HARBOUR DIFFICUTIES AT WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 512, 27 April 1880, Page 3

HARBOUR DIFFICUTIES AT WANGANUI.

A few gentlemen proceeded down the river in the s.s. Clyde, last Friday, for the purpose of experimenting with a harrow, with a view of deepening the channel'near the flais. The vessel on her way down was taken on the north side of the Spit, which stretches now almost across the river, near the Landguaid Bluff, the tide being then about half-ebb. The Clyde was intended to cross the channel just above the point of the Spit, and commence operations with the barrow on the north side, whore the current seems to be setting straight out, and a fresh channel forming. In taking her across her bead was brought round rather too sharply to the north, and she grounded on the end of the Spit. It was found impossible to get her off until the night tide. At low water she was high and dry, and advantage was taken of the occasion to mark off with stakes the lino of the proposed new channel, which" runs within about a chain of the north training wall. On that lino there is now at low water at least a depth of eighteen inches in the shallowest part, wherea < a few days ago at the same state of the lido, it was high and dry. Lower down the water gradually deepens. Judging from appearances, we should say that in a few days, wilh the assistance of the harrow, a workable channel will In; formed on that side of the Spit.— Chronicle. Handsome Maorf Gut. —About two years ago Renata Kawcpo, a leading chief on the East Coast, presented the Wanganui Natives with a flock of two thousand sheep, with the object of inducing them to go into sheep farming. .Since that time the. Natives of this distinct have been employing themselves assiduously in the manufacture of a lai-ge number of handsome Maori mats, in order that, in accoi-dam-e with custom, they may make n suitable icturn for Renata’s gift. Over two hundred mats of all sizes and colours are now ready, and will be on view at the residence of Mete King!, at Pntiki. During the past week Mete Kingi has been up (be river consulting with the principal child’s, and twenty-six of them have arrived in town, and intend starling overland to Napier to present the gift. In addition to the display of mats, a new carved house at Pntiki will he opened lor (ho first time, and wo are requested to state that Mole Kingi will bo glad to see any of his European friends who may wish to he present on the occasion— Chronicle.