BLOCKING THE CHANNEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2176, 28 April 1908, Page 3

BLOCKING THE CHANNEL.

STRONG COMPLAINTS BY THE SHIPPING COMPANIESo INQUIRIES TO> BE AIADE FOR A BUCKET DREDGE. It will be remembered that some time ago tho s.s. Regulus and the Tuutea went aground in the rivor through the berths becoming- blocked bv Kilt washed down by tlio freshes caused by stormy weather, lho matter canto up for discussion- at- tlio mooting of tho Harbor Board yesterday, when tho following correspondence was considered: Mir. AV. F. lies, local manager ot tho Westport Coal Company, wrote drawing attention to what lie complained was tho serious delay and oxpenso caused to the s.s. Regulus on hor recent trip to Gisborne, through insufficient attention being paid to tho river channel; also, to some extent, to tho silting up of the river. Tho steamer, ho pointed out, arrived in the bay at 8 a.in. on the 13th inst,, and tho captain was advised by the harbormaster that 6ho could come inside at high wntor (3 p.m.), providing her draught did not exceed,lift bin, but on arrival of tho Squall at 2.45 p.m., drawing 10ft 3iu, it was ascertained that that vessel had some difficulty in negotiating tho channel, and it -was consequently doomed very imprudent to attempt to bring in the Regulus, drawing lift Gin, and she was again ordered to anchor. Lighters had then to bo sent out to lighter her up to 10ft Gin in accordancewith instructions from tho harbormaster, to enable her to come in on the next tide, and when, she did attempt it the following morning, drawing 10ft sin, she took the ground 40ft off the wharf, where she remained hard and fast all day, causing further expense and delay. Had they been advised on arrival of tho st-ato of river, the steamer could have been at once lightered, but as it was she lav idle in tho bay all Monday according to instructions, and then she had to be lightered at overtime rates. The company trusted that, tho Board would bo ablo to mnko such arrangements as would obviate any likelihood of a recurrence of this sort, as delays of this kind were very costly, and not encouraging to owners. AVhilst ;it was not for them to suggest what steps should bo taken, it was patent that- the present' dredging appliances were inadequate for the requirements. Mr. J. TV. Preston, local branch manager of the Union Co., wrote as follows:—“I bog to draw the attention of tbe Board to the serious delay to which our passenger tender Tuntoa has been subjected". The first instance occurred on Sunday, ■ 12th April, when she was accidentally discovered by one of the employees to be hard and dry at her usual berth. This was reported to me by the captain. and when the water rose sufficiently she was shifted well down the wharf, in order that there might be no delay to the passengers. Notwithstanding this precaution on our part, she was unablo to get away from the lower berth until fully half an hour later than fixed. AVlien she returned from the Alonowai with tho inward passengers the tide had been running in for over two hours, and it was attempted to bring her alongside her usual berth in order to save inconvenience to the passengers. This, however, could not be successfully accomplished, and the passengers with their belongings were landed at considerable trouble fully an hour later than necessary. Had it not been for the precaution taken by us of shifting the Tuatea down the wharf in the afternoon, she would not have been ablo to leave for the Alonowai with outward passengers before 11 p.m. The inwards would then, have been landed at 1 o’clock in the morning. Tho condition of tlio river was accidentally discovered by us, and no official information whatever was supplied by your officials. Tho next instance of delay occurred on Saturday morning last. Oil this occasion the Tuatea was lying well down the wharf where the larger vessels berth, and was drawing less water than usual, owing to haying coal in her forehold, which iiriproved her trim. She was fixed to leave this berth at G in the morning to tender the Alanuka, AVauuka, and Hauoiri, but was unable to do so until 7.30 a.m., tho reason being that she was hard and fast in the mud' and. every effort to move her, including warning as well as towing with tho Nautilus, proved unsuccessful until an hour and a half had been wasted. She was intended to leave the wharf fully an hour before low water, and was -got off at dead low water. None of your responsible officials were present to render any assistance, and the comments of oyer 150 passengers and visitors regarding the state .of affairs were not complimentary. The Tuatea was got off the mud when the passengers would ordinarily have been landing on the wharf. AVhilst the first instance of the tender sticking in the river may be attributed to tho large amount of silt brought down, the last occasion cannot be so blamed, as it was a fortnight later than the heavy fresh referred to. The harbormaster has on more than one occasion indicated that these delays must be expected. I wish, however, to state that this position cannot bo accepted by the shipping comnanies or tho public, especially in view of the heavy charges .now paid by tho ships. Some members of tlio Board have sought to blame tlio shipping companies for the inconvenience to which passengers are subjected to'at Gisborne, consequently it is necessary that every disability should bo removed that hampers expedition. -AVliat has been accepted in the nast will not now hold in view of tlie ranidly increasing importance of the place and the large number of people now travelling by comparison. I would suggest that tlie harbormaster be empowered to work overtime with the dredge when special necessity reauires such, and also that more frequent and reliable soundings be taken bv him to prevent a recurrence of last Saturday morning. AVlien tlie matter was mentioned to him he said that ‘he thought’ there was any amount of water. In view of the farreaching effects of such an occurrence}, this is not at all satisfactory to either the shipping companies or tlie- public. I am aware that a resolution has been tabled for to-day regarding tho blasting in the river. I wish to indicate that this complaintlias nothing whatever to do with that, as it has no bearing on what lias occurred. I am also fully conscious that the appliances for keeping the river clear are not of the be6t or most up-to-date, but they should nevertheless be used to the. fullest extent until better are obtained. AVitli the volume of business, it is absolutely necessary that no delay bo caused to the shipping, which means great inconvenience to the public as well as adverse comment for the port. It will, of course, be quite obvious to the members of tho Board that even' were an outer harbor available tomorrow, the river cannot be closed or its efficiency allowed to be impaired. The increased traffic, owing to tho outer harbor, together with the additional haulage from tho proposed Site, would more than ever render the liver useful and cheaper for certain class qf vessels. The cargo- could time be landed more economically. The question of expenditure thereon is, of course, one of policy for tlio Board to determine, but the delays herein complained of vitally affect the shipping companies, and through them tlio public. This company in doing everything possible to make matters run smoothly for those travelling, and the assistance and co-oper-ation of the Board as well as its officials is earnestly desired. I sincerely trust tb.at the condition of -the river both now and for the future will receive the serious attention which it deserves.” Concerning the delay to the s.s. Regulus, the following appeared in the Harbormaster’s, report:—“l took soundings the morning she arrived at one hour’s flood and got Bft Gin, arid I -allowed the tide would rise about another' 3ft Gin, -but it did not rise more than 2ft, That day and the following one were about the lowest highwater tides I have seen in Gisborne. I have often seen the tide higher at : half-tide than if was tint day at full tide. Low tides and U;e tilt have

