WHARF BANNED AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27224, 16 December 1953, Page 12

WHARF BANNED AT LYTTELTON

CONSIDERED UNSAFE BY RAILWAYS TEST BORES TO BE SUNK AT NO. 7 The use of No. 7 wharf at Lyttelton has been banned by Railways Department engineers because it is considered unsafe, and they have placed restrictions on the use of the breastworks from No. 3 to No. 7 wharves. Railway and Lyttelton Harbour Board engineers are sinking test bores at No. 7 wharf and along the breastworks to find the extent of the deterioration.

Shipping companies, who have heavy cargoes to clear within the next few weeks, were perturbed when the decision was announced to them on Monday morning, and they met Harbour Board officers and engineers. The news was received when waterside workers who reported at No. 7 wharf to unload the Waitemata were told by the Railways Department that no trucks would be made available. The ban was relaxed for Monday to allow* the Waitemata to be worked until 5 p.m. The chairman of the Port Employers’ Association 'Mr R. L. Reid) and members met Harbour Board -officials and pointed out that the department’s decision shpuld have been no shock, to the board, as harbourmasters had emphasised the deterioration of the wharf, and the board had raised a loan of £350,000 for replacement of the wharf. Mr F. E. Sutton, chairman of the Harbour Board, estimated that the results of the test bores should be available within two or three days. The board had the money in hand for the replacement of the wharf and hardwood from Australia had been ordered. The board considered that the wharf was still fit to be used, he said, and was asking the department to lift the ban. Mr Reid yesterday said the Lyttelton wharves were built to cater for sailing ships, not the ships which traded with New Zealand today, and shipping companies were looking ~to the board for immediate action. He suggested that extra shifts could be worked to get the steamer express wharf back into use. thereby allowing other ships full use of No. 3 wharf.