AUCKLAND WHARF COLLAPSE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 13

AUCKLAND WHARF COLLAPSE.

INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE. (rBZSS ASSOCIATION tsleokau.) AUCKLAND, Ivovember 26. The enquiry into tho collapse o£ the Wostern • "Wharf was continued to-day. Hugh G. Young, for 19 years in the Harbour Board's employ, in which ho wa3 appointed Inspector of Works over contractors for the building of works, said the foundations in' the harbour were very treacherous. Ho attributed tho disaster to tho piles breaking .the ground uencath. "Witness had resigned. George Smith, mechanical engineer, said his opinion was that, the ground under the wharf was higher than that outside it, causing a flow of water through the bottom layer of the bank which was of coarse krga stones. Drumruorid Holdcrness, the Board's assistant engineer, recalled, said ho considered the design satisfactory, but personally _ he thought the building o£ the wall might have been delayed. The wall showed indications of ;i bodily advance, iiis view was that the part of'the wall that collapsed sloped forward over an accumulation of silt. The plans of the wharf wero eubmitted to witness when he was in Eeatherston Camp, and he emphasised that stone for the wall should be deposited M soon as possible after dredging had been done. AVitness called the Commission's attention to the fact that owing to labour and material being hard to get, the work had .to bo stopped for about ■lk monthß. The stone tipping was delayed probably six months. It was an extiaordmary thing that it was the part of the v>harf built'after the delay that collapsed. Mr Williams: Hid delay take away lije effect of your benches?— Not necessarily ou-„ it actually allowed the stone bank to Your benches disappeared?—' Well, partially I think mvself that had not the piles been present 1 * would iave dredged over them again. ... . , Would von not to-day :ejl anv anxiety about the "bank under your wharf boing low on one side and high on the other?— That is a. difficult question to anßwer. Mr Williams: Yes, but it is vital. Witness said the collapse had not the appearance of a slow crc?p. It bad all the .look of a quick collapse within a ittvf minutes. Mr Williams: "iou will admit tnero is evidence of side pressure?— Yes. And. you will admit this whan\was never built to withstand great, side pressure?— Yes. The wall was built oi loose tubblo becsusa it was felt settlement would continue for some time?— The whan" was intended to withstand a certain amount of lateral pressure.

A certain amount would not be consi3cred a3 ;i serious menace. Mr AVilliams: Is not that pressure in existence all alone tho wharf at present?— We see tho result, and wo conclude there is a, big strain on tho piles. We ask, do you not think the same? Witness, after some hesitation, said ho thought some of the piles might be carrying a, considerable weight. Tho enquiry "was adjourned.