DOCK TOO SHORT

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 15

DOCK TOO SHORT

NORTHUMBERLAND MUS» WAIT,

RI'SH JOB AT AUCKLAND;

[THB PBBBB Sptdil Sttric*.]

AUCKLAND, February 1 "*"

The announcement that the steamer' Northumberland is coming, to Auckland to deck for repairs prompted the Auckland Harbour Board to see whel&er thd Calliope dock was long enough te accommodate tho vessel II was found that in its present .state the dock wat several feet too short, and work Ims now been commenced oa enttlng away portion of the steps and ahnte in the recess at the top end, so that tho Northumberland's bow will bo able to fit into it. The Northumberland is .".30H overall, and the floor of the dock is approximately s£oft in length. The fact that the vessel has a cruiser stern made the position more difficult. Had the stern been eurved, the eounter could have rested over the caisson, and probably there would have been no need to make enlargements. As it is, tome 3tft of bow will have to Ht into the recess, which is easily wide enough to accommodate it for that distance. The bow of tho vessel slopes up front the bottom, so that it will not be necessary to cut away tho steps from the floor of the 1 dock.

Tho work of cutting away the eoncrctc steps is not easy. Small charges of gelignite arebeing used to loosen the concrete. Everything will be in readiness for the Northumborlarid when she is expected in about nine days' time. Although tho Northumberland is the longest vessel that will have entered the dock, sho will not be the largest. The Niagara, with a gross tonnage of 13,415, has been acromroodated there, but her length is only 525 ft. The Northumberland's gross tonnage is 12,180. Tho enlargement to the dock will be » permanent one. MATS BADLY DAMAGED. (nass issocUTtoa tmtßStiH.) GISBOBNB, February 4. As the result of the wrretnentV tt tho vessel in the seaway, many of rth* Manila ropes attaching the collision rnata to the Northtunberiand we*» car* ricd away. This wilt,necessitate new patches being affixed to the Tenet before sbo again resumes her journey. In the. wash of the sea. the old mat* were badly damaged. The position of the vessel shows little alterawon to-day, her bows being; no denier than when the steamer left tl» roadstead on Wed- ( nesday eveninjg. No anxiety for the safety of the vessel is entertained.