HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3240, 9 June 1911, Page 5

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

MR HOLMES’ SCHEME CRITICISED

MR. W.D. LYSNAR’S VIEWS.

A PROVISIONAL APPROVAL,

. “At first sight the scheme is an attractive one,” was the reply of Mr W. D. Lysnar, Mayor of Gisborne, yesterday, in reply to the query of a “Times” representative as to his opinion of Mr Holmes' plan for a. harbor at Gisborne. “It will, however,” he- continued, “Require very careful consideration, and there are many phases of the question that will require; to be considered before any final judgment could be definitely decided upon. Apart from the design and cost of the scheme itself, it would be necessary to know what the annual cost of such a. work would be for the dredging, and then compare the total annual cost, including dredging and interest, with a larger and more progressive outer harbor scheme than that suggested. Up to the present there has been a great deal of credit given to the work done by the Maui. Personally, I' think the time is too early to judge’ the real result and the cost of the present dredging operations. We know approximately tnat the actual cost of the dredge’s operations in the river are running us into about £IO,OOO a year, without sinking fund and interest. and so far it cannot be fairly claimed that the Maui has caused a foot of extra water to he in the river than there was before she commenced operations.

The Maui’s Capabilities.

“Time alone will tell us,” he continued, “whether, when the present cut has been put through, the channel will not be filled up with silt and sand from the river, but I think in a very Short time the result of the dredging operations will be more definitely known. At present, it is all problematical and conjecture on both sides. Therefore, when we are in a position to judge that we will then be in a better position to judge the real value of Mr Holmes’ scheme, because it must be admitted that the scheme is dependent entirely on the dredging. If the Maui can successfully cut and maintain a channel of 14ft in the river as suggested, and .has. spare time to dredge in the new harbor, then something can he fairly claimed in favor of the adoption of Mr Holmes’ scheme. Should we find that the Maui is not able to even cope with the dredging in the river itself, which is the position I believe, it will ultimately show that Mr Holme’s scheme will then have to he considered on the basis of the cost of obtaining further dredging power. “Personally,” proceeded Mr Lysnar, “I would very much like to see something done so as to secure a permanent harbor in the locality selected by Mr Holmes, if it is otherwise economical and practicable. Prom a town point of viewi it is wdiat must be freely admitted bv all to be an ideal situation, and I could bardlV imagine that there could be any objection raised on the score of locality.

The Depth Provided.

