AN OUTER HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2743, 23 February 1910, Page 2

AN OUTER HARBOR.

WORKS OA 7 ERSEER’iS NEW SCHEME.

At the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday afternoon the Chairman stated that probably the last had not been heard of an outer harbor scheme. The Overseer had an idea in the matter and had gone to considerable trouble in collecting information. He (the Chairman) thought that the Board should hear what Mr. McLeod had to say in the matter.

The Board having assented, Mr. McLeod thou read the following document :

“I have much pleasure in bringing under your notice a- harbor scheme tor Gisborne, which, though it may perhaps l>c too costly at the present time, yet is in every way, such a harbor as the Gisborne of the near future should expect. There is, however, one proviso—viz., that tho sand in the proposed harbor area overlies a clay bottom, which I have good reason to believe is the case. This, however, can, at a very small cost,’ be put beyond doubt by putting down a number of bore liolos. Briefly, my scheme consists of an inner harbor in tbe Awapuni, comprising 140 acres, dredged down to 4.oft at low water, and having an entrance channel the same depth, and 400 ft in width. The harbor entrance would be situated 75 chains along the AVaikainae beach, to the west of the abattoirs, and 2j miles from the present western groyne, which would thus be about mid-way lxstween the mouths of the Turan.gan.ui and the AVainaoa Rivers. I have taken a line of soundings from tho proposed harbor entrance at low water, and from low-water mark seaward in a southeasterly direction, with the following results: Tbe soundings from the beach to where 21ft in depth was obtained were taken at distances of 100 ft bebig 2ft Gin, 4ft, 7ft, Bft Gin, 10ft. 32ft 14ft, 15ft, 17ft. 18ft, 20ft 21ft; then at distances of 400 ft: 27ft, 33ft, 33ft Gin, 40ft, 45ft, 46ft, 50ft, 50ft, 52ft, 53ft, 56ft, 57ft Gin, GOft, 60ft, GOft; then four more soundings at distances of about loOfft: 62ft, Gsft, 70ft, 72ft. These soundings cover a distance from the beach of about three miles, and with the exception of the in-shore ones, may be confirmed from the Admiralty Chart. This scheme would include two groynes, which would be constructed with large blocks of stone from the AVaihirore quarry, and also a concrete sea-wall, constructed along the beach at about half-tide mark, extending from the present western groyne to the eastern retaining wall of the harbor entrance, and from the western retaining wall of the harbor entrance in the direction of the Big River one mile. The two groynes would start seaward from the concrete sea walls, one on either side of the harbor entrance. Their inner ends would he half-a-mile apart, and would approach each other at an angle from the beach as they proceeded seawards, until reaching that point where tlie 40ft sounding i s obtained. where their outer ends \ oidd be 500 ft apart, thus givng a clear water entrance channel of 400 ft in length. The groynes and me sea val! would have to lie completed before beginning dredging operations. ‘jproximately the cost of this aclisme would be in the neighborhood of £750,000.

There is another aspect of this scheme that I desire to bring before you. That is, the spoil dredged from this harbor would be used first in filling in behind the sea walls, which could thus be made one of the best marine parades in the Dominion. Then in filling the lagoon, swamps, and all the low-lying land between the Victoria township and xhe Big River, comprising. I should say, between two and three thousand acres, which in its present state, is of very little value. The enhanced value of this land would be such as to cover the whole cost of this harbor. It is perhaps sufficient to say that there are great possibilities before it. The eleven wharves shown in the plan are not included in my estimate, they being wharves that could be added as the trade increased. The following are a few of the important points or advantage in favor of this harbor: 1. If clay bottom, good anchorage. 2. Direct approach into it from the sea. so that it would thus bo a good harbor of refuge, the approach being well to the west of oil the foul bottom. 3. Its position suitable for town extension, being in the centre of what is destined to be Greater Gisborne of the future, and thus worthy of such a town.

4. It can be cheaply connected by rail with the quarry, and the Gisborne motor railway.

5. It will require no dredging when cnee completed.

G. No engineering difficulty in its construction.’’

The Chairman said the scheme appeared to lie a- most comprehensive one, and. unless there were some tinforseen engineering difficulties in tlie way. a practical one. The site was in the most sheltered part of the bay, and the scheme appeared to have many advantages over that propounded by Air. Merchant, In the new scheme a vessel would be able to enter the harbor at any time of tide or storm, and if they got it, they would have a laud-locked harbor of unsurpassed safety. Afr. Alatthewson : Oh. another red herring across the harbor scheme. .1 don’t want to say anything rough, but I think Mr. McLeod would be much better employed tn attending to his own work as Overseer. AYe do not employ him as a consulting engineer. Mr. Kells deplored the “throwing of eold water” on the scheme, which surely might be received by. the Board. Personally, be thought Air. McLeod was deserving of commendation for coming forward with the suggestion. • Mr. MacDonald contended that the Overseer had not exceeded his duty in the matter.. Nobody, lie said, even an employee of the Board, should be barred from bringing forward any scheme, as they were there to get the best they could for town and country people alike. The scheme ought to be considered on its merits.

Mr. McLeod explained that tile experimental bore boles he had suggested could he put down at a cost of loss than £1 each. Consideration of the matter was then deferred.