Harbor Traps.

Patea Mail, 17 May 1882, Page 2

Harbor Traps.

Severe but necessary is (he lesson of the harbor disasters at Timaru. Harbors built on open roadsteads are safe in fine weather only. To run a wall ont; seaward and call it a harbor," as at" Timaru and New Plymouth, is like luring ships to destruction; for -there is a false pretence of security, and the so-called harbor ; proves, 'in due time, to’ fye a death trap for ships in rough weather. Three ships Have been wrecked within a , few weeks at Timaru, while anchored for supposed safety inside the wall. These disasters show that when - a ‘storm comes oh, the only safe course for a ship is to run out of harbor and seek safety in the open sea. A ship that is waiting for cargo, and has? ; no 'ballast on board, would have. the / hard choice (a storm coming on) either to remain in harbor and be stranded on. the sljore, or to rnn for the open sea arid be ; ,swamped for want of ballast torpteady the .strip?in a gale. The funds.. available at - Plymouth will suffice to make that wall just long enough to serve as a landing stage in 'fine weather, but of no use as protection for ships during a storm" from the exposed quarter. A ship held by cable behind the wall dnringa gale would be doomed, to destruction, in, all probability; for the danger in such a case is . that . the surging of the sea and its extreme rise and fall would bump a ship * on ahe bottoni, ; causing leaks, or would break the moorings. A harbor on such arscaieicahi..afford only a mocking pretence of safety where safety is not. Experience is a stern teacher,, and the Timaru lesson is sadly impressive.