The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. HARBOR WORKS

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 82, 4 March 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. HARBOR WORKS

While the question of Harbor Works is engaging the earnest attention of our local Councils, it may not be deemed uninteresting to the general public to reprint in extenso Sir J. Coode’s report upon our harbor, as, whatever action is taken by our representatives, it is manifest that the basis must be that recommended by Sir John ; whether taken in their entirety or in an abridged form, it is essential to adopt them, so as to assure Government co-operation and to obtain the confidence of Home investors should a loan be placed upon the market. The propounding of any purely local scheme would be prejudicial, and a needless expense in the preparation of plans, data, &c., all of which have been fully prepared at an expense to the Government and district of not an iota short of £l,OOO. Tn this we are largely indebted to the public spirit of the venerable politician Sir G. Grey, who, when Premier, so liberally granted the Borough a sum of £5OO to prepare plans and report upon the proposed works ; and herein lies a strong expectation of support in the House should works, formerly fostered by Sir George, bo those to be carried out. It is urged by some that less expensive and equally efficient works could be constructed than those recommended, adding as a reason for such an opinion that Sir John Coode’s stay was too short to admit of his forming a correct judgment. This is known to be far from the case, as the then Government specially deputed a qualified marine engineer, Mr. Perham, to compile the fullest data for Sir John Coode’s information. This was most fully and efficiently performed by a residence of the engineer upon the spot for some months, aided by the then pilot, Capt. Chiiisp. Every particle of information furnished by these gentlemen as to soundings, tides, material, &e, was afterwards passed through the scrutinising experience of the Public Works Department, prior to submission for Sir John’s consideration. In addition to all this, the whole of the Borough Engineer’s (J. Drummond’s) plans, &c., accompanied the report, and stands delineated upon Sir John Coode’s. In concluding his report, Sir John says:—“The works described, if carried out in their entirety, would afford perfect accommodation to the steamer and other trade, but important benefits would arise from the execution of the root, viaduct, and pier, omitting for a time the erection of the East and West jetties ; in which case the expenditure on the works would amount to £194,910. Unless this sum can be appropriated for external improvement at Gisborne, it is not advisable that they should be commenced.” The last paragraph reads strangely to us, as dealing with the amount to expend,

and we think had the recommendation referred to the nature of the works, instead of the amount, it would have been more comprehensive. The works estimated for are of the most substantial nature, as pointed out. The viaduct has been proportioned so as to adapt it for carrying the twentytwo ton concrete-blocks required for construction of a breakwater pier. Railways on the Colonial gauge, so that they might be connected with the Government system, would be laid down throughout the works.” No doubt the total cost could be materially modified without in the least degree departing from the general nature of the works or prejudicing their efficiency, and by supplementing a scheme of reclamation one-half the cost of construction of harbor-works would be recouped by the acquisition of most valuable property for building sites at the spot; sea-walls of reclamation also forming pier-accommo-dation tJ vessels of all tonnage. Bearing directly upon the question of harbor-works is that of the bridge construction. Upon this Sir John reports “ sufficient information is not available here to enable me to determine with such certainty as is desirable the line of approach road which it would be requisite to construct from point A at the shoreward end of the Works to the town, including a bridge aCfoßs the river. Before this can be doHO a special examination of the site would be requisite; but I do not gather that difficulties of any moment would arise in the execution of a satisfactory line of communication* between say Gladstone Street and the root of the external works at Maori Point.”