NEW LAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 6

NEW LAND.

WORK OF THE WHAKARIRE, Good progress has been made with the dredging of the Falcon Shoal (said tho chairman of the Harbour Board in his aunmil report last evening). "There now exists a channel some 2000 ft. wide, and a depth ot seven fathoms, affording the utmost salety to navigation for the lar"est' vessels entering the port. The Whakarirc has discharged some 1G3,603 tons, and has done very good work during the year blio has been engaged more in digging for spoil with a view of completing the reclaiiiati.on, rather than from any necessity to deepen the channel. This work although making fair progress, has boeii delayed somewhat, owing to the noncompletion of the sea wall, as it was not possible to discharge all the material secured by the dredge, as it would have interfered with tho work of the con tractor. _ The total area of land at To Aro available for use after allowing deduction for roads will bo approximately some 12 acres, nine of which would have been required in constructing the dock Assessing tho value at, say, ,£IO,OOO an acre it will be seen that the board will bo in possession of a most valuable asset ill a few years' time; this, in niv opinion will be an excellent endowment for a graving dock, which will be eventually constructed, when the board, in its wisdom, deems it expedient. In order to make some use of the abandoned dock site, it will be necessary to build a retaining wall across the entrance, when the work of filling can be carried out by tho dredge Whakarire. I believe this work should be undertaken, and 1 'am prepared to submit it to the board for its consideration and approval,