The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 572, 2 March 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1878.

The Timaru Harbour Board socnis to be ;i wonderful institution, ami fur diversity of interest ami action its members bid fair to vie successfully ivirh those of the Harbour Board of Dunedin. Some little time ago it appeared that they would have given almost anything if they could only have induced Sir John Coope to *isit Timaru for the purpose of helping

Aw by his advice in the construction of Rue proposed Timaru Breakwater. Sinct : then they have changed their ideas as to the utility of the Coope system of constructing breakwaters. The random block method which has invariably been adopted by the great engineer, seems to possess. so it is asserted, but little stability, and s.une of Sir John" Coope's works built upon that principle are said to have been ■ shaken. When Sir -John" Coope was known to have arrived in Melbourne, tinBoard sent a letter requesting him to visit Timaru professionally, provided terms were agreeable to .ill parties concerned. The letter had scarcely had time to ivacli its destination when, pursuant to a notice <>f motion which was given by a dissentient at the meeting at which it was decided to send for Sir Jolts Co 'DR. I a special meeting was called, and the I decision reversed. This was brought about through the action of some very influential gentlemen interested in Tern uka, and who have very good reasons why they do not wish Sir Jorix Coope, or any other man, to assist in the construction of the Timaru Breakwater. The affair is a very pretty one as it stands, and will imbue Sir JoHX Coope with an unfavourable opinion of the material out of which Colonial Harbour Boards are. made. He will think them not gentlemen ; and in this lie will be in error, for it is the gentlemen of the Board to whom he is indebted for such vacillation. Sir John" Coope intended t > avoid the silting of the shingle by starting the Breakwater some distance from the shore, leaving an opening through which shingle could travel northwards. With reference to the present proposed plan the Timaru Herald says :—" Mr. Goodall, the Harbour Board's Engineer, leaves here this morning for Wellington, for the purpose of submitting to the Royal Commission his plans and specifications of the the :500ft. mole. Mr. Ooodall estimates that tiie cost of the mole will be considerably less than £20,000. It proposes to start from the point at which Mr. Balfour commenced his breakwater, and is to be constructed of two solid walls of concrete blocks, each weighing about thirty tons, while the space between them will be tilled up with rubble. The two walls will be of an average thickness of 10ft., and the mole itself will be 37ft. broad at the base, and 2Sft. at the top, which will be ; covered by a solid monolith of concrete : oft. in thickness. It will be 13ft. above low water, and Gft. above an ordinary spring tide, and the greatest depth to which it will reach will be 14ft. The plan is similar to the one signed Paxagathos. which was sent in by Mr. Goodall, and as the recommendations of the Commission have been closely adhered to, there remains but very little doubt but that it will meet with their approval. In the event of the Commission approving of plans, tenders will be called for at once, and, in all probability, the work will be proceeded with in about three months' time.