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IMPROVING THE NAVIGABILITY
OF THE LOWER MURRAY.
. On Thursday the Chief Secretary laid before
the Assembly the following report upon the
question of improving the navigability of the
Lower Murray, prepared bv the Enrineerin
Chief:
An examination has been made of the Elver Mur
ray, from the &7th to the 230th .mile above Blanche
town, with the view of devising some means by which
shoals now obstructing the channel could be
removed and the navigation improved. The first
obstruction is beyond the 57th mile from Blanche
town, -where a shoal has formed at the lower end of
Pewsey's Beach. The second ia at Hart's Island,
72-3 miles from Blanchetown, and is stated to be the
worst obstruction on the river in the South Aus
tralian territory. The third is near the 92nd mile
from Blanchetown, where a shoal has been formed
across the river opposite to the mouth of the creek.
The fourth is at 112 miles from Blanchetown, where
the depth of water can be readily increased. The
fifth is at the 114th mile from Blanchetown, where a
shoal has formed across the river just above Ryne's
Island, at a place known as Pyap Beach, on the
river. The sixth Is at the 134th mile from Blanche
town, at the upper end of the Kapunda Islands,
where a shoal extends across the river. The seventh
is at the 137th mile, where the water Is shallow in
summer, and does not flow between the island and
the left bank, but passes between the island
and the right bank; it will be necessary
to construct bracing spars to force the water
towards the right bank. The eighth is at
141¾ miles from Blanchetown, on the upper side
of Rilte Island, where there is shoal water. The
ninth is at 149¾ miles from Blanchetown, at Cragg's
Creek. It will be necessary here to close the head
of the creek and force the water now escaping
through it down the main channel. The tenth is
at Renmark Flat or 188½ miles from Blanchetown,
where the water is very shallow in summer. The
eleventh is at 189½ miles from Blanchetown, where
a shoal has formed across the river : it will be re
quisite to reduce the fairway about two-thirds of its
present width in order to scour away this shoaL
Ihe twelfth is at 190¾ miles from Blanchetown,
where a single spur would have the effect of increas-
ing the depth of water on the shoal. The thirteenth
is at 199½ miles from Blanchetown, where the shoal
can be treated in a similar manner. The fourteenth
is at 206 miles from Blanchetown, where there is a
troublesome shoal across the river during the sum
mer ; this will have to be dealt with by constructing
a long training spur. The sixteenth is at 225 miles
from Blanchetown, where a training spur, about 9
or 10 chains long, would be necessary. The seven
teenth is at 225¾ miles from Blanchetown, where the
shoal can be treated in a similar manner. The
eighteenth is between the 229th and 230th mile,
where there is a troublesome shoal, which will re
quire training spurs at about 229½ miles, and one at
229 miles 16 chains, to keep the water from spread
ing. I believe that the whole of the works neces
sarr to improve the sites referred to above could be
carried out for about £6,500, o( which sum I would
recommend say £1,000 be expended in treating one
or two of the worst shoals on the river, by running
out training spurs of timber growing near the river,
and constructing them in such a manner as to force
the water into a definite channel ; and if the above
expenditure of £1,000 is iustifled, the balance re
quired could be expended in completing the worts
referred to in the above report. I have not included
the 'removal of any snags in the estimate, because
this' work is specially within the province of the
Marine Board. ?
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