Sand castles in the air, to the start of the ‘Basketwork Harbour’
Looking Back at Port Alfred compiled by the late Douglas Bailes: Part 5 - an extract from handwritten notes by WIlliam Cock. Unfortunately there is no indication as to why he was writing this story, which starts in 1819 with his departure from England. Re
“In 1838, Mr. Hodgskin [Cock’s business associate] came to Graham’s Town and to my astonishment proposed opening the Kowie. A subject I have never for one moment entertained nor even thought of from the time before referred to when on a visit to the Kowie. To this I at first strongly objected observing that the London partners must first be consulted.
To this he replied: “If we purchased all the land we can in the vicinity of the Kowie, the other partners would be obliged to consent”. He succeeded eventually in obtaining my consent and to my astonishment the London partners sent out full powers of attorney to purchase land. It was certainly a rash unwise and injudicious undertaking.
No plan had been devised. No engineers consulted, its practicability questioned, an ordinance was never obtained. The partners were men of large means.
The work had not however proceeded far before the London partners became alarmed and withdrew and Mr. Hodgskin followed shortly after.
He was anxious that I should relinquish it also and return to business. I had become deeply interested in the undertaking and felt most unwilling to abandon it, took over the entire expenditure and proceeded with the work.
Mr Gilfillan, together with the Harbour Master, some years previous had approached all the inhabitants residing in the district. In all about 300 people who came with their tools and provisions for several days and commenced cutting a channel in the west side to the beach.
On opening the part next to the sea, the surf rushed in and at once closed the entrance.
Discouraged with the result no further attempt was made. I, in a like manner, cut a channel to the beach and met with the same result. At this time the river was so encumbered with sand that I stepped across it.
Assisted by Mr Gradwell, the sea and surf was barricaded out with stakes and planks; these cut away the beach so that any action of the waves would take the sand thrown over the barricade, preserved with the use of such boats as could be obtained in deepening the channel until there came a heavy tide, there being a great pressure on the barricade during the ebb tide, the planks etc were removed and at once the channel was opened and the old channel of itself ceased to run. I then proceeded to run an embankment down on the inside of the proposed channel comprised principally of bush weighted with stone and made watertight with sand permitting the water to pass round the end until it reached the beach.
I unfortunately omitted to connect the work with the mainland. During heavy weather, an unusual freshet came down the river undermining the work at the back hacking thro’ with a channel of 20 feet. I had succeeded in obtaining 8 feet of water at low tide.
I now found it necessary to seek other aid. About this time Sir Henry Young prevailed on me to accept a seat in the Legislative Council. Assisted by Mr Porter, I obtained an ordinance authorising the formation of a company.
After a great deal of trouble and concessions, the company was formed. I gave it my full attention, not regarding anything that was said or done.
Speaking generally the directors of the company took a great interest in the work and became personally liable for a large amount in order to prosecute the works.”
At this point the balance of Cock’s notes are unfortunately missing. [Cory library]
Bailes recommends as further reading Eric Turpin’s Basket Work Harbour: “It gives
a very interesting and detailed account of the endeavours made by various people to construct a viable harbour on the Kowie River”.
[A copy of the surviving page of this ‘diary’ may be viewed in Richmond House Museum.]
Looking back at Port Alfred compiled by the late Douglas Bailes is a series about our town. With permission from Pat Bailes and the Kowie Museum, it is transcribed by Sue Gordon and (re-)published in Talk of the Town.
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