largest of the Anchor Company's fleet has gone out at dead low water. Captain Collins, the pilot, stated m his report to the Harbour Board that in his judgment and experience the new entrance, even in its present incomplete state, is so much better than the old one, that he would " unhesitatingly use the new channel under all conditions in preference to the old one." Since the official opening m July, the dredge has been at work deepening a channel over a bank inside the harbour. When this is completed, the present opening is to be widened by cutting away a "bench" 150 ft wide, so that the total width at maximum depth will be 350 ft. It is confidently anticipated that this width will be sufficient for all practical purposes , and if experience justifies this anticipation, the extra expense of a wider passage will be avoided. When the dredging operations reach the base of the south wall, the other blocks of stone will probably slide down the sides of the bank, and form a protective lining to the south side of the channel, where the current is stronger than on the north side. The question of a wall on the north side of the channel is at present in abeyance The north bank does not at present appear to need protection from the tidal currents ; and it seems probable that the south wall will give ample protection from the wave action. The erection of a north wall would have the effect of lengthening the narrowest part of the entrance, where the current is strongest, a result which would be obviated if possible. But a final decision has probably not yet been arrived at, and the Board will be able to construct the wall if needed, after the rest of the work has been completed. A well-defined current has been set up through the new opening, and has already deepened the soundings outside the harbour by about 3 ft. In the middle of the cut the softer material has been washed out below the dredge level, so that it will be comparatively easy to get a greater depth than originally intended, if that should be found desirable. The channel over the bank inside the harbour will doubtless be kept clear by the current. To sum up the present position, it may fairly be stated that the Nelson Harbour Works have, as far as completed, proved a decided success ;

and it is not too much to expect that when the projected operations are finished, Nelson will be able to receive visits from the largest ocean liners that visit our shores. When it is remembered that this result will, m all probability, be achieved at a cost well within the original estimate, the Nelson district is to be congratulated on the prospect of obtaining a harbour suited to presentday navigation, which will not be a burden on local finances. It is believed that the ordinary revenue of the Harbour Board will be sufficient to provide for working expenses as well as interest and charges on the loan In the course of his speech at the official opening of the enhance, Mr Graham, the chairman, acknow-

ledged the powerful aid the old members of the Board had given him, and thanked the new members for the assistance rendered. He also referred to the encouragement given to the undertaking by the late Mr. Seddon, and by Mr. Hall- Jones. Referring to the executive officers of the Board, Messrs. Barrowman (engineer), McHarg (dredge master), R. Catley (secretary), and Captain Collins (harbourmaster and pilot), Mr. Graham said he was proud to be the nominal head of such a staff of men who had the interests of the work so much at heart. The following are the members of the Board :—: — Messrs. J. Graham (chairman), G. Talbot (treasurer), R. McKenzie, M.H.R., W. Coleman, W. N. Franklyn, O. W. Hauby, F. Trask, M.L.C., A. Hounsell, P. Best and A. Bisley.