DESIGN CONDEMNED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10279, 10 December 1924, Page 6

DESIGN CONDEMNED

AUCKLAND WHARF COLLAPSE. FINDING OF COMMISSION. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 8. The Commission of Inquiry into the pollame of the western wharf on October SS has come to the conclusion w its report, which was submitted to a specM meeting of the Aucklandi Harbour Board, that,, in view of a I the good no? sufficient, the design be ng defective in that it provided for a structure and an arrangement of mitec? such a nature that stresses of riaScter which the wharf was unable to bear must develop in it. The wharf collapsed on account of the rupture of some of the supporting piles at the back under an outward' lateral Pressure due to. settlement and on> - ward movement in a mass of rabbi- a mound of which surrounded the piles. In the opinion of the commissioners, want of foresight was displayed in deigning and carrying out the structure which was unable to bear inevitable stresses, otherwise no negligence had S shown by any officer It is recommended that, the rubble retaining wall and the mound on which it sSns be removed, as the proper and only permanently effective remedy for the disintegrating influences. Similar influences are operating at the Princes wharf, Calliope. Dock and Freeman's Bay, and, although there does not appear to be immediate danger of disruption at any _ one of these places, careful vigilance is urged as a precautionary measure. The report of the commissioners was considered by the board to-night. , The board resolved to accept the resignation of its engineer, Mr Hamer, and to grant him six months leave. World-wide applications for an engineer will be called. " , The board also decided to authorise the works recommended by the commissioners, and to ask Messrs G. Nicol and R. F. Moore to report on the restoration of the western wharf.