MR. MAXWELL AND THE HARBOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 21 September 1906, Page 2

MR. MAXWELL AND THE HARBOUR.

A STARTLING STATEMENT. At the last meeting of the Egmont County Council, the Opunake Times K-ports: Cr. Maxwell said that as mention had been made publicly of the nature of the extension of the breakwater, lie might say that it was simply heaping bouldeis on the sand bank, which might stand for a coastal port, but wneii it was dredged to 30 feet it would then come down. A DAILV News representative interviewed Mr Henderson, the harbour forman, on this matter, and he is of opinion that this is an irresponsible statement by 1 a person not versed in breakwater construction. (Mr Henderson was, of course, unaware of the identity of the "person.'') -He mentioned the great holding power of the sand, and said that the. dredge could work right up to a bank of 11. lie was sure mat if a siope of one in one were maintained there would be no danger of the sand slipping or falling in. Mention was made of the fact that not so very long ago there jvas dry sand on one side of the wharf and steamers were lying on the opposite side, in deep water. The sand under the wall, he says, is very lightly compressed by the enormous weight of concrete and stone placed upon it, and it must be almost as hard as concrete, and practically impervious lo water. Mr Henderson, at any rate, did not feat any danger to the wall so long as the dredge kept a reasonable distance away.

Captain Norbury was seen subsequently, and he pooh-poohed the statement made, endorsing the remarks of the foreman, of whose ca pabilities he holds a very high opinion. This matter will probably be ventilated at the Harbour Board meeting to-day.