THE PINNACLE ROCKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 956, 31 July 1903, Page 3

THE PINNACLE ROCKS.

DEPUTATION TO HARBOR BOARD. GOVERNMENT TO BE 'APPROACHED.

At the meeting of the Harbor Board .yesterday afternoon, a deputation waited upon the Board in regard to the removal of a number of pinnacle rocks in the bay, which were standing in the way of navigation oy preventing the ocean steamers corning dose in. The deputation consisted of the following : Messrs W. B. Common (representing tho Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company), A. F. Kennedy (Tyser Company and Messrs Nelson Bros.), J. W. Bright, (New Zealand Shipping Company), F. C. Cramond (Union S.S. • Company), O. E. Eliott (Huddart-Par-ker Company and Dalgety and Co.), Captain Kennedy (representing the lighter .-.g and Coastal trade), W. F. Cederwall (Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ As-sc ciation), and H. M. Porter (A. and p. Socieey). Mr W B. Common acted as spokes man, sn4 apologised for the absence of Mr O. A. DeLautour, who was to have headed the deputation. “ What the deputation wishes to do,” remarked Mr Common, “ is to inter-

view the Board in regard to the Tokomaru and other pinnacle locks which they wished to sec removed. These rocks prevent the fcig steamert coining close in, and we wish the Board to ask the Government to place a sum on the Estimates to remove them. It appears that the Penguin was up here some time ago, and was engaged in surveying .work, but the new survey of the bay has not been forthcoming. If we had that survey before us, we could speak more defmitelv as to the rocks we want removed. You are ail aware that these big steamers should come closer in. Loading operations can be greatly expedited if the 'boats come further in.”

Captain Kennedy urged that the Government should he persuaded to send along their Torpedo Corps to remove the rocks. The fact of blasting the rocks would not b,e sufficient—for that simply, scattered them. They would still ne dangerous, and it would be necessary to take them away .with a grab or dredge.

A member Are these rocks in the fairway ? Oapuain Kennedy : They are, for big ships Ido not know the exaet nature of the rocks. I am not a diver, and I have not been below to see ihem. In the absence of the Penguin’s survey, tnere is no line fo be marked out. The Chairman : We have previously discussed, this matter, and we have decided to get a tracing of the Penguin chart; copies are also being obtained from Home. Captain Kennedy : In the absence of that, no one can say, what should |t)e removed. If you Laid the chart before you, it .would be different. This anchorage that we are using now, I picked out some years ago, and it Las been used ever since. That is no reason to say that a better one may not be found, .where the ships would be much safer. The Chairman : The desire of the deputation is to represent the pinnacle rock difficulty to the Government.

Mr A. F. Kennedy said that he would like the Harbor Board to, impress unon the Government the fact that foreign steamers were coming hero every week, ’and since,, these rocks had been discovered they could not get them into anything like an anchorage. It meant cutting down a barge on the tide. If the steamers came close in they could work three or four hlarges where they were now working only two or three All this damaged their port, and placed them at a disadvantage with other places in the matter of freights. They did not want the port to suffer from any stigma. He did not agree with Captain Kennedy in the matter of re covine rock that was blasted off. He understood from captains visiting th? port that the rocks were of pinna 4* form, and, all danger would he removed if the tops were blasted. Soundings showed that there was deep water on either Seeing that the. Government was getting so much revenue in dues from the port, it was quite their business to see that the baibor was made clear. He hoped the Harbor Board would do all iu their power to back up the recommendations of the deputation. ~ , Mr J. W. Bright pointed out that the export trade of the port was increasing rapidly, and whilst these dangers existed shippers w.ere placed at a gref t disadvantage in regard to insurance and freights Captain Tucker sain that the deputation consisted, of men of standing and weight, and their , recommendations ought to be favorably considered by the Government. The Board decided to represent the views of the deputation to .the Government . and to giv4 the same their hearty support..