EVANS BAY AS A HARBOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5345, 15 May 1878, Page 3

EVANS BAY AS A HARBOR.

TO THE EDITOR OB’THIS NEW ZEALAND TIMES. SlB —lt to m!i that the question of utilizing Evans Bay as a harbor, which ha< bsen mooted by Mr. J. 0. Crawford in a correspondence with tlie Mayor, is one of great importance, aud I propose to consider the best means by which it may bo carried out. Evans Bay is upon the whole a much better harbor than Eam'itou harbor, both ai to sourness and depth of water near the shore; but as the northwest win 1 blows straight into it, gome shelter would be advisable for vessels lying berthed to a breastwork wharf along its shore. If we consult the Admiralty chart, it will be seen that the peninsula forms a natural wharf, nearly two miles long, with deep water close to the shore, varying from 5 to 10, aud even 13ft. On a calm clear day a shelf may bo seen to run out from the beach for a short distance, and then sink rapidly into deep water. A breastwork wharf along the-edge of this shelf would give accommodation for shipping of the largest class. To make the berthing snug aud smooth, - however, from the short sea raised by the northerly wind, one or more transverse wharves would require to lie run out for shelter. Wh re and how would it be best to tff.-ct this work so as to produce the greatest results? If we again consult the chart we shall find a point on the west side of Evans Bay running out a little to toe northward of the Potent Slip. On the eastern side of the bay we shall find a point ruuning out from the peniu-nla somewhat to the northwaid of the slip point.

Now, what is required to give shelter is this : To run wharves out from both the points —named to such a distance that the more northerly wharf from the peninsula shall overlap that further to the south, viz., the slip point wharf. This would enclose and shelter a space of about half a square mile, say -three hundred and twenty acres of deep water, and would form a wet dock. Three sides of this basin and a part of the fourth are already formed by nature. Judging from a rough measurement, I should say that four to five tenths of a nautical mile of wharfage or breakwater would be required in all. This basin might afterwards, if found necessary, be cut npiuto smaller divisions. The question of a wet dock for Wellington has been often suggested. I think I have indicated a plan by which it can be furnished at the lowest cost, and with the greatest area and depth of water. The Patent Slip would lie withiu the limits of this enclosure, and also the proposed dock on the eastern side of Evans Bay, as surveyed and planned by the late Mr. James Balfour, marine engineer to the colony. Another mile of deep-water wharfage might be obtained to the northward of the proposed basin ; but 1 think the basin and its proposed wharfage will suffice in the meantime. It would not be necessary to complete all these works at one time, although it might be desirable to do so. A wharf on the eastern side of the bay, run out sufficiently far to protect the breastwork wharves, would enable ships to berth without further delay. The breastwork wln rves might be left to be constructed by per ons leasing the frontage. A reclamation • of the shallow water in Evans Bay would afford sites for stores and workshops, &o. .? There has been an advocacy of solid stone instead of pile wharves by gentlemen, chiefly I think from Canterbury. They forget that things which are not equal to the same thing are not equal to each other. At Lyttelton, as at Portland (in England), there is an unlimited supply of solid rock on the spot. Here, if we attempted to build a wharf, or breakwater, with the rubbly rock of the district, we should almost certainly form a shoal instead. If we are to go in for solid work we must use concrete, aud if we use concrete in Evans Bay, we have an ample supply of sand wherewith to make it. 1 could add to these remarks some observations as to the dry dock, anti the best mode of connecting Evans Bay with the city, but these matters may be sufficiently obvious, and I fear to take up too much of your valuable apace.— I am, &c.. The Ancient Mabineb.