"Observations of the Harbour of Auckland"
by William Powditch (1865)
(Page 6)
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6
Canals, in wet Docks and is entirely of opinion that no Harbour
improvements are of much value which do not embrace the ultimate
of a wet Dock, and that in them the warehouse is essential, and to
be as near as possible to the discharging vessel.
Mr. Carleton's assertion that all harbours silt up, and that the
dredge is sufficient to keep them free, shews an unpardonable
ignorance of the subject, because it is wholly untrue; there are
numerous cases where the dredge has been unable when not assisted
by the natural and direct operation of a strong ebb to preserve the
water originally existing.
The writer has been told there was a plan to run a Wharf far
enough out togain 4 fathoms outside, and a Quay parallel with the
tide; presuming that in our time the silting did not affect the face,
it must be nearly perpendicular and very carefully faced with stone
or wood, if with much slope it could not be used, and would more
readily silt up; however built, the expense would be equally
great and perhaps greater than building the same extent of
Quay forming wet Dock cut out of the Flats; and without the
possibility of erecting any Warehousing contiguous, this alone
would discourage foreign commerce making a free depot of this
port.
It may be asked what is to be done meantime to discharge the
larger foreign vessels, if the wharf is to be removed or not carried
further out. The answer is, to adopt the proposal of the Chairman
of the Harbour Commissioners in 1854, when his opinions were
thought worthy of attention. This plan was to build large receiving
warehouse with centre opening to receive large flat lighters
of not less than 100 tons, nor drawing more than 6 feet water;
a lighter of this description would find work enough for one day or
two days, this would not delay the vessel discharging at her
moorings; when laden they would be brought and closed in in the
centre of the warehouse, and the goods discharged to either side
as bonded or otherwise; merchants would then arrange for the
delivery as suited convenience. The time of rain or night the lighter
being closed in with grating doors would be safe, and with an officer
sleeping on board. This is not an imaginary scene, it is one
adopted by friends of the proposer to a large extent in London
river, during the corn law time, and was largely used and highly
approved. These lighters could also be used to bring large stone
from Rangitoto to build the wet docks, to ballast ships, which
would then get the quantity paid for, &c., the boatman would not
like this; thus the necessity to go further out would be removed.
The proposer gave his opinion gathered from some years attention
to such subjects: that the going out of the wharf beyond the
intended limit of wet docks would carry the silting out with it
and the necessity would arise when the wet docks were made for
the removal of both wharf and silt at whatever cost, or the entrances
could not be kept open. It is no longer an opinion it is now a fact
proved, and by which you may be assured that to again go further
out will produce the same result causing increased expense for its
removal, and retarding both by time and increasing difficulties the
permanent works. If then you now a third time outlay £20,000 to
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