THE RIVER ESTRANGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2482, 22 April 1909, Page 5

THE RIVER ESTRANGE.

A SHIPMASTER’S EXPERIENCE

At the present stage a great deal of attention is being directed to the state of the river, and much has been said regarding the dangers experienced by vessels entering the river. In tilts connection it will doubtless be of interest to many to read the following report which was supplied yesterday by Captain W. F. Clark, of the Maonland S S Co.’s Holmdale. which came into the’ port yesterday morning at high water, drawing Bft 9m of waterentered the port on the top of the tide, drawing Bft 9in, 6.40 a.m., expecting to have no trouble after straightening the course to pass close to the beacon. The ship took a sheer towards the crrovne, and to escape going ashore, I went full speed astern, and as soon as the vessel was straightened for tne channel full ahead on the engines, blie then took ai sheer inside the beacon, right against the whole of the starboard helm, and again I had to reverse the engines; she then sheered towards the groyne, but after going ahead and astern several times I managed to pass the beacon, when all was plain sailing. Chatting to a “Times” representative last night, Captam dark stated that lie had now visited the port about half a dozen times, and on no occasion did he have anything like yesterday s experience. When coming m at full tide, and with the draught of Ins vessel, he did not anticipate any trouble as be expected, at least four feet clear water under bis boat. -Th e trouble did not arise from tlie depth oi water, but from the extraordinary motion of the water inside the channel, washing backwards and forwards from the orovne to the breakwater with <-v re at’force. The cause of this, as Captain Clark explained, is that the groyne is longer than the breakwater and the seas rolling in past the end of the fatter structure strike tne groyne mid then are thrown back across the clvu.i ne \6ked as to whether the deepening of * the channel in the vicinity of tne entrance would not lessen this range, Captain Clark expressed the opinion that to some extent it would, but con Sdered that the only real solution of the difficulty would be in the extension af the breakwater for some distance, and if that work were earned out, he would suggest that the extension should vot be straight, but have, a curve seaward The seas then striking on the breakwater would go round Hie end and past the entrance to the r>\ 01 . Mitional advantage of aliment coming down Hi the in +lw. river would be-carried clear of tne * l,Ate 0-.1.1 probably washed «p on the \Vaikaaao beach thus, «» tain humorously added, the land.”