22

derate expense, it will be preferable
to incurring a heavy expenditure for
dredging, with a doubtful result.

Owing to the position of the mud
banks inside the Harbour, the ebb tide
sets forcibly over the extremity of
the Eastern Spit, and being there ob-
structed and diverted, takes an oblique
course across the Entrance, to the Ran-
gitera sand bank, at the hazard of driv-
ing vessels thereon as they leave the
Harbour; but as the works that must
be constructed inside the Harbour will
have the effect of concentrating the flow
of the ebb tide into one main channel,
for some distance before it reaches the
Entrance, and will also give it the re-
quired direction, then as the waters will
meet with no check, such as they now
receive, to cause a diversion of the cur-
rent, they will be poured across the Bar
with far greater force than at present,
and undoubtedly increase the depth of
water upon it, though to what extent
cannot be accurately foretold, probably
from 1 to 2 feet. But whether it be more
or less,—insomuch as it will cost noth-
ing, being the inevitable result of the
works to be executed inside the Har-
bour,—the effect should be seen before
any heavy expense is incurred in the
purchase of a powerful Steam Dredge,
which could only be worked in fine
weather and at certain hours of the
tide, unless it be both Dredge and
Steam Tug combined, in which case,
with its attendant barges, it would not
cost less than £9,000 or £10,000,—to
which must be added the daily working
expenses.

For the above reasons, it is consider-
ed inadvisable to attempt anything out-
side the Harbour at present, the more
especially as the primary object now in
view is not so much to get larger ves-
sels over the Bar, as to afford accommo-
dation inside the Harbour for such ves-
sels as can pass the Bar.

With respect to the works to be ex-
ecuted inside, it is recommended to lay
off a Canal or Tidal Dock, as shown on
the accompanying plan, to be deepened
and improved by the construction of
substantial quay walls, as the trade of
the Port requires it.

This Canal will be nearly 1 1/4 miles in
length, by 250 feet in width through-
out, giving an area of 38 acres or there-
about; and the area of the land to be
reclaimed, including the two islands,
will be about 110 acres; and, if one
third is deducted for streets and wharves
there will remain from 70 to 75 acres
of saleable land. And as the extent of
land proposed to be reclaimed does not
exceed the 60th part of the entire area
of the lagoon, there need be no appre-
hension of diminishing the scouring ac-
tion of the tide by such diminution of the
water area in the lagoon; in fact, one
third of the area of the lagoon might be
reclaimed without any fear of reducing
the scour of the tides, or the depth of wa-
ter on the Bar, provided the channels of
the remaining two thirds are kept open.
This is made evident by the fact that
the rise and fall of the tide outside is
about one third greater than it is in-
side the Harbour; because the great
extent of the lagoon requires a much
larger volume of water to produce the
same rise and fall that takes place out-
side, than can be poured through the
narrow entrance in the duration of a
single tide—notwithstanding its veloci-
ty is 6 to 7 knots, and depth of channel
about 30 feet.

As the only deep water inside the
Harbour is that adjacent to the Meanee
Spit, and as vessels moored there must
discharge and take in their cargoes by
means of punts or barges, which can
only be warped across the entrance dur-
ing slack tide, involving an additional
charge of 6s. to 8s. per ton, and an in-
creased detention of the vessel, to say
nothing of the additional risk of damage
to the goods, it is by no means advisable
to incur the expense of running out a
deep water wharf from the Meanee
Spit, which would be attended with
such disadvantages as above alluded to.

The readiest means of affording the
accommodation required, is by deepen-
ing channel No. 2, between Gough Is-
land and the Eastern Spit, by dredging
or otherwise. But before resorting to
the expensive use of the Dredge, the
utmost advantage should be taken of
the natural facilities offered for concen-
trating the flow of the waters (on the
Eastern side of the Harbour's mouth)
through this channel, which it is pro-
posed to maintain as part of the Canal,
and which, without increasing the
strength of its current to an inconveni-
ent degree, would yet have the effect
of deepening its bed some 3 or 4 feet,
and to that extent economise the use of
the Dredge. Hereafter when the whole
of the works contemplated are carried
out, the current through this channel
will be again diminished and be less
powerful than at present.