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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4835, 20 September 1876, Page 2

Good progress has been made with the Kakanui harbor works, for Messrs. Allan and Stumbles have pushed their contract on in the face of formidable difficulties. The object of these works is to keep the entrance to the river free of the shingle which now accumulates and forms a bank across it, and the principle upon which it is claimed that these works will have that effect is that the works run out beyond the current of the travelling shingle, which being thus intercepted will he thrown up on the , beach at the back of the north wall and behind the south wall, while any small amount which the tide may bring up into the channel at high water will, it is claimed, be effectually scoured out by the rush of the waters of the lagoon through tlm narnowed channel at low water. It is to be hoped that this anticipation will prove correct, as not only will the future of Kakanui be assured, but the success achieved here will have large and important results, in a colonial point of view. For if the month of the Kakanui can be kept open by these inexpensive works, so also can the mouths of other rivers ; as, for instance, the Grey and others ; perhaps not quite at so small an outlay, but certainly upon a similar plan. Not only the residents of this district, bat of the colony generally, should watch the progress of these works with great interest, and their success will be the certain signal for the commencement of numerous similar works elsewhere. The result of this undertaking will be that vessels of 300 or 400 tons will be able to take refuge in Kakanui, instead of having to run for Dunedin or Akaroa when obliged to leave Oamaru and Timaru roads through approaching bad weather. The lagoon will afford great facility for the shipment of cargoes, and is probably capable of still further development. The inner works are now in a very forward state, some 450 ft. of the north wall and 240 ft. of the south wall being completed, the wall on the south side being in effect a fine broad wharf. Still further progress would have been made, but that there has been some difficulty in obtaining the supply of timber of the requisite _ size and description. On Saturday, the 9th inst., there were two vessels with cargoes for the works lying in the bay. Altogether, the progress made has been very satisfactory, and the work promises to he accomplished in less than the contract time, which expires about nine months hence, operations having been commenced by Messrs. Allan and Stumbles about three months ago. Indeed, we understand that the Board are confident that the works may he completed in three or four months. The width of the entrance at its narrowest part will be about 95ft. The depth of water at flood tide in the channel will be 16ft. Mr. T. M. Hardy-Johnston, M.1.C.8., late of this city, is the designer of these works, and has been entrusted with the superintendence of their erection.