REPORT ON THE PATEA HARBOUR.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 200, 10 March 1877, Page 2

REPORT ON THE PATEA HARBOUR.

o In- accordance with promise made in last issue, we republish Mr. Can-others’ report, tog-ether with letter from the Hon. Major Atkinson to the Chairman of the Carlyle Town Board. Wellington, Kith Feh., 1870. Sir, —I have much pleasure in forwarding to yon herewith, for the. information of the Board, copy of the Report of the Engineer-in-Chief, upon the Patna TTarhonr, the satisfactory character of which cannot i'ai l to he a source o: gratification to all interested in the, progress and welfare of the district.

1 llilVC. Ac., 11. A. Ariaxsox. The Chairman T. 15., Carlyle. Carlyle, fiih December, IS7“>. 1 have lie. 1 !ionot lo report on the Harbour ot Patea, with suggestions for its improvement. At ])resent there is omy n foot on the bar at low water, and at high water jus! sufficient to admit vess ds drawing six feet. Even ibis depth caimotbedep.nded on at all times being less wlien southerly winds prevail at the time o, neap tides. Paten is the only on Met for a la rye district, the natural fertility of which is not exceeded, if it is equalled, hy that of any district of equal area in New Zealand. The population is at present very small, settlement having been hindered hy several causes, of which the want of a harbour is the chief. At present, supplies for the district are received from Wanganui, and cattle, which forms the main item of export, are driven to the same port. If a depth of eight.feet could be maintained on the bar at Paten, the trade of the district could be carried on direct with Wellington, Dunedin, and Nelson, thus saving at least 2ns a ton for freight, while live stock could be shipped to the West Const of the South Island at a moderate rate.

It would not, I think, be difficult or expensive to eflect this desirable result. The Pa tea River has a considerable tidal basin, which, at a trifling cost, might be largely extended. At a distance of seven miles from the month, the, Natives have made an ell weir across the river, which quite stops the tidal flow. If this, and other similar obstructions above, were removed, the influence of the tide would probably bo fifteen or sixteen miles up the river, which lias, throughout the distance, a considerable width. The flow and ebb required to fill and empty ibis basin at. each tide would be sufficient, if properly guided, to maintain a depth of not less than eight feet on the bar under the most am fa vonra 1)1 e condi ti on s.

The guiding works at the bar would consist of a groin composed of loose rubble, reaching from the cliff nt the Boulder Bank for a distance of thirteen chains; it would then curve nearly at right angles, for two chains. The top of the groin would be brought to high water level, and would lie twenty feet wide on top. The seaward slope would be four to one, and the inner slope two to one. The cost of this groin would be about £4,000, and its effect would be be neficial.

A similar groin thirty chains long, from the West Head, would cost about £24,500, and would complete the works. The latter need not, however, be undertaken at once, until the effect of the Eastern groin is known.

The rubble would be composed of

blocks of volcanic rock, brought from the Boulder Bank, and covered with a pitching of the largest blocks. Part of the Western groin will have to be formed of concrete, as the Boulder Bank will not furnish a supply suliicient for the whole of the works. The specifications should provide that, the contractor shall not break the blocks for convenience of carriage, but shall use the largest blocks on the shore. I have, ike., John Cae.i: nt hfr.s. Engineer-in-Chicf-