MOTUROA HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 154, 20 June 1908, Page 5

MOTUROA HARBOR.

'•'A REALLY HI!ST CLASS I'OIUV EXGIXEER'S GRATIFYING UUI'OKT. At the Harbo r Board meeting yesterday the following letter was read from Mr. F. \\. Marchant, consulting engmeer:—'•ruder separate cover I send you a plan of the Xew Plymouth harbor as recently surveyed, showing all soundings up/o date, extensions of the breakwater, wharf and dredging areas as proposed. As far as I know this is the first systematic survey made since the breakwater was commenced, which lives the depth of water vessels would trnvf erse in entering trlic harbor when the breakwater is extended. These outside depths arc lietter than I thought. The least depth of water unsheltered by the proposed breakwater extension which a ressel would traverse in approaching the harbor at low water of spring tides! isj

about 31 feet, with a minimum depth :>f 27 feet immediately under the lee of the breakwater. As there is ;i rise 0 [ f ronl 1" to 12 feet from low to high water, at neap and spring tides, the harlior is capable of receiving vessels of the y-v deepest draft if sufficient dredgin" :« performed under the lee of the" breakwater when extended. The great depih of water and its sheltered site offer f< Cilities for making this harbor a rcaiir first-class port, that at much less c«st than has b.-en expended on some of the other artificial harbors in the Dominion/' Several members remarked on tile very satisfactory nature of the repon, K '"* the survey came at an ftp!*cruin«» tune. ( Mr. King moved that lithographed copies of the plan be procured.—Mr. Wa.d *<*eoiid«l.—Carried.

kxtkxdixg the breakwater. MR. MARCHAXT'S ESTIMATE.

The following letter from Mr. Marchant was laid before the JJoard: "1 estimate that the cosf of extendin" (lie Xew Plymouth breakwater, leiiL'thcmng the wharf in fcrro-concrete, work with spring piling fender work, purchasing a dredge, and excavating the harlior, including repairs, incidental thereto, at a cost of £133,000. inclndin; pn.ff.HwriHjr, f'ntinitvnf'if'-'. rtnrl sundrif?. Mr. Thomson complained that no de-laiJ-s were pivon.

Mr. Maxwell said that tliis report had lwn obtained so as to have up-to-date information io lodfe with the Hill. The Hoard could pel details if they w<tc wanted, but lie it unnecessary, for it was intended to carry on ta • work 011 the plans of Mr. Napier Hell. 7lie estimate was re(|uired merely on account of the altered price of some of the materials.