A CORRESPONDENT’S SUGGESTIONS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 337, 13 August 1889, Page 3

A CORRESPONDENT’S SUGGESTIONS.

[TO THS BDITOB,] Bib,—At to-morrow night’s meeting of the Board I understand that Mr Clark will bring forward a motion asking the Government to send up some competent engineer to report on the state of the harbor and harbor works; failing which, that the Board employ an engineer. I disagree with the terms of the motion so far, that from an Engineering point of view I consider that the subject has been Completely threshed out, and without entering Into any discussion or offering an opinion on the judgment displayed in the selection of the present site for the breakwater, or the particular construction of the work, I consider the attention of the members should be exclusively devoted to the consideration of what are the best steps to be taken to remedy the present Unfortunate state of affairs. You published In a recent issue the full text of Sir John Goode’s report, and having done so will no doubt leave the ratepayers to draw their own conclusions. The Engineer has promised to lay before the Board the amended plan, for the construction of the western pier or groin, and though of course we are ignorant of the nature and extent of the works proposed, we know that the first plans submitted by the Engineer were considered quite inadequate to remedy the evil, and I venture to submit a few observations for the Consideration of th« Board. On making enquiries, I find that it Is a standard axiom in marine engineering that the depth of water at which tidal influence ceases to have any effect in carrying to and fro and holding in suspension sand and debris is from 3 to 8> fathoms, or from 18 to 11 feat. In answer to a question on this subject, by Mr Shelton, the Engineer gave 12 feet as the limit. In reading Sir John Coode’s report. I see he fixes the limit at 18ft, and on referring to English authorities, I find the feat - or 3 i fathoms. I therefore hold that in the construction of gny protective works, and to render the same thoroughly effective, it will ba necessary to carry out the groin into at least 18 feet depth of water at low tide. By the diagram published some time ago it is shown that to attain this depth of water, a distance of 1800 feet would require to be traversed, and bearing in Bind that by the construction of the break* water and groin the sand will be trapped on Both sides, accumulate, and gradually force its Way seaward, I am of opinion that a less distance than 2000 fest would render the works of Comparatively little value, What the cost of such an undertaking would be I do not know, but I shrewdly suspect that instead of the £l2OO asked tor by ths Engi. Mie tost Would be somewhere about . if not as much as would swamp the *bole of the unexpended balance of the £103,000. To mv mind, it has been incontrovertahly proved that it the works are Stopped when £103,000 has been expended, no permanent benefit will have beau achieved, as Sven vessels of the Australia class could only occasionally take advantage of the works, and the process of silting up would constantly bo goin g on, 1 therefore most earnestly suggest to the members of the Board to appoint k deputation of say three of their number to proceed to Wellington, and there fearlessly, honestly, and fully give evidence before the Harbors Committee, of the true state of Affairs; that whether rightly or wrongly we have carried out certain works, and if forced to leave them uncompleted by the provisions Of the limitation clause, the money so expended would be entirely spent in »un; or still better, let a Eoval Commission be anpointed say of any thru (members of the Harbors! Committee B®* 3 »t Wellington ; change the venue , ,ica Wellington to Gisborne, brtaj all plans

and reports made to the .Marini; Department in re the Gisborne Harbor ; personally inspect the present state of bar, river and bay, hold an enquiry (I had almost said inquest} with open doors; call any evidence they may deem necessary—and have full power granted them to authorise the expenditure of the total amount of the loan—vie., £200,000. Were some such course adopted, I feel confident that every right thinking ratepayer, whether in town or country, would cordially and loyally back up the action of the Board, so as to remove the reproach from us of having expended a large sum of money on useless and unproductive works, —I am, &0., Ths Man is ihh Stbest. Gisborne, August 12, 1889.