Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4215, 5 July 1882, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

The monthly meeting of the Thames Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs Bead (in the chair), McGowan, O3borne, Marshall, Carpenter, Wilson, Bagnall, and Praser. CBANE. Mr R. Stone forwarded a sketch of a derrick crane, to cost £56 10s, capable of lifting two tons, and another to lift three tons, costing £69 10s. It was resolved to empower Mr Stone to erect the 3 ton crane at Shortland Wharf on a spot to be pointed out by the Harbor Master. Ki.trAEBANGA CHANNEL Mr Beere reported as follows with regard to the improvement in the Kause* ranga Channel: — " According to your instructions, I have examined the Kauaeranga Channel for the purpose of deter* mining the best means to be adopted for improvement. I now beg to report that, in my opinion, the best and most economical way to effect the desired improvement is by the construction of low training banks and dredging. The training banks should extend on both sides of the channel out to low water mark at least, but the cost of their construction would be heavy, so I propose, as you will see by referring to the annexed plan, to aj; present only construct a rubble stone training bank, three feet high, from the Shortland Wharf to a point ten chains outside the new light, for the purpose of preventing the land water from breaking away to the north-west, as at present. I

j also propose to remove the portions ,of I the present groins on the channel side of the said bank, and utilise the material in connecting the endsof the groins ontheleft bank of channel (see green line CD. on plan) as far as. it will extend, and nse new material for the remainder of the distance. Also, I think it will be neces» sary to dredge a channel out to sea from where the proposed training walls or or banks will* end, and train the ri?er water through it, as, otherwise, it will most probably take a sinuous course as at present. Should these works be carried out, I think the natural course occasioned by the tides, and especially the river water, will probably keep the channel tolerably open. I don't, however, believe that partial silting up of the channel, or the formation of a bar where the river water meets the sea. will be entirely pre» vented, but that the channel will be straightened, and the depth of water increased by the proposed works to some considerable extent. The land will, I believe, make rapidly behind the trainings Jjank A B, and a considerable portion ;o| Hie foreshore can thus by degrees bif reclaimed, and the bank increas d- JW > height when it may be considered advi^" able to do so, or extended further out to sea. Not hating examined the channel previous to the construction of the present grains, I am not in a position to say what effect they have had, either beneficially or other, wise. I think, however, that the connection of their ends by work* of like character placed longitudinally in the same line as the current will be beneficial by preventing it from eating into the lefthand bank, and will, perhaps, prevent to some extent the escape of the water from the river in a south-westerly direction during floods. The rubble stone training bank may sink a foot or two in the sand and silt, but it can be made up again where necessary at any time, and, being so low, the sea cannot, I consider, have much effect on it. The new channel should be dredged at least 1 chain wide, and from 2 to 3 feet deep. With one of Priestman's dredges, a length of at Jeast 1 chain per day could be done ; and the material excavated might be deposited on the foreshore at the rear of the training bank. If the Board had the necessary plant, as estimated for in a former report, the work could be done for £1000 or thereabouts. See estimate at» tached. Improvement of the Kauaeranga Channel: Approximate estimate of cost of works proposed : Training bank rubble stone, 2300 cubic yards at 6s, £690; adjusting groins and new works, £150; dredging channel (less cost of plant), £160.—Total, £1000.

The Chairman expressed an opinion that they would never be able to do any thing to this channel without dredging.

Mr Carpenter thought that, in view of Mr Beere's experience, they had better adopt his recommendation. The Board had virtually set its face against the Priestman's dredge, but whether they adopted it or not he believed the formation of the retaining wall alone would have the effect of deepening the channel. He moved that the training bank and adjusting groins be erected. Colonel Fraser seconded.

Mr Bagnall thought Mr Carpenter had left out the only thing likely to do any good—the dredging of the channel. He believed Mr Beere's proposal was a thoroughly praotical one f aud'-witliont-tJwi-dredging they might just as well leave the other part out; ;He had been credibly informed that the Secretary'to the Board had assured residents of Shortland on the occasion of the late poll that £2000 would be expended on the channel Mr Dean said he had publicly stated, and not only to residents of Shortland, that whether the tramway scheme were carried, and whether the wharf were placed at Rocky Point or not. the Board would expend some money in the improvement of the channel.

Mr Carpenter now moved that the report be adopted in full. Mr Marshall seconded. After some further conversation, Mr Beere's opinion was asked as to whether the deepening of the channel would have the effect of allowing the rubble to fall into the channel.

