FERRO-CONCRETE WHARVES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 279, 18 August 1908, Page 7

FERRO-CONCRETE WHARVES.

STATEMENT BY MAYOR OF NAPIER. THE WORKS AT AUCKLAND. (ire TELEQEi.ru.—SWiCtAI, CbRrtESPONDENT.) Mapior, August 17. Mr. J. Vigor Brown, Mayor of Napier and Chairman of tho Harbour Board, returned from a visit to Auckland this morning.- In the courso of' an' interview Mr. Brown was asked if ho had seen and made inquiries regarding the ferro-concrete wharf construction in Auckland-:. "I certainly did," the Mayor replied. "I saw Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board), and I asltcd him if there wns anything in what the papers stated regarding fewo-concreto work not turning out as anticipated; Ho said that lie had every confidence in tho wholo of tho works as far as they had gono. There were one or two'slight defects, but theso wore due to faulty workmanship. A portion of the contract had been rus'ped, and tho men were working three shifts a day, while in one or two places they had been _ working between the rise and fall of tho tide, and hero defects" were noticeable. The majority of tho members, of the Harbour Boertl, Mr. Mitchelson said', were quite Satisfied with everything that ha<l. been done. One or two of tho piles had broken, but thesa would be repaired at a total cost of £14. Had tho piles been of wood the,cost would have been considerably more..

\ "To. show tho confidcnco tho Auckland Harbour Board have in ferro-concreto," Mr, Brpwn went on to say, "tlioy lmvo decided, after seeing all tho defects it is possible to show, to let another contract of sevoral thousand pounds to erect. another wharf in tho same material. Of courso, thero aro always somo people who aro anxious to find fault with new methods- in the .construction of tho public works, but as far as ferroconcreto is concerned these people may rest assured, as the works will speak for.themselves." ...

"You do riot think, then, that, ..in view of what was reported from- Auckland there is any. need to feel uneasiness at tho Glasgow Wharf, in .'Napier being constructed in ferro-concreto?" ■

"Not the slightest.' ; l am quite satisfied that the work accomplished' in Auckland .is of a permanent nature. 1 was, underneath tho Railway Wharf and over every ferro-eon-croto building in Auoklarid, and as far as anyone could see, everything was quite satisfuctory."

■ ' Auckland, August 17. Tho question of oxidisation and other defects on tho ferro-concreto works was again before tho Harbour Board to-dsy. A full inquiry, will bo held on Friday, and expert evidence will bo tendered.