CALLIOPE DOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 12

CALLIOPE DOCK.

WORK COMPLETED.

DEVONPORT NAVAL BASE,

ALTERATIONS HEED UP.

The concreting work an the Calliope Dock at the Devonport naval base has now been completed and except for the boring and placing rf the keel butts the dock alterations are ended. The contractors will be away from the base by Wednesday next. Certain other alterations for which, provision lias been made in the naval estimates this year are at present held up pending the presentation of the Budget.' It is expected, however, -that work on the lvew con crete jetty will be begun by the Auckland Harbour Board next month. The extension work at the Calliope Dock was begun in February and although the workmen have been held up from time to time by'the necessity for filling the dock it has been completed in good time. The alterations are mainly for the purpose of accommodating the large new cruisers, H.M.S. Leander and H.M.S. Achilles, which are to replace H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede on the New Zealand station. It has required the excavation of about 1800 cubic yards of sandstone and concrete and the dock will now accommodate vessels of up to otfOft overall length.

Dock History. The Calliope Dock was constructed at a cost of £135,000 and was opened on February 10, 1888. Shortly afterward an additional expenditure of £20,000 was made to complete certain portions which had been left unfinished. The length of the floor of the dock was 500 ft, but with the extra 16ft width of cill, or sliding gate abutment, it was possible to accommodate vessels of 516 ft.

From time to time the Auckland Harbour Board has had to make alterations to provide for vessels needing urgent repairs. In March, 1915, when the Union Company had to docic the Niagara, which had lost a propeller, a small excavation was made in the concrete at the head of the dock to clear the forefoot of the vessel, and it was even necessary to put the rudder hard over •to fit in the 544-foot liner. Then, in March, 1927, the Northumberland struck an uncharted rock off the East Coast, near Gisborrte, and a further recess was made at the head of the dock. The Northumberland's overall measurement was 554 ft and when a great amount of concrete and sandstone had been cut away the floor of the dock was lengthened a further 34ft.

For New Cruisers. The present work was decided upon when it was announced that the new cruisers, each nearly double the size of H.M.S. Dunedin, were coming to the station. The space that was made to provide for the Northumberland has been widened Bft on either side -uid the dock floor lengthened a furthe 13ft. The previous temporary extension was left in the rough state, as it was expected that further alterations would have to be made, but the woi'k lias now been completed with a concrete finish.

Other work has still to be done. It is intended that the two new cruisers should be refitted at the base, and as much Of their equipment is a considerable advance on any that has been dealt with at the base, there is necessity for new workshops and equipment on shore. Part of this work is held up temporarily, but it is anticipated that work on the new jetty will be commenced within a few weeks. The new jetty, which will replace the present wooden one, at which H.M.S. Philomel is moored, will bo constructed of reinforced concrete and will be about 500 ft long. The present jetty is at an angle to the dock entrance, but the new one will extend straight out from the dock and will aid in docking.

Work is still proceeding at tlie Kauri Point base, though some of this work, too, is held up pending th-e passage of the Estimates. The- construction of the ammunition dumps and other construction and reclamation work is moving ahead slowly.