THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4282, 16 November 1876, Page 3

THE HARBOR BOARD.

At the usual fortnightly meeting of this body this afternoon, there were present—Messrs Beid (in the chair), Tewsley,M’Neil, M'JCinnon, Bitchie, Beeves, and Davie. The principal business was the consideration of the Engineers report on a proposal, having for its object the dredging ef a temporary channel between Dunedin and Kilgour’s Point, wherein it was suggested that the material arising therefrom might be thrown off to the side by means of shoots, and then protected by fascines. Mr Simpson wrote as follows

1. It would reduce the tidal area by 250,C00 tons, equal to about one-twelfth of the maximum encroachment upon it that would ensue from the entire reclamation proposed under the scheme originally sanctioned. 2. It would, in the vicinity of She sand-banka, establish for the time being isolated mounds of sand, varying in height from 6ft to 12ft above high water, having a cubical capacity of 165,000 cubic yurds, and which mounds, independently of their action in interfering with the tidal currents and navigation would, 1 believe, in a short time be reduced, at the least, to the level of high-water by the prevailing gales, the whole of such material, in all probability, being blown into the channel. 3. The expense of protecting the side-slope facing the channel by the mode of piling and fascining suggested in addition to the cost of forcing the material by Shoots off to a safe distance, would from a rough calculation made, I am convinced, exceed the price per cubic yard estimated for the barge system I propose. 4. The work by such a system could not by any means be expedited in a greater degree than by utilising the barges. 5. A reduction of tidal area is generally recognised as a dangerous experiment, and seeing that the scheme of harbor improvement must include provision for an extent of reclamation commensurate with the requirements of commerce, and which, I may say, must be looked upon as a necessary evil, I foil to perceive, taking into consideration the foregoing remarks, how an encroachment upon the tidal area can be conducive to good and safe results, when the areas reclaimed by such means cannot be utilised and made a source of revenue to the Board. *

A memo, supplied by Captain Thomson at my request, explains that gentleman’s opinions regarding the workable width of a deep-water channel: and while they coincide with the views expressed in my original report and held by me now, I have, in order to meet the suggestions of the Board, assumed the average temporary width in my calculations to be lOOtt., which will afford in the deeper excavations a bottom width of from 70ft. to 80ft. Prom the above remarks, it will be] obvious that I cannot recommend the Board to adopt the plan Suggested in the memorandum received.” •ihe Harbor-master’s opinion was to the effect that the minimum width of the deep channel in the Upper Harbor should not be less than 300 feet, that being the length of the vessels the Board contemplated bringing up to Dunedin, and that in all the deepening operations they should lessen rather than increase the risk to the shipping. Mr Tewsley said if Mr Simpson was to remain Hie Bosurd's engineer they mast obtain professional advicewther than what they had got. Mr Simpson, as against Mr J. T. Thompson, who favored this very scheme, did not satisfy him. Mr Bxn> considered the Engineer was justified in giving his views, having been asked for them, but when the Board pnt so strongly to him their earnest desire to have a channel constructed in this way with a view to economy and expedition, he should have entered on that view of the question more fully than he had done. This report was simply backing np and adhering to the former report. Seeing the limited revenue of the Board and its expressed desire to have vessels brought up as soon as possible the Engineer was to blame; he might have endeavored to have allowed his professional view to be swayed a little by these considerations. He (Mr Bold) would be disposed to instruct the Engineer to carry out the Board's desire of having vessels brought up to Dnnedin at the earliest date, even if part of the material slipped hack and had to removed again, which was a debateable point. He wonld be no party to entering on this great scheme of reclamation, an experiment in itself. The Engineer should he instructed how it was to be carried out in the meantime; if he refused they knew what they were to do. - Mr Bitchie agreed to everything Mr Beid said, except one point. Judging by his experie nce in a small way it was most unsatisfactory and dangerous to instruct any man who had professional responsibility on his shoulders to do anything he was professionally averse to. In the course of a strong speech, in which he said he had not the slighted faith in the Engineer, whose specifications he would not trust for a fifty-feot wharf, he said it was me lancholy to see so important a work kept back because of their relations with their engineer. They ought to dismiss him. Mr M’Nbil wonld not be a party to spending L 40,000 on an experiment which none had seen before. If they acted on snch a dictum as their Engineer's, they deserved to have their heads shaved and be pat in a lunatic asylum. The Ciu.ißKAK.was disappointed with the report, bat more so with that of Captain Thomson. He was himself in favor of at once inviting tenders for the construction of a deep-water channel 100 ft wide; and if such were invited, he was confident in eighteen months or two years ships would be brought to Dunedin. Contractors wonld undertake to do it. Mr M'Neil : Propose it, and I will second it. Mr Davie was inclined to call for tenders, accept them, and initiate the work before the new Board came in, as the probability was the latter wonld discuss for another twelve months what they wonld do. t Ultimately it was decided to hold a specie! irsat* ing on Monday to further consider the matter.