“STREET CORNER ENGINEERS.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3612, 27 August 1912, Page 5

“STREET CORNER ENGINEERS.”

THE INNER HARBOR. AND THE FERRY SERVICE. The inauguration of the ferry service between Gisborne and Napier was mentioned at a meeting of the Gisborne Harbor Board yesterday. The local manager of the Union Steamship Co. (Mr J. W. J. Preston) wrote regarding the deposit of spoil in the roadstead. He said he desired to officially advise that some of the Company’s masters had expressed much concern regarding the position in the roadstead, where the dredges were dumping the spoil. The place was well within a mile of the shore and in the shallowest part of. the bay. From enquiries made since the complaints, it would appear that it was quite possible for the- spoil to wash back landward and probably jeopardise the river entrance. In any case, the shallowest part of the harbor appeared to have been selected for dumping. As the possible ultimate shoaling of the roadstead anchorage was of vital importance he would bo glad if the Board would cause a careful investigation to be made. In former days when the John ’Jownley lifted all the spoil such was at the most a limited quantity. The altered condition of affairs had, however, seriously increased the amount being dumped in the roadstead.

The Engineer, in his report, remarked : Mr Preston, the branch manager of the U.S.S. Co., writes officially complaining as to the position in which spoil from the dredge is dumped in the Bay. As to the concern expressed by his Company’s masters, it would bo difficult for them to know exactly when the hopper doors are let go and thus locate the exact position where the spoil is deposited, and it is evident from the subsequent statements that this is so. The shallowest part of the harbor has not been selected for dumping, as stated, but the spoil is dumoed in about 50ft of water. The place is not “well within a mile of the shore,” as stated, but is a mile from the shore, and is to the south-west of the Black Buoy on the foul ground, and can hardly he designated the “Roadstead Anchorage. I am satisfied that the spoil is being deposited in a suitable position, and that the river entrance is not- “jeopardised” thereby. Messrs Langlands and Co. wrote stating that they noticed from time to time that reports appear m the local press made by irresponsible persons concerning the breakwater contract, their opinion being that the work was not being proceeded with expeditiously. Gisborne, like other places, was hot without its street corner engineers, and under ordinary circumstances they generally pass these reports by 7 with contempt. Itis therefore regrettable to see a gentleman like Mr Preston, the _ local manager of the Union Co., rushing to the press and uttering rash statements about work that he absolutely has not any knowledge of. Therefore they reluctantlyin justice to themselves, brought this matter undei the notice of the Board, as the members might take Mr Preston’s statement seriously 7. . The Engineer, in the course of ins report, said : From a. report of a press interview with the Gisborne managei of the U.S.S. Co., it appears that the date of establishing the ferry service is to be postponed. Probably November or December is mentioned as about the time for a -start- The manager stated that nothing had been decided, and in any case there was no urgency, as the present steamers were easily coping with the passenger traffic. The manager then goes on to infer that the port facilities are to blame for the delay in establishing a ferry service. The statement given to Mr Preston some da vs ago was that there was 94 feet at low water, and not that there was barely 9 feet. The depth is being daily improved, and after two afternoons’ dredging the channel depth was increased to .11 feet, and on the 20th inst the s.s. Inga came in on the top of a low high-tide when drawing l ift 6in. This point should not lie brought up as a reason foi delaying the establishment of _ the ferry service by anyone acquainted with the Maui’s capabilities, ihe •incident” of the Breeze striking the Groyne when entering the river.last week is another faulty _ argument to bring forward, as this “incident was due to a failure of the _steering gear and was not due to_ either weather or tide, as might be inferred. 1 submit that the manager has brought nothing forward that can involve the Harbor Board as a party to the delay in establishing a ferry service between Gisborne and Napier. The chairman said that from Mi. Preston’s remarks one would think there had been wilful delay with the contract for the extension of the breakwater. The contractors were doing everything they could, and it was regrettable to see such statements made by a man in such a responsible position as Mr Preston held. He appeared to laiow everything that was being on and that was not going on but there were some tilings he did not see. The Beard was not responsible for the work. . . , Mr Holden was of opinion that Messrs Langlands and Go. had wntten their letter in order to refute the statements made previously that the work m not being prodded '«tll as expeditiously as it should be. Ap parently they took it as a reflection on them as contractors. The Engineer’s report was unanimously concurred in by the Board and the next- business was proceeded with. Reporting on the extension of the breakwater, the Engineer stated that the 7-ton crane that the contracSfotoinod from .del. od ["j' j j,riise by the 13th inst. fris m-ortieXy new Ld in first-elass were now " f pose the electwo shifts, tor unni withm ind outside the concrete mixing plant. fr "n/ ShSTl]-lv^hfe-tforort,rS iTor^S 1 eight of'll-ton "concrete blocks’ll ad been dumped in situ. Given j? loc Im+lier the contractors expect S, n s„w makeVarid progress with fW contract. -