THE BRISBANE RIVER BAR DREDGING OPERATIONS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 14 July 1864, Page 2

THE BRISBANE RIVER BAR DREDGING OPERATIONS.

Contrarytotheprognostieations ofafew persons, and in accordance with the opinions of many, a channel 1,600 feet in length has been successfully cut through the bank which separated the old from the new passage at the entrance to the Brisbane River. So various have been the statements made in regard to this important work, and go great has been the discouragement shown to the engineer, Mr. Francis, that we now especially feel pleasure in recording the fact' that, on Monday night, the 6th Juno, the barque Salvia, which has recently arrived from London, and which draws 11 : feet 6 inches of water, was successfully taken through the new channel by Mr. Francis, and anchored off Lytton, at about half-past 11 o'clock p.m. At 9 o'clock on the same evening there „ were BUteen feet of water in the new channel, and when the Salvia was anchored inside Luggage Point, opposite to Lyttoa, there was still a strong flood tide. There were six lights altogether in the new channel, and no difficulty was experienced in working through it. Capt. Knight, of the City of " ■:', Brisbane, was on board the steam- tug at the time of her towing the Salvia,' and expressed much satisfaction at the result of the trial, saying, that when the necessary beacons were laid down he should ''have no hesitation in taking his vessel through the channel. The inner part of the passage is now completely cut, and in the course y of a week or two after the sides of it, have been trimmed, the /dredge will be removed to the outer pait of it. From_the_informationwe have received, there is no doubt that the exertions of Mr. Francis have been attended with success, and that he has • dissipated any douKs which have been expressed aa to the practicability of opening a new channel. He certainly subjected it to a scveretest by taking up the first ship at night time, and that when ho r, s only, had the assistance of six lights. Mr. Francis has also proved that the assertions raade by him ... ... Borne time ago, and supported by several well h%\ qualified, nautical men, were well founded. The utility of the work completed may be estimated i/k. l state^that the owners of theSalvia, which '■~*>>Jti a^es'sel of only^ 347 ijton?, burthen, have , sajed j/ of about twohundred pounds.through /bfeen;.hrpugit/'through the channel. Even presuming, however,thatthe ." bar" obstpic-' ■i&ja{>ss arf ,p/er«o»Qe,vthere -vipll be^tne difficulty of * clearing a passage through 'the Eagle Farn^Flatft^ a work, we imagine,' whioS. 1 for the ..dredge fora conii&etdbie'ihnoPSo far mr. Krancis^las been successful. We hope he will continue to be equally so. — Brisbane Courier.