THE NEW DOCK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 98, 18 January 1908, Page 4

THE NEW DOCK.

■—-——■—- PROGRESS OF THE WORK. If the Harbour Board construe 1 , ''4 the now dock at instead of nl; .-:3 ,-Te Aro, the matter will not be complicated -| with any great amount of wasted work at 1 the Te Aro site. Operations were begun | there about nine months ago, but most of ? what has' been done is of a preparatory character/ A largo/number of piles v are stacked on the ground, and many of then: \. havo been "rung" and. made "ready foi •% driving. Cranes are being erected, - punts :H havo been built, and a large elevated wooden i bin for the storage of grdvel has been con- ■ structed. This last-named piece of apparatus is' a labour-saving device. The gravel will bo raised and placcd in it by meant of an electric elevator, and will be let down, . as required,, to tho concrete mixer. The ■ mixer, the) engines, and other mechanical plant are in readiness on the ground, bul, not yet fe.re.ctcd. The only permanent- structural work that lias been done is tho driving of about 30. pilc£. It is bolicvcd that these would bo useful as part of a wharf, oven 1 if the dock is not constructed at the site. The preparatory work, that has been done could bo removed elsewhere without difficulty. • Tho decision of the Harbour Board on Mr. Fletcher's motion to change the site of tho dook to Evans Bay is being awaited with considerable interest. Among the ar- . guments in favour of the change, one has not yet received much attention was f mentioned to a Dominion reporter yesterday. Tho speaker, who had studied the curronta ' in tho harbour for, a considerable period, was of opinion' that a great amount of dredging would be constantly required to keep thedock entrance open "Throw a, dead cat into the water at I'etoiie," he said, "and ; it will land at the now dock."