BRUCE BAY LANDING

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 1

BRUCE BAY LANDING

Mr Soddon M.P. is in receipt of tlio following letter from the Minister of Marine with respect to the matter of improving the landing conditions for goods at Bruce Bay: I am in receipt of your letter of the 3rd. ilist. 5 forwarding a petition from certain settlers in South West land asking that the Bruce Bay landing may be completed by the installation of mooring piles. This matter was gone into some years ago when it was considered inadvisable to drive piles off the landing. A vessel should not he encouraged to lie alongside pilings where there is a heavy ocean swell rolling into a bay such as this. There, is also the danger of a craft taking a sheer and striking the rocks on either side oF the landing. The crane was erected on the rock to avoid having to beach the boats, and not for tho purpose of enabling a vessel itself to' work the crane. In smooth weather this can he done at present by the vessel lying on her own anchor and being steadied by lines secured to the eyebolts which have been fitted. A.s the bottom in the vicinity oT the landing is rocky, and hearings have no' been taken to ascertain whether there is any depth of sand and gravel, it is questionable whether piles would stand in such a position, exposed to the prevailing seas. Under the circumstances I regret that tho Department cannot see its way to provide the piles asked for.