THE HARBOR SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1918, Page 7

THE HARBOR SCHEME.

I To the Editor. J Sir, —In your issue of the Iflth inst. the report of the meeting of the New Plymouth liarbor development scheme, held at ' Kohuratahi, is interestingSome of the points raised at the discussion aro worth looking into. Mr Coxhcad asked how a rubblo wall was going to stand in shifting sand against such a strong current as prevailed between Moturoa and the mainland. I gather from the harbour officials that there is 110 current. The sand carried onward is due entirely to the action of the waves. There is 110 permanent sand between Mikotahi and Motnroa, as anyone can verify for himself. The avcrago depth of water in the lino of the proposed wall between the breakwater end and Moturoa is lfift low woler, spring tides. The stone will be dumped by barges or rail, and when the wall is rained /sft or fift the effect of trapping the sand will lie apparent. The wall will serve a threefold purpose—viz., trapping the. sand, sheltering the harbor, ind opening out the Moturoa quarries. With regard to Wairoa, mentioned by Mr. Coxhead, it has gone the way that ill small river ports go when the entrance is confronted with continual drifting saml. In all river ports in Xew Zealand where walls have beer* carried out, therL' is a less depth than there was Ri years aog. There is not a continuous volume or force to prevent the bar 3 from forming. If New Plymouth Harbor was accessibl& in a!! weathers, the shippin gcompanies sending their boats to Waitara would lse pleased to avail themselves of the opportunity to load at the wharf» owin? to the uncertain weather conditions 'ircvailing on this coast.—l am, etc., ■ PIOXERR.