Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1903. The Manawatu River.

Manawatu Herald, 21 March 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1903. The Manawatu River.

It is very evident that the Marmwatu river has suffered very considerably by its being only under the control of a public department of the government instead of being under local control. In the present case facts are the last matters which are cared for, but though the facts that trade has enormously increased in the river to what was the case ten or twelve years ago, and larger steamers now take the place or those vessels then trading here, rhe Marine Department has not been in any way bothered as to how they managed to get into the river and over the bar, as long ns they got there, and the Department obtained the pilotage fees. It has never troubled this Department whether the state of the bar was known to other steamers that do not trade here but might, nor has it been any worry to them that though they have their own officer, the pilot lit charge, a noted publication year by year disseminated incorrect information.

It may seem to be of small concern to public officials living in Wellington to keep the true state of the navigable rivers of the colony before the public, but to the merchant marine, as well as to the business men of the port, such carelessness means the loss of money to them The Government issue a book termed “ The New Zealand Pilot,” which if followed as a work of reference would cause vessels to refuse a charter to Foxton, and the business men would be seriously handicapped in securing freight, because the last, the seventh edition of “ The Pilot ” gives a bald and totally ina-hqun'-c dusevipti 11 of the state -of the water upon the Manawatu bar. A Harbour Board would have taken good care that any wrong statement made in a publication professedly by authority, should be both accurate and up to date. Looking into this question we have been surprised at the inao curacies appearing and we should recommend other ports testing the statements put forth therein.

Tho start of this almost antediluvian pilot was made in 1818, and the first edition published in 1856, the second edition in 1859, the third in 1861, the fourth in 1875, the fifth in 1883, the sixth in 1891, and the seventh, the latest in 1901. Tims we have a guide to our rivers for the world to use that is supposed to be up to date. The description of the Manawatu river as given in this latest publication might baye been carelessly

written in 1818 and never altered, judging by the text, “There is a depth of 3 to 4 feet on the bar of the Manawatu at low water springs, and vessels drawing 7 feet may enter at high water and proceed for 80 miles from its mouth.” We are left to guess whether the vessels drawing 7" feet may enter top of high water of neaps or springs, and it appeared to be too much trouble to make such an important fact plain. These statements have been allowed to remain as they were printed in 1848, and no protest has been raised till now ! The pilot at the bar has been in his position for nearly 80 years, but we hope has never yet seen the book called “ The New Zealand Pilot ” or if he has we should like to get a copy of bis protests to the Marine Department, He cannot possibly agree with the statements made therein as he has signed a statement totally opposite to it, in which ha declares that the average depth on the bar is nine feet six inches, and at springs the depth is eleven feet! In these statements, two captains of steamers who have known the bar for the.pa t twenty years, speak yet better of the bar, as Captain Manly of the g s. “ Himitangi ” agrees with the average depth of the water on the bar as being nine feet' six inches, and at high water springs he says there are twelve feet of water. He also confirms the statement that at two hours before high water ton feet of water will be found on the bar. As the Himitangi is a regular trader and she draws ten feet when fully loaded, and seven and a half feet when empty, his actions endorse his soundings. Captain G. A. Birapson of the s.s. Gertie, who has traded to this port as well as others along this coast for the last twenty years, also speaks highly of the bar and agrees in full with Captain Manly’s statements. To show the absurdity of the information in this work we see that it is printed that “ coasters drawing seven feet may enter, at high water ” the Rangitikei river! Placing the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers on a par! !! We leave other ports to fight their own battles, though we think the Wanganui iver is not credited with r;c usefulness, L in impossible, for the good of the town and district, that such a slovenly edited edition should be allowed to exist, and as the nearest local body interested we call upon the Mayor to bring the matter before his Council so that these errors may be brought under the notice of the Government and request that the question should be put beyond cavil by a survey and soundings of the bar being made, and its state at all times of the tides recorded.