THE KING'S WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 65, 10 December 1907, Page 6

THE KING'S WHARF.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK. TO BE THE FINEST IN AUSTRALASIA. Those who tako an interest in the advancement of Wellington, ns a maritime port would be well repaid by a visit to the northernmost end of Waterloo Quav, where the big Jung's Wharf is being erected by Mr. J!. i J ulloy from the plans of tho Harbour Board's Engineer (Air. \\n\ Ferguson). in its present condition, >i!h its unilorm rows of jarrah piles, int.-rlncked with massive cross beams, and bearing longitudinaUy tho great jarrah girders that are to now tho deck timbers, tho work is impressive in its magnitude and strength, and tnoso whose knowledge embraces much detail affocting such works, say that, when completed, it will bo tho finest wharf jii Australasia, if not south of tho line. ' lho regiments of coppor-sheathed piles have advanced steadily line by line, until tho advance line has reached a point 540 toot from the quay, and as the wharf is to be S6O feet in length, it will be seen that tbo contractors have broken the back of tho Harbour Board's big undertaking. borne idea of tho magnitude of tho King's Vtliarf will be gained from its length, hut when it is statedthat if is 162 feet in width, the proportions grow iu improssiveness. 'An innovation will bo made in respect of tho now wharf's two sheds, . which are to be two-stoned, and each will be 329 feet long by it) feet in breadth, which will leave 58 root between the shed-wall and the edge of the wharf on each side—ample space for tho big travelling cranes, railway lines, and ordinary traffic. The wharf floor "aiid the huge sheds will be well-lighted by large windows on both sides, and the top floor will bo lighted from the roof. The outer shod will bo embellished with a watch-tower, which will command a view of the; groater part of the harbour. ■

Mr. lulley states that his contract time (two years) expires in September next year and he is quite confident now of being'able to complete the work within that period It is interesting to note the expeditious, up-to-date methods employed on tho job. oSni uay tho contractor has over AUUU,UOO feet of sawn jarrali, neatly stacked besides which thore are great heaps of ironbark piles from the forests of New South VVales. lhore is a simply-contrived travelling crane for the handling of all timber from tho yard to a small sawmill, whore'it is dealt with by the whirring saws as required. Under the same 'Toof is 'an aircomprcping machine, run by a 25 horsepower engine, which supplies electric motor power to tlio bolt-hole borers at the working end of the structure. An auger so worked docs the work of half-a-dozen men in a fraction of tho time they would take. There aro also a 4 horso-power and 9 horse-power motors for working the saws, and other machinory m the workshop. Mr. Pulley also has a combined smithy and foundry,'where all the bolts aro topped and "wormed," and some highly-finished' Munte metal bolts with worm and nuts complete wore shown as indicating'tho high quality of tho work turned out by Mr. Pulley's staff.; The King's Wharf projects into tho harb?,ur ]«st 300 feet to the northward and parallel to the Glasgow Wharf, which fine structure will be dwarfed by the size of its gigantic neighbour. The depth at tho present end of the new wharf'and on each side is 35 feet, but the water is gradually deepening, iifty-foot piles have sufficed up to tho present, but 60 feet lengths will have to bo used for the future: