THE BREAKWATER CONDEMNED.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2247, 31 May 1880, Page 3

THE BREAKWATER CONDEMNED.

Wellington, May 29,

The papers presented to Parliament hitherto have been uninteresting, with the exception of a very strongly worded report by Mr Blackett, Colonial Marine Engineer, on the Timaru harbor works. Mr Blackett asserts and adduces voluminous professional evidence to prove that the Timaru breakwater is causing enormous damage to the railway and coast line, owing to the interference with the travel of the shingle. He says that the cost of the protective works thus rendered necessary must bo , many thousands .of pounds, and may reachhundreds of thousands. Ho con- , eludes as follows:—“My recommendation ' therefore, is this, to stop the building of the breakwater at once, and afterwards to reinove and; break it up, so as to lessen the prejudicial effect on the beach adjoining the lands and railway on to the north. The damage to the Main Southern line through the diversion of the sea by. the breakwater is stated already to be very extensive, and certain to increase enormously in a progressive ratio. This is an unsatisfactory result of the heavy expenditure already incurred, hut both Mr Carrnthers and Sir John Coode gave distinct warning of the danger.”