THE CENTRAL WHARF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 4 October 1916, Page 8

THE CENTRAL WHARF.

MEW SHEDS DEFERRED.

KEADJUSXMEST OF BERTHAGE SPACE. In discussing the Central -wharf plans at yesterday's meeting of the Harbour- - Board in committee, the chairman (Mr 1 H. l>. Heather) said that he had gone 1 into the question of the wharf sheds I ( -vith the traffic, manager and harbourmaster, and they -had suggested, in view of the enormous price -which steel sheds ■•would cost at the present time, that the old sheds on Xos. 2 and 3 -wharves be moved into position on the new Central ■wharf, and be utilised for the time being. That would leave the outer end of the Central -wharf free lor such cargo as kerosene, coal, timber, and so on. He added that the officers had pointed out that they could put vessels like the mail boats at the Central wharf to relieve the congestion at the main wharf. The engineer (Mr Hainer) explained to the Board -that they -would have to pay very stiffly indeed for steel, certainly ior the next two or three years, and possibly for five years. If Ithe old sheds would do he could certainly recommend their use for the present. If they •were found insufficient, additions could be made to them. A joint report from Captain Sergeant and Mr Hutehings on the subject stated ■that the effect from a berthage point of view would be that the Ceneral wharf would have to be used for colliers, oil and timber ships, and vessels loading cargo which did not require much shed space. This would enable the • King's ■wharf berthage to be used more frilly iy vessels with cargoes requiring shed epaee. and not by colliers, as they -were at present compelled to do. ''They pointed out. also, that Hobson -wharf and the west side of Queen's wharf would be available for ships requiring shedj epaee. They recommended that the large sheds on Xos- 2 and 3 jetties be placed on the southern end, west side," the larger to ocTupy the outer position, and that the sheds be kept sixty feet apart: also that verandahs be placed on; both sheds. It would be necessary to_allot the Northern Company a portion of the inner end of the .eastern side of the Central wharf, and. they-recommended that the small shed on Xo. 3 jetty be placed -accordingly. The report concluded that though the delay in the erection of the new sheds for the Central -wharf would be a serious .handicap, as it would possess deep water berthage so necessary for deep -draught oceangoing steamers, they considered that ■under the circumstances *they would l>2 able to carry on satisfactorily until such, time as the Board could arrange,to erect the new steel sheds. On the "motion of the chairman-the. question of the new sheds for the Central wharf was deferred, and meantime it was resolved to "have the suggestion of the Harbourmaster and Traffic Manager carried out.