PATEA HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 3

PATEA HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT.

A PLAN APPROVED. The Pa-tea Harbor Board, at a Special meeting on Monday, decided to adopt aad forward to the Marine Department a report and recommendations for the improvtment of the Pttteta. toartii/r, winch bad been submitted to the Haa<bor •Board by Mr. John A. McDonald of (Jisborne. Briefly, the report .recommended <lhe extension of the eastern «nd western breakwaters into 15ft •watar at low water ordinary spring tides. This should bo the object in view in view in order to get 'beyonl wave action. As, ho weaver, the cost would be beyond the resources of the district at present, and was not required by boats now using the port, it would be sufficient to extend ihein. into 10ft water at low water spring tides. This shortening would mlean a small annua! charge for dredging the Sand that would find its way into the emilranee. He recommended a "pell melF' breakwatsr. ttefcrring to the proposal to erect a barrage across the river for the puirpos'l of periodically sluicing, ithtt channel, he considered that it was inadvisable under any circumstances to erect locks, sluices or "ton-ages" on the I'u.tea river. He estimated the cost of a suit able dredge at fWjOOO, ami its running expenses at £5400 par antrum, To this must he added cost of overhaul, runnim* from £SOO for tlhe .fiiwt year to £ISOO for the fourth and subsequent years. Under the present loan of £8(1,000, it would not be advisable to purchase a dredge, but ultimately one would be required, and later the Board might see its way to float a special loan for the purpose. He recommended the erection of a temporary beacon of ferro-concrete at the extreme end of the present eastern wall, which, being submerged at high tide, was a source of danger. The estimate of the work was as follows: Western Breakwater (500 ft), £43.747; Eastern Breakwater (420 ft), £34,315; plant for snagging river, £3000; only the Western Breakwater and river-snag-/»ing to be undertaken at present, at a cost of £46,747. This did not include cost of labor for snagging the river.

The report caused considerable discussion, as it differed from other schemes submitted to the Board, and its adoption was only carried after an amendment tlint it be held over had been lost on the chairmau's casting vote.