OUR HARBOUR DEPTHS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 6

OUR HARBOUR DEPTHS.

AND; STEAMERS OF THE 'FUTURE:. In tbeir report which was cabled from London on Wednesday last, the Dominion Commissioners doubted "whether the authorities of Australia and New scaknd harbours were properly alive to. the quick increase of draught which was-in prospect." Tho.Commissioners also stated .that they could not, urge too strongly that tho governing bodies of the Australasian ports should devote earnest consideration to the problem of deepening the harbours. During tfio courso of a short interview yesterday with the Wellington Harbourmaster (Captain Johnston), a reporter was given clearly to understand that there was no need to "d«>vote_ earnest consideration to the problem, " as fnr ha Wellington was coin ■eeirtxid. He went ou to say that tho main channel leading into Port JCioliolson was deep enough to afford safe navigation for vessels having as much as 40ft., or oven a little'over. .At present also a 500 ft. vessel can Ho at the King's Wharf, No. 3 berth, drawing 36ft;, and could proceed to sea at any stage of tho tide without the assistance of a tug or anything eke. Captain Johnston further stated that he did not so far any vessel which had entered the harbour on a draught of even 3fif_t. At present the largest, vessels whioh visited Wellington were the. Athenic,' lonic, and Oorinthic, and the loaded draught of those vessels was 32ft.. 6in. Ho further mentioned that tho depth of water in Wellington Harbour at high tide wns 47ft., and at low water there was 42ft. When tho Pipitea Wharf was constructed' the harbour authorities would be able to berth a vessel «ifh a draught of 40ft., without tko slightest trouble. Generally Bpeaking, he did not think it possible tliat for many years to -come Now Zealand would seo yessole drawing 40ft." or anything like it.