GREY HARBOR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1931, Page 7

GREY HARBOR

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT. Important works intended to effect improvement in the port of Grey' mouth were inspected on Tuesday by a party of members of the Grey Harbour Hoard and other interested persons, under the conductors!]ip of Mr P. J. M’Lean chairman of the board. The new street constructed by the Harbour Board at Blaketown in continuation of Doyle Street was first inspected. Seventeen sections' here have been taken up, and all will shortly be bu It on. 0 n the way to the South Tip the chairman pointed out the Harbour Board reserve, near the breakwater, which it is proposed to level and convert into a picnic ground for the residents of Blaketown and Greymouth. The South Tip was next visited. Here the work of extending the breakwater 150 feet has been commenced, piledriving is in progress and staging has been erected for further dumping of rock. At the Cobden quarry three eranw* with capacities of 20, 15 and 7 torn, are in operation. The rock obtained is at present being removed by rail to the North Tip, wlich like the other, is to be extended 150 feet. The effect of these extensions will be to shelter the entrance to the harbour from the prevailing southerly currents and to deepen the channel there. On the South Tip 40,000 tons of rock will be needed, and on the North Tip 60,000 tons. Dumping and tipping of rock is in progress at the end of the north breakwater, but heavy seas, which carry some of the materia! away are impeding the work. When the piling lias been carried far enough on the south breakwater the pile-driver will he removed to the north breakwater to give protection there. Two or three years will he needed to finish this work, aftei' which it is proposed to cany out the lagoon dock scheme, providing two ifiun dred acres of safe berthage and a large reserve of water for scouring purposes between tides. The cost is estimated at £500,000.

Trouble has been experienced in the liver lately owing to shoaling caused by the deposit of shingle, and the assistant engineer (Mr W. C. Milne) is making a survey to determine where the shoaling is greatest. The rock wall from Cobden Bridge towards the sea, which was constructed to concentrate the river into one channel, lias deteriorated and is showing big gaps. The rebuilding of this wall to- prevent 'tflie deposit of shingle will be undertaken as soon ns possible by the board at an estimated cost of £6000.’