The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3310, 31 August 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1911.

Yesterday was another red letter day in the hist-ory of Harbor Progress, shipping at this port. The important event which it marked was the safe working of the inner harbor by the s.s. Haupiri, which is a much larger vessel—in the matter of depth of draught—than any other that has in the past attempted to negotiate the river channel. As far as length is concerned, the record is still held by the s.s. Ivowhai, which in this respect has an advantage of about twenty feet over the Haupiri. But even if the Haupiri had been a great deal longer she could, of course, have been just as successfully berthed under the favorable conditions which obtained yesterday. It will be of some interest to mention that the Kowhai, which has now come up to the town wharf regularly for some months, has on no occasion drawn more than 10ft. Gin. The Haupiri, on the other hand, was drawing between Oft. and 10ft. forward and 12ft. aft when she traversed the river channel yesterday. It is now getting on for twelve months since it became known that the s.s. Haupiri would work the inner harbor as soon as it was possible for her to do so. The progress of the undertaking involved in deepening the channel was not, however, sufficiently advanced to allow her to do so until some weeks ago. Since that time there has been no other occasion on which it has been felt profitable to come up the river. It is now understood that as long as there is reasonable inducement the Haupiri will come up to the wharf upon every occasion that she visits Gisborne. As regards the‘interesting event to which we are alluding. it has, of course, been made possible only by the fine work which the Maui has accomplished. Truly, the success of the dredge has been a great "eye-opener” to very many people. Even to-day, however, it is not generally realised how far the' work of deepening the river has proceeded. The fact is that with the exception of a small cut (which will be completed within a few days) all the hard material has been removed from the channel to a depth of 16ft. at low water. In the space of only about a year (it will be seen) the back of the inner harbor difficulty has therefore been effectively broken. Within a few months (if all goes well) the material still remaining in the channel will assuredly have been removed. Then it should be possible for vessels up to, say. 2000 tons to make the inner harbor! What ought next to be undertaken, in our opinion, is the speedy construction of a swinging basin. To follow this important project there would, no doubt, be a proposal (which would meet with general approval) to remove a further slice of some feet from the bottom of the channel—a work which might be proceeded with as funds and conditions will allow. It will thus bo seen that from this out the work of still further improving the port should prove very muclr easier of accomplishment than has been the experience in the past. Our readers will, doubtless, note with considerable pleasure the event to which we have been referring.