“Nowq it seems to'me; that there are three main essential points that should be kept steadily in view. The first is that we can depend on sufficient deptfl of water being obtained in the locality for all requirements. Then the second, I would put. that the harbor can be built in such a way as to prevent the range coming in to disturb the shipping when moored at the wharves. And the third is that sufficient provision is made so that the silt from the river goes up the harbor and not into it to choke it up. “I do not think the district is justified in going in for any scheme that is only a partial one and will make provision only for our coastal trade. .It should have sufficient scope to provide for an ocean-going trade, and as most of the boats which are trading to the Dominion at the present time from abroad draw from 26ft to 39ft of water when loaded, it will be seen that nothing less than 30ft of water should 1 be ultimately allowed for. . Even this is on the low side, as there is a tendency for the depth of boats to increase rather than decrease, and we should look to the future. There is a depth provided for at the entrance of 24ft, and at the berths of 28ft. in Mr Holmes’ scheme. It, of course, may be possible to further increase these depths considerably by further dredging, but w r e should know the cost. Certainly the entrance is not sufficient for Home-going vessels. “On the second head, the opening as shown on Mr 'Holmes’ plan is in a direct line south where the principal, berthing accommodation is provided, which would allow of the southerly roll to ;Come straight in to the wharves.. But looking at Mr Holmes’ plan, it does not seem to be impossible to readjust the entrance so as to prevent this, by, say, keeping the mole in behind, the shelter of the main breakwater with a curve in it. 'So on this head I should anticipate that Mr .Holmes’ scheme could be so modified as to make complete provision for this contingency. The third ooint, regarding the silt "A, from the flood waters, is to my mind, one of the most serious difficulties in the whole scheme, and if this can he overcome through natural resources the scheme should. I consider, be regarded in the most favorable light. Problem of the Silt. “While I do not think that the entrance as at present designed will in any substantial manner get rid of this question,” continued Mr Lysnar, ‘it may be possible to adjust the entrance so asi to carry the river silt out to a position so that it cannot get back into the main harbor. It is to be noticed from Mr Holmes’ plan that the river silt would be confined to the river channel until it came to. the end of the groyne, then it has liberty to expand right into the new harbor. The 1000 ft of’the breakwater extension protecting it from extending to the sea side will give the seas a tendency to drive it right, into the basin where the wharves are. It is to be remembered that Mr C. Y. O’Connor and Mr Napier Bell some years ago reported on the advisability of constructing a mole somewhat on the lines now suggested by Mr. Holmes, but embracing a considerably less area, which was suggested to start from about the end of Grey Street. The object of this mole was twofoldfirst, to stop the drift of sand into the river from the west, and. secondly, to allow room for the heavy seas at the entrance to nlav themselves out upon the beach instead of zig-zagging.rip the 'djf&r as they dp at present. Neither or troose engineers ever suggested that it would be possible to uso that basin for harbor purposes. “Of course, it does not follow on that * account that it is not possible to utilise it for harbor purposes; if so, so much fAi-e better. I might* say tnat some little time before Mr Holmes was asked to report on this question, Capt. Sewell

showed me a plan he had drawn for a harbor on somewhat similar lines to that suggested by Mr 'Holmes, but the objectionable feature of the plan was that it was not designed in such a way as to prevent the silt from the river getting into it, and I expressed the personal opinion to Capt. 'Sewell that if he could design his plan to prevent the silt getting in, I thought it should be given very favorable consideration; but if be could not, the silt problem was too serious a one for this district to face.

“However, I would like to see Mr Holmes’ scheme very carefully considered to see if it is not possible to. in some way, alter the scheme so as to eliminate the main objectionable features. Looking at the plan, it would seem that the suggested wharves could be used only a© fine weather piers, for they are facing a 700 ft opening due south, and the southerly swell is found to seriously affect any shipping there. If it was only a fine weather pier we were for, as is provided in many of the coastal towns in Englanu, I venture to say that that could be put out with better results at the Pah Hill site than at the entrance to the river, for at the Pah Hill site you could launch an open boat when there is a storm' on from the south, there being no breakers in that locality, while it is well-known there are heavy breakers at the end of the present breakwater.”

Breakwater Extension Urged.

In answer to a query as to what course he considered the Board should now adopt, Mr Lysnar said that in view of the possibility of the groyne being ultimately utilised towards a permanent work, the question of knocking off a portion of the end of it should be abandoned, and the Board should, take immediate steps to construct an extension of 1000 ft of the breakwater, in order to remove the dangerous rip in the river, which work Mr Holmes stated would cost £BOOO. This., he considers, should be done immediately. While that was being done, Mr Holmes’ scheme as a whole could be submitted to other experts to see if it was possible to 1 evolve a reliable and practicable scheme out of it. While these works were being done, dredging would be advancing, and they would then know better the cost of that work. At present no one would definitely say what would.be the real result of these dredging operations nor their actual cost. “Ever since the dredge has been purchased,” said Mr Lysnar, “I have considered that every facility should be provided to give the . dredge the best possible test, and if it is able to permanently aid us with our river work the quicker that can, be shown and proved the better. “Regarding the outer harbor site, I personally do not mind what site is selected, so long as we get value for our .money in the result of the work when completed, and it is capable of coping with our ocean trade. If possible, I would sooner favor the site selected bv Mr Holmes than any other, and I think the thanks of the district are due to Mr Holmes, and to the Government for allowing him to report on the matter. I only hope that good will emanate from it.”