CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1921, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS, (To the Editor.) * Sir, —‘’There are many amongst us wiio Link, like Mr. D. K. Morrison, that Mlkotahi, Moturoa, and the Lion Rock should have been joined by a sea wait, this forming the greater portion of a large harbor. To my mind, however, the present breakwater, when extended, and Mr. .Mason’s sand catching wall, connecting Moturoa Island with the present mole, is the right thing. I will try to tell you why. In days gone by in the 60’s and early- 70’s, our leading men (Messrs. Richard Chilman, Fred Carrington, Chas. Brown and others), were as enthusiastic in the cause as are many to-day, and plans of a scheme were prepared by Messrs. Balfour and Doyne, estimated to cost £300,000. This plan was to unite the sugar loaves and build a breakwater io the north east of Moturoa Island. Well, tho ruling powers in Wellington thought this scheme too big for little Taranaki, and the Bill was thrown out. After this a Bill was passed allowing us to borrow £200,000 on security of a rate on the land of the province. To this we experienced great opposition from Waitara and Hawera. At last, after several delays, it became law. Then an engineer had to be found who could build a harbor for £200,000, and Sir John Coode’s plans were accepted for tho present breakwater. Now, I wisli to point out why Sir John did not unite the islands in his scheme. In the first place, the water between the present breakwater and Moturoa is very shoal, with a hard conglomerate bottom, which would have not suited our present day meat ships. In the second place, the northern mole- had to be built in very deep water, costing probably more than the amount authorised. Thirdly, a wall between Mlkotahi and the Lion Rock would have been difficult to build on account of heavy seas breaking on shallow bottom. As it is, the whole group of islands shelter c«ur present mole from the. worst seas which come from the northwest. It is now to he hoped that will: such a valuable quarry as i dear old Paritutu (we feel like losing our old playmate, whose monument to his memory will be a perfect little harbor), rapid progress will be made, and that most of us who in the past have fought for its building will live to see its completion.—l am etc., W. B. DAVIES. New Plymouth, July 22, 3921.