OAMARU HARBOR WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 3492, 2 May 1874, Page 2

OAMARU HARBOR WORKS.

\t the last meeting of the Samara Harbor Trust, the Engineer (Mr M‘Gregor) brought under notice his plan for consti u-ting a wharf inside the breakwater. The ■wharf was arranged so as to obtain a depth of 12ft at low water of a sprihg tide, and 18ft at high tide. It starts at a distance of 18Gft from the shore end, and ru -s for a distance of 150 ft, forming an angle of 50deg with the inside line of breakwater. It is then carried another 150 ft on the 12£tline, nearly parallel to the reef, and is at present intended to be left with a free end, so as to admit of smaller craft coming inside. This wharf would accommodate four vessels of moderate size two outside and two inside—where the work of loading and unloading in good weather could be carried ou without in auy way interfering with the progress of the breakwater. Captain Sewell, the port harbor-master, pointed out to the Trust that while the wh irfage, if erected as proposed, would be of great value to the port, as allowing of loading and discharging vessels up to 200 tons burthen, the depth of water would not be sufficient for colliers such as trade between this port and Newcastle. If the same work were erected twenty feet or so further out, a sufficient depth of water would be obtained to allow vessels of this class to come alongside. , After some discussion the following resolutions were carried:— “ That in view of the urgent necessity of wharfage accommodation to meet the increasing trade of the port, and to provide for the shipment of stone, it is desirable that wharfage be constructed without delay, with a depth of not less than 13ft water at low tidei” “ l hat the Engineer’s plan be approved, but that the works be so carried out as to give the depth of waiter before-men-tioned, viz., by erecting the wharfage on the 13ft soundings.” “ That in order to provide funds without encroaching upon the sum available for the breakwater, application be made to the Provincial Government for an advance by way of a loan to an amount not exceeding L50OO.” The local paper reports that the Harbor Works at Oamaru continue to make satisfactory progress, the foundation blocks—-twenty-one in number, of 20 to 25 tons each —for another pocket have been laid, and it is expected that this week another length of 17ft will have been added to the walk