caused a lot of inconvomonco to shipping, whilst a largo number ot vessels occupying tlio wharf had made it difficult to work the dredge with advantage, In roply to tho manager of the Union Company ro Tuatea, I suggested to the master that ho should shift hack to; his berth after tho drodgo had finished working there. Had ho done so thero would have boon no trouble. Captain Martin wus in attendance that morning.” . Tho Ovorseor reported that owing to tlie freshes in tho rivor tlio information asked for respecting tho amount of rock still to bo removed to obtain a 12ft- channel at low water had not boon carried out. Ho pointed out, however, that it was not rock which obstructed navigation in the river, and that tho report asked for would not take into account tho great amount of dredging necessary on account of the amount of deposit carried down by every small fresh; also that a considerable, amount of dredging was now required in tho channel beforo rock bottom could lie operated upon for blasting to any advantage. A great deal of rock, ho said, had been removed in tlio channel outside the limits of the 501't width, especially in tlio vicinity of the lower beacon, also near the slip way, and at- tlio lower,ond of tho town wharf. As fains the rock was concerned t-lioro was now fair entrance for a vessel drawing up to 14ft at high water on an ordinary tido, and it could bo increased to lGft in the way ho had suggested at last meeting, by cutting down tho uneven rocky surface during dredging operations on the overlaying deposit. Judging by past experience this depth would bo as much as they could expect to maintain, with the present dredging plant, consequently further deepening of tho channel by blasting would not. bo justifiable except by going in for a moro up-to-date dredging plant. Air. Hepburn said the reports made the position clear. The tides had .been"very low, and such things would happen despite all they could do. Thero war. not a rise of 2ft Gin, and it.was all very well for tho Union Co. to* write these letters.

Air. AVhinray v thought the Harbormaster's : .-port answered tho matter.

Air, f.ysnar thought they should go fmtlit'", and urged that the Overseer shoiril bo instructed to work the dredge overtime when such conditions occurred. He further contended that better information should bo supplied regarding the depth of the river, and that it bo an .instruction to the Harbormaster that when there was a change in the depth the shipping people should be informed. The explanation in itself was satisfactory. Air. Harris seconded the-motion. Air. Clark said that whilst he agreed with the report being satisfactory, he held that the Board was not doing its duty unless it removed the cause of the complaint and ensured that there bo a uniformity of depth. Captain Tucker thought- a few hours’ overtime would not remove the difficulty.

Air. Lysnar said the Board should go further, and that better information of the state of the river at all times should be available for masters of vessels. Tho channel should bo kept as clear ns possible. Air. iSievwright said they could only do their utmost with tho appliances they had. AVliat they wanted was a proper powerful suction dredgo to take the material away quickly. He would not- oppose the obtainment of a powerful pump, whether they had the outer harbor or not, and they could never give the people using the river convenience until this was done. Mr. AVhinray thought it might bo possible to obtain a bucket dredgo from the Otago goldfields, which would be the most effective thing they could get to keep the river clear of silt. There was no doubt that the rivor would have to i>o kept open, not only for tho next fivo or six years, but evon after the outer harbor was built, Mr. Sievwright suggested that a suction pump be obtained for lifting tho silt." It was only a matter of better appliances being obtained to keep tbe river clear.

Mr. Lysnar moved that the Harbormaster should take more frequent soundings, so as to have the information available for skipping people when required, and that the Overseer bo directed when the Harbormaster thought necessary, for the pur-; pose of clearing tho berths, to work the dredge overtime. Air. Harris seconded tho motion, which was carried. The Overseer said the suction dredge was now lifting about 1500 yards per month, at a cost of Is per yard. The Chairman said lie thought it would be a good thing to make inquiries from other harbor boards to see if a -dredge was for sale. He had an idea the Dunedin Board might sell one they bought- from the Timaru Harbor Board at a cost of £BOOO. The Board had an estimate for a dredge from a Glasgow rirm at a cost of £I4OO, which • clear to a depth of 20ft. It was inquiries from va-' bucket -dredr ■hired.