The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 331, 19 June 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1878.

BREAKWATERS. After the scene ,-witnessed on Fridaylast, we can scarcely resist'saying.a word about breakwaters. Never does man feel more like weakness confronting infinite and pitiless power, than when the storm driven waves break at his feet, or toss him high on their crests. Wo were told in childhood bow even a prince did not believe his courtiers when they said the sea would obey his commands. In

later years, our hearts have felt the spell of Byron’s splendid apostrophe Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean

—roll! Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in

vain ; - Man marks the earth with ruin—bis con-

trol Stops with the shore ; —upon the watery plain The wrecks arc all thy deed, nor doth re-

mam A shadow of-man’s ravage, save his own. When for a moment,dike a drop of ram, He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, Without a grave, unknell’d, uncoffincd, and unknown. His steps are not upon thy paths, tby holds .ire not a spoil for him, —thou doest arise And shake him from thee ; the vile strength he wields For earth’s destruction thou doest all despise, Spurning him from thy bosom to the skies, And send’st him shivering- in thy playful spray, And howling to his gods, where haply lies His petty hope in some near port or bay, And dashest him again to earth : There let him lay. No man will feel more keenly how ‘ vile is the strength he wields,’ than the engineer who is engaged in the construction of a breakwater. The waves that made England an island, the waves that may bo said to have kneaded the crust of the earth, are against him. Slot even in opposition to these, man has achieved much. A large proportion of the wealthy little kingdom of Holland has, after centuries of struggling, been reclaimed from the sea, and even now—to quote the . words of a Dutchman—the Hollanders “in every autumn gale, have to stand behind their dykes, in constant readiness to do battle for the ground beneath their feet.” Of breakwaters connected with harbours, perhaps that of Plymouth is best known. This harbour was formerly open to the South, and very much exposed to storms. In 1812, the foundation of a breakwater was laid. The work was carried on, by shipping huge blocks of limestone to the spot, in vessels fitted with trap doors, through which the blocks were dropped. Much of the water beingover TO feet, and none of it less than 22 feet at low tide, the base of the structure was made 133 yards wide, the top beingonly 15 yards. The central portion of the breakwater was 1.000 yards long, and at each end there was a wing 350 yards long, turning at a slight angle towards the bay. There was a channel at each end—one 40 feet, and one 22 foot deep. The slopes and top wore Heed with masonry. This great work was finished in 1811, when more than three millions of tons of stone had been deposited. The cost was about £1,500,000, and all admit that this largo sum was well invested. Portland Breakwater, which was constructed chiefly by convict labour, is also a splendid work. It is built in a depth of -50 feet at low water, and makes a good harbour, where before there was none. The Dover Breakwater, which is to cost nearly £3,000,000, has been in progress more than 30 years, and we believe is not yet finished, on account of the frequency and violence of the storms, and the great depth of water. It is being built of blocks of concrete. A great work has been going on of late years in the mouth of the Mississippi, with the purpose of confining the water to one channel. Great difficulties were to be encountered in the soft mud, which was so deep, that piles 70 feet long sunk out ol sight of their own weight. The case was at last met, by large sheets of brushwood woven together like wicker work, which were used to give a foundation. These examples will he enough to show .that any difficulty may be overcome by the skill of engineers, and the gold of a thriving people. We have no doubt that our esteemed townsman, Mr Sherwood, has just laid not only the foundation of a breakwater, but of many noble fortunes and of great public prosperity.