IMPROVING BAR HARBOURS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1848, 4 July 1918, Page 3

IMPROVING BAR HARBOURS.

WHAT WANGANUI HAS AC-

COMPLISHED,

Mr Henry Johnson, ex-Harbour-master of the port of Wellington, contributes the following, interesting article to the Wellington Post re the port of Wanganui:— “I have been, and am still, deeply interested in the various harbours in New Zealand, and especially those bar harbours which require expert engineering and protective works in order to so train and utilise the river as to give the best obtainable result and make it navigable for vessels of greatest maximum drafts. This, therefore, is my excuse for encroaching on your valuable space with a few remarks which I wish to make eonr corning the Wanganui Harbour entrance and river. A few weeks ago I visited Wanganui, and the opportunity was granted me to inspect the works carried out at that port. 1 had previously read that most of the difficulties of navigation had been reduced, if not altogether removed, for a certain class of vessels; and in my opinion that is so, and to a far greater extent than I had expected to find. With some of the officials we crossed the bar twice out and twice in, every facility being granted me to see the condition of the entrance and the river up to the Castlecliff Wharf. I understand that less than 15 years ago it was a common thing to see a steamer stuck in the river drawing only 8 or 9 feet of water; such steamers seldom passed the bar without striking the bottom. The improvements have changed both these conditions. At the present time there is 19ft. Gin. of water on the bar (high water ordinary springs). From the entrance to Castlecliff Wharf the depth is 20ft.; from here to the Town Wharf the depth is 13ft. to 14ft. From this it will be readily seen that had the Harbour Board been fortunate enough to secure their dredge from England they worn! soon have removed the river difficulty so as to allow a vessel drawing 17 or 18ft. to proceed up the river to the Town Wharf. The war has, however, prevented this among many other urgent works being carried out in New Zealand as well as in other parts of the world. However, the wharf at Castlecliff is supplied by the railway, and large vessels can be discharged there without causing any inconvenience whatsoever at present. I see no reason why vessels of 300 ft. or longer, carrying 4,000 or 5,000 tons at a draft of 19ft., should not work the port in safety provided the weather conditions were moderate. It has been said that there is a set across the entrance under certain weather conditions. It certainly would ho surprising if there were no set. All bar harbours exposed to the ocean waves are so affected. The set is caused by the wind blowing across the harbour entrance. In this I have had many years’ personal experience. There is no permanent set —only a surface drift in (he direction in which the wind is blowing. Nevertheless the worst-situated and most exposed bar harbours in New Zealand arc navigated by vessels carrying up to 3,000 or 4,000 tons with comparatively few accidents. This is solely due to the master’s knowledge of local conditions when lie is about to enter or leave- the port, coupled with a careful watch as to rhe action of wind and sen on his vessel. From what I have seen I am warranted in saying that the Wanganui Harbour Board and the people of Wanganui, are to be congratulated on the very satisfactory improvements that have been effected to their entrance and river.”