PORT EXTENSION SUBSIDENCES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28604, 5 June 1958, Page 18

PORT EXTENSION SUBSIDENCES

Report To Harbour Board

The termination of the engagement of Professor Bjerrum, of Oslo, to report on the stability of the bed for the harbour enlargement at Lyttelton, embracing a breakwater, was suggested by an Ashburton member (Mr J. Brand) and quickly opposed by the engineer-in-chief (Mr J. A. Cashin) at yesterday’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Mr Cashin reported that three subsidences on the breakwater had occurred during May. The first on May 3 was 28 feet distant from the crest and the maximum settlement was 20 feet, the period for settlement being between 10 and 15 seconds. The second was on May 7, 25 feet from the crest. The third was May 26 when a 10 feet settlement took place 15 to 20 feet from the crest, the maximum being 10 feet in less than 90 seconds. “The settlements were different from previous ones in that there was little or no warning by movement of cracks prior to failure,” reported Mr Cashin. Replying to Mr Brand, Mr Cashin said he had written a long letter to Professor Bjerrum, but in the' light of the reported subsidences the letter had to be rewritten, so that the Norwegian i expert could have an “up-to-the-minute” report. Mr Brand: Is he coming? Mr Cashin: He is coming, but 1 no date has been fixed. "The time has come when he should be invited to come—and very soon,” said Mr Brand. “He was invited, but he did not think, and neither did we, that it was the proper time,” replied Mr Cashin. “The letter which was written invited him to come. He is a busy man and is now in America advising.” Any suggestion that the services of Professor Bjerrum should be terminated was to be regretted, said Mr Cashin. The suggestion was not further discussed by the board.