WHARF AND SHED ACCOMMODATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 130, 17 June 1885, Page 3

WHARF AND SHED ACCOMMODATION.

Important Recommondationß by tho Harbour Englneor.

An important report on the vexed question of wharf and shod accommodation has boe n prepared by the newly-oppointod Harbour Enginoer (Mr McGregor). Ho has also submitted sovoral drawings in illustration of his dosigna. Drawing No. lis admit of tho harbour, on which he has laid down the main lino of Quaystroot frontago, where at least 25 foot of water can be got at low water spring tidos at tho entrances of all tho tidal basins from No. 1 at the eastward end to No. sat tho westward ond. Drawing No. 2 shows tho contral or Queon-street Basin with tho wharvos at present constructed. On this plan, tho first oxtention of tho Railway Wharf is Bhown for a distance of 1,500 feet, anel also an extension of Hobson. treot to tho Quay frontage with a westward arm of 1 500 foot, and an eastward arm of 550 feet. Drawing No. 3 Bhows the cross .sections of the two kinds of wharvos required for tho shipping trado of Auckland. Iho first is a l ail way wharf, 110 feet wide, with two rows of 30 feet sheds thereon one row for each eldo of tho wharf and four linos of rails running closo to tho shod walls and on both sides. Those sheds, about 400 feet long and 30 feet wiele and 12 feet high, would bo capable, if nocossary, of holding :m inward or outward cargo from or for the largest ocean-going steamer, and both cargoes could bo receivod and delivered as fust aa the goods could bo sont out of the ."hip or stowed into hor. Tho socond section shows a wharf 120 feot wido, with two roivs of 30 foot shedg theroon, provided with a roadway of 40 foot wido in tho contro. On thia dosign of wharf all the goods are assumed to bo carried to and from tho Bhip. in drays j and in ordor to facilitate the work of loading and discharging, the roadline is kept 2 feet 6 inches below the floor of tho tilled, and tho ,\ harf-docking at the side... Tho different systems of haulage by carts and railway requiro different dosigns of wharves, and plan 2 proposos to devote all futuro extensions of wharves on tho oastward sido of Quoon stroet Basin to railway traffic, and on tho weslorn sido to dray traffic. Thero is vory littlo difforonco in tho coat of constructing the two kinds of wharves, tho extra quantity of rubble on tho dray wharf making thorn about tho seme, viz., £G0 per lineal foot without sheds, or £70 with sheds. Mr McGregor doos not propose to touch or alter any wharf already constructed, but when these havo decayed, when tho Queen-street basin could bo made to harmonise with the general plan by constructing a new wharf to tho full width of 120 feet in continuation of Quay streot to the permanent Quay fronta.e, with tho eastern arm 1,000 feet long, provided with sheds similar to the othor wharves. With the view of meeting immediate requirements, Mr McGregor recommends tho Board to construct first tho knuckle ond 500 feet of tho Railway Wharf going eastwards from the presont ond of tho railway pier. This would form tho first instalment of tho permanent Quay frontago to Basin No. 2, and would givo threo doep-wotor berths with two goods sheds 400 feet long, capable of working tho cargo of ocoan going steamers in a manntr that could not be surpassed in any port for rapidity of loading and discharging cargo. Secondly, tho Hobson-street pier should be extended to the line of Quay-street frontage, and tho eastern and westorn arms constructed with shods thereon for handling cargoes that aronow usually hauled in drays to and from tho city. Were thoso wharves constructed, says Mr McGregor, the Queon-street traffic would bo reduced to a minimum, and the work of tho port could bo carriod on without friction for somo time to come, and with tho pewor of almost unlimited oxtension along tho Quay frontage, east and west, in dcop water as might bo required from timo to time. 'I he following estimnto of cost is appondod to the report: Railway Wharf and Goodsshed, knuckle from end of present pier to Quay frontago for railway curve, £18,000; Railway Wharf, 110 feet wide, extending eastwards on lino of Quay-street frontago, with two goods sheds, £35,000. Total coat of Railway Wharf to dotted line AB, £53,000, Extension of Hobson street Pier 100 feet wide, with provision for dredging to a depth of IS feot at low water on both sides from presont end of Quay-street frontage, £40,000 ; eastorn and westorn arms, 120 feot wide, .on line of Quay frontago, with two tows of goods uhedß, £94,500. Total cost of Hobson-street oxtension and dray wharf to dotted lino C D, £134,500, making an aggregate cost of £157,500.

Tho " Graphic " of the 4th April last contains a photograph and biographical sketch of Captain Speedy, of Abyssinian fame. Tho writer of it says: "The name of no Englishman is more connected with the history of Abyssinia during the last score of yoara than that of Captain Speedy. After resigning tho consulship at Massowah, ho was made Commander-in-Chief of King Theodore's forces. Ho gavo up this position, to come to New Zealand in 1563, whence ho was recallod by Lord John Russell's despatch to Sir Goorge Grey to join Sir Robert Napier's staff on the outbreak of tho Abyssinia War in 1866. He was tho only officer who understood tho Aby._B.nian language, character, and country. After that tour he was appointed, by Her Majesty's special request, guardian of Alnmayn, Ki_g Theodore's son, thus ful(iling tho dying trust of the child's mother. In 1870 Captain Speedy.was first. British Resident, and afterwards Lieutenant-Go-vernor of Saroot, .Malaya, near Siam. In ISS! ho was sent on an embassy to Johannos, King of Abyssinia, with Admiral Sir William Hewett, who was entirely successful. Johannes made a treaty with England, and sent 50,000 men to koep open tho road for Gordon's escape, which unfortunately did not take place. Captain Speedy is a great linguist, speaking 12 languages fluently. Ho is also an accomplished military man in every branch. His scientific attainments are very good. He is a gifted lecturer, and a great hunter and traveller. Mr Stanley, in his work '* Magdala and Commossie," calls him the "Telamonian Aiax," from his giant-like size and strength. We believe that it is probable that Captain Speedy will soon visit New Zealand.

A dentist is like a loafor—ho gets his living "from hand to mouth." Tho man who introduced rabbits into Victoria still lives, and claims to be apublic benefactor. Fact 1 Tho Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has had an offer of £10,000 to build a Gordon Memorial Church in his diocese. Tho St. Mary's Mutual Improvement Socioty opens its winter session to-morrow evening ia St Stephen's Native Sohool-room, when 111-hop Cowlo will kindly repeat his leotnre on "Tho Di-llcu-tic. of Great Britain In Afghanistan and India." The following valuable testimony to the worlh of tho ,PN. Z. Farmer" Is peculiarly valuablo as coming fiom tho proprlolor or "Garden and Field," an atjriculturalpaper circulating in South Australia. Mr A. Molineirt writes:—" Your fonrth number Is bo good that I feel corry you did not Bend over thoilrat, second, and third: The "N. Z. Farmer" Is a credit to agricultural journalism, and I oan honestly say, without the slightest desire to flatter tha tit is the best colonial journal of the kind that I have ever had tho pleasure to read. The schooner Columbia from Napier to Russell in ballast, put in here to day through stress of weather. She will resumo her voyage tomorrow. The Government steamer Hinemoa loft for Wellington at 2 p.m. today.