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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2193, 30 March 1880, Page 2

Solid as the structure of the Timarn Breakwater is, it is a tender subject to handle. To such a result, the jealousy of other places, which have so often regarded this important work with a sort of malicious dread, as if the success of the Port of Timaru was likely to swamp their own commerce, has chiefly contributed. But delicate as the matter is, there are occasions when even at the risk of exciting envious rejoiciugs, it must he firmly approached. The heavy weather during the past week has somewhat severely tested the stability of the work. The older portion, if wc except the defective patch in the centre, which was rattled together hurriedly and temporarily, and has over since been a source of trouble and weakness, has withstood the action of the seas creditably. But some of the new work at the outer end has not been so fortunate. The last section lias been twisted about from top to bottom, the rails bent, a huge gap made in the surface, and the blocks beneath have slipped after what can best bo dc-

nominated a higgledy-piggledy fashion, leaving oblong and three-cornered chasms and crevices immediately beneath the monolith for the breakers to dash against. Of course the cause of this mishap, hidden though it is to ordinary observers by several fathoms of water, is easily explained, and no doubt an effort will be made to explain it satisfactorily to the members of the Harbor Board. But the general public, who take a deep concern in the success of the breakwater ai c not so easily convinced. People avlio have lately ventured along the structure, and felt it vibrating beneath their feet, arc beginning to imagine that Avhile the surface presents an impregnable rampart against the elements, the foundation is not realising the amount of attention w r hich is desirable. It is needless to point out that in the laying of a structure of this kind, the foundation means almost everything. The slipping of the blocks to wdiich avc have referred may be an occurrence which no pains or precaution could obA'iate, but unless the cause can be thoroughly explained, the public, who are the custodians of the Breakivater, Avill hardly be satisfied. We haA r e heard it suggested that the Harbor Board, Avith all itheir technical machinery, have failed to provide themselves with a kind of skilled assistance wdiich, for the satisfactory prosecution of their operations, may be deemed indispcnsiblc. They lurvo an engineer, it is true, and a clerk of works, but their A-Ision cannot penetrate beneath the surface. The only individual wdio can form an authoritative opinion of the way in wdiich the structure is being laid is the solitary diver, wdio, if avc arc correctly informed, is in the employ of the contractors. However able and experienced this workman may bo, it is undesirable, wc submit, that he should be weighted with too much responsibility or entrusted with too much power. If the Board desire to set the public mind at rest they will require to proA’ido themselves with a Cleric of Works whose observations Avill extend beneath the surface, and wdio will be able Avith the assistance of his diving dress to report Avith reference to the foundation, as avcll as that portion of the structure Avhich is always under the public eye. Until this is done, the Harbor Board Avill he regarded as working to a groat extent in the dark, and every storm that comes, every block that is displaced, Avill tend to weaken the general confidence in their operations.