The first harbour works at Port Natal: the role of John Milne from 1849–1857

The first Natal government during the 1840s believed that the absence of proper port facilities was the major obstacle to the economic growth of the new colony. In 1849 the service of an engineer, John Milne, was obtained in the hope that he would be able to provide a safe and adequately provisioned port at Port Natal. Milne believed that the problems of the harbour could be solved by increasing the tidal velocity into and out of the Bay. He reckoned that by constricting the entrance to the Bay the Bar would be scoured down and a permanent depth of 9 m at the entrance would be reached. The means at Milne's disposal were, however, completely inadequate for the task. His proposed south breakwater was never started, but 137 m of the north pier was constructed at astonishingly low cost. A new governor in Natal, John Scott, became critical of Milne's work and by 1857 refused to sanction any further sums and the first harbour engineer was dismissed from his post in 1858. Die eerste Natalse regering gedurende die 1840s was van mening dat die gebrek aan toereikende hawefasiliteite die belangrikste struikelblok vir die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van die nuwe kolonie was. In 1849 is die dienste van 'n haweingenieur, John Milne, verkry in die verwagting dat hy 'n veilige en goed toegeruste hawe by Port Natal daar sou stel. Milne het geglo dat die probleme by die hawe opgelos kon word deur die getystroom in en uit die Baai te verhoog. Hy was van mening dat die vernouing van die ingang tot die Baai tot die afskuur van die Sandwal sou lei en dat 'n permanente diepte van 9 m by die ingang verkry sou word. Die middele tot Milne se beskikking was egter geheel en al ontoereikend vir die taak. Sy voorgestelde suidelike breekwater is nooit begin nie, maar 137 m van die noordpier is teen 1856 voltooi. 'n Nuwe goewerneur in Natal, John Scott, was krities oor Milne se werk en het teen 1857 geweier om enige verdere fondse beskikbaar te stel en die eerste hawe-ingenieur is in 1858 uit sy pos ontslaan.