NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3887, 4 January 1884, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held this afternoon. Present: Mr W C.Smith, M.H.R. (in tho chair), His Worship the Mayor, Messrs J. AY. Neal, J. A. Smith, AVa'rdrop, P. Dolbol, 11. AVilliams, J. N. Williams, and Vautier, and tho Hon. J. N. AVilson.

Mr Goodall, after a few preliminary remarks in reference to his previous design, which did not give satisfaction to those who asked him here on that occasion, said he then had but littlo data to go upon. He was taken to the Tuki Tuki river, and there did seem a great discrepancy between tho state of tho river and tho state of the beach. Since then tho shingle difficulty had always been a prominent feature with him. He bad coino to the conclusion that tho shingle was not nearly bo bad as at Timaru. He then explained a rido ho took to tho Kidnappers, accompanied by Mr Saunders, from whom ho had received every assistance. Tho coast there is in such a state that it gets more aud more at right angles to the set of the waves till it gets to tho Bluff at AVaikara. They could find no shingle outside tho beech, unless it was white sand. Ho also had a ride to tho mouth of the Ngaruroro river, accompanied by their engineer, as well as Mr AVeber, svhom he was pleased to havo with him, as he wanted to know exactly what he (Mr AVeber) had to say on tho subject, having studied the question so deeply. Mr Weber pointed out pieces of lignite which came from the Tuki Tuki, probably they did. They then had a rido to tho Kidnappers, where he must, say ha eyes wero opened on that occasion. After they passed che Maratora there was a succession of high cliffs, from two to four hundred feet high, almost entirely composed of pieces of cement, gravel, ordinary loose gravel, and a small proportion of clay stuck with a little marlyclay, It at onco struck him that the clitf must in a groat measure supply a good deal of shingle. A great many landslips must havo occurred, as tho cliffs were so bare of vegetation. He was confident that tho cliff was beaten on by the waves. Very little shingle could restonthe beach, because of tho sharp anglo. If the waves mot at an obliquo anglo the shingle would remain, but it is an acute anglo. At the mouth of tho Maratora thero is a shingle bank that has been caused by the set of two different seas; tho set of the north-east seas would bank it up, but the southerly seas would carry it off again. Having arrived at that conclusion he made eortaiu surveys. From oxporienco gained at Timaru ho had como to tho conclusion that to build out a breakwater at a similar anglo—in fact a better angle could be got, to encounter tho wavos so as to throw tlie shingle backto hit tho proper angle by which means the waves repel the shingle and drive it back along the coast was what was needed for Napier. His first idea of a site was from the most easterly bluff, but from surveys taken ho found that the enclosed ground would bo very rough indeed, although it would admit of a better gathering ground for the shingle, but it would entail a great deal of cost in clearing tho ground inside to admit of vessels being in safety He had como to tho conclusion that by extending tho beach line, and taking the proper direction from the sot of tho wavos, which ho had a good opportunity on New Year's Day from tho top of the hills of observing, ho was confident ho had got tho right direction of tho breakwater to be arrived at. Light works would bo first re quired to reclaim a certain amount of land. Af tor reclaiming the land they would require a large yard for making concrete blocks. A reclamation of fivo acres could be mado very cheaply. Ho would then construct a breakwater running out about 1200 feet north-east, then 1000 foot due north, with a slight curve in the end, to facilitate crane work and tho requirements of the railway that would be necessary for the work. Ho estimated tho total cost at £200,000. Mr Goodall promised to forward detailed plans in a fortnight. A vote of thanks to Mr Goodall brought the proceedings to a close.