The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 378, 30 November 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

Last week, in company with the Chairman cf the Patea Harbor Board (Mr Sherwood), and the Harbor Engineer, a representative of a Wanganui contemporary (Mr Notman) inspected the works now being carried on at the Heads for the improvement of the •navigation of the Patea River. The result may be seen in the following very correct estimate of town and district and account of the works in progress at the Heads with their expected results. The writer first notices sale of sections on the Whenuakura Bank of the River, advertised by Mr R. J. Duncan to take place in Wellington on the 10th of December, and then proceeds to say : —“The sections are contained in what is now known as the Patea Extension, the site being directly opposite to the present town of Carlyle. The value of the property is due to the fact that the depth of water in the river at that side makes it suitable for the transaction of the shipping trade, and should wharves be erected there, business sites must command a high figure. The whole value of these and indeed the whole town of Carlyle itself, mainly depends an the success of the Harbour now being carried out. If those works are a success then for a certainty will the Patea Harbour be a flourishing Busy port, having behind it the very finest district without exception in the whole of the Colony. So far the contractor for the work already authorised has met with •uninterrupted success. The Breakwater designed by Mr John Thompson, the able engineer ot the Patea Board, and approved of by Sir John Coqde, is being steadily constructed, and presents a most solid and substantial appearance. A fair estimate of the effect of the work can hardly be formed by inspecting it in its present unfinished state. The very forward nature of the wall has contracted the width of the channel considerably, thereby placing a difficulty in the way of navigation. This difficulty is confidently estimated by the Engineer to be of a temporary character, ani that very shortly a beneficial change in the direction of the channel may be ■anticipated. The main feature of the whole work is to direct the channel of the river in a line so that the prevailing wind_ will be favourable navigation. To do this the sand spit formed by this wind and the action of the sea must be cat through, and the work now commenced will, it is expected, effect this. The outflow of the river is very considerable, and by directing this current on to the spit, a channel must necessarily be cut. The breakwater, as it is called, but truly speaking the training wall, cuts across the present channel taken by the river in a diagonal direction, and so far as it has been taken the object desired has then achieved. The river now runs down by the side of the wall, and then .turns sharp round the end in the direction of its

Original channel. The longer the wall is taken out the more the river eats away the spit fronting it. At present the opening between the end of the wall and the spit is so narrow that the current is somewhat like a mill-race, and navigation is difficult. Continuation of this wall must effect a speedy change in the configuration of the spit. The water must find an exit, and confined by the wall on one side its its force is thrown on to the spit. The whole question is solely one of money. So long as the Patea Board can supply the sinews of war, so long will the improvement of the river continue. With the completion of the present wall a straight channel in will be made. To protect that channel, and to keep it straight, a north Breakwater will also be required, so as to prevent the westerly gales - throwing up the sand again. We take as much interest in the success of the the work as any resident of the district contiguous thereto, and we have been led into making these remarks by way of illustrating what is the value of the land thus offered foresale.” We are happy to say that since the visit referred to, a very favorable change has taken place at the River Heads. The current has widened and has scoured further and further into the sand spit and the probabilities are that a moderately heavy fresh in the river just now would result in the current being carried right across the sand spit to_ sea and thus a straight channel- (what is so much desired) secured. Considering that the wind has been blowing strongly and almost uninterruptedly in the one direction for the past two months, and that the most unfavourable direction as regards our river, it is no wonder that the sand spit has piled up and so thrown the channel nearer inshore. It is, however, a very hopeful indication that immediately a lull in the wind occurred the current tended seawards in a straighter direction and at the same time improved the channel by widening it. There can be no question of the truth of the remark by our contemporary, that the Patea Harbor “ has behind it the very finest district, without exception, in the whole colony.” All we want now is a little encouragement in the way of Public Works —Railway, Roads, and aid to Harbor. Population must follow, and Government will reap a rich reward in the high prices Crown lands will realise.