UNSATISFACTORY HARBOR ARRANGEMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3719, 9 October 1906, Page 2

UNSATISFACTORY HARBOR ARRANGEMENTS.

[to the editor..]

Sir. —Can a remedy be found to right the present unsatisfactory state or management of our river ? On Tuesday last the Waverley drawing 7ft 6in and the Moa drawing Bft 5m arrived off the bar. The Waverley got the signals and took bar and grounded and was again signalled to put to sea. She waited till next morning and came in all right and reported Bft. By this time the Himatangi arrived drawing Bft gin and received the signal “ not sufficient water” and at the time it was top of spring tides; the Moa was ordered to Wanganui. The Himatangi waited until Thursday and could not work the bar. On Friday morning Capt Manly (Himatangi) sounded the bar in one of the ship’s boats and fouhd that the bar had shifted to the northward with a depth of 9ft 6in, He took the new channel and arrived at the wharf all right. The Gertie and Baden Powell arrived on Friday evening, Mr Signal went out close on midnight and piloted both steamers safely across the bar. The Putiti arrived at 11.30 on Saturday drawing Bft ain. Now sir, the point is this: Is. our harbour staffed as it ought to be, with only one man to look after the entrance and seven miles of river ? I say it is not, and the , fact of the boats waiting for water where they were not likely to get it, and the masters of the boats trading here having to find the channel for themselves as per Capt Manly is sufficient evidence. The sooner the Pilot has an assistant the better it will be for all concerned in the welfare of the port —Yours etc, P. HennESSY. Sir,— Can you inform me how many Councillors recorded their votes on the recent loan proposals. —Yours etc., Interested.