HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 21 October 1882, Page 2

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.

The scheme of improvements, as shewn on tho plans submitted to the Harbour Board by Mr McDonald at their last nueting, proposes to en»irely remove the present Qneen-strect Wharf, ana to erect a jetty or pier 210 feet by SO feet wide in it» place, this pier to be used as a pub>ic landing place. The pmill {raving dock to be taken up and removed, and tho who.'c site to be tilled in and subdivided into allotments. Quay-street to be widened to 100 teet and carried through to the railway whsrf to the east and to H»b."on-aSrcet on the west. From the line of Quay-street, it i« project od to erect eight ties, each 220 feet long, and raDging from 40 to 60 feet wide. From the hot of Hobson-strcct, or ist i-s intersection with Quaj-stroet, it is proposed to cobstructa solid and permanent whaif, 1650 feet long, with an arcn or tee runninsr a distance of 840 ft eastwards, «he whaif and tee to be 100 ft wide. From this wharf on its eastern side, three tees to project, eich 50ft nido, aid raDging Jrom 220 to 350 ft long. It is proposed to widen the main portion cf the E»ilway Wfcarf to 80ft, to extend the outer tee 400 ft, making the outer tee a total length of 800 ft and 100 ft wide. Two teas to project from the main part of the wharf on its western side 200 ft and 860 ft long, having a width or 50ft, Upon the completion of th?ss woiks a perfectly protected and »ccure tidal basin will be available, having an nrea of 53 acres, and as it is propotod to dredge o»er tho wholo of this aiea, an a»erage depth of about 24ft water will be obtained at thß very lowfSt ipring tiio». It is also propos-d to light the whole of tho baßin with the eloctnc light. Tho present wharf space for berthing ye gels is 6,C<O lineal feet. The proposed Improvements will give 11,600 lineal feet, and at the outer tees of the Hobson-street and Kailway wharves there will bs ample berthing iipacs for the largest ste»mers, such a3 the City of Borne and Servia. Tho whole of these woks to be carried out and constructed of permanent materials. It is also intended to connect Prince*street with the approach to tho Hallway Wharf, with an iron bridga of handsome design.

Mr McDonnld's idea in submitting this plan is, of conwe, not wiih any viow to its immediate completion, but in order that its merits m»y be considered as the bacis and end towards which all future harbour works should be directed. Works, hitherto, have been Parried out without anything liks a concerted and definite plan, and Mr McDonald baa prepared Ibis one as being best calculated to supply the wants of the pottin the matter of shipping accommoda'ion. .Explained tcrselj, the plau really contemplated is the enclosure of the whole space between a stono wharf run out from tho end of Hob-son-street and tbe railway wharf, to serve ai a wet donk for large ships. The thickness of the mud detosit within this area makes it a comparatively ea>y matter to obtain the required depth of wattr. The plan is one which will no doubt receivo foil consideration by the Board and the mercanlile community.