Improved Access To Port Nelson

A little more than a month ago the Nelson Harbour Board commenced a new phase of its port development scheme when a start was made on widening the harbour entrance. Travellers using Wakefield Quay will already have noticed the great mound of rocks rising on the boulder bank, but when the site of the operation is visited it is quite apparent that this heap forms but an infinitesimal part of the total to be dragged from the entrance. The present entrance bottom width is 250 ft and it is the board's ultimate aim to have this increased to 500 ft. This will take about two years to complete.

The dragging operation itself is a simple but interesting one. A great steel bucket capable of holding two yards of material at a time, is winched to and fro across the bank and into the entrance. When in position it is winched back again bringing the rubble with it. Each complete operation takes three minutes. The board members made their first inspection of the work recently, and we went with them to record this extremely interesting process.