NOW MUCH HIGHER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1931, Page 10

NOW MUCH HIGHER

COMMENTS BY SURVEYOR

GREATER TIDAL RISE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■ NAPIER, This Day. A most extraordinary position has been revealed by an inspection;of the sea front at Port Ahuriri in front of Hardinge road, where the sea in stormy weather frequently broke over the road. The waves are now breaking fully a hundred yards from the original nlaee, and the breakwater is said to be much higher than formerly. In the "Iron Pot" portion of the inner harbour the launch steps are so far above water that they arc ten feet above the sea at half-tide. This applies to such an extensive area that there is no tidal flow between the piers, but ' the tide, which normally rose about four feet, is now rising seven feet. Sand banks havo appeared all over the area, and the wharves are now standing on dry land many feet from the nearest water. Mr. Guy Bochfort, surveyor, when asked to explain the position, said it was impossible to do so accurately for a couple of w«eks. At present it had not been determined where the mean sea level existed, and a decision depended on that information. Mr. Eochfort said- he felt convinced that the earth on the waterfront at the port had been raised from seven to ten feet. Just how far that process extended it was impossible to say. Ho had been informed by observers that they believed the sea level at Awatoto, threo or four miles away, was unaltered. If this was true, the slope of the land had been altered. Mr. Eochfort, however, was not prepared to assert that the raising process had come to a stop in such a short distance. He wanted time to gain necessary information. ' The town beach does not now appear to be further away from the sea wall, but in spite of that the reef of rocks which appeared last Tuesday off the Bluff is still to be seen at low water, whereas it was not seen before the big shake.