Mr Beere thought it might do so, but only to a trifling extent; and, if it did occur, it would not interfere with the preservation of the bank. Mr Osborne moved, and Mr Wilson seconded, an amendment, that the portion of the report having reference to the dredging be not adopted. The amend* ment was put and carried by 4 to 3 —the Chairman being called upon by the members to record his vote, and he did so in favor of the amendment. HABBOB MABTEB'B BEPOBT. The Harbor Master reported :—" The gridiron at Shortland has been completed satisfactorily, in accordance with specifications, and is now fit to receive vessels for repairs or cleaning. Four mooring piles are, however, required to keep the vessels in their proper positions when on the platform. The buoys in the Thames Eiver are now nearly all carried away or sunk, chiefly by the large rafts of logs being towed to the mill. To replace them under the circumstances would be useless, and the only plans that can be adopted to assist strangers to navigate the river would be to erect beacons on each side of the river banks, but these would only serve as guides for crossing from one side to the other of the channel; yet they would be serviceable to those not well acquainted with the place. Eight of these beacons would be required, at a cost of about 40s each, including painting, &c. The pile for erecting the Pukakau Beacon has not come to hand yet, but it is expected by the end of this sveek. The fairway buoy is reported missing, but, owing to the boisterous weather of the last few days, I have not been able to ascertain whether this report is correct or not. During the heavy gale which was experienced on Sunday last, the cutter Chelsea dragged against Curtis' wharf, and broke one of the piles, besides doing some smaller damages. This will have to be repaired at once to prevent the wharf breaking down. In regard to Maxwell's Wharf, I do not think it is or could be made of any service to the Board. The top part is nearly all removed ; what remains is rotten. It was only kahikatea when built 8 years ago. The piles are titree, and not of much acoount. The depth of water at the wharf has also shallowed so much as to be almost useless for boats .of any size to come alongside. I recommend the removal of the structure alto* gether; it is fit for firewood, and so is Holdsbip's old Wharf, and the two might as well go together. The life saving apparatus suggested for your approval in my last report, would cost about £8, or £4 for each Wharf. A deficiency exists on the Short land Wharf, vessels having to wait. and shift for each other to obtain water. Under the present arrangement only one can fill at a time. An extension of the service pipe down the Wharf wonld

remedy this want, and be a boon to the crew and numerous steamers.

BdCKT POINT WHA.BF.

The following tenders were opened for the construction of the wharf at Tararu: :— B. N. Smith, £6954 7s; J. McDermott, £3784; A! Butler, £465415s 6.d ; Fou«hey and Darrow, £4057 ; P. Trainor, £5559 8s 6d; A memorandum marked private was read from Mr Beere, stating that from further observation be was of opinion it would not be advisable to construct the wooden work in connection with the wharf.

The Chairman said Captain Farquhar had stated to him that there were very few days in the year when he could lie at the wharf.

Mr Carpenter said he came along the coast about two o'clock ou Sunday morn" ing, and was confident that no wharf there could have withstood the seas.

Mr Wilson reminded the Board that the gale was one of the strongestthajHiad Occurred for years. .^'-' I Mr Osborne disapproved of construct" sng a wharf without a breakwater. He thought the height of the structure as proposed ten feet above high water spring tides -would prevent its being used for small vessels. He suggested that Mr Beere be requested to prepare plans of a wharf and a breakwater combined, by making a parapet on the seaward side. Mr MeGowan advocated the adoption of some plan of carrying out the work so far as their funds would allow, in such a manner as would admit of additions when practicable.

Mr Bagnall: said in no place between Grabamstown and Rocky Point could they get more than 10 feet of water at low tide, and unless they could obtain a greater depth, it was not worth while spending a large sum of money on a breakwater. If, however, they had the recommendation of a practical engineer, he would give his hearty suyport to the scheme. Col. Fraser did not understand why the report did not come before the tenders were called.

Mr Bagnall said the report had not been asked for.

Col. Fraser: Well, there must be some wirepullers somewhere. Why should we put these contractors to the trouble and expense of going out to Tararu and preparing their tenders? I propose that Mr Beere be instructed to prepare plans and specifications of a wharf to be constructed at Rocky Point for the sum named (£3,000) in such a manner as to admit of extensions, as the funds of the Board allowed.—Mr Osborne seconded. , Mr Bagnall said the Board had always taken up the position of engineers without obtaining the advice of a professional man, and merely instructed Mr Beere to prepare the plans. He proposed that the opinion of a competent engineer be obtained as to the advisability of commencing permanent harbor works at any point from Tararu seaward, and the probable cost thereof.—Mr Carpenter seconded the amendment.

The amendment was put, Mr Bagnall alone voting in the affirmative.

The resolution was then put and carried

CHAIBMANSHIP,

Col. Fraser was elected Chairman of the Board.

Col. Fraser, in thanking the Board for tne'honor conferred-apou-hiuif remarked" that he had plenty of time at his disposal in which to carry out his duties. He would like to see more harmony amongst the members during his term of office than had prevailed of late. If anything was done let it be done for the benefit of the public. He hoped they would endeavor to drop their Kopu and Shortland and Rocky Point prejudices, and do the best for the general good.