Breakwater Projects.

Patea Mail, 16 June 1882, Page 3

Breakwater Projects.

The pilot recommends the Harbor Board to commence the tidal basin on west side of the river entrance, as shown in Sir John Goode’s plan, if funds are available ; for the pilot “ is of opinion that this would do away with the west spit, and would make it much safer for vessels entering the river.” Some members of the Board consider that the pilot exceeds his duty in recommending this work to be taken next in hand. But, on the other hand, the pilot is the most likely person on the spot to form a practical opinion, by daily watching the sea’s action, as to which work could be first commenced with most benefit to navigation. If the pilot waited till asked his opinion, the Board might not ask him at all ; and if he spoke after some new work had begun, the Board might say he ought to have placed his opinion before the Board at an earlier date. We all know the Board have not the funds at present to commence the root and breakwater on the west side. Still, the pilot seems to have taken a sensible course in placing his opinion on record. The cost of the work on the west side, to carry it out far enough to overlap the present breakwater, would be excessively heavy in proportion to length of wall. It is probable that by lengthening the present wall another 200 or 300 feet, the formation of the west spit would be stopped, because it seems to be caused by a backAfirrent swirling- from behind the breakwater and carrying silt from behind to the west side, instead of tbe silt following the usual current south-eastward. When the walls get out far enough to prevent the back current swirling round the wall and creating a spit on the west side, that spit will be scoured away and will not make again. Those who don’t know of the existence of this back-wash from behind the breakwater should consult the captains who trade to this port. It seems reasonable to say that £IO,OOO spent in lengthening the present wall would do more good than €30,000 spent in building an enormous root and only a short wall on the west side. It is the mere beginning of that work, the enormously large root ” extending 100 yards along the west cliff, that would swamp the money before the west wall could be carried far enough out to do any good to the narrow channel entrance. However, the first thing for the Board to consider is “ raising the wind.”

L i them devise some practical and large sell me for getting a sum of money equal to the port’s requirements. There is a scheme before them for consideration at to-morrow’s meeting. It shows how the Board may get £40,000 as easily as they expected to get only £4,000.