The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 816, 25 May 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1871.

The correspondence, published in recent issues upon the subject of sea encroachments, urges the advisability of opening up the old channel at the head of Martin's Island for the purpose of relieving the pressure from the river bank, deepening the channel, and effecting the speedy removal of the north sandspit. It appears that some four or five years ago the channel south of Martin's Island conveyed a large body of water which has been variously estimated at onefourth to one-third of the total discharge of the Buller river. At this time the bar was uniformly good with a very much greater depth of water than now, the right bank of the river was not encroached upon, and the habitable portions of the beach extended fully half a mile further seawards. Concurrently with the closing of this channel, the force of the river current has impinged upon the river bank for a distance of several hundred yards, carrying away immense masses of earth. At the upper end of Wharf street, near the Alpine Hotel, the bank has been encroached upon to the extent of from two to three chains, and in other portions of the thoroughfare the current has been even more destructive. From the old wharf upwards, the combined action of the tide and river have effected a vast amount of injury. It is the opinion which has very generally gained ground, that the deflection of a large portion of the current from the old channel is the fundamental cause of this destruction, it is not an unreasonable argument that the stream, confired to a narrower bed, should have at once commenced to eucroach on the banks of the river. These, formed of clay or loose shingle, offered very trifling resistance to the pressure, and this process of washing away, unless artificially interfered with, would continue until the river had washed itself a channel sufficiently expansive to relieve the pressure on the confining bank. The opening of a southern channel at the mouth of the river, the deposit of silt at the bar lessening the depth of water, and the rapid encroachment of the sea upon the north beach, are all ascribed to the same agency. It is suggested as a remedy that the river should be restored to its old condition. The diversion of the stream at the head of the island, it is maintained, would admit of the current uniting at a point favourable to its breaking through the northern spit, thus forming a nearly straight channel. Lieut. Woods, it appears, gave it as his opinion that the re-opening of the old channel was necessary to a good depth of water and a straight channel, and he strongly advocated this being done. We believe the cost of carrying out this proposition would be small, and, that an approximate estimate of the expenditure fixes the cost at £2OO. If this computation is correct, a sum so insignificant might be properly hazarded if the risk of failure were as great as is the probability of success. As it is nothing is being done ; our officials are either blind to the magnitude of the interests jeopardised by a continuance of the present condition of things, or fearful of committing a professional blunder, prefer to let things come round in their ordinary course. A plan so easy of execution and which has much to recommend it should be adopted without delay. There is the most indubitable evidence that causes are operating in this gradual annihilation of the present township, that have not been at work for many years past. Far below the present line of low water mark was recently the site of a vegetation, the growth probably of a century; and the presence of a stratum of cement at high water mark on the present line of heach ia unequivocal demonstration that a lengthened period has ebpsed since similar encroachments took place.

The question remains, what is the cause that has operated so prejudically ? Many maintain that the closing of the old channel round the island forms the root of the evil, and circumstances undoubtedly go to show that those holding this view are correct.